Is the character of Maud Hiram's subconscious?

Use this forum to discuss the October Book of the Month "McDowell" by William H. Coles.
Bavithra M
Posts: 206
Joined: 08 Oct 2018, 08:38
Currently Reading: Inspirience: Meditation Unbound
Bookshelf Size: 28
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-bavithra-m.html
Latest Review: The Lost Identity Casualties by Kim Ekemar

Re: Is the character of Maud Hiram's subconscious?

Post by Bavithra M »

I think the character of Maud is Hiram McDowell's subconcious.
---
User avatar
Moddesser Elahi
Book of the Month Participant
Posts: 1099
Joined: 27 Jun 2018, 10:08
Favorite Book: The Power of Now
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 85
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-moddesser-elahi.html
Latest Review: Then Comes The Flood by John Payne

Post by Moddesser Elahi »

I did not at all feel that Maud's character was an imaginary one and would not complicate any situation in the story by thinking so deep on such things. Rather Maud was portrayed in a very straightforward manner in Hiram's life. She had a profound effect on Hiram's life and that effect is something that one can contemplate about rather than considering Maud as an imaginary character.
PANACEA - Please do not overvalue your body and mind! Just be life! :dance:
User avatar
dtb
Posts: 268
Joined: 08 Feb 2018, 15:33
Currently Reading: A Darker Shade of Magic
Bookshelf Size: 42
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-dtb.html
Latest Review: Four Funny Potatoes! by Len Foley
Reading Device: B00JG8GOWU

Post by dtb »

jgraney8 wrote: 08 Oct 2018, 14:33 My impression is that Maud is the truth teller that forces Hiram to come to terms with himself. He needs to see himself from another vantage point, and she provides it.
You make a good point. I think we could all benefit from more truth tellers.
Kishor Rao
Posts: 232
Joined: 18 Feb 2017, 05:48
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 49
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-kishor-rao.html
Latest Review: Burn Zones by Jorge P. Newbery

Post by Kishor Rao »

According to me, Hiram likes Maud and has respect for her because she is not very unlike him. Shes always very cold to people and doesn't easily appreciate others talents. But the thing that makes her stand apart from himself is that she doesn't expect anything for the things she does. She is content with what she has done and moves on. This trait irks Hiram and he constantly adapts to this kind of behavior later on in the books. I think Maud is as much real as Hiram is.
Theresa Moffitt
In It Together VIP
Posts: 678
Joined: 18 Jun 2018, 22:27
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 294
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-theresa-moffitt.html
Latest Review: Royal Gossip by Trisha Goodwin
2024 Reading Goal: 20
2024 Goal Completion: 30%

Post by Theresa Moffitt »

I don’t think she is his subconscious. I think she is the first person he has talked to in along time and he respects her intelligence. He is able to talk to her and get honest responses without judgment. He seems to appreciate her and her opinions
User avatar
Sonya Nicolaidis
Posts: 991
Joined: 22 Aug 2018, 01:30
Favorite Book: McDowell
Currently Reading: The Dark Web Murders
Bookshelf Size: 403
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-sonya-nicolaidis.html
Latest Review: My Delightfully Dysfunctional Family by Loraine Hartley

Post by Sonya Nicolaidis »

I don't think she was his subconscious, but I do believe she was the catalyst that precipitated his change. She was the first person to confront him and make him question his ideas, his motives, and his actions. In this respect, she acted as his conscience. I think she was the only woman he truly respected and valued because she spoke her mind and was unafraid of him.
User avatar
Radiant3
In It Together VIP
Posts: 411
Joined: 04 May 2018, 05:40
Favorite Book: Healing Your Attachment Wounds
Currently Reading: Love Is
Bookshelf Size: 145
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-radiant3.html
Latest Review: Love Is by Kim Sorrelle

Post by Radiant3 »

No, I don't think Maud is Hiram's subconscious. He felt safe, accepted and part of her family after being alone and on the run. She allowed him into her life without reproach. She is also a woman of strength, intelligence and discernment and Hiram respected her.
User avatar
ShailaSheshadri
Posts: 399
Joined: 27 Apr 2018, 03:06
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 30
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-shailasheshadri.html
Latest Review: Who Told You That You Were Naked? by William Combs

Post by ShailaSheshadri »

No. The character of Maud is not Hiram's subconscious. She is just a character in the novel. Unlike the other women Hiram encountered, Maud made him introspect about his mental processes. Her's was the first family that accepted him wholeheartedly when he was wandering like a fugitive and gave him space in the house. Maud was an educated and straightforward woman. She, being a school teacher in her past, judged Hiram's characteristics and commented on it. Hiram became conscious and started feeling for his mistakes in life.
User avatar
Cristina Chifane
Previous Member of the Month
Posts: 2061
Joined: 07 Jan 2018, 03:51
Favorite Book: The Magic Mountain
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 898
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-cristina-chifane.html
Latest Review: The Fold by Dennis Lee
Reading Device: B00JG8GOWU

Post by Cristina Chifane »

Once you mentioned this idea, I think Maud could very well act as Hiram's subconscious, especially considering the fact that she is critical of his memoir, but without actually highlighting too many concrete aspects that she finds dreadfully wrong in Hiram's ideas and view of the world.
"The madness of writing is the antidote to true madness." (Hanif Kureishi)
Latest Review: The Fold by Dennis Lee
abbiejoice
Posts: 237
Joined: 27 Aug 2018, 20:00
Currently Reading: Me Before You
Bookshelf Size: 38
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-abbiejoice.html
Latest Review: End of the Last Great Kingdom by Victor Rose

Post by abbiejoice »

I think Maud is a separate character in the book, but Hiram's subconscious could have been triggered by Hiram's interaction with Maud.
Theresa Moffitt
In It Together VIP
Posts: 678
Joined: 18 Jun 2018, 22:27
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 294
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-theresa-moffitt.html
Latest Review: Royal Gossip by Trisha Goodwin
2024 Reading Goal: 20
2024 Goal Completion: 30%

Post by Theresa Moffitt »

jgraney8 wrote: 08 Oct 2018, 14:33 My impression is that Maud is the truth teller that forces Hiram to come to terms with himself. He needs to see himself from another vantage point, and she provides it.
I agree with you - this is how I viewed maud too. She didn’t accept his excuses and made him really take a look at himself and the choices he made. She gives him another point of view. I don’t think she was his subconcious. She was a strong character that helped him when he needed
User avatar
Ekta Kumari
Book of the Month Participant
Posts: 1059
Joined: 02 Jul 2018, 02:54
Favorite Book: Rebecca
Currently Reading: Kafka On The Shore
Bookshelf Size: 84
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-ekta-kumari.html
Latest Review: Humanity Must Survive the 21st Century by Theodore Vornicu
Reading Device: B00I15SB16

Post by Ekta Kumari »

I thought Maud had a profound understanding of Hiram's psyche, and that was the thing which attracted Hiram to trust her and reveal his secrets.
"Words dazzle and deceive because they are mimed by the face. But black words on a white page are the soul laid bare."

-Guy de Maupassant
User avatar
Shalu1707
Posts: 45
Joined: 29 Oct 2018, 05:23
Favorite Book: The Vampire Diaries
Currently Reading: If Life Stinks, Get Your Head Outta Your But's
Bookshelf Size: 74
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-shalu1707.html
Latest Review: McDowell by William H. Coles

Post by Shalu1707 »

No, I don't think it was his subconscious, on the contrary I think it was his worst nightmare to have to listen to no one but a women who does not agree with him and tell on his face where he is wrong and where he should improve.
User avatar
Hiruni Bhagya 81
Posts: 745
Joined: 31 Aug 2018, 14:43
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 128
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-hiruni-bhagya-81.html
Latest Review: Randy Love...at your service by Shay Carter

Post by Hiruni Bhagya 81 »

If he had such a subconscious he'd never have done half the things he did. So, it had to be a woman. I think he has a grudging respect for her.
User avatar
KDJ
Posts: 306
Joined: 16 Mar 2018, 14:39
Favorite Book: Elenor
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 147
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-kdj.html
Latest Review: Homecoming by Jude Austin

Post by KDJ »

That is an interesting way to think about her. :eusa-think: :eusa-think: If Maud was Hirems subconscious, what would that make Selena? If Maud was, she was great at it. I feel that meeting her is what really started him on the self-searching journey. She definitely made a significant change in Hirem.
He that loves reading has everything within his reach. —William Godwin
Post Reply

Return to “Discuss "McDowell" by William H. Coles”