Part 1 or Part 2 was the real development?

Use this forum to discuss the October Book of the Month "McDowell" by William H. Coles.
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Tracey Madeley
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Re: Part 1 or Part 2 was the real development?

Post by Tracey Madeley »

I haven't finished the book yet, but part two seems much better from a technical view. The lady he sleeps with in the first part gives him some home truths, but this is more developed in the second part. From a technical point of view, there is an awful lot of telling in the first part and the interactions in the second show more of his character and transformation.
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Post by Izzy+ »

Yes, he definitely developed in the second part. At first he was a terrible person. Then Hiram goes on the run, meets different people, has experiences, and grows from them.
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Post by Shilpa Paul »

Part 1 was just development in career, financial growth and popularity. His selfish and inconsiderate attitude also lead to increase in enemies rather than well-wishers. Part 2 definitely put him through hardships and made him put himself in other people's shoe. He developed into a human in part 2
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Post by Cristina Chifane »

I agree with you about his development in Part 2 rather than Part 1, but when I come to think of this again, let's not forget he actually ended up on the streets and finally got himself killed. Have you ever thought that his escape from prison is nothing but an extension of his egocentric behavior? After all, he still refused to assume responsibility for his actions and dreamt of building up a whole new life for himself under a new identity.
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Post by C-Extra22 »

His development started in part 2. I totally agree with your observation.
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Post by Lynsyn »

I think both parts are the real development of McDowell's life and journey. In the 1st part, we have seen him as a brilliant surgeon yet cold and arrogant. While in the 2nd part, he was a fugitive but a man who was willing to change himself for the better. Part 2 gave him the chance to renew his life, but Part 1 was the time that we knew him and had seen him from the beginning to the end.
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Post by serendipity 27 »

I definitely feel that he grew as a character in part 2 rather than in part 1. In part 1 we see him as McDowell the physician and all around misogynist. In part 2 we see him stripped down to nothing. He is more vulnerable and that leads him to discover truths about himself as a person. He learns what life is truly about and that the material things don't matter in the end.
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Post by Theresa Moffitt »

I agree - in the second half of the book he really changed to think about other people and even seemed more interested in their lives. He helped people more and was less self-involved in the second half of the book compared to the first half
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Post by fndirangu20 »

Part One described more about Hiram McDowell whose profession is a surgeon, he is a world class mountain climber and a philanthropist (in a minuscule way) for the healthcare foundation in Nepal.

Part two is about the downfall of Hiram McDowell but his downfall serves as a stepping stone to his reformation, which detached him from his old point of views. So i agree Part two it is. :)
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Post by holsam_87 »

Part 2 is definitely where the development began for all the characters.
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Post by abbiejoice »

Part 2 for me is more interesting. It is here where we can see the change within Hiram McDowell.
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Post by Ekta Kumari »

I think the same. The development in his character started around the end of part one when he was parted with everyone and in part two he was more aware of his needs and desires, and he had a new way of seeing life. I thought Maud played a very big role in his character development, and giving vision to his memoir. He never respected any female throughout part one, but in part two he gave his respect and consideration to Maud.
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Post by Shalu1707 »

I think that in the part 1, Hiram was living only to fulfill his ambitions and worldly desires, while in the part 2 he actually started considering living for himself, which was the true progress.
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Post by Theresa Moffitt »

Sahani Nimandra wrote: 19 Oct 2018, 11:30 The author states that Hiram McDowell's development occurred in Part 1 and his decline in Part 2, but I see this otherwise. To me, Hiram started to live in Part 2 because of the people he met, while in Part 1 he was a self-absorbed and selfish person. What do you think?
I agree with your comment - I saw the book the same way. I thought he made real changes in the second half of the book. He was examining his life more as he struggled to write his memoir and seemed to appreciate people more as he met them
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Post by Jessacardinal »

I agree with your statement. I find myself almost liking Hiram while he works at the cottage!
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