10 Stunning Moments from All the Books I’ve Read So Far
Everyone has probably had an “Ah-ha” moment at least once while reading a
book. Perhaps it’s an idea or a plot twist, or a scene expressed so divinely
and perfectly that it succeeds in taking your breath away.
These moments stay in one’s mind long after the book is shut
and put away. I haven’t read a lot, but from the small subset of books I have
read, I’ve listed a few scenes which have impacted me and left me reeling (to
put it mildly).
Here they are.
1. Eustacia Vye’s Last Scene on the Heath
First up is my all-time favourite scene of Eustacia Vye on her hated heath, hours before her death (suicide or accident?). She has been defeated in her attempts to become a “splendid woman”. Wildeve will not do, and Yeobright repents too late, Eustacia is left alone without the money or means to flee from the heath she is sick of. The chapter: ‘The Night of the Sixth of November’ details her state of mind very vibrantly. I love this scene because of its exposition of a familiar Thomas Hardy lesson: Destiny will beat the main character down, and as if that’s not enough, she will also crush her to a pulp.
2. The Burning of Manderley, from du Maurier’s Rebecca
The last scene of the novel Rebecca describes the burning of
Manderley—the beautiful country seat of Maxim de Winter—presumably by the
housekeeper Mrs Danvers. Mrs. Danvers commits this act of arson because she
finally realises what has passed between Maxim de Winter and his late wife, Rebecca. The closing lines—“The road to Manderley lay
ahead. There was no moon. The sky above our heads was inky black. But the sky
on the horizon was not dark at all. It was shot with crimson, like a splash of
blood. And the ashes blew towards us with the salt wind from the sea”—are
haunting. Every time.
3. The Grand Inquisitor Scene from The Brothers Karamazov
Dostoevsky’s last novel The Brothers Karamazov expounds the
theory that without God upholding morality, ‘anything goes’. This final
conclusion causes the downfall of the atheistic Ivan Karamazov. But before we
get that far we must stop at the little gem of a story in between. The tale of
The Grand Inquisitor narrated by Ivan to his younger brother Alyosha. It delves
into the problem of free will. There can be no real love without free will yet
free will is the cause of all our pain.
4. George Emerson Kissing Lucy Honeychurch in A Room With A View
E.M. Forster’s well-crafted novel reaches in its climax when
odd young man George Emerson kisses naïve young Lucy Honeychurch in an Italian
field full of violets. The young lovers are discovered by Miss Bartlett, Lucy’s
companion, and they are soon parted. I love this scene because it is so simple
in its description and lucid in its delivery.
5. Mr. Emerson takes Lucy Honeychurch to task, also from A
Room with a View
Don’t lie. Don’t ever, ever lie. Especially not about loving
someone. Because you might miss out on the love of a lifetime and rue it with
all your heart. If Mr. Emerson hadn’t taken Lucy to task in this powerful scene
towards the end of the book would she have found the courage to love George?
6. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
The whole book. From start to finish. A masterpiece in its
genre.
7. The Lighthouse Scene from The Age of Innocence.
Will Ellen Olenska sense Newland Archer’s presence before the
catboat crosses the Lime Rock? Will a lover sense the presence of a beloved
from afar? Will all that is familiar and safe suddenly appear drab and
tiresome? The moment Newland Archer feels stifled in his carefully crafted life
is a moment of literary tension. What will he do? Break away from tradition or
succumb to it?
8. The Discovery of Undine’s Pregnancy from The Custom of the Country
One of Literature’s most ambitious heroines—Undine Spragg reacts
with so much hostility to her pregnancy that it made even an ardent feminist balk
at her reaction. Easily a book I would recommend to men—as a warning.
9. 1984’s Rats Scene.
Imagine your worst nightmare coming true. That’s what happens
in this startlingly vivid scene from 1984. Winston’s greatest fear comes true.
Have never forgotten it.
10. Ecclesiastes from the Bible
All of philosophy condensed in one word—‘Vanity!’ And then
again the rest of the Gospels serve to contradict it. No Life isn’t all Vanity.
It’s got meaning. Those who Love know that.
