Metamorphasis Of Michael Jennings
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Michael Jennings serves as a respectable and caring detective character in “The Enigma” by John Fowles. The author portrays a personable, quick-minded diplomat and he seems able to pass as a rich, trendy young man. Throughout the beginning of this short story, Jennings carefully and respectfully questions the other characters in the essay with some relation with Mr. Fielding. Jennings repeatedly confirms his admirable identity by his conscientious words and considerate actions. Despite these positive occurrences, the story takes a turn in the last quarter of the piece. Suddenly, when Jennings meets Isobel, he becomes overwhelmed with feelings of lust and she progressively distracts him from his work. This new attitude contradicts the image of Jennings the reader forms in the beginning, as Michael Jennings becomes a fallen hero.
The image of Mr. Jennings that initially comes to mind is young and attractive. He also seems to be exceptionally polite and well-mannered. These assumptions are obvious with his continual smiles and his humble and gracious words with the other characters whom he interrogates. “The sergeant found he had to tread very lightly indeed when it came to delving into Fieldings past” (Fowles 206). Jennings perpetually considers the feelings of others and is repeatedly described as smiling at someone.
The author created Jennings for the reader to follow along through the murder mystery through the detectives point of view. This perspective is especially interesting in this particular story because of the twisted ending. Jennings is completely on is own as a character throughout the text until he meets with Isobel. Almost instantly there is a connection and the reader sees the traits the two characters have in common and how they identity with each other.
Complex describes Jennings personality very well. Most importantly, he acts as sensitive, caring man then changes into a lustful, impressionable character. The text supplies the reader with information from his mind that supports this distinguishable conversion. Jennings thinks to himself, “Ða pretty girl makes a change, even if she knows nothing” (Fowles 223) and also, “He fell for her at onceÐ…” (Fowles 223). As soon as the reader experiences this new side of Jennings, all previous assumptions of his positive character change. As Jennings speaks with the woman he notices, “Ð…the white dressÐ…a curve off her shoulders down above her breast, the skin rather paleÐ…those eyes, the line of her black hair” (Fowles 231). He proceeds with his indecency by saying to Isobel, “Probably because you know Im torn between arresting you for conspiracy to suppress evidence and offering you a cup of tea at Ken Wood” (Fowles 234). Jennings consistently repeats his new pattern of behavior by letting his thoughts about Isobel wander while he is supposed to be figuring out the answer to the mystery of Mr. Fielding. Isobel encourages Jennings behavior by slightly teasing and manipulating him by telling, “I do have a private theory. About what happened. Its very wildÐ…if you want to hear it, it will cost you one cup of tea” (Fowles 235). She provokes Jennings with her flirtatious remarks while knowing that Jennings is extremely attracted to her. Jennings seems to become confused with his feelings after meeting Isobel; he first