The Demon Lover A Comparison of the Two Stories
Weighted Comparison
In Elizabeth Bowens The Demon Lover Mrs. Drover made a promise with her fianc to meet him at a specific date at a specific time. The poem The Demon Lover by an anonymous writer also centers around this subject. Mrs. Dover tries to remember his face but cannot for the life of her remember it. Years pass and the man returns to Drover, only to find that she has already married and had kids. The story ends as the mans face is revealed to her and she is whisked away in a car to her apparent demise. Although the fiancs identity in the story seems to be a mystery, evidence suggests that the fianc is a demon.
The story opens as Mrs. Drover is gathering things from her old house. She finds a note addressed to her from her fianc, who was lost in a war twenty-five years ago. She remembers back to the last time she saw him under a tree where the darkness hid his features. In the darkness she imagined spectral glitters in the place of his eyes (1408 Bowen). The fact that she didnt see his face but saw supernatural phenomenon in place of his eyes suggest he is not quite human.
As she reads the letter, she tries to remember her former fiancs features but under no conditions could she remember his face (1410 Bowen). Near the end the taxi she found turned before said where she wanted to go. It seemed as if the taxi driver knew exactly where she wanted to go. The fact that she couldnt remember the face of a man she was to marry suggests that something supernatural was involved.
While the mysterious man is making his promise he presses he hand painfully on to one of the breast buttons on his uniform (1408 Bowen). This scene shows that the fianc does not care whether his bride to be is hurt or not. Lack of concern for others well-being is a trademark of the classic demons in storybooks.
Near the ending of the story Mrs. Drover finally saw her former fiancs face and screamed. This is mirrored by the anonymous poem. In the poem she espied his cloven foot, and wept right bitterlie (1405 anonymous). The poem answers the question of her fianc identity, revealing that he was a demon.
The story ends as the fianc drives away with her. In the poem it is made clear where the two are headed by stating, Yon is the mountain of hell, he cried, where you and I will go (1406 anonymous). This lends more credence to the idea that the man is a demon.
Many of the themes and happenings of Bowens story are shared in the anonymous poem. The anonymous poem clarifies what Bowens story only alludes to. The fianc, though his description and actions, proves that he is a demon from hell that has come to make good on their promise.
Work Cited
The Demon Lover Making Literature Matter an Anthology for Readers and Writers. Ed. John Schilb and John Clifford. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 1993. 1403-1406. Print.
Bowen, Elizabeth. The Demon Lover Making Literature Matter an Anthology for Readers and Writers. Ed. John Schilb and John Clifford. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 1993. 1406-1411. Print.
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