About Henry James and Stranger Things

Post 397:

            I didn’t attend school to be a writer. No, I went to learn about all the yesteryears, the triumphs and pitfalls, the rise and fall of civilizations and those that lived subject under said yoke of time.

            In other words, I was a History major.

            Being a History major, I didn’t learn a lot about the formalities of writing. This puts me at disadvantages and advantages that I won’t bore you with, but on the whole, I’m grateful.

            This way, I get to make up theories using my own brain—whatever that’s worth.

            Let’s talk about short stories. I have a bunch of collections, and there’s always this little essay at the beginning or the end on what makes a "successful" short story. I’ve done everything in my power to avoid reading these essays, and so far so good. Cause what do they know...

            Short stories are weird, half of them make no sense, but they’re a ton of fun to read.

            At least for me.

            Let’s go back to Henry James and a tale called My Friend Bingham. When I say short stories are weird, this is no exception. The narrator describes a tragedy wherein his buddy, Bingham, accidently kills a woman’s son while they’re doing a dudes weekend on the coast.

            It’s terrible and heartbreaking, and so far, totally believable. Bad things happen to innocents all the time. James tells the story sort of like he’s just reporting; for me it has the result of making the events even more wrenching.

            But then his buddy ends up consoling the stricken mother. Awkward. It goes on. Bingham, killer of the woman’s son, ends up marrying her. Not out of obligation. Well—maybe out of obligation—it’s not really clear. He seems to genuinely love the young lady, and she him.

            James ends the story by saying the tale is sort of ambiguous, but it’s true prose. I love this ending. It sums up the art of the short story. There’s not enough time to go traipsing all over the place in search of every character’s motivation. It’s going to be a little open-ended, leaving healthy room for interpretation.

            Also, could this ever happen? Could a woman ever forgive a man for accidentally killing her son? Could she forgive him so much that after enough time, she ends up in a presumably happy marriage with the dude?

            I can’t see it. I don’t think Henry James can see it. But I’m pretty sure he’s saying that stranger things have happened; a point that’s hard to argue with.

            Short stories. Weird and cool. Read some. They make your brain better. Cheers and see you after.a