Five things I learn about Robert Louis Stevenson from his short stories

I was biding farewell to Robert Louis Stevenson as I closed the final page of ‘The Treasure of Franchard’, the last piece of his popular short stories anthology a few weeks ago.  Thanks to ‘Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’, ‘The Merry Men’, ‘Will O The Mill’, ‘Markheim’, ‘Thrawn Janet, ‘Olalla’ and ‘The Treasure of Franchard’, I gather these following ideas about this beloved Scottish author:

1. Philosophical and reflective

Reading Robert Louis Stevenson can be a hard task. His works invite me to reflect so much, even when he writes something funny. It’s like watching Adam Sandler’s dark comedy, the kind of laugh that tears my heart because something serious and ironic is in it, too. ‘Will O The Mill’ proves me this. This tells a story about Will, a very generous and kind-hearted person, who spends his lifetime staying in the same place until the day he dies. For me, Will is the type of person who is very close to all of us, the sort of a good-boy-next-door, the man whom you would like to make friends with. He is so nice that he doesn’t fight for the girl that he loves when another man approaches her. His story is very touching, a kind of calm, sombre one that leaves very impressive mark in my reading list.

2. You reap what you sow

Although wrapped in cheerful tone, ‘The Merry Men’ teaches me a lot of life lessons, each and every thing that I throw will come back to me in abundant ways. Gordon Darnaway, the uncle of Charles Darnaway, is the perfect example of this. From the very beginning of the short story, it prompts me to think how can this old man is very serious about his life. He seems distant and takes everything so heavy. After I read on the part where he murders now I understand that he probably reaps what he sows. He feels uneasy because of the crimes he does before. His life seems unpleasant because he runs away from his guilty for so long. The last scene where he is seen jumping off the sea makes my heart breaks. So ironic for his life.

3. Oh, the Gothic style

‘Olalla’ brings me back all about Gothic things, the stuff that I learn during my university years. The mysterious, horror, thrilling tones are strongly felt in the story. Although some of key questions remain unanswered, the short story successfully keeps me going completing it. Robert Louis Stevenson is really good at presenting the Gothic idea in it although does not executing it all as smooth as I expect.

4. ‘Markheim’ proves his work can be unsatisfying

From ‘Markheim’ I learn that even a master like Robert Louis Stevenson can produce deficient writing. I can feel his writing misses a number of scenes. Disorganized. The last scene when Markheim indicates he will surrender himself to the police after a thoughtful conversation with a man doesn’t make any senses to me.

5. ‘Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’ remains his exceptionally masterpiece

‘Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’ is by far his brilliant work, which completely sticks in my heart in different ways despite the fact ‘Of Mice and Men’ is my most favorite book and ‘Wuthering Heights’ is the best novel I have read so far. ‘Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’ stands out from the crowd not only because of it tells about someone’s split personality but also because of his very, very subtle language with huge focus on details. This story runs really delicate that if you don’t pay enough attention, big things will slip away.

Thank you Mr. Robert Louis Stevenson!

Thanks for providing the picture.

‘Will O The Mill’, the wisest story I’ve ever read

Reading ‘Will O The Mill’ brings me a lot of pleasure, the kind of joy that quenches my yearning of beautiful language but at the same time makes me mellow for its tone gives me enough clue of what’s in the store.

After ‘The Merry Men’, reading this story is so delightful. The words are so moving, Robert proves his mastery of depicting things so clearly stated, able to spark my imaginations. Will itself is the kind of character that makes me want to meet him personally. The sort of a very nice guy whom I would love to have a chat with.

The story is a little bit tricky. The first pages Robert mentions how the young Will wishes to leave the mill and sets up for an adventure. Up to this part, I really think he will go to the city or elsewhere.

Much to my surprise, Will doesn’t leave. He even develops his business well, gets admiration from the neighbors then invites Marjory and his father to live there while their residence is under reconstruction.

Then I think Will will marry Marjory considering his crush to her from the very beginning of their encounter. I can clearly feel that from the sentences. Instead of tying a knot, Will and Marjory separate. Will says it’s better for them to remain as friends while marriage option remains possible should Marjory wishes them to unite.

If I were Marjory I’d slap Will’s face upon hearing this. I agree with her that Will’s confessions hurt her feelings. Even so, Robert tricks me again, this time around with Marjory’s testimonials which say she is happy that they don’t get marry. Will and Marjory become good friends for nearly three years. Despite Will’s affections to her, it’s crazy to think they can live their lives as good pals.

When Marjory becomes the wife of a man, it’s a pity that Will feels sad, too. I don’t know whether he’s sad because of ‘losing’ a very dear friend or because he’s sorrowful because now Marjory belongs to someone’s heart. At this point, I can’t help wondering why Will acts that way. It’s like if he loves her, shouldn’t he marry her or something? Is it because he is uncertain or foolish enough to act for his or her own happiness?

The rest of the story after her death is what this writing is very heartbreaking. Does Will decide to spend their rest of his life alone because his love is solely for Marjory? Or what? I know I have no rights to judge someone because of something but I really, deeply feel sorry that Will ends up living alone.

His good reputation earns so many respects from a lot of people, including passers-by or guests. They encourage Will to travel but the protagonist chooses not to go. And when death invites him to travel forever, Will is joyful as for him, he has no one left to be taken care of other than Marjory. So when death comes, he is happy that since he no longer has someone to talk to, he is now free to leave.

This piece of story really moves me. On one side, I am sympathized with Will, the kind of person who wholly loves someone, like Marjory. The fact that he takes care his residence, business mesmerizes me, too. He opts staying at home despite so many stories about going out. His loyalty awes me so much.

But one the other side, I wish Will would seek friends elsewhere, fall in love with a new women and raise a happy family. It’s all a matter of choice, anyway. And that what makes this story is so wise, ordinary. Robert presents readers with life choices, and we can learn a lot of things from Will’s life.

Well, I don’t think Will is unhappy anyway. The story challenges my life perspective. Will’s choice is definitely acceptable. If you completely in love with just one person and one life why would you bother leaving it? That’s why I feel this story is so humane. You can put your shoes in Will’s and this has got me thinking about my life at the moment.

I love the kind of story which is like this one. Leaving my heart so mixed with feelings. Prompting me to contemplate about my own life. Thinking hard on what has gone wrong with my life thus far. This is the most ordinary yet wisest story I have ever read so far. Well done, Robert. Thanks for writing this one!

Thank you for this picture.

“Will O’ The Mill”, a short story by Robert Louis Stevenson

Will was an adopted son of an old couple living in a mill frequently passed by travelers. When Will was a little child, he was dreaming of embarking an adventure. He was once sitting at the top of a hill looking below it is a magnificent view of a big, vibrant and city.

His adopted parents turned the house they were living into an inn. Guests was coming and going, making Will was even more curious for traveling. The young man was a good listener, he was loved by guests. He was hardworking and definitely he was eager to hear stories. Yet one day, he met a man who said the opposite things about traveling. This man was realistic, telling Will that not all people living in big cities were happy.

Whether this was influencing Will or not, one couldn’t tell, but one thing for sure, Will didn’t leave the mill and the inn after his parents died. He was taking care of the whole business on his own. He hired several assistants to have had repair the inn. Slowly, Will was gaining a good reputation in his surrounding.

A church nearby his residence had to be dismantled. Will was offering the parson and his daughter, Marjory, to stay at his house. To this they agreed at least until the church was being repaired. The relationship between Will and Marjory was the thing that became a source of talks among their neighbors.

Marjory, a smart and timid person, 19 years old, much younger than Will, who is over 30 years old. Will told his father and her that he loved her and Marjory, who rarely spoke, told that she thought she felt the same thing. The thing that made her down was Will’s treatments to her.

Will very seldom talked and met her in private. A few days after his love declaration, Will said to her that his affection was unchanged but he wished they remained friends unless Marjory asked for him to wed her then Will would do that. Marjory firstly said she was offended. She and her father decided to leave Will.

Not long after that, Will knocked at Marjory’s house feeling so guilty. Much to his surprise, Marjory looked fine with what had been passing between the two. They remained good friends for nearly three years. They were enjoying the friendship and Will seemed so joyful for having Marjory as his friend.

All of a sudden, Marjory got married to a man that later made Will feeling blue. Marjory died not long after that, leaving Will so sad while accompanying her in her last breaths.

Will was living as a single, wise, philosophical man. A lot of people was trying to persuade him leaving the place but Will unmoved. His gentleness and wisdom was making him popular among tourists and guests. Will was growing older and weaker. He was now 72 years old. Despite his older age,Will and his servants kept welcoming guests. One night, a stranger came. He was inviting Will to drink wine. Both was having little chats. The stranger, who called himself as a doctor, started becoming weirder for Will.

Until the stranger told Will his intention of coming was picking the old man up to his afterlife. The doctor later introduced himself as death and he said he was usually hard to a lot of people but Will was an exception.

Will was glad in return with the coming of his death. He said he had been waiting for this moment. Since Marjory, his best friend, had been taken, Will was happy to go with his new friend to set an adventure. Finally, Will was traveling.

The picture is taken from this. Thanks so much for the picture.