A Whisper in the Dark

In A Whisper in the Dark, we are primarily introduced to the point of view of Sybil. We are led to believe everything that she says because she is our only source of information, since she is the only one that we can rely on as a narrator. Throughout the story, her character unfolds and we learn more and more about who she really is, and even though we start mistrusting her views a little we still have to rely on what she sees and thinks.

Since Sybil is the narrator once the concepts of insanity start playing in, we as the readers have no clue what to think because she doesn't even know what is going on herself. This is shown when she finds herself in the insane asylum and says, "Where am I, and am I here against my will?" (231). In a sense, the readers had a clue of what was going to possibly happen to Sybil before she did like when she wakes up from unconsciousness from her fall and starts asking questions and everybody is very suspiciously covert. As Sybil keeps on asking questions, her Uncle and Dr. Karnac have their own conversation going on and Dr. Karnac says, "If it continues, you are perfectly justified in doing so." (228). As I read that part, the first thing that came to my mind was that her Uncle was planning on doing something to her like sending her to some other place so she would not disturb his plans of acquiring her wealth. Even though instances like this give us clues as to what is possibly happening, we still have a stronghold on Sybil because what is happening to her is also very important. However, as our image of Sybil is altered, we start seeing the text as more mysterious and we start paying more attention to the actions of the other characters as well.

Throughout the whole story, Sybil is this outspoken, scheming character and as mentioned before in class, she is very much like Capitola. One main similarity is that both Capitola and Sybil did not grow up with mothers. Not growing up with mothers might have a big part in why Sybil is the way she is. Nevertheless, Sybil is "lady like" as shown when she meets Guy for the first time and she says, "Then I rose prepared to give him the coldest greeting, yet I did not." (215). Sybil is rebellious and flirtatious, but she still thinks about being polite especially to the man she finds attractive. I think if Sybil had been raised by her mother, she would be a lot more modest with her flirtations and she would not be as calculating as she originally is with her uncle and Guy. She would probably be more like Ellen from The Wide, Wide World and be less vain and more caring of others. Sybil drastically changes when she enters the asylum, and changes even more when she realizes her mother was the person that drove her crazy at night. This is shown when she reunites with Guy, and she is not trying to be conniving or flirtatious anymore but instead says, "when each saw each other by the light of this strange and sad experience--Guy poor, again, I free, the old bond still existing, the barrier of misunderstanding gone--- it was easy to see our way, easy to submit, to forgive, to forget, and begin anew the life these clouds had darkened for a time." (241).

I believe Sybil's change not only comes from being in the asylum, but also realizing that her mother was still alive and being affected by her mother's tragic situation made much of a difference. Sybil's relationship with her mother is completely the opposite from what we have seen in the past stories, yet she somehow still gains something from her mother, which is what the 19th century society and fiction advocated; mothers were supposed to be role models and they were supposed to teach their little girls how to be ladies. Sybil's mother saved her by warning her, but also finally made Sybil turn into a respectable, mature young lady.