Who here likes literary analysis? Because I wrote a somewhat dense, 3000+ word essay on Raffles and the destruction of self. Think of it as a pre-Easter present
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I enjoyed reading this, and laughed out loud at the idea of Bunny nostalgically identifying himself with a stuffed bird. I agree with your analysis of Raffles' excitement about having a secret life he conceals from those around him, but he also needs Bunny as an audience; someone needs to know how clever he is, or he misses out on the admiration he feels he's due. And as you say, he likes the idea of Bunny writing his biography (once he's safely dead), so that the admiring audience can grow. So maybe he knows all along, at the back of his mind, that how he's remembered depends on Bunny.
You also reminded me of my reaction to the use of Dukas' music for The Sorceror's Apprentice for the television pilot which was my first encounter with the pair back in 1975. (I was very disappointed by the dull signature tune commissioned for the full series.) I had always been irritated by The Sorceror's Apprentice, one of those pieces considered suitable for children's musical education because of the story about the broom. But once I heard it
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Oh goodness, that reminds of that Doctor Who quote: "I am being extremely clever up here and there's no one to stand around looking impressed! What's the point in having you all?"
- So maybe he knows all along, at the back of his mind, that how he's remembered depends on Bunny.
I like this very much and am adding it to my head canon.
More seriously: yes, Raffles loves an audience...but he's not completely vain. He does work solo for years before The Ides of March, and again the whole time he's in Italy; he claims to want a quiet, respectable retirement. (He really doesn't, of course, but I think he at least wants to want it.) In A Jubilee Present Bunny notes Raffles' "...infatuation for the cup was, as he declared, a very pure passion, since the circumstances debarred him from the chief joy of the average collector, that of showing his treasure to his friends." Raffles is capable of enjoying a thing in solitude. He'd just rather not
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He does work solo for years before The Ides of March, and again the whole time he's in Italy
And clearly he gets bored after years without an admirer. He snaps up Bunny when he first appears, and then risks jail by trekking across Europe and living under considerable restraints in order to get him back. So he does have one friend to admire the cup while he has it.
Yeah...one of those bittersweet things. Bunny thinks £4000's more than enough for them to restart as honest men -- you get the feeling Raffles gained that amount from whatever unspeakable things he did in Italy, if he could drop £1000 on Theobald at a moment's notice -- so it's a shame that after fetching Bunny they couldn't just...run off and be emu farmers in Australia, or something. I mean what the heck, Raffles. What's keeping you?
He snaps up Bunny when he first appears -- Hehe, yes...quite so. :)
You also reminded me of my reaction to the use of Dukas' music for The Sorceror's Apprentice for the television pilot which was my first encounter with the pair back in 1975. (I was very disappointed by the dull signature tune commissioned for the full series.) I had always been irritated by The Sorceror's Apprentice, one of those pieces considered suitable for children's musical education because of the story about the broom. But once I heard it ( ... )
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- So maybe he knows all along, at the back of his mind, that how he's remembered depends on Bunny.
I like this very much and am adding it to my head canon.
More seriously: yes, Raffles loves an audience...but he's not completely vain. He does work solo for years before The Ides of March, and again the whole time he's in Italy; he claims to want a quiet, respectable retirement. (He really doesn't, of course, but I think he at least wants to want it.) In A Jubilee Present Bunny notes Raffles' "...infatuation for the cup was, as he declared, a very pure passion, since the circumstances debarred him from the chief joy of the average collector, that of showing his treasure to his friends." Raffles is capable of enjoying a thing in solitude. He'd just rather not ( ... )
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And clearly he gets bored after years without an admirer. He snaps up Bunny when he first appears, and then risks jail by trekking across Europe and living under considerable restraints in order to get him back. So he does have one friend to admire the cup while he has it.
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He snaps up Bunny when he first appears -- Hehe, yes...quite so. :)
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