Letters from Zedelghem
Contrasting with the narration of Adam Ewing, Robert Frobisher's story is much easier to read as David Mitchell loosens the proper and formal form of writing established in the first section. Letters from Zedelghem is filled with witty humor and underlying grief. Various references to other sections are apparent throughout both sections. A few examples are Frobisher discovering and reading a copy of The Pacific Journal of Adam Ewing, a mention of Frobisher's comet shaped birthmark, Frobisher's distrust of a character named Doctor Egret, a very similar name to that of Doctor Goose, and Vivian Arys dream of a nightmarish cafe, clearly depicting the setting of a later Section, The Orison of Sonmi-451.
The themes present in the first section, Strong vs Weak, Predation, Imprisonment, and Ascent and Descent, are seen again. Strong vs Weak can be observed through Arys and Frobisher's relationship. Physically, Arys is old, blind, and sickly, while Frobisher is young and energetic. Although this may be so, Arys holds the power in the relationship, being his employer who provides Frobisher room and board. Frobisher cannot even leave Zedelghem without Arys ruining his name and future career, which leads into the other theme of imprisonment. Arys also used Frobisher for his music and took credit for it, demonstrating predation.
Ascent and Descent is seen through Frobisher's journey and is arguably the most prominent. He begins as a poor man, having been disowned, with no permanent home, living in hotels. The only thing he had was his ambition. This ambition took him to Belgium. On the way there, he mentions that the icy black water in the wake of the boat looked inviting, which shows that depression and suicidal thoughts plagued him from the very beginning. Becoming the amanuensis to his beloved composer, acquiring a permanent home along with people that cared about him, was his ascent. Frobishers frequent altercations and disagreements with Arys led to his decision to leave. Again living in hotels, his final descent began. Once he finished his Cloud Atlas Sextet, Robert believed that he contributed all that he could to the world and was finished. Rejection from Eva added to his suffering. Frobisher descended so far that he committed suicide. Another more subtle example of ascent and descent is when Frobisher climbs to the top of the clock tower, and falls in love with Eva.
The last paragraph perpetuates the idea of reincarnation stating “Strip back the beliefs pasted on by governesses, schools, and states, you find indelible truths at one’s core. Rome’ll decline and fall again, Cortés’ll lay Tenochtitlán to waste again, and later, Ewing will sail again. Adrian’ll be blown to pieces again, you and I’ll sleep under Corsican stars again…Nietzsche’s gramophone record. When it ends, the Old One plays it again…Time cannot permeate this sabbatical. We do not stay dead long.”
The themes present in the first section, Strong vs Weak, Predation, Imprisonment, and Ascent and Descent, are seen again. Strong vs Weak can be observed through Arys and Frobisher's relationship. Physically, Arys is old, blind, and sickly, while Frobisher is young and energetic. Although this may be so, Arys holds the power in the relationship, being his employer who provides Frobisher room and board. Frobisher cannot even leave Zedelghem without Arys ruining his name and future career, which leads into the other theme of imprisonment. Arys also used Frobisher for his music and took credit for it, demonstrating predation.
Ascent and Descent is seen through Frobisher's journey and is arguably the most prominent. He begins as a poor man, having been disowned, with no permanent home, living in hotels. The only thing he had was his ambition. This ambition took him to Belgium. On the way there, he mentions that the icy black water in the wake of the boat looked inviting, which shows that depression and suicidal thoughts plagued him from the very beginning. Becoming the amanuensis to his beloved composer, acquiring a permanent home along with people that cared about him, was his ascent. Frobishers frequent altercations and disagreements with Arys led to his decision to leave. Again living in hotels, his final descent began. Once he finished his Cloud Atlas Sextet, Robert believed that he contributed all that he could to the world and was finished. Rejection from Eva added to his suffering. Frobisher descended so far that he committed suicide. Another more subtle example of ascent and descent is when Frobisher climbs to the top of the clock tower, and falls in love with Eva.
The last paragraph perpetuates the idea of reincarnation stating “Strip back the beliefs pasted on by governesses, schools, and states, you find indelible truths at one’s core. Rome’ll decline and fall again, Cortés’ll lay Tenochtitlán to waste again, and later, Ewing will sail again. Adrian’ll be blown to pieces again, you and I’ll sleep under Corsican stars again…Nietzsche’s gramophone record. When it ends, the Old One plays it again…Time cannot permeate this sabbatical. We do not stay dead long.”
Other Noteworthy Connections
- “Followed tramlines down coffinesque streets,” (47) reminds us of Adam Ewing calling his Prophetess bunk his “coffin.” (25)
- Frobisher discovers the first half of Adam’s journal in the Ayrs’ library and notes how Ewing hasn’t figured out that Dr. Goose is actually poisoning him. (64)
- “Ewing puts me in the mind of Melville’s bumbler Cpt. Delano...” (64) The Mellvillic style of Ewing’s journal is addressed.
- “I’d advise your friend to master the Ancients before he frolics with the Moderns,” (70) This may be commentary on the structure of Cloud Atlas and how it seemingly goes in a type chronological order of writing styles.
- "'I'm hardly going to male trouble for a naughty goose who lays suck illuminated eggs, am I? Come now' - he indicated the bar - "what's your poison?'" (73) If we believe what Frobisher has said about Dr. Goose poisoning Ewing, this line is haunting.
- “Dr. Egret gives me the creeps. Ever met a quack whom I didn’t half-suspect of plotting to do me in as expensively as he could contrive,” (439) Dr. Egret has a strikingly similar name to that of Dr. Goose. Frobisher dislikes him, just as Ewing initially disliked Goose.
- “Science devises ever bloodier means of war until humanity’s powers of destruction overcome our powers of creation and our civilization droves itself to extinction,” (444) This quote can be aimed at the faulty nuclear reactors of Swannekke, the deadlanded areas surrounding Nea So Corpos, and the Fallen lands of the world in Zachary’s time.
- “In the first set, each solo is interrupted by its successor: in the second, each interruption is recontinued, in order. Revolutionary or gimmicky?” (445) Mitchell provides commentary on the structure of Cloud Atlas.
- “Hanging myself from Zedelghem’s flagpole was preferable to letting its parasite master plunder my talents a day longer,” (457) gives a nod toward Adam and his parasitic “Ailment.”
- “A tile slid out and crashed on the gravel walk below,” (458) adds subtly to the theme of Ascent and Descent
- Frobisher discovers the second half of Adam’s journal wedged under a bedpost in his hotel room (460).
- “All those cannibals, feasting on my dignity,” (465) reminds us of the cannibals of Chatham Isle, Unanimity, and Big I.