The Ghastly Ordeal of Timothy Cavendish - Part 1
Poor Timothy Cavendish must have the worst luck in the world for nothing ever seems to favor him. Admittedly, Cavendish’s story fits very well right after Luisa’s high-stakes cliffhanger and provides some appreciated comic relief. The Ghastly Ordeal bolsters many of the established themes, the most prevalent being Strong vs. Weak and Imprisonment.
It seems that most of Tim’s tribulations are due to the fact that he is viewed as elderly (or one of “The Undead” as Timothy likes to call them) and is assumed as being incapable. From the get-go, those who are physically or authoritatively stronger take advantage of him. Being mugged by teenage girls, threatened by thugs, stolen from by a nurse, and beat by a grounds man were just a few instances in which he was exploited because he was presumed to be weaker.
The other major aspect to Tim’s story was his imprisonment at the Aurora House retirement home. Unknowingly sent there by his trickster brother Denholm, Tim was held against his will. After trying to reason with the reception and then attempting to run away, Tim’s confinement began to sink in. His imprisonment is similar to that of previous characters and many yet to come.
The theme of Ascent and Descent is also present in this section but is seen in subtler ways. When Duster Hoggin’s throws Felix Finch over a balcony and to his death, Knuckle Sandwich’s sales rise along with Tim’s account balance. Finch’s fall was the catalyst that kick started Tim’s downward spiral that eventually added him to the ranks of Aurora House. Also, a minute presence of this theme is seen when Cavendish stumbles out of his cab and falls into a ditch right in front of Aurora House.
Other Noteworthy Connections
It seems that most of Tim’s tribulations are due to the fact that he is viewed as elderly (or one of “The Undead” as Timothy likes to call them) and is assumed as being incapable. From the get-go, those who are physically or authoritatively stronger take advantage of him. Being mugged by teenage girls, threatened by thugs, stolen from by a nurse, and beat by a grounds man were just a few instances in which he was exploited because he was presumed to be weaker.
The other major aspect to Tim’s story was his imprisonment at the Aurora House retirement home. Unknowingly sent there by his trickster brother Denholm, Tim was held against his will. After trying to reason with the reception and then attempting to run away, Tim’s confinement began to sink in. His imprisonment is similar to that of previous characters and many yet to come.
The theme of Ascent and Descent is also present in this section but is seen in subtler ways. When Duster Hoggin’s throws Felix Finch over a balcony and to his death, Knuckle Sandwich’s sales rise along with Tim’s account balance. Finch’s fall was the catalyst that kick started Tim’s downward spiral that eventually added him to the ranks of Aurora House. Also, a minute presence of this theme is seen when Cavendish stumbles out of his cab and falls into a ditch right in front of Aurora House.
Other Noteworthy Connections
- “Time’s Arrow became Times Boomerang,” (147) evokes thoughts of Australia, close to where the novel began.
- “A jazz sextet kicked off a rumba,” (147) quite possibly could be Robert Frobisher’s Sextet.
- “... even Moby Dick bombed in Melville’s lifetime,” (148) could be a nod to the Melvillic writing style of Adam Ewing’s journal.
- “I, yes, I had exclusive rights to this platinum goose...” (152) reminds us of Henry Goose.
- Both Timothy and Robert Frobisher come from wealthy families but find themselves running away from dreadful financial situations.
- “Tracing Captain Cook’s last voyage on my antique globe...” (155) conjures thoughts of the central location of Hawaii.
- Cavendish is sent the first half of Luisa Rey’s mystery. (156)
- Essex, Cavendish’s hometown, contains Cambridge which is where both Sixsmith and Megan attended school.
- “All water under the bridge, now, Cavendish,” (179) reminds us of the last that we saw of Luisa.
- “The tribe of the elderly will claim you,” (180) is indicative of the Maori and Moriori tribes introduced in Adam’s journal.
The Ghastly Ordeal of Timothy Cavendish - Part 2
Yet again Timothy’s story contrasts that of the previous section, providing such an amusing account of his misfortunes that sometimes one just can’t help but laugh. Albeit comical, Tim’s story – or a disney screenplay – truly does deal with heavyweight topics that are relevant in our society today. As stated previously, Timothy must deal with society’s prejudice toward the elderly and must work around the assumption that he is powerless. Society’s disposition is highlighted when John Hotchkiss leaves his car keys in the ignition while he is at Aurora, believing nothing will happen to his car while around incompetent elderly. Also, although Timothy and Sonmi live in completely different times, their societies are almost parallel when it comes to the “unwanted.” Places like Aurora House are not all that different from conurbs like Huamdonggil where consumers are placed if they are not euthanized.
Timothy continues to endure cruelty from the Aurora House staff. Ernie even asserts that Nurse Noakes induced his stroke. The theme of Predation is put into plain words when Cavendish locked Noakes in his room, “and left the huntress snarling in a prison cell of her own invention” (377). The theme is further explored between the interactions of John Hotchkiss and his senile mother. John cares not for his sick mother but for the location of the family jewels that she hid and then forgot about. The sole reason he visits is to try and pry their whereabouts from her feeble mind before she dies.
Other Noteworthy Connections
Timothy continues to endure cruelty from the Aurora House staff. Ernie even asserts that Nurse Noakes induced his stroke. The theme of Predation is put into plain words when Cavendish locked Noakes in his room, “and left the huntress snarling in a prison cell of her own invention” (377). The theme is further explored between the interactions of John Hotchkiss and his senile mother. John cares not for his sick mother but for the location of the family jewels that she hid and then forgot about. The sole reason he visits is to try and pry their whereabouts from her feeble mind before she dies.
Other Noteworthy Connections
- “I can only squeal, like Peter Rabbit tossed off a Salisbury Cathedral’s spire,” (353) is similar to the tossing of the fabricant doll over the bride along Sonmi’s trek to Pusan.
- “One or two things will have to go: the insinuation that Luisa Rey is this Robert Frobisher chap reincarnated, for example,” (357) Two previous stories are alluded to here and the theme of Reincarnation is addressed by a character.
- "I have a birthmark too, below my left armpit, but no one ever compared it to a comet." (357) Cavendish admits he has a birthmark.
- Denholm died while feeding his priceless carp (365), which is the holographic animal form An-Kor Apis took in Sonmi’s Orison.
- “I flung away the sensation of having lived through this very moment many times before; I released the hand brake, bumped Withers; moved up to second; the Hotchkisses were not drowning but waving...” (380) Here Timothy seems to experience déjà vu possibly of Luisa Rey’s bridge crash or maybe even Sonmi’s car getaway.
- “Tribalism electrified the audience,” (383) once again brings to mind the multiple tribes within previous stories.
- Timothy receives second draft of The First Luisa Rey Mystery. (387)