Article #355-2 | Gutenberg Articles

Excerpt

Excerpt from The Parasite: A Story, by Arthur Conan Doyle

March 24. The spring is fairly with us now. Outside my laboratory
window the great chestnut-tree is all covered with the big, glutinous,
gummy buds, some of which have already begun to break into little green
shuttlecocks. As you walk down the lanes you are conscious of the
rich, silent forces of nature working all around you. The wet earth
smells fruitful and luscious. Green shoots are peeping out everywhere.
The twigs are stiff with their sap; and the moist, heavy English air is
laden with a faintly resinous perfume. Buds in the hedges, lambs
beneath them--everywhere the work of reproduction going forward!

I can see it without, and I can feel it within. We also have our
spring when the little arterioles dilate, the lymph flows in a brisker
stream, the glands work harder, winnowing and straining. Every year
nature readjusts the whole machine. I can feel the ferment in my blood
at this very moment, and as the cool sunshine pours through my window I
could dance about in it like a gnat. So I should, only that Charles
Sadler would rush upstairs to know what was the matter. Besides, I
must remember that I am Professor Gilroy. An old professor may afford
to be natural, but when fortune has given one of the first chairs in
the university to a man of four-and-thirty he must try and act the part
consistently.

What a fellow Wilson is! If I could only throw the same enthusiasm
into physiology that he does into psychology, I should become a Claude
Bernard at the least. His whole life and soul and energy work to one
end. He drops to sleep collating his results of the past day, and he
wakes to plan his researches for the coming one. And yet, outside the
narrow circle who follow his proceedings, he gets so little credit for
it. Physiology is a recognized science. If I add even a brick to the
edifice, every one sees and applauds it. But Wilson is trying to dig
the foundations for a science of the future. His work is underground
and does not show. Yet he goes on uncomplainingly, corresponding with
a hundred semi-maniacs in the hope of finding one reliable witness,
sifting a hundred lies on the chance of gaining one little speck of
truth, collating old books, devouring new ones, experimenting,
lecturing, trying to light up in others the fiery interest which is
consuming him. I am filled with wonder and admiration when I think of
him, and yet, when he asks me to associate myself with his researches,
I am compelled to tell him that, in their present state, they offer
little attraction to a man who is devoted to exact science. If he
could show me something positive and objective, I might then be tempted
to approach the question from its physiological side. So long as half
his subjects are tainted with charlatanerie and the other half with
hysteria we physiologists must content ourselves with the body and
leave the mind to our descendants.

Explanation

**Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from The Parasite: A Story by Arthur Conan Doyle**

Context of the Source

Arthur Conan Doyle, best known for creating Sherlock Holmes, also wrote scientific romances, horror, and psychological fiction. The Parasite (1894) is a novella blending science fiction and Gothic horror, exploring themes of mind control, scientific ambition, and the boundaries between physiology and psychology. The story follows Professor Austin Gilroy, a respected physiologist, and his interactions with Wilson, a psychologist studying mesmerism and telepathy. The excerpt is from Gilroy’s first-person diary entry, which establishes his scientific mindset, his admiration for Wilson, and his skepticism toward psychology—a tension that drives the plot.

Themes in the Excerpt

Nature and Human Biology as Parallel Forces
- The passage opens with a vivid description of spring, emphasizing renewal, fertility, and unseen natural forces (e.g., buds breaking, lambs being born, sap rising). Gilroy then draws a direct parallel between external nature and human physiology, describing the body’s own "spring" (dilating arterioles, flowing lymph, active glands).
- This juxtaposition suggests that human biology is as governed by cyclical, natural laws as the external world—a reflection of 19th-century scientific determinism (the idea that all phenomena, including human behavior, are subject to natural laws).
The Conflict Between Physiology and Psychology
- Gilroy represents empirical, measurable science (physiology), while Wilson embodies speculative, intangible science (psychology, particularly the study of the mind and paranormal phenomena).
- Gilroy admires Wilson’s dedication but dismisses his work as unscientific because it lacks "positive and objective" evidence. This reflects the late 19th-century debate over whether psychology could be a legitimate science (a tension still relevant in Doyle’s time, as psychology was emerging as a distinct field).
Scientific Ambition and Professional Identity
- Gilroy is acutely aware of his reputation as a young professor ("a man of four-and-thirty") and the need to maintain decorum ("An old professor may afford to be natural, but... I must act the part consistently").
- His restrained enthusiasm (suppressing the urge to "dance about like a gnat") contrasts with Wilson’s unbridled passion, highlighting how institutional science demands conformity, while pioneering work (like Wilson’s) often exists on the fringes.
The Limits of Knowledge and the Unknown
- Gilroy acknowledges that Wilson is "digging the foundations for a science of the future"—implying that some truths are not yet accessible to current methods.
- His skepticism ("so long as half his subjects are tainted with charlatanerie and the other half with hysteria") reflects the Victorian distrust of "fringe" sciences (like mesmerism, spiritualism, or early psychology), which were often associated with fraud or mental instability.

Literary Devices & Stylistic Choices

Imagery & Sensory Language
- Natural Imagery: The description of spring is richly sensory—visual ("big, glutinous, gummy buds"), olfactory ("rich, silent forces," "faintly resinous perfume"), and tactile ("twigs are stiff with their sap").
- Physiological Imagery: Gilroy extends this to the body ("ferment in my blood," "little arterioles dilate"), creating a metaphorical link between nature and human biology.
Juxtaposition & Contrast
- Nature vs. Science: The organic, uncontrolled growth of spring contrasts with Gilroy’s controlled, methodical scientific mind.
- Gilroy vs. Wilson: Gilroy is reserved, institutional, and skeptical, while Wilson is passionate, obsessive, and visionary.
Irony & Foreshadowing
- Gilroy’s dismissal of psychology as unscientific is ironic because the novella’s plot hinges on supernatural mental influence (a parasitic entity controlling minds).
- His admiration for Wilson’s dedication foreshadows that Wilson’s work may hold more truth than Gilroy realizes.
Stream of Consciousness & Diary Style
- The first-person, diary format gives an intimate, immediate sense of Gilroy’s thoughts, blending scientific observation with personal reflection.
- The shift from nature to science to self-reflection mirrors how the mind associates ideas, reinforcing the novella’s themes of mental interconnectedness.
Metaphor & Simile
- "Like a gnat": Compares Gilroy’s suppressed energy to an insect’s erratic movement, emphasizing his restrained vitality.
- "Digging the foundations for a science of the future": Wilson’s work is framed as pioneering but unseen, like underground construction.
Tone & Mood
- Optimistic & Energetic: The spring imagery creates a vibrant, life-affirming mood.
- Analytical & Skeptical: Gilroy’s scientific detachment tempers the enthusiasm, creating a tension between wonder and doubt.

Significance of the Excerpt

Establishing Gilroy’s Character
- The passage defines Gilroy as a man of science, but also as someone capable of passion (though he suppresses it). This duality makes his later vulnerability to supernatural influence more plausible.
Introducing the Central Conflict
- The clash between physiology and psychology sets up the novella’s core tension: Can the mind be studied scientifically, or does it operate beyond empirical rules?
- Gilroy’s skepticism makes his eventual encounter with the supernatural more dramatic, as it forces him to confront the limits of his worldview.
Reflecting 19th-Century Scientific Debates
- The excerpt captures the era’s scientific optimism (belief in progress, empirical methods) while also acknowledging the mysteries that science had not yet explained (the mind, paranormal phenomena).
- Doyle, a physician himself, was fascinated by emerging psychological theories (e.g., Freud’s early work, studies on hysteria) and paranormal research (he later became a spiritualist). This passage mirrors real intellectual tensions of the time.
Foreshadowing the Supernatural
- Gilroy’s focus on the body (physiology) will be challenged by forces that act on the mind, blurring the line between the two.
- His admiration for Wilson’s persistence hints that Wilson’s theories may prove correct—a setup for the novella’s horror elements.

Conclusion: The Excerpt’s Role in the Novella

This opening diary entry serves multiple purposes:

Grounds the story in realism (Gilroy’s scientific perspective makes the later supernatural elements more unsettling).
Introduces key themes (nature vs. science, the known vs. the unknown, professional restraint vs. passion).
Sets up Gilroy’s arc—his initial skepticism will be shattered by experience, forcing him to reconsider what is possible.

Doyle uses Gilroy’s rational voice to lure the reader into a false sense of security before introducing the horror of the unseen mind. The beauty of the spring imagery contrasts sharply with the dark, invasive forces that will later take hold—making the supernatural elements all the more jarring and effective.

Would you like a deeper analysis of how this connects to later events in The Parasite?

Questions

Question 1

The passage’s juxtaposition of external spring and Gilroy’s physiological "spring" primarily serves to:

A. underscore the deterministic parallel between natural cycles and human biology, framing both as governed by immutable, mechanistic laws.
B. contrast the unpredictability of nature with the precision of scientific inquiry, highlighting Gilroy’s preference for controlled observation.
C. illustrate the regenerative power of youth, positioning Gilroy’s vitality as an anomaly among older, more sedate academics.
D. critique the reductionist tendencies of 19th-century physiology by implying that human consciousness transcends mere biological processes.
E. foreshadow Gilroy’s eventual intellectual transformation by suggesting that his rigid empiricism will yield to a more holistic worldview.

Question 2

Gilroy’s description of Wilson’s work as "underground" and "not show[ing]" is most effectively interpreted as a metaphor for:

A. the marginalized status of emergent scientific paradigms that lack institutional validation but may later redefine disciplinary boundaries.
B. the inherent obscurity of psychological research, which, unlike physiology, cannot produce tangible or replicable results.
C. Wilson’s deliberate secrecy, stemming from a fear of professional ridicule or the misappropriation of his theories by charlatans.
D. the subterranean, almost parasitic nature of Wilson’s methods, which exploit vulnerable subjects for speculative ends.
E. the foundational yet invisible role of psychological processes in underpinning all human behavior, much like root systems sustaining visible growth.

Question 3

The narrator’s suppressed urge to "dance about like a gnat" in the sunlight is primarily a literary device to:

A. humanize Gilroy by revealing his latent whimsy, thereby undermining his self-serious academic persona.
B. emphasize the conflict between his biological impulses and the social constraints of his professional identity.
C. foreshadow his eventual mental unraveling, as the gnat’s erratic movement prefigures a loss of rational control.
D. invoke a moment of ironic self-awareness, where his scientific detachment is momentarily disrupted by an involuntary, almost childlike joy.
E. critique the stifling effect of institutional science, which demands emotional repression as the cost of intellectual authority.

Question 4

Gilroy’s admission that he "must remember that I am Professor Gilroy" is most thematically resonant with which of the following ideas?

A. The performative nature of academic prestige, which requires the subordination of personal authenticity to professional expectations.
B. The generational divide between young scholars, who must prove their seriousness, and established ones, who enjoy greater latitude.
C. The tension between the private self and the public role, where the latter imposes artificial constraints on genuine expression.
D. The necessity of disciplined restraint in scientific inquiry, lest emotional bias corrupt objective observation.
E. The existential loneliness of the intellectual, who must suppress individuality to gain collective respect.

Question 5

The passage’s closing sentiment—that physiologists "must content ourselves with the body and leave the mind to our descendants"—is best understood as:

A. a resigned acknowledgment of the inherent limitations of empirical science when confronted with metaphysical questions.
B. an ironic understatement that belies Gilroy’s unspoken fascination with the very mysteries he claims to dismiss.
C. a defensive rationalization, masking his envy of Wilson’s intellectual boldness with feigned methodological purity.
D. a prophetic warning about the dangers of prematurely venturing into uncharted scientific territories without adequate evidence.
E. a subtle indictment of psychology’s reliance on anecdotal evidence, which Gilroy views as epistemologically inferior to physiological data.

Solutions and Explanations

1) Correct answer: A

Why A is most correct: The passage explicitly links the "rich, silent forces of nature" in spring to Gilroy’s physiological processes ("the little arterioles dilate, the lymph flows in a brisker stream"), presenting both as mechanistic, cyclical, and deterministic. The parallel reinforces a 19th-century scientific worldview where human biology is subject to the same natural laws as the external world. This aligns with Gilroy’s empirical perspective and the era’s faith in scientific materialism.