In Maulmain Fever-Ward
Blanche Colton Williams’s study examines George Gilbert’s “In Maulmain, Fever-Ward” as a deliberately constructed short story rather than retelling it for its own sake. It opens with Gilbert’s statements about flood time, the whirlpool, his swimming experience, regional religious practices, and fiction’s selective use of local reality. Williams then charts the plot from initial impulse through minor and major climaxes to dénouement, testing motivation, suspense, dramatic forecasting, and one apparent manipulation involving the chest and python. The analysis considers the advantages of Paul Brandon’s first-person narration, characterization of Paul, Pra Oom Bwhat, Nagy N’Yang, Ali Beg, and the python, as well as love, religion, local color, snake imagery, atmosphere, scenes, economy, and the credibility of the ending. It closes with Gilbert’s definition of the short story as requiring an “inner voice” and a resolved end.
By Blanche Colton Williams · First published 1919 · Genre: Literary Analysis, Literary Criticism, Literary Essay · 1,894 words
First lines
STARTING POINT AND FUNDAMENTAL PROCESSES. "The starting point for ‘In Maulmain, Fever-Ward' is in the first four words of the tale: ‘Flood time on Salwin River. ' Flood time! Then the flowers are rioting, the traders are coming in and of course all things else follow.
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Genres
- Literary Analysis — The section breaks down plot stages, narration, characterization, motifs, and dramatic effects in a specific story.
- Literary Criticism — Williams evaluates construction, melodrama, plausibility, economy, and the effectiveness of the dénouement.
- Literary Essay — The study combines critical commentary, guided interpretive questions, and quoted statements about fiction.
- Non-Fiction — It is an instructional critical section from a study volume, not the fiction it examines.
Tags
Blanche Colton Williams · George Gilbert · In Maulmain Fever-Ward · short-story construction · plot climax · first-person narrator · Paul Brandon · Pra Oom Bwhat · Nagy N’Yang · whirlpool motif · snake motif · local color
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In Maulmain Fever-Ward is listed on Textopian as an essay by Blanche Colton Williams, dated 1919 CE.
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- Work type: Essay
- Author: Blanche Colton Williams
- Date: 1919 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Analysis, Literary Criticism, Literary Essay, Non-Fiction
- Length: 1,894 words
- Structure: 1 section, 27 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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