The Visit of the Master
Williams’s study treats “The Visit of the Master” as Mr. Johnson’s satirical character study, arguing that Mary Haviland Norton nearly displaces the event itself as the story’s center. It explains how the apparently slight, negative incident of a missed visit gains narrative force by testing Miss Haviland’s self-presentation, ambitions, disappointment, and eventual announcement of her engagement. The analysis charts the plot from the invitation through the guest’s premature arrival, the heroine’s failure to receive him, her improvised account to later guests, and the dénouement. It also examines the retrospective framing: a former student recounts the episode ten years later to a presumed Johnson. Williams emphasizes the narrator’s school-girl manner, the author’s technical control of viewpoint and style, Mary Haviland’s mixed power and connoisseurship, and the closing humor of the “in the tub” remark.
By Blanche Colton Williams · First published 1919 · Genre: Literary Analysis, Literary Criticism, Non-Fiction · 508 words
First lines
COMMENT. Mr. Johnson has here produced a satirical character study, wherein Mary Haviland Norton well nigh stands in place of the story; but in playing up the visit of Hurrell Oaks he has secured narrative interest. That a mere visit should have loomed as an event, and that the loss of it should have proved so disappointing becomes the test of Miss Haviland's character. Building a story upon so negative an incident is a feat worthy of Henry James -- or Mary Haviland Norton.
PLOT.
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Genres
- Literary Analysis — Breaks the work into plot stages and evaluates its narration, characterization, and stylistic method.
- Literary Criticism — Offers evaluative claims about Johnson’s satirical design, technical consciousness, and humor.
- Non-Fiction — This section presents explanatory critical commentary rather than a fictional narrative.
Tags
Blanche Colton Williams · The Visit of the Master · Mr. Johnson · Mary Haviland Norton · Hurrell Oaks · satirical character study · plot structure · dramatic climax · framed narration · retrospective narrator · point of view · characterization
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The Visit of the Master 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, Non-Fiction
- Length: 508 words
- Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
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