Lady Peter Wimsey: Literary Device or Character
Dorothy Sayer's famous detective Peter Wimsey is the lively, realistic center of attention in a series of detective books. How can a character with such a detailed realistic life be brought out in a book? Settings, a variety of fiends and friends, and intricate plots were indeed a major factor in enhancing Wimsey, but not nearly as much the advent of a partner. The actual details of this partner are not important, but the revelations made from the invention of this partner, Harriet Vane, is very important. Harriet Vane's function is that of a plot device used to enhance and describe Sir Peter Wimsey, not an independently developing person.
The portrayal of Sir Peter Wimsey in Gaudy Night is that of a highly academic fellow who is able to converse easily with other academics, but this portrayal lacks a firm demonstration of Wimsey's masculinity (Sayers 274). The interchangeability of Harriet's and Sir Wimsey's gowns is a demonstration of the questionability of Wimsey as a man, but a showing of compassion and manly worry for Harriet's safety from Wimsey shortly resolves this question (Sayers 282). Later books with Harriet taking a subservant role to Peter in investigating cases, or remaining home and not participating in investigations help to substantiate further this feeling (Hall 104-113). These demonstrations, while proving for Sir Peter Wimsey detract from the character of Harriet Vane. They demonstrate her as a weaker less able character who is sheltered by a man, later her husband, during any possibly risky moments of her life. This sheltering also prevents Harriet from developing her own character because she is unable to interact with others, which provide the reflection needed to reveal hidden parts of Harriet's character. The final closing stitch in the answer of Wimsey's manliness is sealed with the discovery of the author's love sexually for the character and feeling of sisterly compassion with Harriet (Herman 113).
Harriet Vane is of further use in revealing Wimsey's past. On many occasions recalling of the past is performed through Harriet's eyes in a reflective manner (Hall 114). This allows the reader not only to see how Wimsey acted on the occasion, but gives you an idea of how his actions affect others involved in his life. One small example of this is shown in the recall of Harriet's trial, where she remembers how much his help was appreciated (Sayers 409) . This is useful because it expands on Wimsey as if he were a real person, just as reflection from others expands on us as people. Further evaluation by Harriet also can lead the reader on trips into parts of Sir Peter Wimsey's past not related in books (Hall 10). While some substance about Harriet is revealed through this process, the bulk of the material presented is her development in reference to Wimsey. This detracts from the Harriet as a person because it gives a story which shows she only exist when with Sir Peter Wimsey. This lack of existence is partly due to the fact she has existed for a much shorter time, literally, that Peter Wimsey, but also from the fact that less work seems to has been expended on developing her character. Self reflection performed by Wimsey in
Gaudy Night is existent but not with the extra clarity or differing point of view presented by Harriet in her recollection of Wimsey's daring rescue of her during her trial for the murder of her former lover.
Along with presenting a background of Wimsey, Harriet presents a springboard from which to expand Wimsey's character (Brunsdale 129). Harriet herself contrasts with the nearly twenty percent of criminals who themselves are women (Nickerson 127). While these women present a challenge for Wimsey, none are nearly as elusive as Harriet whom he loves. She reveals many facets of Wimsey as he attempts to obtain affection and marriage from her. Ms. Vane also demonstrates that Wimsey has a weakness for a woman, which he demonstrates by his repeated proposals of marriage (Sayers 452). This weakness once again leads you into a new facet of Wimsey's personality each time it is presented. Harriet, while rejecting Sir Peter Wimsey does seems to contemplate why she does so, but each time responds with similar feelings of doubt in their relationship and a need to spurn Peter, until she finally gives in and later marries Peter Wimsey (Hall 104-113). This surrender to Peter helps demonstrate the powerfulness of his character over hers, because even against previous judgment he manages to persuade Harriet to marry him. Harriet provided other points for expansion when she conversed with friends of Sir Peter Wimsey. These people would present lively tales and opinions about Sir Peter that he himself would most likely not tell the reader. These stories may be as simple as being the "perfect English gentleman" or of the ghost that haunted his family's estate (Hall 121). Many times these stories explained characteristics of Wimsey that seems to be random, but were actually quite explainable. Unfortunately the reader learning these things through Harriet meant she was provided only as a medium to obtain information, not as a real person.
Harriet's final use was that of a method of presenting new cases to Sir Peter Wimsey. Harriet never solved the case in
Gaudy Night or that of her own lover's death (25). Each time Harriet was involved in a case she would be the person to discover the body or know the source of trouble, but in each case it would be Sir Peter Wimsey's intellect that would finally be brought in to do serious battle with the criminals. This was done to help expand Peter as a character and allow his to impress the reader with his superior detective abilities. These abilities were presented in the stunning fashion as shown in
Gaudy Night of a man able in a short amount of time to accomplish solving a crime that eluded Harriet. This detracted from Harriet not only as a person but as a detective, proving that she was not capable of handling many cases that Sir Peter Wimsey was able to handle. Harriet also insured a continuing supply of semi-realistic plots. It is assumed that Peter could not be told of every murder or poison pen in Europe, but with Harriet finding a few cases, Sir Peter Wimsey could be assured of a continuing practice (Hall 104-113).
Harriet Vane, later Lady Peter Wimsey, was a plot device used to expand on the series character, Sir Peter Wimsey. Peter was given a new portal to the world through this character and used her to obtain new cases for himself, and to grow as a person. The author used Harriet to present her main character's weaknesses, strengths, and past in a manner that Sir Peter could not present himself. While this expanded Sir Peter Wimsey as a character it created a less detail character of Harriet Vane which appeared to depend on the strength of Sir Peter Wimsey for its survival.
Works Cited
Brunsdale, Mitzi. Dorothy L. Sayers: Solvingthe Mystery of Wickedness. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1990.
Hall, Trevor H, comp. Dorothy L. Sayers: Nine Literary Studies. Hamden: Archon Books, 1980.
Herman, Linda and Beth Stiel. Corpus Delicti of Mystery Fiction: A Guide to the Body of the Case. Metuchen: Scarecrow Press, 1974.
Nickerson, Edward A. "Realistic' Crime Fiction: An Anatomy of Evil People." The Centennial Review. 25 (1981): 101-132.
Sayers, Dorothy L. Gaudy Night. New York: Harper & Row, 1964.