We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
CHAPTER XLVI PREPARATION FOR THE EVENT PREPARATION for the event is not unlike establishment save that establishment is direct and preparation is indirect. In the preceding chapter we show that Harvey is rendered insane through a blow on the head. This is not alone establishment but prepara- tion for the event as well. The blow makes clear and understandable the insanity when it develops and also makes clear the reason for killing Dawkms. The blow was the preparation for these two events, and it was made clear and understandable through establishment. When Bessie hires the detective we prepare for the event in the later scene by establishing the fact that Bell is a detective. On the other hand, in the scene in Chapter XXXIX in which Elinore's former sweetheart awaits her outside the stage door, the first scene of the first development establishes the man, but it does not prepare for any event. We know that it is he and so we can get into action more quickly in the later scene, but preparation for the event does not merely mean establishment; it means providing in advance an expla- nation for what comes later and perhaps at a time when it is not possible to delay the action. 2. We prepare for Harvey's insanity by showing that he was struck a blow upon the head. Had the insanity been latent, had there been a hereditary taint that is brought to activity through the excite- ment of the strike, we would have prepared for the event in a dif- ferent manner. Then we could not show in action the predisposing causes. He may perform some peculiar action in the early part of the play. Some character taps his own head wuth a meaning smile and remarks in a leader that the u'hole family is as crazy as loons. Now when reason is unseated we have been prepared for something of the sort and accept it unhesitatingly. 3. Toward the end of the play a character gives a gasp and dies. It is necessary to get the death over with quickly. Heart disease is a tried friend of the author. But if there has been no preparation for this event we cannot understand nor accept the fact. It is not necessary to show the man previously purchasing nitrate of amyl by the quart, but there should be some sort of action to prepare us, to warn the spectator that there is heart disease present. Perhaps the first time we see the character some friend comes up and slaps him on the back. He gasps and clutches at his heart. In some other scene something falls. He jumps up, his hand to his heart. It all seems very casual, merely a bit of the byplay, but now it is re- membered and without mental effort we accept the heart disease. 4. Too much stress cannot be placed upon this need for making the action to appear casual. It must be something that is well marked, but it must not be intrusive. You must not appear to say: 228