Charles Brocken Brown′s Wieland
Character or personality
Wieland’s novel contains supernatural events that cause different understanding among people. One of them is the unfamiliar sound that makes Wieland kill his family, claiming it is God’s direction. The characters didn’t know that it was Carwin making the disembodied voices until it was late; the voices affected how the different characters reacted. In chapter 3 of the book, the writer talks about Henry Pleyel, who is a brother to Catherine Wieland’s wife. He is extremely practical in his ways and thinking. He showed intellectual liberty and differed with people in his arguments and explanations. He was rational about things and mostly accepted the guidance of his reasoning. He had a strong personality that would not be moved by other people’s thoughts. Pleyel was equally educated with Wieland and had the same religious knowledge. However, they applied it differently and had differing philosophies. Being an avowed skeptic is an integral part of Pleyel’s character.
Transformation
Pleyel hears the voice when with Wieland. The voice is thought to be from Catherine and another person speaking about the death of his lover in Europe. At first, Pleyel stands firm with his personality and even tells Wieland to listen to his senses. He doesn’t rush in deciding on the voices. He is shaken by the voices and wants to prove his stand. Pleyel is confused and swayed by the voices. He takes time thinking about it, unlike before. He is also depressed and takes an analytical review of the issue. However, he does not pursue the faulty beliefs that exist in the supernatural. Wieland uses language powerfully to explain the behavior of Pleyel. He points out how he continues to eschew religion at high levels. He also brings out Pleyel’s confusion after hearing the voices.