ABSTRACT
TheconflictinGissingbetweenpessimismandwillpowerwas particularlyacuteintheyearsthatfollowedhisimprisonment anddisgrace.LikeSidneyKirkwoodinTheNetherWorldhewas 'onlyjustrecoveringfromashockwhichwouldleaveitsmark uponhislifetotheend,hisyouthwrongedbybitternecessities, forcedintobroodingoverproblemsofillwhennaturewouldhave biddenhimtoenjoy'.Deniedenjoyment,hesoughtescape throughresolution-doggedapplicationtoindignantnovelsand commitmenttoacause.Hisclovenemotionsareexposedina storyhedashedoffinearly1880,regardingitasmerelyaparody ofPoe.Asmoulderinglittlesquibaboutfratricide,'Cainand Abel'hasaherowiththenameofCainbutasubstitutesurname, Hope.'Inworldlyprospects',hesays,'Ineverceasedtoimprove ...Inthisrespectmycareerhasbeenexemplary,andImaysafely pointtoittoprovehowmuchcanbedonebyresolutehardwork.' Thetwististhatthemanwhomakesthisdeclarationisspeaking fromthecondemnedcell.1
