Student Question
Can you provide an example of foreshadowing in The Moonstone?
Quick answer:
The Prologue of The Moonstone provides foreshadowing by introducing the cursed nature of the Moonstone diamond, suggesting future chaos for its possessors. It details the diamond's history and the guardian priests who watch over it, hinting at the impending turmoil it will cause in the English family central to the story. This setup indicates that the diamond's curse will lead to significant and mysterious events, aligning with Victorian interests in India and the supernatural.
An example of foreshadowing is the story in the Prologue that the Moonstone is cursed.
Foreshadowing is a hint at something that is going to happen later in the story.
The prologue not only explains the Moonstone’s rich and significant history, it also explains how it became cursed and how the guardian priests watch it.
[The] Moonstone passed (carrying its curse with it) from one lawless Mohammedan hand to another; and still, through all chances and changes, the successors of the three guardian priests kept their watch…
These events turn out to be important, because the Moonstone does cause chaos in the genteel English family in the story. Also, Victorians were highly interested in India and stories like this. Setting up the mystery by describing this story makes it clear that something spooky is going to happen, and that there is something mysterious about the diamond—and trouble comes to whoever owns it or carries it.
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