ife of the Gosse’s he does it in reference to himself. If thiswere to chronicle “two temperaments, two consciences....two epochs (35)” there wouldbe more than one perspective. Do we once hear of Philip Gosse’s reactions or feelingsabout his wife dying? We do not, we merely get the reactions of what he does from hisson. Do we know what he thought those nights alone without his wife? No, we do not. Edmund did not take the time to find out. He even apologizes when he said, “Had I beenolder and more intelligent, of course, it might have been him, and not of myself that Ishould have been thinking (80).” Yet, still thinking of himself, he states, “This is not to bedwelt on here (80).” Of course it isn’t Edmund, it is an autobiography, it is about you.Edmund, we know would argue that. He tries to take the spotlight off of himself.Being the type of person that he is, the always goes back to talking about himself. In thelast numerical Page 3chapter of the book, Edmund tells of an apocalyptic event, a noteworthy action worthy ofending a book on...his transcendence into heaven. His epiphany is quickly grounded byreality. Nothing happens. His ego is shattered. HIS ego, Edmund’s ego. This catalyticevent puts an emotional and spiritual division between father and son that puts “the thicko’ the world” (235) between them. Although in the Epilogue Edmund is apologetic forhaving the son (himself) in the foreground of the book, he continues to end the book inexactly the same fashion. Edmund gives you an almost check-off list of his father’s life, “extreme solicitude, disappointment and disenchantment....etc.” all of this in oneparagraph. Edmund then, once again, changes from “He’s” to “I’s” and tells of hisreactions to his father’s incessant “postal inquisitions (236)” and suddenly the foc...
