ting episodes in the life of the Gosse’s he does it in reference to himself. If this were to chronicle “two temperaments, two consciences....two epochs (35)” there would be more than one perspective. Do we once hear of Philip Gosse’s reactions or feelings about his wife dying? We do not, we merely get the reactions of what he does from his son. 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 been older and more intelligent, of course, it might have been him, and not of myself that I should have been thinking (80).” Yet, still thinking of himself, he states, “This is not to be dwelt 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 the last numerical Page 3chapter of the book, Edmund tells of an apocalyptic event, a noteworthy action worthy of ending a book on...his transcendence into heaven. His epiphany is quickly grounded by reality. Nothing happens. His ego is shattered. HIS ego, Edmund’s ego. This catalytic event puts an emotional and spiritual division between father and son that puts “the thick o’ the world” (235) between them. Although in the Epilogue Edmund is apologetic for having the son (himself) in the foreground of the book, he continues to end the book in exactly 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 one paragraph. Edmund then, once again, changes from “He’s” to “I’s” and tells of his reactions to his father’s incessant “postal inqui...
