Article 10 – Wilby as an Escapist in William Trevor’s “Folie à Deux”

Sydney Bjorndalen

To be an escapist is to escape everything that surrounds you physically, emotionally and mentally through the conscious and unconscious mind. Wilby is portrayed as an escapist throughout the short story “Folie à Deux” by William Trevor (2007). This paper explores how Wilby is an escapist, and what an escapist means to him and the other characters. It will be crucial to view the character traits and associated behaviours of Wilby and the other characters in the short story. All my paper shows that Wilby is an escapist truly through their thoughts and actions.

Wilby disconnects with all people in his life by not wanting, nor caring, to know the name of the place he is eating at because he is too concerned about his habits (Trevor, 2007). When he reflects on his favourite ways of escaping, the narrative voice states, “He drinks too much, he tells himself, and restrains the inclination to have another when the coffee comes” (Trevor, 2007, p.114). Wilby’s views of people and what is expected of them are jaded. He is unsure of what people’s intentions are and if they will let him down again. An example of this is when Wilby brings up when his marriage did not work out. It was the woman’s fault or his fault that the marriage was unsuccessful. He gives the impression that he will not make that mistake again (Trevor, 2007). To avoid heartbreak again, he has a fascination and desire to disappear with women on his own terms. As in the story, “Not wanting to think about Anthony, he wonders if she’s a tart, since she has that look, and for a moment sees her pale coat thrown down in some small room, the glow of an electric fire, money placed on a dressing-table: now and again when he travels he has a woman” (Trevor, 2007, p.115). Wilby goes to a place in his mind to replay what he has physically done to escape in the past. The ability to have the company of another person such as a woman with him, to feel good about himself. He needs a distraction with a woman.

When it comes to the character named Anthony, it strikes a nerve inside Wilby that makes him analyze and have different thoughts that he has been suppressing. The thoughts of wondering where Anthony has been and why he has been there (Trevor, 2007). When Wilby has his first encounter with Anthony since being an adult, Wilby states, “What is all this?” (Trevor, 2007, p.115). Wilby has been comforted and is unsure of what to say and express when talking to Anthony for the first time as an adult (Trevor, 2007). The movements in this part of the short story support Wilby’s desire to escape. The narrator describes Anthony’s movement as “… a hand’s half gesture, meaningless, hardly a response. Then the man turns away, entering the brasserie by another door” (Trevor, 2007, p.115). Anthony does not fully engage with and does not put pressure on Wilby, which gives Wilby the satisfaction.

The friendship between Wilby and Anthony has changed over the years. The character, Miss Davally, assumed that Anthony appeared to enjoy Wilby’s friendship before the accident with the family dog, Jericho (Trevor, 2007). The narrator explains to Wilby’s mother, “He values the friendship so! Miss Davally commented. How fortunate for two only children such a friendship is” (Trevor, 2007, p.119)! As individual people, Wilby and Anthony have changed, and their friendship has changed as well. Anthony’s characteristics and traits display the change by his interactions in his life (Trevor, 2007). Anthony interacts with people by displaying avoidance behaviours and is paralyzed by the sound of people. As in the story, “He shied away when conversation threatened, creeping back into his shadowlands” (Trevor, 2007, p.121). Wilby is one of the people that Anthony eventually avoided in his life (Trevor, 2007). He does not mind avoidance; he prefers it whenever he can. In this short story, Wilby has responded to questions about Anthony, then making a justification of why and when he would be associated with someone like Anthony (Trevor, 2007). When Wilby is confronted like this, he draws out his response to display shame and a sense of avoidance.

However, Wilby’s behaviour does not always demonstrate his desire and willingness to escape. He does sit with his thoughts and feelings sometimes throughout his adult life (Trevor, 2007). The narrator explains Wilby’s conflict in his mind, “Memory won’t let him go now; he knows it won’t and makes no effort to resist it” (Trevor, 2007, p.119). He will accept that he needs to process parts of this life. He does this in his own way, such as in the night (Trevor, 2007). Wilby does not want to see in the daylight because it will force self-reflection in all aspects of this life that he is ashamed of. The darkness allows him to hide with his thoughts (Trevor, 2007).

Wilby has his final interaction with Anthony. He tries to admit his faults and make some sense of the accident (Trevor, 2007). The opportunity presents itself, but Wilby does not have the courage to take it. Through his thought process, he escapes in his own mind at that moment with Anthony. The story tells us, “An accident, a misfortune beyond anticipation, the unexpected: with gentleness, for gentleness is due, he is about to plead. But Anthony crosses the street then…” (Trevor, 2007, p.124). Afterward, Wilby appears to be ashamed. Wilby’s desire to escape from himself comes to a desperate possible act. The idea of Wilby taking the ultimate escape is something that he took as a consideration. As in the story, “There is no bothering with redemption. Looking down from the bridge at the sluggish flow of water, Wilby confidently asserts that” (Trevor, 2007, p.124).

In conclusion, Wilby is an escapist. His escape behaviour is demonstrated throughout the short story. His actions are shown, with the most thought-out process usually before he acts, when it comes to Wilby craving to disappear. The narrative voice states, “He has lived easily with an aberration, then shaken it off: what happened was almost nothing” (Trevor, 2007, p.122). In the short story, some characters believe Wilby is an escapist, while Wilby is the primary person to know this is true for himself. He does struggle with how to escape, especially when a situation is presented in front of him. Wilby will be creative in what he has to do to escape.

References
Trevor, W. (2007) Folie à Deux. In L. Chalykoff, N. Gordon, & P. Lumsden (Editors.), (2008) The Broadview Introduction to Literature – Second Edition (pp. 113-125). Peterborough, ON: Broadview Press.

Author’s Bio: Sydney Bjorndalen grew up in Waterhen, MB, but currently lives in Gillam, MB, with her husband and their two dogs. This year is Sydney’s first year at University College of the North, and she attends the Thompson Campus. Sydney is taking the Bachelor of Education After Degree program and has a minor in Psychology from her first degree. She is currently working on her major, which is English. In her free time, she likes to connect with family and friends, play in sports leagues, and enjoys the outdoors.

Instructor’s Remarks: Sydney Bjorndalen wrote this essay for “Introduction to Literature” (ENG 1000) course. She is an enthusiastic learner, which is valuable in a face-to-face environment but is priceless in an asynchronous situation. In a class session, when a teacher cannot see most of the students and students cannot look at most of their peers, active class participation becomes more challenging than otherwise. Sydney was up to the challenge, which was motivational for everyone. Through the duration of the course, she has proved herself a keen and critical reader. She has shown significant improvement in her ability in to close read literary texts. Her insightful reading of Wilby’s character in William Trevor’s “Folie à Deux” reflects that. (Dr. Zulfqar Hyder)