The Moving Finger

In The Moving Finger, secrecy and an inauthentic social facade are depicted as normal facts of life amongst the inhabitants of Lymstock. The tiny town is a strict, old-fashioned place whose inhabitants are quick to pass on gossip and judgmental assumptions about each other. This claustrophobic, narrow-minded social environment prompts the villagers to do their best to maintain an outward appearance of respectability while hiding various secrets, revealing the role of secrecy in small-town life.

Nearly all of the characters have something to hide. Megan Hunter, the 20-year-old daughter of Mrs. Symmington, appears outwardly apathetic, but inside actually burns with rage against her family and the villagers. She tells Jerry in a rare outburst, “Hateful pigs! I hate everyone here in Lymstock. They all think I’m stupid and ugly. I’ll show them” (56). The contrast between Megan’s outer attitude and inner feelings show how accustomed she is to hiding her real opinions. Similarly, Aimee Griffith appears to be happy with her busy life and brags about her many contributions to the community. She tells Jerry, “‘I’m always busy, always happy! […] My time’s taken up, what with my Guides, and the Institute and various committees’” (25, emphasis added).