As Others See Me

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Title

As Others See Me

Subject

Essay on cheiromancy and other sources of information

Description

This essay appeared in a periodical about 10 years after Oscar Wilde's "Lord Arthur Savile's Crime", where the practice of cheiromancy was prevalent throughout the story. This practice of telling how a person is, based off the lines of their hands was very popular in the Victorian period, and this essay shows no exception. The man in question in this story wants to know himself better. He says that it is not an easy task, so he recruits the help of people like a cheiromantist and a phrenologist, who studies skulls, to help him determine his character. The article has a satirical nature about it, for in the end, he still asks, "What manner of man am I?". He cannot draw ay conclusions about his true character, for all of the different people supposedly determining his qualities through their resources that were popular at the time, all produced varying results. There is something to be said for this man seeking out answers on who he is, but never getting a straight answer because he relies on outside sources that use surface level things to determine characteristics. Perhaps, this is insinuating that during the time these practices are wildly popular, those who rely strictly on those practices to inform them of their character have no clue who they truly are.

Creator

Unknown

Source

19th Century UK Periodicals I & II

Publisher

Pick-Me-Up

Date

February 6, 1897

Contributor

Unknown

Rights

The Trustees of the National Library of Scotland

Format

Octavo, 1 page, 2 images

Language

English

Type

Essay

Files

As Others See Me.PDF

Citation

Unknown, “As Others See Me,” Manhattan College Omeka , accessed November 22, 2024, https://omeka-pilot.manhattan.edu/items/show/444.

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