Vocabulary

These are a few words that I did not understand its meaning until I looked them up:

Wicked (page 2): very bad

It is considered wicked stealing something from your friend

 

Will (page 5): the paper that you write and sign, which says how you want to divide your money between people in your family when you die

The will says that I have inherited a house

 

Smear (page 16) a mark that is made by moving against paint when it is still wet

Look what you have done there! The painting was still wet!

 

Burst out (page 17): come out to something or to start to do something suddenly

She started bursting out because she had remembered that she had to give the essay tomorrow

 

Nightgown (page 17): a long dress that men and women used to wear to go to bed

Put your nightgown on, it’s time to sleep

 

Betray (page 30) do something bad against something who is your friend

You have betrayed me because you have been lying to her for ages.

 

Limp (page 41): walk unevenly because you have a bad leg

The dog was limping because he had an accident in which he broke his leg.

 

Boldly (pages 41): bravely

She behaves boldly saying the truth that he deserved

 

Quicksand (page 44): a kind of sand that is dangerous because it pulls you down into it

The quicksand is very dangerous, it can kill you by pulling you down in the sand

 

Wrinkled (page 44): with many lines on your skin

She seems old due to her wrinkled face

 

Wharf (page 60): a place on the river that boats arrive at and leave from

We went to the wharf to say goodbye to our friends who were leaving to Australia

 

Steamboat (page 60): a boat that is powered by steam from burning coal

There is the steamboat and it is draining a lot of pollution due to the coal.

 

Pilgrim (page 69): a person who travels to a religious place

Last year lots of pilgrims went to Santiago Compostela in June in order to visit the great church

 

Shrine (page 69): a small, special place for a statue of a gold

That shrine is built for that golden statue

Now, I would like to share some of the sentences which impact me the most:

“The Moonstone will have its revenge on Herncastle and any other person to whom he gives the diamond” (page 1) prologue

It shows the central mystery of the story.

 

“I would like to do an experiment on your diamond Rachel” (page 11)

I outlined this sentence because it seemed curious to me. When I have finished reading the book, one of the main points which gives you the clue of who has been the moonstone’s thief, it was created due to the experiment that Dr candy did to Franklin in order to demonstrate him that he was right after all and the medicine is useful.

 

«At once all the guets went outside, where they saw three indians and a small english boy dancing on the grass» (page 12)

The indians presence is crucial in the novel as they are the ones who want the stone back to its place.

 

«Both Franklin and Betteredge knew that Rachel’s behaviour had been suspicious» (page 19)

In this part of the book, the author try to convince us of Rosanna’s fault, but the true reason of her behaviour was the love that she felt for Franklin, the love that she could never tell anyone and provoques her death.

 

“When I came here with that diamond, this was the happiest house in England, and now the mystery of the jewel has destroyed the happiness of this family. The moonstone has indeed brought the revenge that Colonel Herncastle was looking for” (page 25)

Franklin declared this sentence when he was leaving from Yorkshire after knowing that Rachel was angry at him with no aparently reason. It shows that the moonstone’s curse has ruined the family bringing them multiple disasters as Verinder’s death.

 

«Rachel I am hopelessly in love with you! (Godfrey)» … «I have something to tell you ,Godfrey, that will make you change your mind. I was in love with another man, but he btrayed me and I will never, never see him again» … «Rachel protested, but Godfrey went on asking her to marry him. He was a very good speaker and finally Rachel agreed»  (page 30, 31)

This book extract shows Godfrey’s declaration of «love» for Rachel. His insistance and the situation make us think about the truth of the facts. The truth was that Godfrey just wanted to marry her due to her money in order to solve his own economic issues. It also shows that Rachel was so heart-breaking about Franklin’s «betrayal» that she finally acepted the proposal.

 

“When you read these words, I will be dead… Every day I have hoped that you will notice me, but now I realize that my love for you is hopeless… when I thought that you had stolen the diamond, my feelings for you grew stronger; you were a thief like me” (page 43)

These words impact me in so many ways. I should outline the power of love that Rosanna had felt for Franklin, even believing he was a thief, she loved him even harder. It was such a sad love story about an unrecognized woman in the society who felt so much love for a man who didn’t know of her existence.

 

“Ezra Jennings, I am in love with a woman. If I don’t prove my innocence, I can never see her again. Please help me” (page 52)

In these words, Franklin shows us his endless love for Rachel and his courage to demonstrate his innocence, gaining with it Rachel’s love.

 

«You are innocent, Franklin» she said. «Now we can be toguether again.» «Again Franklin took Rachel in his arms and kissed, but this time she didn’t push him away» (page 58)

After the experiment with the same medicine that a few years early Dr Candy experimented with Franfin, Rachel realised that Franklin took the stone but he was not the thief. The sentence means the victory of love between all lies.

 

“The jewel is back in the place where it belongs, and it will never seen in England again “ (page 69)

This is one of the most important sentences in the world. It shows you that we can not interfere in traditions, disrespecting them. The moonstone could value a thousand of pound for us, although the value for the Indian priest was incalculable, reaching the point that they do whatever it takes to bring the jewel back.