I am currently listening to the audiobook version of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell - this has been for the past few weeks or so, as I have listened at a leisurely pace. In this time, I have also watched the BBC show.
As one does with these sorts of things, there are things that I’ve picked up on that I missed the first time round. There is a pivotal point in the story that, upon revisiting it, has caused me to see the Raven King’s prophecy in a different light and change my interpretation altogether. Note that this will refer to both the book and show, although it mainly concerns the book - spoilers after the cut.
In both the book and show, Jonathan goes to visit George III in an attempt to cure his madness by magical means - although it is on point where the book and the show sharply diverge. In both versions, the Gentleman with the Thistledown Hair plays a part but while in the show, he kidnaps the king through a mirror, in an attempt to have Stephen Black kill him and therefore make Stephen King of England. In the book, after the Gentleman (still only seen by the king) abuses the king's cruel doctors - and the magic blamed on Jonathan - mournful music plays as both the king and the magician are led into a dark wood.
The music seemed to be leading the King in the direction of a grove of trees. At least Strange had supposed it was a grove. He was almost certain that moment ago he had seen a dozen trees - probably fewer. But now the grove had become a thicket - no, a wood - a deep, dark wood where the trees were ancient and wild.
It is as they are slowly pulled toward the dark wood and under the Gentleman’s enchantment that Jonathan remembers a muddled, obscure spell that had, earlier, confused him. Part of this spell,
Place his heart in a secret place so that all his desires shall be his own and the deceiver shall find no hold there.
He pictured Arabella, as he had seen her a thousand times, prettily dressed and seated in a drawing-room among a crowd of people who were all laughing and talking. He gave her his heart. She took it and placed it quietly in the pocket of her gown. No one observed what she did.
In his mind, he sees Arabella and gives her his heart. It was at this point that my heart quickened and I was weeping as I thought, Jonathan, what have you done?
The first shall bury his heart in a dark wood beneath the snow, yet still feel its ache
In the Raven King’s prophecy, it is stated that one of the magicians “shall bury his heart in a dark wood”. The BBC’s interpretation of the prophecy, Jonathan’s heart is literally Arabella. In the show, after Arabella’s apparent passing (when in actuality, it is only an imitation made with moss oak by the Gentleman with Thistledown Hair), he refers to her as his “heart and soul”. In both versions (book and show), the moss oak Arabella is buried beneath the snow.
But what if, instead of Arabella being his heart, Arabella carried his heart? By entrusting his heart to Arabella, he buried his heart in the dark wood of his and the king’s enchantment by the Gentleman. It could be understood that the spell meant it metaphysically - it was not his physical heart he gave - but there must be some cause and effect beyond that which was immediate. When “Arabella” dies, the moss oak is buried and Jonathan feels the ache - but it is not the (seeming) loss of Arabella, but his heart that she keeps safe for him even as she is in Lost-hope.
This interpretation will only work for the book, due to the changes made in the show - particularly the episode with George III.
Theoretically, the consequences of Arabella keeping Jonathan’s heart is something to be explored - there is even the possibility that she holds the key to breaking the Darkness. (We never really know what the Gentleman did, beyond the obvious result of that spell.)
With this all being said, of course, there is a small problem with this theory and that is Arabella herself. There is no mention of Jonathan describing to Arabella what happened during his visit to the king - if he did not tell her, she is unknowingly the ward of her husband’s heart. It is possible that she herself was not affected by the spell, but it is also possible that she was - for, as both Jonathan and Norrell discover (and are slow to admit), magic is not easily contained or controlled. And, I also think Arabella is much cleverer than she is given credit for.
“Has the love of your husband ever saved you from any thing?”
“Mr Strange?” smiled Arabella. “No, never. I am more in the habit of saving him!”
