By Katherine Ramsland

Inspiration

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The Collector Book Cover

       In The Collector, a bestselling novel by John Fowles published in 1963, Frederick, a lonely entomologist, abducts the beautiful Miranda, whom he has worshipped from afar, to hold her captive.  He has the delusion that he can make her love him just as he can make her wear certain clothing or bathe at certain times.  He views her like one of his butterfly specimens a thing he can keep, admire, and do with as he likes.  He sees nothing wrong with his actions and believes that one day she will submit to him and belong to him.  However, he hasn't calculated the factor of another person's will into this equation.  Miranda is frightened of him and wants to be free.   She misses her life and her family.  Even when she eventually feels a need for his company, she still cannot love him the way he wants, because he needs her total capitulation.

       Eventually she grows ill and dies, indicating to Frederick that he's made an error, but he quickly dismisses this unfortunate "accident" and looks for another captive a woman from a lower social station who may be more submissive.  Miranda's death is no more meaningful to him than the death of one of his butterflies.

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