The Murder by Arnold Bennett : Part 2

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The Murder by Arnold Bennett : Part 2

The second part of the classic WHODUNNITS novel by A.Bennett

Mrinmoy Majumder

Jul 16, 2025

Transcript

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Audio Story : Murder by A. Bennett : Part 2 — Audio Story : Murder by A. Bennett: Part 2

Summary of "Murder" by Arnold Bennett – Part Two

Part two of the audio narration, presented by Mrinmoy Majumdar, escalates the tension in Arnold Bennett’s psychological drama, Murder. The dialogue explores the disturbing emotional entrapment within a toxic marriage and the consequences of loyalty, obsession, and personal convictions.

🔍 Key Plot Points

Confrontation Over Emily: The protagonist confronts another man, Lomax Harder, whom he suspects of aiding Emily. Though he doesn't accuse Harder of being in love with her, he questions the motivations behind his support.
Unyielding Possession: The husband (Fronting) refuses to let Emily leave him, citing her financial support, but more crucially, his belief in the sanctity of marriage. He argues that a marital vow must be honored regardless of emotional suffering.
Sinister Determination: Fronting reveals a revolver he purchased and declares that if Emily ever leaves him—whether for another man or for solitude—he will pursue and murder her.
Lomax's Realization: Harder recognizes that Fronting is serious. He lacks reasoning ability but possesses intense resolve, grit, and moral rigidity, making his threat chillingly believable.
Emily’s Fate: Despite Fronting’s ultimatum, Emily remains determined to leave. The narrator underscores her resolve and the years of pain she’s endured, painting a tragic portrait of a woman caught between danger and self-liberation.

Climactic Turning Point

Lomax Harder, unable to tolerate Fronting's threat against Emily, takes fatal action. In a tense confrontation by a billiard table, Harder shoots Fronting, killing him instantly.
The imagery is stark and symbolic — Fronting's body slumps dramatically, his temple marked by a small red hole, and the echo of the gunshot described as a snapped violin string.

Emotional Fallout

Harder is swept by conflicting emotions: a sense of moral justification, fleeting sympathy, and rising fear. He believes he saved Emily but is terrified of punishment, especially death on the scaffold.
He worries deeply about Emily's isolation and vulnerability in the wake of the killing.

Cover-Up and Escape

Gripped by panic, Harder exits through the window into a dim courtyard. He marvels at the finality of his act — "he had made the corpse… he could not unmake it."
His method of escape is audacious: instead of fleeing, he re-enters the hotel calmly through the main entrance to divert suspicion, requesting a room and a cocktail with unsettling composure.
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Atmosphere of Suspense

The hotel is eerily quiet. No one seems to have heard the shot. The lounge is sparsely staffed and dimly lit, enhancing the surreal tension.
Harder sits alone, calculating his next move, all the while immersed in dread and trying to appear ordinary.

Escape and Disposal

After the murder, Harder calmly drinks a cocktail and exits the hotel under the guise of running errands.
He walks alone to the sea wall of the port and, in a symbolic gesture, discards the revolver into the water.
Alone beneath the lighthouse and the stars, he reflects on his flawless cover: no witnesses, no traceable evidence, no visible mistakes.

Reflections on Guilt and Justification

Harder feels no remorse for killing Franting, whom he views as a brute unworthy of Emily.
He claims a pure heart, asserting that he acted selflessly, out of devotion—not desire—and would kill a hundred more if it meant protecting her.
His only emotional reaction stems from Franting’s cruel use of Emily’s letter as a cigarette spill, which fuels Harder's protective rage.

Travel and Tension

Harder boards the train to catch the boat to Copenhagen, overcome with anxiety about being discovered. He imagines detectives tracking him but sees no evidence of pursuit.
As the ship sails into the North Sea, England fades into a line of lights. Yet, Emily is nowhere to be found. His despair intensifies.

Reunion and Revelation

At last, the lovers find each other in Esbjerg. Their reunion is euphoric and profoundly tender.
Harder lies to Emily, telling her he hadn’t gone to Franting. He believes this deception spares her pain and complexity.
Their bond is reaffirmed in the soft mingling of moonlight, starlight, and electricity as he gazes upon her in awe.
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