The Rags of Time by Barry Targan
**Overview of "The Rags of Time" by Barry Targan**
"The Rags of Time" is a novel centered on Thomas Wilkins, a middle-aged English literature professor whose stable life becomes complicated by his intense attraction to a student, Fay Lester. Thomas, who has always maintained a structured existence with his wife Mildred and their two sons, finds himself drawn into a whirlwind of emotions when he encounters Fay, a clever yet academically disinterested student with a controversial past. The narrative explores themes of obsession, morality, and the complexities of teacher-student relationships as Thomas grapples with his feelings for Fay while managing his responsibilities as a husband and father.
As the semester progresses, Thomas's growing desire leads him to make choices that challenge his values, including a rendezvous with Fay that shifts the dynamics of their relationship. The story takes a dramatic turn when his son Neil faces serious legal trouble, adding further strain to Thomas's already tumultuous life. The novel culminates in a confrontation between Thomas and Fay, highlighting the consequences of their actions and the misunderstandings that arise from their interactions. Ultimately, "The Rags of Time" provides a profound exploration of human desire and its impact on personal integrity within a domestic setting.
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The Rags of Time by Barry Targan
First published: 1979
Type of plot: Domestic realism
Time of work: Probably the 1970's
Locale: A college town north of New York City
Principal Characters:
Thomas Wilkins , a forty-four-year-old English professorMildred Wilkins , his wifeFay Lester , one of his studentsNeil , his sixteen-year-old son
The Story
During one semester, Thomas Wilkins, a middle-aged professor of English literature, for the first time finds his neatly ordered existence threatened by his overwhelming passion for a student, Fay Lester. From the time that he was offered his first teaching job—which he accepted immediately, although it meant giving up his long-planned first trip to Europe—his life has been on a steady course, which he has no desire to derail. Thomas and his wife, Mildred, live a contented, temperate life, with their two sons, Neil and Peter. The only disturbance in their lives comes from the stormy adolescent moods of Neil, their older son. Now, however, Thomas is enthralled by the sensual Fay, who arrived at his college preceded by stories of having ruined the academic career of a young professor at the last college she attended. Although disinterested in her studies, Fay is intelligent, or at least clever. During a meeting in Thomas's office to discuss her spotty academic performance, she manages to hold her own in the discussion, arguing that contrary to Thomas's assertion that all the seventeenth century poets he teaches wrote from a religious perspective, John Donne's poetry celebrated earthly love, not spiritual love.
Thomas is bewildered and distressed by his growing obsession with Fay. He has been attracted to students before occasionally, but not to the point of obsessing over the girl and rearranging his schedule so as to see her as often as possible. The only remotely similar experience in his life was worshiping an extravagantly beautiful and unobtainable cheerleader at his high school.
When Thomas's brother and his family visit for Thanksgiving, the holiday traditions and family activities soothe Thomas's passions, and he believes he has exorcised Fay from his fantasies. He is thrown off balance, however, by his intense reaction when she does not show up at class after the long weekend, and he is disconcerted when she wanders into his office later that same day. After making excuses for her absence from class, Fay tries to persuade Thomas to assign her a topic for her term paper, but he refuses to do so, saying that a student's choice of a topic gives him an idea of what she has learned. Fay then suggests that perhaps she could avoid writing the term paper. After a long silence stretches between them, he acknowledges that might be possible. She immediately takes charge of arranging their assignation, then leaves.
Having finally decided to act on his fantasies, Thomas is no longer consumed by passion any more than Fay is. What he wants is simply to do what he is going to do, "to do this outrageous and nearly irrational thing." On the day of their encounter, Thomas arrives calmly and promptly at the arranged apartment, and Fay quickly leads him into the bedroom. Just before allowing Thomas to enter her, Fay suggests that she should not have to take the final exam either, and he assents. Afterward, Thomas walks back to his office to catch up on correspondence.
Returning home at his usual time, Thomas finds his usually stolid wife, Mildred, nearly hysterical because state troopers have charged Neil with rape. Accompanying Neil to the police station, he learns that Neil and two friends had sex that afternoon with a teenage girl who had a reputation for promiscuity. The girl's father soon agrees to drop the charges, and the boys are released.
On the day of the final exam, Fay comes to class but submits a blank test booklet. Thomas gives her a C grade for the semester and feels that the chapter is closed. A few days later, he is working in his office, thinking about the week that he and Mildred will soon be spending with friends in New York City, when Fay bursts in, screaming at him for giving her a C. Thomas is genuinely confused, believing that Fay never cared about the grade, and tries to explain to her that it would look strange if someone who had earned an A found out that she had gotten one also. She is furious, raging that she worked for her grade too, and accusing him of trying to extort more sexual favors for a higher grade. When she realizes that he has no further interest in her, and no intention of changing her grade, she leaves. Thomas returns to contemplating the New York restaurant at which he has reservations for the next night, and anticipating the meal he will order. "Vichyssoise, artichoke vinaigrette, escargots, coq au vin, a 1969 St. Julien. A supper you could count on."