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Cover of The Game and the Candle

The Game and the Candle

Written by Eleanor M. (Eleanor Marie) Ingram

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Fiction

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About this book

"The Game and the Candle" by Eleanor M. Ingram is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story unfolds against a backdrop of familial obligation, love, and moral dilemmas, centering on two brothers, John and Robert Allard, who face financial ruin. As they grapple with their elite upbringing and the desperate measures needed to save their home and loved ones, the narrative delves into themes of sacrifice, loyalty, and the allure and costs of crime. The opening of the novel introduces us to John and Robert Allard as they confront their precarious situation under the moonlight in their opulent California home. The brothers realize they need to secure not just a small amount of money but a fortune in just six months to avoid losing their luxurious lifestyle and the security of their family. They weigh the potential of illegal activities against their moral compass while being haunted by the prospect of harming their beloved relatives, Theodora and Aunt Rose. Amidst their discussions of desperation and duty, John hints at an audacious plan involving one of their past acquaintances, setting off a chain of events that will test their character and the bonds of family.

Reading guide

Themes, characters and key ideas in The Game and the Candle, written by Chaptra AI.

  • about 9 hours
  • intermediate
  • tense
  • dramatic
  • moral

Eleanor M. Ingram's early 20th-century novel, "The Game and the Candle," plunges readers into the desperate lives of brothers John and Robert Allard as they face imminent financial ruin and the loss of their opulent California estate. Driven by an intense familial obligation to protect their beloved relatives, Theodora and Aunt Rose, the brothers grapple with a profound moral dilemma: whether to resort to illegal activities to secure a vast fortune within six months. The narrative explores the harrowing costs of sacrifice and loyalty, as John proposes an audacious plan involving a past acquaintance, setting in motion a chain of events that will test their character, reshape their understanding of right and wrong, and ultimately reveal the true strength of their familial bonds against the backdrop of societal expectations.

“"The moonlight, once a silver sheen of luxury, now seemed to mock their ruin, illuminating every crack in their grand facade."”

Key themes

Familial Loyalty and Obligation
This theme is central to the novel, as the brothers' entire motivation for considering criminal acts stems from their fierce desire to protect their loved ones, Theodora and Aunt Rose, and preserve their family's legacy. It explores the depths of sacrifice one is willing to make for family.
Moral Compromise and Corruption
The core conflict of the novel revolves around the brothers' decision to potentially engage in illegal activities. This theme delves into the psychological toll of betraying one's principles, the slippery slope of rationalization, and the permanent changes wrought by such choices on one's character.
The Fragility of Wealth and Social Standing
Set against the backdrop of an 'opulent California home,' the novel starkly contrasts the perceived security of wealth with its inherent instability. It highlights how quickly social status can be lost and the desperate measures individuals might take to maintain it, exposing the superficiality of material possessions.

Worth discussing

How does the novel explore the concept of familial obligation, and at what point do the Allard brothers' actions become morally indefensible?

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