Title: The Dancing Partner
Author: Jerome K. Jerome
Date of First Publication: 1893
Place of Publication: Excerpted from second half of Chapter XI, Novel Notes; that chapter was serialized in The Idler in March 1893; first published as a short story in Great Short Stories of Detection, Mystery, and Horror, 1928
Type: Short Story
Characters: No Character
Themes: ANDROID; MAD SCIENTIST/MONSTER; BYRONIC HERO
Critical Summary: Jerome K. Jerome’s short story “The Dancing Partner” is written as if it was being told by an orator, MacShaugnassy. The tale centers around an old, artisan machinist, Nicholau Geibel and one of his devices. Geibel is a passionate mechanic, considering his work an art form. His main work is toys and trinkets but he had previously constructed several automatons that mimicked the actions of humans. It is a commonly held belief of the townspeople that Geibel could make a man capable of anything.
While reading a newspaper, Geibel overhears his daughter, Olga, and her friends discussing the disappointing talents of their dancing partners at a recent ball. They complain that their partners were often flawed to such a degree to be a major hindrance to their enjoyment. Sometimes their partners were trite and dumb in conversation. Others would tire too quick. They all complain that many of their partners were poor dancers and those who were good dancers would pounce around in their own conceitedness, prideful of their skill. In jest, one of the girls, Annette, propose an idea of a clockwork dancer; one who would not be boring nor weak nor too proud but still be able to dance. And dance well.
Geibel, after hearing this idea, went to his workshop and began work. Weeks pass. Geibel stays tuned in on his work.
Another ball is announced and on the day of, Olga calls for her father to accompany her. He replies to go ahead without him; that he would come later with a young man. Olga heads off to the ball, guessing who her father will bring. She excites the crowd with her suspicion.
When her father arrives, it is revealed he had brought an electric dancer of his own creation. The dancers are at first in awe of the machine. None dare to join it in dance. Geibel motions to Annette, the girl who had first thought of the mechanical dancer. She accepts the invitation. He then shows her how to control the robot. Geibel warns her not to let people push her off course. She joins with the machine and together, they set off on a waltz.
People at first stand aside and watch the couple. It was at that moment the host of the ball took Geibel outside to another house on the property. None noticed the two slipping out.
Soon after, others join in on the dance. The floor is full of couples. But after a few hours, fatigue forces the human dancers to drop out. However, the robot and Annette do not stop. They do not drop out. They do, in fact, go faster and faster.
When a worried woman warned Annette to slow down, it is discovered that the machine is dancing by itself. Annette had fainted. To stop the machine, two men rush in. They unintentionally push it off course. It begins to crash into walls and furniture, injuring Annette.
The room is cleared and Geibel is called for to stop the machine, but no one knows where he went. They send out search parties, but no one could find him. Eventually, they realize the host is also missing and go look for the pair at the other house. There, they find them. This whole while, the machine can be heard in the ballroom with Annette, dragging the girl around as it smashes into walls and bounces off into another direction, only to crash again and repeat the process.
Geibel, once notified of what had happened, quickly goes back to the ballroom. Pushing their way through the crowd, Geibel and the host enter the ballroom. After a while, the host emerges and asks for the crowd, save for a couple of older men, to disperse for the night.
The story ends with Geibel restraining himself to the construction of small toys.
Both Frankenstein and “The Dancing Partner” explore the creation of an android. However, in different ways. Victor Frankenstein becomes worried that his creation will spawn a new generation of creatures that will overtake man. The girls in “The Dancing Partner” explicitly want a better man. In his fear, Frankenstein destroys the Creature’s wife. In their ignorance of the powers they played with, the machine takes a girl’s life. The two tales also explore the relationship of the mad scientist and the creation differently. Frankenstein is in obsessive fury when stitching together his monster. Geibel is in a relaxed state, mindfully putting together his automation. However, the two creators see similar consequences. Frankenstein sees his creation become a murderer, just as Geibel witnesses his own creation become a killer. Both are haunted by their deed and refuse to continue their work.
Administrative Notes: Eduardo Alcaraz, CSUF; Yesenia Rodriguez (editing)