The Collector: Part 3 Summary & Analysis

The perspective shifts back to Clegg, who checks up on Miranda and realizes she is far sicker than he thought. Miranda tells Clegg that she fears she will die if he does not seek medical attention. Clegg tries to calm her down but makes no promises about fetching a doctor. Eventually, Miranda’s fever hits 104 degrees, and she becomes delirious. In her delirium, she tells Clegg that she forgives him for everything he has done to her. Her forgiveness makes Clegg feel better about himself, and he starts to forgive her in return.

Wanting to help Miranda, Clegg goes to a doctor’s office, hoping to secure a prescription. However, while in the waiting room, he witnesses the doctor talking rudely to other patients and feels it is unlikely that the doctor would give him what Miranda needs. Next up, he tries a drug store where he lies in an attempt to get his hands on prescription medication. When the drug store employees turn him down, Clegg returns to Miranda with more over the counter medication instead. He gives Miranda the pills and then tells her he has sent for a doctor, which is a lie.

Then, Clegg goes upstairs and takes a nap. When he wakes up, Miranda’s condition is even worse. Clegg picks her up and brings her to a spare room upstairs, though he is still paranoid she will try to run away. Miranda asks Clegg once again for a doctor. That night, Clegg travels to a doctor’s house, hoping he can convince the doctor that he needs medicine for an emergency. However, just as he is about to ring the doctor’s doorbell, a policeman shows up and asks him to state his business. Not wanting to have to deal with the law, Clegg makes up a lie and then returns home. There, he briefly considers taking Miranda to a hospital and then fleeing the country. However, he ultimately decides he will stay put and allow Miranda’s illness to run its course.

The next day, Miranda dies. Once she is dead, Clegg returns her body to the cellar. There, he cuts off a lock of her hair, which he intends to keep. Then, Clegg wonders what to do next. He thinks about sending a letter to the police lying about his relationship with Miranda, claiming that they were truly in love. Then, he would kill himself to make it seem like he and Miranda had a suicide pact similar to Romeo and Juliet. Clegg looks at his butterfly collection, implying it might be for the final time, and then goes down into the cellar to lie next to Miranda’s body.