How does I Capture the Castle reflect society's changing views toward women during the first half of the century? How do the women in the novel view the roles and opportunities open to them both in the family and in the world at large differently? Consider Cassandra, Rose, Topaz, Mrs. Cotton, and Mrs. Fox-Cotton. How do you feel about the way men are portrayed in the novel?

Well so far I have noticed that marriage happens so fast. There doesn't seem to be a courting period at all. And women seem to have to marry for money.

Well it's just like he asked her to get married before they even had their first kiss. Which I guess back then was what happened. I definitely agree about there being no courting period.

Back then I feel like women still didn't have a big role in the economic world. Not once did they consider Cassandra or Rose going out to look for a job, they were just poor and had to marry to get any money at all for the family.

I also think it so bizarre that Cassandra wasn't really allowed to confront her father... like women couldn't do that. And then the way he man-handled her in his office. Today NO dad could get away with that!

I thought it odd that Topaz, who did have a bit of career and name for herself in the art world, still sacrificed herself, in some ways, for her husband.

The plight of Cassandra and Rose makes me think a bit of some of Jane Austen's novels, how the father hasn't provided enough for the family or the daughters don't have fortunes of their own so they have to marry for money if they don't want to be poor. Except, at least I could respect most of the Austen men and I really had zilch respect for Neil or Simon. Bleh.

Any other Stephen fans out there??? I thought he was the only one who really seemed to have an honest sort of love and even then it was turned sour. Not really the most optimistic love story, IMO. Still, I really enjoyed Cassandra's character/voice.

Out of the men Stephen was my favorite. I felt so bad for him when Simon got Cassandra a better radio (I forgot the term used in the book). How sad for Simon who had saved up his money. And that fact that Cassandra didn't really care for Stephen's radio because she was so obsessed with Simon was even worse. And what was Cassandra thinking headed to London to steal Simon away from Rose to just leave in the middle of the night because she was unhappy and then to use Stephen to help her out when she didn't have money to pay for food. He is a true gentlemen.

I agree! She really used him badly. He was definitely a true gentleman--I hope he found wild success in Hollywood and a woman who would finally appreciate him for more than just his good-looks or his devotion to her.

Do you think Stephen would've become and actor/model if it weren't for Cassandra? He kept asking her if that's what she wanted him to be and she said yes so he went for it.

I think he might have, even without Cassandra. She didn't want him to become a model at the beginning, so I think that's why he asked her later how she felt about it.

I guess everyone liked Stephen! I did, too, but I didn't hate Simon or Neil. I just didn't really like them, and I have no idea what Cassandra or Rose saw in the two of them.

About the roles men and women played. . . Did it seem like women from America had a different role than women from England? I've just been thinking about Mrs. Cotton and Topaz. Mrs. Cotton was more confident talking to Mortmain than his own wife.

I think that the American/English difference was definitely hinted at, both in the women and in the men (i.e., how Cassandra thought Neil was so "different" for his time in America on the ranch)

I noticed there was a lot of mentioning in the novel about how Americans act. Especially the part where the dad say American women can be so chatty.