2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #1 discussion

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Why Mermaids Sing
Why Mermaids Sing
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Jonetta
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Mar 07, 2016 06:35AM

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I thought Sebastian was just doing what he thought was right by Jarvis' son.
I agree with you both.
Wesley Oldfield was another pitiful example. You lose your shirt through no direct fault of your own but end up in debtors prison, limiting your ability to be able to pay back your creditors.
But, at least he doesn't end up hanged like the poor people put to death for stealing to eat.
How in the world did the aristocracy justify this stuff? My husband and I discussed this at length (he's a history scholar) and how England escaped a revolution similar to France. My husband said they did that just barely.
Wesley Oldfield was another pitiful example. You lose your shirt through no direct fault of your own but end up in debtors prison, limiting your ability to be able to pay back your creditors.
But, at least he doesn't end up hanged like the poor people put to death for stealing to eat.
How in the world did the aristocracy justify this stuff? My husband and I discussed this at length (he's a history scholar) and how England escaped a revolution similar to France. My husband said they did that just barely.

Reading these books again I've been wondering this very thing. especially since Prinny, as portrayed in these books, seems to be a real idiot.
The discrepancy is so huge that's it's a wonder people tolerated it at all. The aristocracy could get away with anything and everything while a poor child of 10 could be hanged for stealing bread.


I think the fact that England had already gone through one revolution and suffered the consequences played a significant role in their not wanting to experience that again. As such, the people are willing to put up with a lot from the aristocracy.
In addition, it is also important to remember that there were some restraints put on the aristocracy even if only checks and balances that they themselves enforced. By the time of WWI, people were demanding more openness and limits on the upper classes.

Not only in the books. He was exactly like this in real life and his brothers weren't much better. It is only Victoria and Albert who brought some sense of decorum to the monarchy.