W&D: Week 4 - Chapters XXI - XXVII

[Robin]

The sense and sensibility observation is really perceptive. It really works for Molly and Cynthia in this novel, at least as far as we have read.

[Lois]

May I also suggest the use of spoiler tags (< spoiler > and < /spoiler > minus the spaces) for bits that are not included in the current week's discussion to avoid some confusion.

[JJ]

Poor Molly. She has fallen for Rodger and yet Rodger has feelings for the new comer Cynthia. Did you notice how Rodger was referring to Cynthia was "your sister" to Molly. There is not enough history between the two women, its has not even been a year since Molly's father's marriage (I think). He is wrong to make such an assumption on his part. It's not considerate of Molly's feelings. She had angst about having a step-sister to begin with. Also, saying "your sister" is another way of placing Molly's in a position. It communicates how Rodger thinks about his relationship with Molly. The worst part was when both of the men went a stood by Cynthia at the piano: leaving Molly all alone.

I can't help feeling sorry for Molly. So many people describe her a plain and other things that seem demeaning, but I hear people described as "plain" a lot in in era appropriate books.

Mr. Preston's behavior is a mystery so far. You would think he would give up on Cynthia since she makes it clear she doesn't want to be around him. There must be something that he knows or has done in the past, that he haunts Cynthia over.

[ConnieD]

Oops, sorry I got out of control. Lost track of what chapter I was on. 🌝

[Cindy, Moderator]

Martin wrote: "As far as the Duchess and her diamonds go, I think that she was dodging her role whether out of spite or fatigue. It wasn’t unreasonable for the attendees to expect some glitz on a red carpet occasion that is the highlight of the annual social calendar of three villages. What would people have said if Elizabeth Taylor had shown up at the Oscars in a TShirt, cut offs and flip flops without any makeup?..."

So true! I love this analogy! The nobility were the celebrities of that day, and they knew it. The Duchess had to know that the inhabitants of this small village had probably never even seen a Duchess before and that they would be expecting regal elegance.

[Cindy, Moderator]

Linda wrote: "Nina wrote: "Martin wrote: "Cynthia’s and Molly’s different attitudes toward the posies illustrate their different attitudes towards people and their environment and their different temperaments...."

Cynthia does have such an extreme reaction to Mr. Preston. She seems to hate him, but there also seems to be intimacy there--the relationship has definitely progressed beyond the bounds of common civility. While she seems to harbor such loathing of him, yet she also cannot seem to escape him. Surely we couldn't have two secret marriages on our hands, could we? They act like a separated married couple--angry and antagonistic, but still with an intimate knowledge of each other. I haven't read this book before, so I'm just guessing. If it's true, please don't say so! I don't really think it is, though.