The Devil's Pool - Week 3

[Gem , Moderator]

I'm not sure where my head was when I planned the reading schedule, but this week we only had two short chapters, XVI & XVII.

1) What do you think of the author's portrayal of the characters so far?

2) Although we had a good inclination of what the characters were feeling (from the previous reads) there was a lot of emotion that came to the surface in these chapters. Did any of the emotions surprise you?

3) "You have made more than one person happy by loving me!" That's a great line, but it has me guessing what is going to happen in the Appendix with the wedding (I peeked at the next chapter's title). Is this going to be a fairy tale ending where everyone lives happily ever after? Or is the influence of the Devil's Pool going to become a character again and wreak havoc?

[Renee]

Now you’ve got me speculating!

[Deborah, Moderator]

Well that was an easy read 😀. Anybody have any idea why Marie changed her mind?

[Gem , Moderator]

Renee wrote: "Now you’ve got me speculating!"

I figured that's part of my job, lol.

[Jill]

I’ve been dying to hear everyone’s opinions on why Marie had a change of heart! I think she must’ve decided that it was in her best interest and not that she suddenly found herself swooning over the “old” man who got them lost in a forest and then abandoned all his common sense in a panic lol. Marrying Germain is a win-win for Marie: she already knows him and loves his children, she’s marrying up, she gets to stay close to her mother, and he seems to be crazy about her.

[Gem , Moderator]

Jill wrote: "I’ve been dying to hear everyone’s opinions on why Marie had a change of heart! I think she must’ve decided that it was in her best interest and not that she suddenly found herself swooning over th..."

We should all have such luck!

[Frances, Moderator]

Jill wrote: "I’ve been dying to hear everyone’s opinions on why Marie had a change of heart! I think she must’ve decided that it was in her best interest and not that she suddenly found herself swooning over th..."

I think she "changed" her mind because Germain rescued her, is a good and an attractive man, and as she returned to her old life and he continued to do kind things for her she had time to think about him and what he might be like as a husband. My sense is that, in her current village and her current situation, she couldn't do much better than Germain, and at 16 she would be ready to fall in love with the most attractive man in her circle. It was certainly a good match for her as well as for Germain and his children.

[Gem , Moderator]

Frances wrote: "Jill wrote: "I’ve been dying to hear everyone’s opinions on why Marie had a change of heart! I think she must’ve decided that it was in her best interest and not that she suddenly found herself swo..."

I'm betting you nailed it. I hope there will be an explanation in next week's reading.

[Linda]

Did Marie love Germaine while saying she didn’t because of the reason Mere Maurice gave? Or did she really not want him because of the age difference and not loving him like she said? I was a bit unclear there.

I’m also wondering about how the Devil’s Pool plays into this story overall. I was thinking that, although Germaine ended up with a favorable outcome, he was put through a trying time since his visit to the pool. I’m just not sure I understand the significance of the pool in the overall message of the book.

And it’s odd that the appendix is just a continuation of the story. I wonder if one stopped reading here, at this technical last chapter, how the reader’s impression of the book might differ from the reader who also reads the appendix.

Anyway, I’m curious what the appendix has in store. Especially since the last chapter ended so abruptly!

[Frances, Moderator]

I was also unclear about the title and it's significance to the story. Did it bring the couple together by showing Germain where happiness might lie for him? If they hadn't become lost, he might not have thought of Marie as a potential wife.

[Robin P, Moderator]

The appendix doesn’t really add to the story

[Jill]

Frances, I think you must be right about the title, though it still seems a bit of a weird name for the story to me.

[Jenny]

Linda wrote: "Did Marie love Germaine while saying she didn’t because of the reason Mere Maurice gave? Or did she really not want him because of the age difference and not loving him like she said? I was a bit u..."

I had been leaning in that direction myself- that little Marie may have returned his love the whole time but denied it in order to discourage him from making a mistake by marrying her.

I returned to a number of passages in the story to try to figure out the meaning of the pool. Germain mentions being bewitched and Mere Maurice says it’s like he’s under a spell. But I can’t piece together any real significance either.

[Robin P, Moderator]

I think it's the magic of the pool that caused the fog and Germain's confusion (another kind of fog) and set up the circumstances for him to fall in love with Marie. When he tried to lead them away from the pool, the magic of the place brought them back. I'm not clear why it's the devil's pool though, as the outcome is a good one for all concerned.

[Brian E]

I see 3 possible reasons for Marie's turnaround:

1) Marie fell in love on the trip and lied about the other young man and Germaine being old because she thought his "parents" would have problem with it;
2) Marie did have those objections as she stated, but after considerations, decided that, as Frances said "she would be ready to fall in love with the most attractive man in her circle."
3) Marie still has those objections and does not love Germaine but, but after considerations, decided that as Frances also said, "in her current village and her current situation, she couldn't do much better than Germain." She's a practical girl.

While I'd like to think it was #3, I think Sand's description of Marie's actions and Mere Maurice's interpretation of possible motives for Marie's denial of love, both indicate that Sand intends #1 to be the case.
Marie is not that good of an actor to pretend to be in love and her statement "haven't you guessed that I love you" implies that she gave some clues, so her love had to come while on the trip and she rejected Germaine for the reasons Mere Maurice guesses.

[Rosemarie, Moderator]

I tend to agree with your reason no. 1, Brian. Marie felt she would not be welcome because she was poor, but once the mother-in- law found how miserable Germain was, she told him she would accept the woman/girl he loved.
She may have also decided that he wasn't that old after all, and he certainly respected her (by not asking her again and by secretly helping her mother).

[Lori, Moderator]

Brian wrote: "I see 3 possible reasons for Marie's turnaround:

1) Marie fell in love on the trip and lied about the other young man and Germaine being old because she thought his "parents" would have problem wi..."

Finally caught up! (Still reading the appendix, may finish it tonight.)

I agree, it's probably the first or second reason. She may really have wanted to marry a younger man, but Germain may have won her over. I was surprised, actually. I didn't expect it to happen so quickly.

Off to read the rest.