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The Way We Live Now
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The Way We Live Now - Week 3
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Chapter 17 -Marie Melmotte Hears a Love TaleA whale of a tale indeed! Oh Felix. I don’t think he displayed a single positive attribute in this chapter. He lies to Roger and his mother, worries them sick, and then is just utterly bored in his required courting of Marie. He goes through the motions, but finds her “common” as she looks up at him adoringly. In the chapter it is noted that he *cannot* care about others - so do we interpret this to mean he won’t change and this is as much a nature issue as it is nurture? His mother will always indulge him, but was he ‘born’ this way?
Dianne wrote: "Chapter 16 - The Bishop and the Priest What social commentary do you think Trollope is trying to make through his sharp contrast between the bishop and the priest ? It seems that he is making a p..."
I'm not sure about the social commentary, unless it's the difference in spirituality in the poor vs the rest of society. The priest is a true guide. The bishop is not. The priest is demanding. The bishop is not.
In a way, I far prefer the priest, who has true faith. But I think it would be difficult to have him as my clergy. He seems as if he would find every little fault and address it, to save my poor soul. That's a bit much. But he would provide guidance. The bishop would not, I think. The bishop doesn't seem to care so much about God or the spirit, or teaching. He wants to mingle freely with society. He doesn't set a good example.
It is a striking contrast. I want the cleric in the middle, the one who doesn't exist.
Chapters 18-24Oh I can't handle all of the ridiculous 'love tales'! None of which appear to be love! We see that Felix may actually be more enamored of Ruby Ruggles than Marie Melmotte - although he seems bored of this endeavor also! Hetta cannot bring herself to profess her love to Roger - even though it seems she might have if she could have compelled herself to do so. Roger accordingly increasingly stews over Paul Montague - who he blames entirely for his romantic failures. Felix pursues Marie just after leaving Ruby, and she is none the wiser! Meanwhile Lord Nidderdale also pursues Marie. Georgiana pouts about not being able to go to London for the season and eventually accepts an offer to stay with the Melmottes in order to do so. The railroad venture appears to be rife with fraud - although we don't quite know the particulars yet. Mr. Melmotte shuts Felix down abruptly when he probes about the prospect of funds upon his potential marriage to Marie, and he returns to gambling in order to try to increase his wealth. Miles ends up being the winner at the table - but only through his cheating!
Dianne wrote: "Chapters 18-24Oh I can't handle all of the ridiculous 'love tales'! None of which appear to be love! We see that Felix may actually be more enamored of Ruby Ruggles than Marie Melmotte - although..."
It seems no one is what they seem. I'm not sure Mrs. Melmotte feels much affection for her husband, and we know Lady Carbury didn't. I agree, Trollope is playing romantic musical chairs.
But it isn't just the love tangles. Everyone is pretentious. Even Roger is, with his loathing for Felix, but determination to leave his property to him. These people don't pay their debts, but they have leave to socialize as they please, except they have to maintain their facades.
I'm not going to lie. My hope for Felix lies in the likely universal crumbling of facades! And I do want to know what happens with the flour mill. I mean, railroad. That is so fake! Where is the money?
I do think Trollope means for this to be a satire about the gentry (not rich, but lives as if they are). Gentry is my maiden name and I always get a kick of its origin. All the men of a certain age owe each other money, but pay with IOUs. They belong to an American business, but want to move shares around just to appear that they have money. The only person I do admire is Roger. At least he tells the Lady and her son how it is going to be at his home. "If you are under my roof,....." And, Hetta is finally starting to show at least appreciation for his honesty. As a wife of an unstable man, and Hetta my daughter, I would scream - Take Roger. He will provide. Don't choose love." Even love is not to be believed.
Tammy Dayton wrote: "I do think Trollope means for this to be a satire about the gentry (not rich, but lives as if they are). Gentry is my maiden name and I always get a kick of its origin. All the men of a certain age..."Why do I not think of 19th century writers being satirical? That explains a lot. Everyone seems so fake, except Roger.
It isn't hard to understand Roger. He's generally rational, but will allow his moral compass to overrule rationality. Seems like a nice guy until he tells Lady C his house, his rules. Awkward!
Lady C doesn't seem to think much of Hetta. She's only thinking of Felix, when she is thinking at all.
Hummingbirder wrote: "Dianne wrote: "Chapter 16 - The Bishop and the Priest What social commentary do you think Trollope is trying to make through his sharp contrast between the bishop and the priest ? It seems that h..."
I think the bishop is not religious in the slightest and because he doesn’t impose any obligations or expectations on anyone he’s easy to get along with. If Trollope is trying to show what true faith is and highlight the merits of it I’m not sure why he makes it seem so rigid and difficult!
Hummingbirder wrote: "Dianne wrote: "Chapters 18-24Oh I can't handle all of the ridiculous 'love tales'! None of which appear to be love! We see that Felix may actually be more enamored of Ruby Ruggles than Marie Melm..."
I think Roger, to some extent, seems to see through the façades and is a fairly straight arrow. Frankly, I don’t know who would like Felix! He seems to be the most one dimensional character with failure as his only option.
Tammy Dayton wrote: "I do think Trollope means for this to be a satire about the gentry (not rich, but lives as if they are). Gentry is my maiden name and I always get a kick of its origin. All the men of a certain age..."Thanks so much for the background Tammy that is really interesting! So much fraud and artifice it’s hard to see through the layers! I agree with you about Hetta - I think Roger seems like a great bet for her future given her lack of other viable options at the moment. And then the family’s future would not be in the hands of Felix!!
Hummingbirder wrote: "Tammy Dayton wrote: "I do think Trollope means for this to be a satire about the gentry (not rich, but lives as if they are). Gentry is my maiden name and I always get a kick of its origin. All the..."Maybe Roger is the one voice of reason in the novel! It will be interesting to see how things play out with him and if he ends up plotting revenge if he does not succeed with Hetta. . I think it’s ridiculous how much Lady C focuses on Felix when she knows he is a lost cause - she basically doesn’t give Hetta a second thought!
I am running a little behind at the moment but hope to resume 'normal services' shortly. I have a flu-like virus that has made so sick for the past 2 weeks, so bad that I am hardly reading anything. (Got to be really sick to for this to happen, right?) But just wanted to say I am still in the game and hope to start week 3 reading beginning November.
Tracey the Bookworm wrote: "I am running a little behind at the moment but hope to resume 'normal services' shortly. I have a flu-like virus that has made so sick for the past 2 weeks, so bad that I am hardly reading anything..."I hope you get to feeling better soon.
Tracey the Bookworm wrote: "I am running a little behind at the moment but hope to resume 'normal services' shortly. I have a flu-like virus that has made so sick for the past 2 weeks, so bad that I am hardly reading anything..."Checking in Tracey- are you feeling better? Flu is awful, I hope you feel better soon! Hugs!
What social commentary do you think Trollope is trying to make through his sharp contrast between the bishop and the priest ? It seems that he is making a point to distinguish “true” religion as exhibited by the priest compared to the ““sham” religion exhibited by the bishop. Notably it appears that the bishop’s way is much preferred by society!