The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion
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The Way We Live Now
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The Way We Live Now - Chapters 1-8
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Lady Carbury is certainly a mixed bag. One can admire her, and I have sympathy for her being a survivor, her dedication to her children and her desire to become a successful author in order to provide for them as well as herself (as Trollope’s mother had to do when his father fell apart). Being born poor and her decision to marry Sir Patrick for an entree into an economically and socially superior life provides the key to her character. It certainly appears his subsequent abuse was not foreseen by her, but she will not run and hide forever, as some other Trollope women have done, but returns with an intent to enter and flourish in a literary society she aspires to. Romantic love and moral ethics are not what motivate her. The ends justify the means in her life, whether it's getting her book published to provide financially for herself and her children or helping to secure the best marriage match for Felix or Henrietta. We see her using manipulation, her feminine wiles, and deception in order to achieve results. Can we admire all that she does? I don’t. Her letters to the editors to secure good reviews for her book certainly are over the top taken as a whole. She is not going to leave it to chance, or literary merit, that her book is well reviewed and she is going to manipulate each editor to the best of her ability in order to effect that end. It’s certainly admirable that she is a devoted mother, but her devotion is lopsidedly in favor of Felix who is one of the most selfish and self absorbed “gentlemen” Trollope has created. If Henrietta will only marry Roger and secure her economic future, then Lady Carbury can focus her attention entirely on Felix and provide for him in whatever way necessary, although it can bring her much grief.
Mod
I agree with your assessment of Lady Carbury. I didn't know that about Trollope's mother, and that supports my sense that Trollope was sympathetic to Lady C, although quite aware of her faults.
There is definitely a sense with Felix C of the spoiled son who is going to take all he can get, both from his mother and sister and from any poor woman who falls into his clutches and marries him.
There is nothing so far to like about Felix. The narrator attributes his character and behavior to both nature and nurture. If he was made to take responsibility for his deficits- his inability to truly care for anyone else, his impulsivity, his total self absorption, his lack of ambition in trying to find a profession which would earn him money- perhaps he would have conquered them or else ended up in the streets or dead. As it is, both his mother and sister believe he’s entitled to live the life of a wealthy gentleman and they are ready to sacrifice themselves for his benefit. As a mother, I understand the deep rooted desire to help and protect your children, but Felix is beyond anything I would want to help or sacrifice for. Roger also has elements I like and don’t like. He seems to represent the old way- landed gentry where the owning of land for generations and a title is more important than wealth. He has obvious disdain or more for the Melmottes. His attachment to his estate and his family heritage is honorable, although it doesn't seem very practical if it isn't generating enough income. He does recognize Felix for what he is and how he is ruining his mother and sister. His advice to Lady Carbury is good, but she will never take it. It is honorable that he believes that even though a man may have a title, if he doesn't have the money to pay his bills or hunt then he needs to change his ways. What I don’t like is his insistence in pursuing Henrietta, although perhaps Trollope’s contemporary audience had a different reaction. Once a woman says no, that should be it. I also don’t think it is his place to tell Paul what his relationship with Henrietta should be, no matter what financial assistance he has provided. Whether Henrietta chooses to marry either of them or none of them, it is her decision to make.
Rumors swirl around Melmotte and his family. Any family background that is not English and any possibility of Jewish blood are obviously not positive, but suspect and looked down on. Melmotte’s shady business dealings seem to have a degree of truth, although perhaps we shall learn more. He shares an objective with Lady Carbury in establishing a place of influence in society and perhaps even in government. Despite the rumors or truth of unethical conduct, Melmotte is achieving success as evidenced by the ball he hosts and its celebrity guests. A comment more about the society he has entered and its willingness to tolerate unethical conduct? I need to learn more about Melmotte and his family, although it seems the reader is being set up for a negative opinion. Any Jewish roots would cause me to sympathize with the family, perhaps not the reaction Trollope would have intended.
I agree with Linda about both Felix and Roger. Although Roger is obviously intended to be a far more sympathetic character than Felix, his stubbornness and self-interest in forbidding Paul to try for Henrietta's hand show a more dubious side to his character. And Melmotte is obviously set up to be the villain, as even before meeting him we are told he's a gigantic swindler. I don't think his Jewishness would have been an issue for Victorian readers so much as his sheer foreignness (I could be wrong about that, but Britain was then and to some extent remains today a distressingly xenophobic country.) Melmotte is admitted to society only because of his vast wealth - and his hypocritical guests scoff even while they lap up the luxuries he provides.
It's striking how many of the characters so far have been depicted in terms of money. We learn as much about their income and debts as we do about their personalities. Lady Carbury's cares about money open the book, and money is her sole motivation for writing. In Roger's case we're told that he always pays his tradesmen even before his appearance is described. Money dominates these people; they are willing to trade their principles for it (as in Lord Alfred Grendall's case) or to allow their daughters (Marie Melmotte) to become goods to be traded.
Mod
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Yes quite a scathing commentary on the Aristocracy in this novel-the number of titled people sneering behind his back yet lining up to get access to his money and/or marry his daughter to their sons.
Must confess Melmotte reminds me of a certain contemporary political figure.Confused that in chapter one Sir Patrick Carbury is called ‘Sir Carbury’. I couldn’t imagine Trollope could make a mistake like that and in chapter four when Mme Melmotte refers to Felix as ‘Sir Carbury’ even her husband catches the error.
On money: Oxford World Classics edition notes present day values. £1=£80 today.
For historical context, Susie Steinbach in Understanding the Victorians says” Popular antisemitism was rampant, but even in elite and Liberal circles, less virulent forms of antisemitism were widespread. Liberal politicians often argued that the state had historical and cultural roots of which Jews could never be part.” 266).Although Jews did have more political freedom in Britain than elsewhere in Europe, being granted the right to vote in 1835 and emancipation in 1858 which allowed Jews to become members of Parliament, deep cultural antisemitism remained.
Victorian literature is filled with stereotypical Jewish characters whose physical attributes reveal their less than honorable character. There is a disagreement as to whether Trollope was anti Semitic himself or only reflecting the prejudices of Victorian society. I always hold on to the character of Madame Max, aka Marie Finn, who is one of Trollope’s true heroines despite rumors of a Jewish background.
Linda wrote: "For historical context, Susie Steinbach in Understanding the Victorians says” Popular antisemitism was rampant, but even in elite and Liberal circles, less virulent forms of antisemitism were widespread..."Thanks for that, Linda. I knew Jews could become MPs (hence the Jewish Prime Minister Disraeli) but I wasn't so aware of the insidious antisemitism even in Liberal circles. There are certainly some sadly stereotyped Jews in Dickens; and even George Eliot, who worked so hard in Daniel Deronda to enlarge her readers' minds about aspects of Jewishness, couldn't shake herself entirely free of the stereotype.
Thanks also to Bill for noting that one pound then was worth £80 today. That means that if Melmotte's ball really cost £60,000, as rumoured amongst his guests, that would have been a truly staggering sum...
Mod
I predict we will end up with at least one happily married couple - probably Henrietta and Paul, though we're still in the early stages so a Henrietta + Roger match wouldn't surprise me either. And we'll probably pick up other characters along the way.
I can't see a truly happy ending for Lady Carbury either (I keep reading it as "Cadbury"). Could being a below-average writer make her happy? Even if the initial reviews are good, she can't fool readers too often. And of course Felix will disappoint her. She may have some comfort in her daughter's happy marriage.
Frances, you could always check out Fanny Trollope's _Domestic Manners of the Americans_ if you're curious.
With regard to the anti-Semitism, when I was looking up a phrase from the book I happened upon a review of the BBC adaptation on the Vanguard News Network, which is a white supremacist press. Of course they were on-board with all the anti-Semitism. That was disheartening.
Lori wrote: "I can't see a truly happy ending for Lady Carbury either (I keep reading it as "Cadbury").."I think Lady Carbury is an interesting character so far, more complex than on the surface and as Linda says, she "is certainly a mixed bag," kind of both a good egg and a bad egg.
These chapters seem like a long set up for the action and we have not yet met Melmotte, except through characters who don't know him. He is getting a long intro before his appearance.
Mod
Felix- can't stand him, will come to a bad end
Lady Carbury- mixed feelings but I don't like her worship of her son
Henrietta - she deserves a happy marriage, but it's too early to tell if that will happen
Sir Roger- he may be the friend in need to Henrietta when Felix ruins everyone
Mod
In this section the scene is set with the introduction of our lead characters or families: The Melmottes, the Carbury's, and Paul Montague.
Are the heroes/heroines and villains of this novel clearly laid out for us at this early stage? How does Trollope signify which characters are which? Which characters do you find to be ambiguous in this regard?
Does this have the feel of a romance, a comic or satiric novel, or a tragedy at this point? How does Trollope set the stage in this regard?
Please share your thoughts on this introductory section.