The Vicar of Bullhampton: Week 3 - Ch. 17-26

[Renee, Moderator]

It would be appreciated if you would delete and repost next week, Paul. That we we can all enjoy a conversation on the emotional impact if this scene. Thanks so much!

[Ginny]

Frances wrote: "I was quite dazzled by Trollope's portrayal of male grief in Gilmore's reaction to the loss of Mary. This isn't the first time in my reading of Trollope that he has shown men completely devastated ..."

I agree that this is a powerful description, but some of the aspects of Gilmore's obsession make me very uncomfortable. He frightens me. He refers to Mary as "that false one". One of his biggest emotions is humiliation. "There is something mean to a man in the want of success in love. If a man lose a venture of money he can tell his friend; or if he be unsuccessful in trying for a seat in parliament; or be thrown out of a run in the hunting-field; or even if he be blackballed for a club; but a man can hardly bring himself to tell his dearest comrade that his Mary has preferred another man to himself." I think Mary is afraid of his possessiveness for very good reasons.

Mr. Gilmore was standing on the doorsteps of his own house when Mary's letter was brought to him.

[Frances]

That's an interesting interpretation of Mr Gilmore's reactions/feelings-I didn't get that impression at all however can completely see how this could be a sign of an unhealthy attachment. By contrast, I felt more concerned by Walter Marrable, although I can't really put my finger on why.

[Cindy, Moderator]

Paul wrote: "My sincere apologies ... but, in my defense, I was working off a reading schedule that I printed out probably in the middle of May when it was first prepared. Week 3 was listed on that schedule as Chapters 18-28. I didn't know it had changed...."

So sorry, Paul! When I reviewed my initial schedule, I felt that it wasn't as balanced page-wise as it should have been and made some adjustments. I guess I assumed that no one was looking at it too seriously at that point--I should have made a post about the adjustments. My apologies!

[Cindy, Moderator]

Ginny wrote: "I agree that this is a powerful description, but some of the aspects of Gilmore's obsession make me very uncomfortable. He frightens me...."

I can see the obsessive quality in his emotional reaction, too, Ginny. I don't really get a sense of menace from him, even when he starts feeling the stirrings of anger and resentment to Mary's refusal, but I do think, like I said previously, that she was also made uncomfortable (even if subconsciously) by his single-minded pursuit. Desperation for love is not usually a good look on anyone!

We see this "I can't live without you" attitude in poetry and plays and while we realize, on a practical level, that it's not really a healthy mindset, it has traditionally been considered romantic. I think, though, that there is a vast difference between the reaction this attitude produces in the recipient who returns the speaker's love from one who doesn't. Mary definitely falls in the latter category, and on top of the urgings and expectations of her friends and family, she has the pressure of Mr. Gilmore's future happiness. To me, (and I may be alone in this), I feel like his desperation, the fact that he believes his whole life's happiness depends on having her, causes her to possibly (again, maybe unconsciously) see him as lacking confidence and strength. Walter, on the other hand, exudes strength and confidence, despite his financial problems. He's very handsome in a "mad, bad, and dangerous to know" kind of way, in the words of Lady Caroline Lamb, and like Lady Caroline, Mary may feel the attraction of the dangerous. She's probably seen him in his uniform, which doesn't hurt. Add to this the knowledge that he is forbidden fruit and I'm surprised that she hasn't eloped with him already! :)

[Cindy, Moderator]

Before we leave this section behind, I'd like to share some of my favorite quotes. Please feel free to share yours, as well!

“It always seems to me,” said Mr. Gilmore, “that to be successful in love, a man should not be in love at all; or at any rate, he should hide it” (150). Alas, he arrived at this realization a little late! :(

“It is not easy to set crooked things straight” (174). The Vicar says this four different times, by my count.

“At present, I feel very, very angry with Captain Marrable; as though I wish he had had his head blown off in battle” (176). Tell us how you really feel, Janet!


“ . . . this infidel clergyman had dured to allude to his lordship’s daughters! Such a man had no right even to think of women so exalted. The existence of the Ladies Stowte must no doubt be known to such men, and among themselves probably some allusion in the way of faint guesses might be made as to their modes of life, as men guess at kings and queens, and even at gods and goddesses” (200). As I said, the Marquis' arrogance amused me greatly in these chapters, but nowhere is it more on display than in this passage. Mere mortal men may wonder about the existence of his old, ugly daughters, but only when accompanied by the fear and reverence you feel for a monarch or a god! He actually puts himself and his family on the same plane with gods and goddesses.

“My dear girl,” said Fenwick, “what can you expect from an ass but his ears?” (204). Words of wisdom from Frank. He is referring to the Marquis, and unsurprisingly, without the reverence due a god. Where are the tar and feathers when you need them??

[Trev]

Cindy wrote: "Before we leave this section behind, I'd like to share some of my favorite quotes. Please feel free to share yours, as well!


Great quotes Cindy. I think that Janet has some of the best lines. My favourite so far is her ’ “How you do like a fight, Frank!”
‘ although not far behind is her blunt ‘head blown off’ remark about Walter.

Here are two quotes about The Raging Bull, one spoken by him and one a description of him by the author. They demonstrate both the hard and soft sides to his character……..

Hard Frank
’ “But it would be so nice to catch a burglar and crunch him. I feel almost bloodthirsty since I hit that fellow with the life-preserver, and find that I didn’t kill him.”

Soft Frank
’ It is probably the case that Mr. Fenwick would have been able to do his duty better, had some harsher feeling towards the sinner been mixed with his charity.’

[Paul]

Trev wrote: "Hard Frank
’ “But it would be so nice to catch a burglar and crunch him. I feel almost bloodthirsty since I hit that fellow with the life-preserver, and find that I didn’t kill him.”"

A rather colourful sentiment for someone who is ostensibly a "man of the cloth", I'd say!