I thought it came to the point of desperation because here's a man who likes her back and possibly has everything she could ever want. But, he cannot gives her what she needs.
That's very well said. I would almost say this man can give her what she thinks she wants, but not what she actually wants.
Edith deserves more than being Anthony's Lavinia. And he knew that, and even though it was heartbreaking, I applaud him for it.
Mainly, I applaud JF for valuing Edith enough not to make her into "an old man's drudge." To give her a chance at the fulfilling lives her sisters lead (with their hot, age appropriate husbands ;)
Anthony was cruel to be kind, but he was right. I have faith that someday, Edith will thank him for it. :)
Anthony's Lavinia. What a very fascinating concept! In his attempt to be honourable, he really isn't, right? But in the end, he was. Does that make sense? He's being honourable because here is a woman who cares for him a very great deal, and as he put it 'she made him feel alive again'. At the same time, he felt guilty because he would be 'stealing her life away', so he pushes her away to save her. (So far she hasn't been blackmailed into running back to him....yet).
Using that example, he did what Matthew should have done/tried to do. No one ever said being honourable needed to look appealing, no?
Have I understood you correctly, or did you have something else in mind when you used that example?
Yes, I think you understood me. :D Edith simply wants to be the girl who makes him happy. Edith would devote her whole life to his happiness at the expense of her own. Edith would adopt all his hopes and dreams as her hopes and dreams and just be grateful to be married.
But like Lavinia, Edith is always going to be second best in her beloved's heart. First place was given away long ago, and (perhaps unlike Lavinia) Edith is content to be second place. Unlike Edith, though -- Violet is the one who keeps telling her, "(You) do have some self-worth."
And yes, Anthony leaving Edith was much like Matthew sending Lavinia away -- right down to the phrasing of "stealing away the life you ought to have." Neither Anthony nor Matthew want the pressure of someone living just for themAnthony, however, lacks Matthew's guilt complex and moral code. Matthew, as we've seen, thinks sacrifice should be rewarded and sin punished. The moment Lavinia sacrificed for him, he was marrying her, come hell or high water (or y'know, death). But I'd hopefully
( ... )
Comments 3
That's very well said. I would almost say this man can give her what she thinks she wants, but not what she actually wants.
Edith deserves more than being Anthony's Lavinia. And he knew that, and even though it was heartbreaking, I applaud him for it.
Mainly, I applaud JF for valuing Edith enough not to make her into "an old man's drudge." To give her a chance at the fulfilling lives her sisters lead (with their hot, age appropriate husbands ;)
Anthony was cruel to be kind, but he was right. I have faith that someday, Edith will thank him for it. :)
Reply
Anthony's Lavinia. What a very fascinating concept! In his attempt to be honourable, he really isn't, right? But in the end, he was. Does that make sense? He's being honourable because here is a woman who cares for him a very great deal, and as he put it 'she made him feel alive again'. At the same time, he felt guilty because he would be 'stealing her life away', so he pushes her away to save her. (So far she hasn't been blackmailed into running back to him....yet).
Using that example, he did what Matthew should have done/tried to do. No one ever said being honourable needed to look appealing, no?
Have I understood you correctly, or did you have something else in mind when you used that example?
Reply
But like Lavinia, Edith is always going to be second best in her beloved's heart. First place was given away long ago, and (perhaps unlike Lavinia) Edith is content to be second place. Unlike Edith, though -- Violet is the one who keeps telling her, "(You) do have some self-worth."
And yes, Anthony leaving Edith was much like Matthew sending Lavinia away -- right down to the phrasing of "stealing away the life you ought to have." Neither Anthony nor Matthew want the pressure of someone living just for themAnthony, however, lacks Matthew's guilt complex and moral code. Matthew, as we've seen, thinks sacrifice should be rewarded and sin punished. The moment Lavinia sacrificed for him, he was marrying her, come hell or high water (or y'know, death). But I'd hopefully ( ... )
Reply
Leave a comment