2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #1 discussion

Ilsa was in a relationship with Otto for a long time. Did you have any sympathy for her circumstances? Should she have handled her situation differently, especially after Theda married? Does your opinion of Clarence affect your opinion?

Well, I could understand not leaving her husband when the children were small. He could have stopped her from ever seeing the kids again. I'm assuming that their secret relationship went on for so many years that they just got used to the situation. I'm surprised that the staff didn't seem to know about the affair.

I agree, Robin.
I had some sympathy for the youngsters Ilsa and Otto, but what a "tangled web" they wove.

It was hard to condemn them for their affair given that they didn’t have a choice in her marriage to Clarence. Theirs was a relationship born from childhood so I had a lot of sympathy for them. Unlike today, there weren’t a lot of options for them to be together. Maybe if Clarence hadn’t died they would have eventually divorced.

Robin, I think the staff knew. Mrs. Young was very protectful of her and knew her walking to the corner was telling.

She seemed to have a very loyal staff who didn't really gossip about her.