The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion

Has anyone else completely lost patience with Emily? If it wasn't a completely 21st century concept, I would feel she was gaslighting her husband! She has made him sound far worse than either his actual words or his intentions, and where he was trying to protect her (and himself) from gossip about a known rake, she has fanned the flames of their relationship difficulties by twisting his words, "obeying" him in a way that makes him look foolish and jealous, then writing to Colonel Osborne in such a manner that Louis will know of it, while destroying the letter from him, despite her protestation that all would be shown to her husband.

Louis strikes me at this point as clumsy and not terribly savvy in terms of how to manage the situation, but he has been the one trying to smooth things over without losing face or completely losing any power in the relationship.

Was there any way to avoid this separation, without either of them becoming completely dominated by their spouse?

I am enjoying Miss Stanbury-is anyone else reminded of Aunt Betsy Trotwood in David Copperfield? It certainly seems as if she is trying to make Dorothy comfortable, and I hope some good will come from her having Dorothy to live with her.

Please post your thoughts on this section.

Frances wrote: "Has anyone else completely lost patience with Emily? If it wasn't a completely 21st century concept, I would feel she was gaslighting her husband! ..."

I guess the term "gaslighting" is 21st century, but the concept isn't. Emily is certainly very clever at putting herself on the moral high ground - for instance, telling Nora that she will not say to her husband that he is right because that would be lying to him "and I will never lie to him." Yet she continues to correspond with Osborne, not because she has any attachment to him, but purely in order to infuriate and flummox her husband.

She's determined to defy Louis even though everyone is now advising her to back down - including her new friend Priscilla, whom I rather like. Priscilla admits candidly that "I am not fit to marry. I am often cross, and I like my own way..." and labels Emily's intransigence as mere twopenny-halfpenny pride. When Priscilla asks Emily if she loves her husband, and Emily replies, "Yes, I love him certainly," she can surely only be saying this for form's sake as there is currently no evidence of any love for him nor any attempt to understand his feelings or motives.

Yes, I'm impatient with Emily to the point that when those two show up in a chapter I want to skip it. sigh.
I'm more interested in the Stanbury women at the moment. Will we see more of the elder sister Priscilla, who seems to be the dominant voice in the family when ther son is absent? And why was she not invited to stay instead of Dorothy, unless it's because the latter being the younger is more malleable.
I'm a little irritated with Trollope's portrayal of Dorothy...."She had very soft grey eyes, which ever seemed to beseech you to do something when they looked at you.....There are women who, even admidst their strongest efforts at giving assistance to others, always look as though they were asking aid themselves, and suchy a one was Dorothy....:"

tall but with ''that extreme look of feminine dependence...."
WE moderns will cringe at this. Would the presentation have been favorable in Trollope's time? Or would even then a stronger mind like the aunt's have been preferred? I wonder.

If Louis had demonstrated the wit to call his wife's bluff after her melodramatic snubbing of Colonel Osborne in the gardens, the problem would have been solved. A reason for the colonel to discontinue his visits would have been established and, with patience, the rift would have been mended.
Instead, an embarrassed Louis plays directly into Emily's hands by immediately reestablishing the Colonel's visits, thereby making the problem worse. Emily's defiance becomes even more provocative to include 'secretive' tete-a-tetes in far flung corners of the house during her 'old family friend's' regular visits.
Both Louis and Emily are needlessly inflaming the situation because of their stubborn pride. I do think that Louis' decision to separate from his wife was a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Isn't Emily more vulnerable to the Colonel's wiles living away from Louis than being close by him. Even at this early stage a resolution seems almost impossible, which is a tragedy given that their child is barely a year old.
Miss Stanbury, to use yet another old cliche, has a bark worse than her bite. Her kindly intentions are hidden beneath a more severe outward appearance. She has already been disappointed by Hugh so will the seemingly compliant Dorothy be more to her liking? It seems Miss Stanbury is stuck in the past somewhat. Most of the activities, beliefs and fashions of the young people seem disagreeable to her. In her mind they are an affront to good manners and decency. The worse thing seems to be that they have a mind of their own and, like Hugh, won't listen to the good advice of their elders.

Trev wrote: "Both Louis and Emily are needlessly inflaming the situation because of their stubborn pride. I do think that Louis' decision to separate from his wife was a sledgehammer to crack a nut...."

Yes, it's an extraordinarily heavy-handed reaction. I wonder if (given what little we're told about Louis's upbringing) he's lacked the guidance of a older person in his family and has perhaps been allowed to do as he likes without question. In the first chapter we're told both his parents are dead, he inherited a nice little fortune and used it to publish a volume of poems and to travel, and that the head of the family is a cousin whom he regards as a good fellow but stupid. So he's not used to having to take other people's needs or preferences into account. I do feel quite sorry for him as he is obviously torn emotionally.

Perhaps Trollope wanted to get right to the conflict but he forgot to tell us anything about the characters which would explain their actions. They both wanted their own way? The escalation seems to be too plot driven, even for Trollope.

Seems like they're both making a huge mountain out of a molehill, and both Louis and Emily are at fault. He was clumsy at handling the situation from the beginning, and it seems he did really insult his wife, and didn't really take back that insult. Emily isn't making the situation any better. Especially given her position, she should try to be a bit more understanding. She can do this while still maintaining that her husband owes her an apology for the way he handled the situation. But she seems to be provoking her husband and looking for a fight. Given the fact that the man was in such a position of power over his wife in those times, I believe Louis would be acting as a gentleman if he were to apologize for his behavior and try to explain his position from a position of concern rather than one of authority. But given what we've heard of the book, that doesn't look like it will happen.

Near the very beginning of the book, I seem to remember Emily implying to Nora that this wasn't the first time Louis had been high-handed with her, so this conflict may actually have very little to do with Colonel Osborne, at least on Emily's side. It's hard to say without more information.

Yes, I did think of Betsey Trotwood when we met Miss Stanbury (I think she was my favorite Dickens character - she had me at "Donkeys!"). But I think Betsey would think of Miss Stanbury as a prude. But I suppose Miss Stanbury is just set in her ways. It would be awkward for her to suddenly start being affectionate in the way other people are, so she has to show it in her own way.

Trollope's description of Dorothy did make me raise my eyebrows a bit, but I think I understand what he means. Some people do have certain facial expressions that are just always there. Dickens described Barnaby Rudge's mother as always looking scared. But combined with making Dorothy an ideal female of that time, it's a bit saccharine.

Some of the book blurbs say "sexual jealousy of Louis Trevelyan who unjustly accuses his wife Emily of a liaison with a friend of her father's" but that doesn't ring true to me. It's more about... the grey areas, small irreconcilable differences... I feel there is a clever title in there, better than the actual He Knew He Was Right.
They Thought They Were Right.
A Very British Marriage.
An Insignificant Affair.
A Tiny Tragedy.
Hearts and Cudgels.

Priscilla Stanbury:

"But it seems a trumpery quarrel..."

Trumpery = attractive but of little use.
Superficially appealing but of little real value.
Showy but worthless. Tawdry finery.
Delusive, shallow.

Good point, Bonnie, this has never been about Louis believing his wife is actually carrying on any kind of clandestine affair with Osborne, but more about appearances and trying to bend each other to their will. They are both in the wrong and their pride is toxic.