The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion

The descriptions of the weather dominate in some of these chapters almost as if Mother Nature has become a character in the story. John finds Lorna being starved and rescues her by pulling her across the snow as if he was a pack animal. We learn Lorna’s glass necklace is, in fact, diamonds. And a conflict is coming.

1. What is your opinion of Lorna as a character?

2. Which relationship do you find the most intriguing? Why?

I read this book a few years ago and my thoughts were that for a title character, Lorna was a weak and lacklustre character, especially compared to the other female characters.

Again, I really like Blackmore’s description of the animals. They're probably better than his descriptions of the human characters. And he might have made the common mistake of making the female characters too perfect, especially Lorna, Annie, and Ruth.

Tom’s warning about them keeping Lorna – It’s not just that they’re keeping her as John’s future wife, but the Ridds have also saved her from death or being violated. If I understood Lorna correctly, she implied she’d die, presumably by suicide, before submitting herself to Carver. If she hadn’t met John, would she have felt the same or just resigned herself to her fate, not seeing another future for herself?

I doubt Charlie Doone and Marwood de Whichehalse would have told Carver what happened. No matter how they told him, they would have been in big trouble with Carver for being near Lorna's house. But the Doones can conjecture. They’ve seen John in Doone Glen, and they would have concluded that if Lorna is not in Doone Glen, dead or alive, she must be with John. She wouldn’t have been able to get far alone, and I doubt another cousin was coming to get her. I doubt it took Carver long to figure out where she went.

I also find Lorna annoying. I prefer Gwenny. Lorna's frailty and inability to do work is supposed to reflect her nobility. (Of course we see her through John's eyes, which might not be accurate.) As a little girl, she seemed hardy enough.

I liked how John seemed to have invented the ski jump!

I agree Lorna seems too perfect and the “ideal” of what a woman was supposed to be. It’s strange as Blackmore made Lizzie a woman who values knowledge which would not have been what women should be in that time period.

With regard to Lorna and Carver, I was unsure how she would die in a few days. While I thought suicide, I also thought of possible starving or other punishments because she wouldn’t obey him.

Hahaha, Lori, yes - the descriptions of animals are more interesting than descriptions of some people!

Lorna is only described as delicate and beautiful and I have given up on my curiuosity for her. Why does John love her? It looks like he loves her because of her meekness and beauty.

Lorna even asked him “why should I?”, when he asked if she loved him.

...

And then he even insisted that she must love him the way that he did. (By the end of book 1, page 236.)

Imagine how everyday life for the couple would be, if they lived as husband and wife in a normal society. Lorna could not continue being just meek and lovely - John would also see a frustrated and disillusioned Lorna. And could Lorna put up with a simpleton as John, with her background and education?

OK, I shouldn’t expect too much from this story. It is just action and pretty, rosy romance.

Charlotte wrote: "Imagine how everyday life for the couple would be, if they lived as husband and wife in a normal society. Lorna could not continue being just meek and lovely - John would also see a frustrated and ..."

You’ve made good points here. Is the author’s viewpoint realistic for the setting?

I guess it's showing how sheltered Lorna has been until now. If she married John, she would have to learn to do some of the farm work. Delicate as she is, she could still work up her strength gradually. Right now, she is still seen as the Ridds' guest. But since John is a relatively well-to-do farmer, he can afford to hire extra help so Lorna wouldn't have to do as much as a normal farmer's wife. I doubt he'd want her to.

I think Lorna and John are well-balanced regarding education, though she has more natural wit and thinks more quickly. He's had more education than the average farmer, and she's had much less than the average noblewoman, being brought up among the Doones (I think she mentioned near the beginning that her education was lacking - I doubt she received any instruction at all since her aunt's death, and I doubt the Doones keep a lot of books around).

Basically, I think their relationship could work, though it would be unusual for the times.

It seemed to be "love at first sight", at least for John, which I don't personally believe in. But it's the stuff of fairy tales, operas, and legends, which this sort of resembles.

It seemed to me that when Lorna was a girl, she was adventurous, but she lost that. That might be realistic, in that as soon as she was old enough for marriage she was suddenly vulnerable and once her grandfather died, much more so.

1. What is your opinion of Lorna as a character?
Based on her early appearances, I too thought Lorna would end up being more spunky than she acts now. She is definitely more helpless damsel in distress now, a sweet Nell, with John as a Dudley-Do-Right. I guess that makes Carver Snidely Whiplash.

2. Which relationship do you find the most intriguing?
As of now, I'm most intrigued by the relationship of Marwood de Whichehalse with the Doone's, and also their relationship, and Uncle Ben's, with the Crown. I hope to at least get a better understanding of English political history out of the book.

Robin wrote: "It seemed to be "love at first sight", at least for John, which I don't personally believe in. But it's the stuff of fairy tales, operas, and legends, which this sort of resembles.

It seemed to m..."

In our times, research has been done on girls. They are originally more adventurous and independent but around middle school that changes and they somehow internalize that the boys won’t like you if you are like this. They become more quiet. I wonder if this is the case here

I actually thought of exactly that, Deborah! I think around 9 is the age that girls are most adventurous (as a generalization). Although it's surprising to find this in a book written by a man. But maybe that is something some men like - a spunky girl but a demure woman?

I took it to be more of her morale being beaten down over the years, and her learning more about what the Doones expect from her (especially regarding Carver). But it could be just her growing up too.

It's been interesting to read the comments of how John and Lorna are poorly matched. What ARE her reasons for loving him? Being so new to kindness, do you think she has the tendency to fall in love with any nice young man who promises a rescue? With her guardian Alan, she was ready to blindly trust him after exchanging a few words! John offers similar promises as Alan. After a few visits and a daring rescue, Lorna is head over heals for him too. Perhaps this is the author's way of showing her innocence and naivete?