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Archived Group Reads 2023
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Desperate Remedies: Week 3: Chapters 7 - 9
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This book certainly gets more intriguing as we continue on. My edition however gives too much away in the explanatory notes. I'm waiting for the big reveal from Miss Aldclyffe's past.
Mod
Quite agree with you, Melanie.
So far we have the mystery of Mr Graye senior and Miss Aldclyffe, Edward Springrove's secret engagement, Mr Manston's secret wedding. The charwoman wrapping up the long hair she found on the pillow and debating which woman in the neighbourhood it might belong to with her friend was quite funny. I am looking forward to discovering Miss A's secret past and seeing how the men who love Cytherea sort out their hidden spouse/fiancee.
Mod
Me too, Frances. It is really getting excited.
The main character of this section is Manston - recruitment and arrival, meeting with Cytherea and his feelings for her, the entrance of his wife on the stage. Miss A does everything to get him employed. Her intrigue is masterly, as is how she orchestrates Cytherea’s meeting with Edward’s fiancée, his father, and her meeting Manston - assisted by a thunderstorm.
After the solicitor’s unfavourable impression of his character, and still after that first encounter in the thunderstorm, I expected him to be the villain in the drama - liar, seducer, crook of some sort . I was surprised that he is not: he is really in love with Cytherea, he keeps his distance from her honourably (quite the opposite of Edward), and he is honest with his employer.
So intrigue and deceit remain on Miss A’s side - but Mrs. Manston enters the scene and unsettles her. She is someone Miss A has not planned for initially, but now seems to bring her into her scheme, whatever it may be.
… and a side note on colour:
Livid grey shades, like those of the modern French painters, made a mystery of the remote and dark parts of the vista,
‘livid’ has changed in meaning over the centuries: from the purple/bluish bruise via pallor back to the red of anger. So what kind of grey does Hardy mean?
If he thinks of the Impressionists as the ‘modern French painters’, he is very much up-to-date in art: in 1871, Impressionism is only just emerging and has not even been given this name yet. If he refers to it, the ‘livid grey’ must be colourful. One of the tenets of Impressionism is that everything is colour, even clouds, shadows, darkness. Impressionists rebelled against the classical chiaroscuro, especially against black. The grey of clouds would be painted not by mixing black and white, but as a mixture of many different colours.
In these three chapters the plot swiftly gathers pace and at the same time thickens like a white sauce rapidly coming to the boil.In fact, too much is happening. There is the scheming of the tyrannical Miss Aldclyffe, Cytherea’s discovery of her love rival for Edward, her befriending of Edward’s impoverished father, and the anguished, besotted (or is it infatuated?) Manston whose actress wife adds yet another twist to the drama.
All this is brought to the table, almost simultaneously, and laid before us. I have found it rather too much to digest all at once.
A number of elements caught my imagination . The first was the way everyone in the area knew about Cytherea’s and Edward’s ‘rowing’ around Budmouth bay. This gossip must have hurt Cytherea so much.
’ And it was a mere flirtation—she was too silly for him. He's fond of rowing, and kindly gave her an airing for an evening or two. I'll warrant they talked the most unmitigated rubbish under the sun—all shallowness and pastime, just as everything is at watering places—neither of them caring a bit for the other—she giggling like a goose all the time—'
There is no doubt in my mind that Edward should have been honest with Cytherea about his engagement and that his behaviour towards Cytherea was at the very least ‘ungentlemanly’ considering his engaged situation. If he had grown tired of Adelaide Hinton he should have been honest about that with Adelaide. There may be mitigating factors not yet revealed which might improve my opinion of him, so for now I will leave it there.
Another intriguing issue was Cytherea’s attraction to Manston, compared with her love for Springrove. There is no doubt that she is drawn to both, but in different ways.
Manston - ‘She was swayed into emotional opinions concerning the strange man before her; new impulses of thought came with new harmonies, and entered into her with a gnawing thrill. A dreadful flash of lightning then, and the thunder close upon it. She found herself involuntarily shrinking up beside him, and looking with parted lips at his face………
'O, how is it that man has so fascinated me?' was all she could think. Her own self, as she had sat spell-bound before him, was all she could see.’ ……..
‘ She was interested in him and his marvellous beauty, as she might have been in some fascinating panther or leopard—for some undefinable reason she shrank from him, even whilst she admired.’
Springrove - (with reference to the rejection letter Cytherea sent to him) ’ Yet it was all unconsciously said in words which betrayed a lingering tenderness of love at every unguarded turn. Like Beatrice accusing Dante from the chariot, try as she might to play the superior being who contemned such mere eye-sensuousness, she betrayed at every point a pretty woman's jealousy of a rival, and covertly gave her old lover hints for excusing himself at each fresh indictment.’
https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/...
Cytherea has found herself in a difficult and somewhat fragile situation, a situation recognised by Manston….
’A lady's dependent, a waif, a helpless thing entirely at the mercy of the world; yes, curse it; that is just why it is; that fact of her being so helpless against the blows of circumstances which renders her so deliciously sweet!'
After their startling first meeting, both Cytherea and Manston have so far striven to keep apart, but there seems to be an unremitting force attempting to bring them together. My most intriguing question would be….Does Miss Aldclyffe have anything to do with it?
sabagrey wrote: Livid grey shades, like those of the modern French painters, made a mystery of the remote and dark parts of the vista,
‘livid’ has changed in meaning over the centuries: from the purple/bluish bruise via pallor back to the red of anger. So what kind of grey does Hardy mean?
If he thinks of the Impressionists as the ‘modern French painters’, he is very much up-to-date in art: .."
I think Hardy was influenced by the Impressionists. Many of his poetic descriptions feel impressionistic to me.
For example, when describing the senior Edward Springrove’s dilapidated coaching inn, he writes this…..
’ where once the hoofs of two-score horses had daily rattled over the stony yard, to and from the stalls within, thick grass now grew, whilst the line of roofs—once so straight—over the decayed stalls, had sunk into vast hollows till they seemed like the cheeks of toothless age.’
This depiction reminded me of a number of Renoir landscapes in which the buildings seemed to have blended and fused into their natural surroundings.
As pointed out, there are almost too many things happening now. Actually, not really happening but more happened and we are learning about them and their affect on the story now. However, all the new info and twist are only ALMOST too much as I find it all fascinating so far, especially when accompanied by Hardy's impressionistically descriptive prose.One thing that surprised me was that we got to see Manston's point of view. I thought he'd remain as more of a mystery man for awhile.
I was also interested in the progression of Cytheria's affections and her ability to move on and/or diversify. First she falls for a man who she finds out is engaged. Then she switches to a man who she will presumably find out is married. So next, she'll have to switch her affections to a man who will turn out to be married with children?
I look forward to the next section.
For those like me who are interested to know what the author is referring to when he quotes, here are links to some of the numerous references Hardy makes to other poets/writers in this section.’ sighing like Donna Clara—
'Ah, were he now before me,
In spite of injured pride,
I fear my eyes would pardon
Before my tongue could chide.'
https://www.poetrynook.com/poem/donna...
’ Like Walt Whitman he felt as his years increased—
'I foresee too much; it means more than I thought.'
https://www.waltwhitman.com/so-long.jsp
’ Like Beatrice accusing Dante from the chariot, try as she might to play the superior being who contemned such mere eye-sensuousness, she betrayed at every point a pretty woman's jealousy of a rival, and covertly gave her old lover hints for excusing himself at each fresh indictment.
http://www.meaus.com/114-dali-purgato...
’ It was plain then, she said, that he did not care deeply for her, and she there upon could not quite leave off caring deeply for him:— 'Ingenium mulierum,
Nolunt ubi velis,
Ubi nolis cupiunt ultro.'
https://imperiumromanum.pl/en/roman-a...
’ Thus arrested she stood for an instant as precisely in the attitude of Imogen by the cave of Belarius, as if she had studied the position from the play.
(Shakespeare’s Cymbeline)
https://i0.wp.com/shakespeareillustra...
Mod
Mod
I thought the scene with the thunderstorm and Manston playing the organ was very striking. And the Pastoral Symphony is my favorite of Beethoven’s.
Melanie wrote: "I thought the scene with the thunderstorm and Manston playing the organ was very striking. And the Pastoral Symphony is my favorite of Beethoven’s."I also enjoyed the intense descriptive prose in that scene.. no wonder Cytherea was so ‘thrilled’ by it all. It brought out the sensuous side of Cytherea’s character and the difficulty she has, sometimes, in controlling her feelings.
Another descriptive scene reminded me straight way of a different author, but a similar character to Miss Aldclyffe.
’ The steward was shown into the library. On entering it, he was immediately struck with the unusual gloom which pervaded the apartment. The fire was dead and dull, one lamp, and that a comparatively small one, was burning at the extreme end, leaving the main proportion of the lofty and sombre room in an artificial twilight, scarcely powerful enough to render visible the titles of the folio and quarto volumes which were jammed into the lower tiers of the bookshelves.
As I read this I immediately thought of Great Expectations and the house of a certain mysterious elderly lady.
I have the feeling that although Cytherea is attracted to Mr. Manston, she is also somewhat wary of him and still feels love toward Edward Springdale. Manston is definitely a charming man, and he freely admits his lies of omission to Miss Aldclyffe, but the fact that his wife must sneak in and out of town tells me that something else is going on. In short, I don't trust him. Of course, I also don't completely trust Springdale since he didn't tell Adelaide of his love for Cytherea and left Cytherea to find out about his engagement in a most painful manner. There certainly is a lot going on in these chapters, but the extra plot developments are making this novel a much more intriguing read.
Mod
I love that symphony, too, Melanie. In an unusual way, it reminded me of the Phantom of the Opera as well.
Mod
Certainly, there is something fishy about Manston's marriage. The lady didn't have to sneak in if there was nothing to hide.
I´m behind with these chapters, but they definitely are very complicated and mysterious. Miss Aldclyffe is as intriguing as can be, and other persons seem to live or have lived secretly. I wonder how all these complications will turn out in the end.
I've changed my mind: Manston is Aldclyffe's son!
After everything is bequeathed to Miss Aldclyffe, she takes control of her affairs. First, she wants to employ a land steward to manage her estate. She wants to get the old manor house repaired and habitable for the new steward to take residence in.
The position for the land steward is advertised and forty five replies were received. After seeing through the candidates with her solicitor, Mr. Nyttleton, she decides to advertise again which is strange. A stranger thing happens next. Miss Aldclyffe, seeing an advertisement on a public exhibition at the Institute of Architects, attends it. There she goes through the list of architects and picks a name. Aeneas Manston. Then she takes a sealed envelope from the Institute surreptitiously and leaves the place. In this envelope, she puts the advertisement and sends it to the address of Aeneas Manston. It is evident that there is some mystery behind Miss Aldclyffe's actions.
The interviews take place following the second advertisement, and Manston arrives. Edward Springrove too has answered the advertisement and presents himself at the interview. Mr. Nyttleton's choice is Edward Springrove and Miss Aldclyffe's choice is Manston. The lady wins the day, and Manston is appointed as the land steward.
Chapter 8:
The story is indeed moving fast. We meet Edward Springrove's betrothed - his cousin, Miss Hinton. What Miss Aldclyffe has told Cytherea is true after all. It's Miss Aldclyffe who sends Cytherea to her in the form of calling for a subscription, but knowing her character it is possible that she did it on purpose so that Cytherea will meet the fiancee of Edward.
Miss Aldclyffe seems to be interested in forming a connection between Cytherea and Manston. I wonder who Manston is for her to take such a keen interest in him. I was highly amused by the parish talk that Miss Aldclyffe was in love with Mr. Manston! She certainly is not in my opinion, but that she has a plan for him is quite certain.
Cytherea manages to escape meeting Manston when she calls first for the subscription. On her return, she sees him but is unable to proceed without conversing with him. The sudden rain and thunder compel Cytherea to accept Manston's invitation and take shelter in the old manor house. It was strange to read how moved Cytherea was by his looks and his music. She seems to be easily susceptible to men's charms.
Chapter 9:
Mr. Manston is in love with Cytherea. This becomes generally known in the parish extinguishing the wildest rumours of him and Miss Aldclyffe. But Mr. Manston, though admits to himself that he loves her, makes no positive advance towards her.
We are again introduced to a bit of intrigue. Mr. Manston sees a woman on the passing train and is troubled. He thinks about how she found him out. It looks like there is a secret woman in his life. A woman is described secretly leaving the old manor house precincts. She follows Cytherea and Owen in their conversation. All this is very mysterious.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Crickett finds a strand of brown hair under the pillow in Mr. Manston's bed when she goes there for housekeeping. She along with Mrs. Leat makes wild conjectures as to whom the hair should belong, Cytherea and Miss Aldclyffe?
A letter received by Miss Aldclyffe solves all the mystery. Mr. Manston is married and the mysterious lady is his wife. The letter is written in a kind of blackmailing manner, alluding to the knowledge of Miss Aldclyffe's past. Miss Aldclyffe is vexed at the threatening letter, but yields at present. The letter requests Miss Aldclyffe to speak to Mr. Manston and put things right between them. It seems there is some rift between the couple. Miss Aldclyffe admonishes Manston on the concealment of his marital status (for recall that the stewardship was advertised for a bachelor) and Manston replies with excuses. Although they were lame excuses, Miss Aldclyffe seems to accept them, which was odd. It is certain that Miss Aldclyffe is determined to keep Manston on. However, Miss Aldclyffe put a condition on Manston that he must bring his wife and settle with her, to which Manston agrees (grudgingly I thought). Why Miss Aldclyffe wants Manston's wife down is beyond understanding at present. But knowing the character of her, it cannot be for any good.