Brussels Grand Place – Charlotte and Emily have surely been here
AHA! So there’s the possibility that Dr John is not the hero of our story after all. I have to confess I was a bit confused with Lucy’s future voice, which hints he’s not her Prince Charming:
Dr. John, you pained me afterwards: forgiven be every ill–freely forgiven–for the sake of that one dear remembered good!
But it’s also at about this point that “past” Lucy starts finding cracks in the glowing image she’s create around Graham. There was for instance, the light-hearted way he judged Vashti’s performance (so different from the impact on Lucy), and how he acted during the episode of the lost letter:
Graham in mirthful mood must not be humoured too far. Just now there was a new sort of smile playing about his lips–very sweet, but it grieved me somehow–a new sort of light sparkling in his eyes: not hostile, but not reassuring.
And if during those two occasions Lucy seems only to become sad and disappointed, we also see he can out-right annoy her:
“Happiness is the cure–a cheerful mind the preventive: cultivate both.”
No mockery in this world ever sounds to me so hollow as that of being told to _cultivate_ happiness. What does such advice mean? Happiness is not a potato, to be planted in mould, and tilled with manure.
I also get easily annoyed with this self-help babble. Someone should print t-shirts saying “Happiness is not a potato.” – how cool would that be? I would buy one!
Apparently, Dr John is not the intellectual equal (who treats her like an equal) that Lucy needs. This has become more evident with the return of Polly. I’m still to decided what I find more annoying: Polly as child giving herself adult airs or Polly the adult acting like a child. Is she Bronte’s not-so-veiled sting at the infantilization of women?
Still, Lucy has proven to be an unreliable narrator before, so maybe I’ll have to swallow my words soon. Maybe these “disagreements” are just a sweet way that Lucy Breton has of saying to her husband “Do you remember how silly you were, you old dear?” But I hope not. I’d rather have a story in which Lucy grows to know more about who she is and what she wants than one in which Dr. John suddenly realizes he’s been blind all along.
7 comments
Comments feed for this article
March 10, 2011 at 11:25 pm
Wallace
I was hoping that she was going to stick with being annoyed with John, but it seems that she is now jealous of his affection for Polly (or was that just me reading into things?).
I would LOVE that t-short too! I also admired that passage. So true!
I am in complete agreement with you on your last paragraph… please, please do not end up with Dr. John. He is, clearly, just using Lucy to keep him company in between his infatuations with immature, annoying women.
What takes place a the Brussels Grand Palace? It is beautiful!
March 11, 2011 at 1:20 am
Susan E
Love the t-shirt comment (and that quote). The episode where he hides the letter despite Lucy’s great distress made me look at Dr J in a different way — as did the falling off of the letter writing. I’m hoping like you for developments with a better choice for Lucy.
March 11, 2011 at 2:36 am
Melody
Ah, I want one of those t-shirts. Happiness isn’t a potato, is it? 😀
March 11, 2011 at 10:47 pm
Mady
I’ve also highlighted a few passages that I think show that at the time when Lucy is writing this, she’s not with Dr. John.
In these chapters she swings between happiness, just when she’s about to go to the theatre with Graham (who’s trying to help her, in the same way as he would try with a patient) and envy (?) when she sees Polly and Graham together…
5 chapters ago I was not, but now I am convinced that Dr. John is not the match for Lucy. But then, a lot might happen on the next 5 ones!
March 16, 2011 at 6:07 pm
Jay
Every time I see these posts about Villette, I wish anew that I had joined you all on your journey
Villette is another book that’s been sitting on my shelf for ages that I just never seem to be able to get to. A read-a-long would’ve been the perfect incentive for me, but I blew it. 🙂
-Jay
March 17, 2011 at 1:14 pm
Charlie Dryden
Happiness is indeed not a potato. I love the way so many of us are having many of the same thoughts about Dr. John and where Charlotte is taking Lucy.
March 22, 2011 at 5:20 pm
Alex
@Wallace: thank you for replying so quickly, even though I always post so late! I should think seriously about producing them, I see a biz opportunity there.
@Susan E: A… Dr J and his ego trips. Lucy will see the light soon, I’m sure.
@Melody: it sure isn’t 🙂 I wonder what image would look better with the sentence..
@Mady: I’m hoping that they’re not together in the present, but more than that, that she’s happy with her choice.
@Jay: shame on you Jay! Next time around? you’ll be wiser, promise?
@Charlie: Dr John became a persona non grata in our little read-along 🙂