This is the weekly discussion held by the students enrolled in English 3356 at Texas Wesleyan University. Spring 2010.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Lady Audley??
In Volume I, the reader immediately becomes suspicious, along with Robert Audley, of Lady Audley. What is suspicious about her and her behavior? But which of the characters can we really trust?
In Volume I, we are introduced to many intriguing characters that all seem to have their own story. Yet the most enticing character amongst them is Lady Audley due to her suspicious behavior and conduct. It is a mystery to the reader why she keeps a baby shoe and a lock of hair in safe keeping. Despite being in a hurry, she always remembers to lock the door to her bedroom as if she is hiding something. She also asks Phoebe to do her a favor, one that is so secretive, the reader is only given hints to insinuate what it is she has really asked her to do. Her playful and friendly behavior also leads to readers to believe that there is something she is trying to cover up. A lady described to be so amazing, beautiful, and charming has to have some flaw somewhere. Isn’t that the law of nature anyways?
When George Talboy disappears, Robert Audley is stirred with suspicion of Lady Audley. She always seems to be a step ahead of him and running about without any consideration of others. Robert remembered the box of letters that George had kept from his wife, Helen, and next thing you know Lady Audley is off on an errand and Robert comes home to find the letters missing but a book with Helen’s handwriting in it. There are many coincidences and circumstances that lead to the suspicion of Lady Audley. Because of this Robert becomes an instant detective trying to find the whereabouts of his dear friend and too many times his findings lead him closer and closer to Lady Audley and her mysterious persona. Is she really connected to his disappearance of is it a coincidence? Hopefully we find out soon. But in finding this out we have to find some truth, something that is hard to find in many of the characters that hide so many aspects and secrets.
Robert’s cousin, Alicia, seems open-minded and trustworthy yet she has a bias opinion and attitude that misdirects the reader. Sir Michael Audley is too enticed in his new wife to realize anything around him and Phoebe is entangled with her fiancé, soon to be rude husband, and the matters she has to conceal. George is wrapped up in his own sorrow and only tells half his story while Robert remains a mystery. He is a man of many talents, but is lazy. He is a character who seems reliable but only to himself. Who do we trust as a reader? I think it is hard to pinpoint that down at this point. But I am sure that by the end of this novel we will know.
The first thing that one would notice about Lucy is that noone is really sure where she came from or what her story is besides how she came to Mr. Dawson as an instructress for his daughters. Another thing to note is that Lucy appears so innocent and nice--basically too perfect. She also has a black ribbon around her neck, but she is careful not to let anyone see what is on it. When Mrs. Dawson entertains the idea of Lucy's marrying Sir Michael Audley, Lucy appears shocked and denies that she had ever thought of such a thing. For a "single" woman of her age, why would she not have thought of marrying such a wealthy bachelor? Lucy also drifts off a little after Sir Michael Audley proposes to her. She appears grave while she looks out the window but suddenly becomes excited and answers Sir Audley with such emotion. Although Sir Audley wants her to marry him only if she loves him, Lucy is pretty set on the fact that she would be a fool to pass up such a match because he is very wealthy and this would benefit her very much.
I like what you had to say. The proposal and prospect of marriage is a concern that Lucy should have been occupied by. Yet her actions and mannerisms explicitly deny such a concern. She is an actress, putting on a scene in many parts of the novel. But that part is one of her sensational dramas being acted out. She is an image and a persona, and nothing we know about her seems clear enough. Because she is so ambiguous it draws the reader to be concerned about her reliability and suspicious of her nature. She is, as you said, “to good to be true.” Therefore she must not really be.
Of course after reading my comment you would know that I completely agree with your statement that a "lady described to be so amazing, beautiful, and charming has to have some flaw somewhere." Of course at this point of the novel, readers don't really know Lady Audley's main flaw. We only know that she has already been married once and had a child. This is a huge no-no as it is, but the narrator hints at something more sinister. Especially with the disappearance of George Talboys.
In Volume I, we are introduced to many intriguing characters that all seem to have their own story. Yet the most enticing character amongst them is Lady Audley due to her suspicious behavior and conduct. It is a mystery to the reader why she keeps a baby shoe and a lock of hair in safe keeping. Despite being in a hurry, she always remembers to lock the door to her bedroom as if she is hiding something. She also asks Phoebe to do her a favor, one that is so secretive, the reader is only given hints to insinuate what it is she has really asked her to do. Her playful and friendly behavior also leads to readers to believe that there is something she is trying to cover up. A lady described to be so amazing, beautiful, and charming has to have some flaw somewhere. Isn’t that the law of nature anyways?
ReplyDeleteWhen George Talboy disappears, Robert Audley is stirred with suspicion of Lady Audley. She always seems to be a step ahead of him and running about without any consideration of others. Robert remembered the box of letters that George had kept from his wife, Helen, and next thing you know Lady Audley is off on an errand and Robert comes home to find the letters missing but a book with Helen’s handwriting in it. There are many coincidences and circumstances that lead to the suspicion of Lady Audley. Because of this Robert becomes an instant detective trying to find the whereabouts of his dear friend and too many times his findings lead him closer and closer to Lady Audley and her mysterious persona. Is she really connected to his disappearance of is it a coincidence? Hopefully we find out soon. But in finding this out we have to find some truth, something that is hard to find in many of the characters that hide so many aspects and secrets.
Robert’s cousin, Alicia, seems open-minded and trustworthy yet she has a bias opinion and attitude that misdirects the reader. Sir Michael Audley is too enticed in his new wife to realize anything around him and Phoebe is entangled with her fiancé, soon to be rude husband, and the matters she has to conceal. George is wrapped up in his own sorrow and only tells half his story while Robert remains a mystery. He is a man of many talents, but is lazy. He is a character who seems reliable but only to himself. Who do we trust as a reader? I think it is hard to pinpoint that down at this point. But I am sure that by the end of this novel we will know.
The first thing that one would notice about Lucy is that noone is really sure where she came from or what her story is besides how she came to Mr. Dawson as an instructress for his daughters. Another thing to note is that Lucy appears so innocent and nice--basically too perfect. She also has a black ribbon around her neck, but she is careful not to let anyone see what is on it. When Mrs. Dawson entertains the idea of Lucy's marrying Sir Michael Audley, Lucy appears shocked and denies that she had ever thought of such a thing. For a "single" woman of her age, why would she not have thought of marrying such a wealthy bachelor? Lucy also drifts off a little after Sir Michael Audley proposes to her. She appears grave while she looks out the window but suddenly becomes excited and answers Sir Audley with such emotion. Although Sir Audley wants her to marry him only if she loves him, Lucy is pretty set on the fact that she would be a fool to pass up such a match because he is very wealthy and this would benefit her very much.
ReplyDeleteClaudia,
ReplyDeleteI like what you had to say. The proposal and prospect of marriage is a concern that Lucy should have been occupied by. Yet her actions and mannerisms explicitly deny such a concern. She is an actress, putting on a scene in many parts of the novel. But that part is one of her sensational dramas being acted out. She is an image and a persona, and nothing we know about her seems clear enough. Because she is so ambiguous it draws the reader to be concerned about her reliability and suspicious of her nature. She is, as you said, “to good to be true.” Therefore she must not really be.
Thanks for sharing!
Amanda,
ReplyDeleteOf course after reading my comment you would know that I completely agree with your statement that a "lady described to be so amazing, beautiful, and charming has to have some flaw somewhere." Of course at this point of the novel, readers don't really know Lady Audley's main flaw. We only know that she has already been married once and had a child. This is a huge no-no as it is, but the narrator hints at something more sinister. Especially with the disappearance of George Talboys.