02-22-2020, 06:44 AM | #76 | ||||
o saeclum infacetum
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For the rest of it, it’s easy to argue that Marilla’s sternness and down-to-earthiness was exactly what Anne needed, and Marilla was right that she was absurd. If the dresses had been pretty enough but plain, i.e., nice fabric with pretty prints and not cut just marginally more than skimpy, I’d have no problem with them. But it’s clear they were hideous. Last edited by issybird; 02-22-2020 at 06:51 AM. |
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02-22-2020, 08:48 AM | #77 | |
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I agree that the intentions of the author are relatively clear, but I also think the ambiguities and/or inconsistencies do exist in the text. Later in the story we hear something of the sad tale of Anne's life before arriving at Green Gables, and such a tale makes the idea that she would risk her position at her new home - which she obviously loves, if it's not all a dramatic put-on - seem unlikely in the extreme. Being forward and talkative and opinionated seemed unlikely enough, but yelling at her elders and then being reluctant to apologise? Being ungrateful for new clothes? It doesn't seem to fit with what we learn of her history. But noticing such things is, perhaps, a little uncalled for in a children's tale. These are the sorts of little problems that can arise in any fiction that's trying to be real enough to be almost believable, but also idealistic enough to present a wholesome tale. The author neatly minimises the problem by separating the history somewhat from the early behaviour, so the reader is less likely to make the unwanted connection. |
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02-22-2020, 09:07 AM | #78 | |
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I think the point of the dress vignette was more to show where Marilla was at the time, rather than being about Anne’s disappointment. She had lost touch with her own childhood feelings. And she wasn’t expecting to become attached to Anne or the little boy they’d expected. So I have a suspicion the dresses would have become prettier over time, even if Matthew hadn’t put his oar in. I agree that Marilla’s down-to-earthiness was a good balance for Anne. Some of the sternness was unfamiliarity with children, and softened. The rest was what she considered to be her duty. Last edited by Victoria; 02-22-2020 at 09:44 AM. |
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02-22-2020, 09:42 AM | #79 | |
o saeclum infacetum
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It even ties into the dress issue. Anne brags that Marilla isn’t stingy and we have no reason to think she is. You might expect pretty but plain attire, which would be enough for Anne to mourn the sleeves. Would it have provided the opportunity for Matthew to put his oar in? Hideous even he couldn’t miss. Diana is another example, as said above. Amorphous. Serves whatever purpose needed in that vignette. *She had one more glaring weakness which becomes more and more apparent as you read more of her work. She’s got essentially two themes: orphans and romance later in life. |
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02-22-2020, 10:47 AM | #80 | |
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Issybird’s observation about LLM’s strength & weaknesses regarding longer works brings to mind an excerpt my sister typed out and sent me, from one of Montgomery’s letters. She talks about needing to lengthen one of her shorter works, and also mentions not wishing to develop Anne further. (Apologies if transcription errors have crept in). Letter to George Boyd MacMillan Feb. 20 1910 ‘I had no idea it was going to be this long before I should get around to answering your letter. It was not for lack of time-I had too much time. But ever since New Year’s I have been suffering from a nervous breakdown and my doctor advised me to do as little mental work, even letter writing, as possible. I suffered from insomnia and a dreadful sort of restlessness, which when it took possession of me seemed to unfit me utterly for anything which required the least thought... You will remember that last spring I sent you my serial story “Una of the Garden.” Well, my publishers thought that if this story were a little longer it would do well to be issued in a book form. Accordingly about the beginning of November I went to work at it. I had to have it done by the first of the year. It was originally about 24,000 words long. I expanded it to 48,000. This meant writing it over twice and as the time was short I had to crowd three months work into six weeks. I had besides to suffer a good deal of worry connected with family and personal concerns; and altogether, as I have said, the result was a nervous breakdown. The suffering of nervous maladies is quite indescribable. I should far rather endure physical pain. Apart from the restlessness which was so marked a feature of my case, the most distreesing symptom seemed to be a horrible dread of the future-of any future. I felt frightened of life-any life, even a most happy and pleasant one... “Anne of Green Gables” sold better this year than last, which my publishers tell me is a very uncommon thing. I suppose the two books help to sell each other. I have been flooded with letters entreating me to write a third Anne book and the Page Co. are also very anxious for it; but I feel I simply could not do it. The freshness has gone out of the Anne idea. It may return some day. But unless it does I shall never throw any further light on Anne’s career. That must be left to the “scope of the imagination.” It’s bit staggering to read about the time pressures Montgomery was working under, let alone having to manually retype everything. Add to that the personal gremlins and family pressures she was contending with, and there wasn’t much room for creative genius. So as Matthew would have said, “allowances can be made”. It’s quite amazing she was able to write what she did. But in any case, she wasn’t interested in taking Anne further, and perhaps wrote longer works because her publishers found that they sold better. Last edited by Victoria; 02-22-2020 at 11:38 AM. |
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02-22-2020, 01:10 PM | #81 |
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Hah. It's precisely because I am in touch with my inner child that I know all about being manipulative!
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02-22-2020, 01:23 PM | #82 | ||
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02-22-2020, 03:15 PM | #83 | |
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02-22-2020, 06:11 PM | #84 | |
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Organized foster care didn’t exist in the US until the 1920s. I only learned about the Orphan Train movement when I listened to Christina Baker Kline's Orphan Train last year.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orphan_Train It seems that Canada was similar. This book on the subject of adoption in Canada has an interesting abstract. https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com...91231-0157.xml Quote:
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02-24-2020, 10:03 AM | #85 | |
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02-24-2020, 11:11 AM | #86 | |
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On the other hand a number of Montgomery's other works make it clear that she fully realized the misery such a placement could end up being. |
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02-24-2020, 11:35 AM | #87 |
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The background on what adoption was like is an area where I have been intentionally ignorant. The hints about what could have been, and what had been for Anne with her foster parent's/guardians, were bad enough. I'm sure it would be interesting in a morbid and educational way but when reading an old favorite like this, I don't really want to delve too deep into parts of it. This re-read and discussion has already taken more of the luster off the book than I expected going into it.
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02-24-2020, 12:43 PM | #88 | |
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Yeah, I know what you mean. I don't normally participate in the book clubs but came into this thread because of my memories of reading the Anne series. I probably should have stayed out of here and just continued to remember it fondly. |
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02-24-2020, 01:09 PM | #89 | |
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02-24-2020, 01:14 PM | #90 |
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So, a bit of googling on the role of Anne, and why it's important to Canadians, yields some interesting results. First, of course, would be the article in The Guardian by Margaret Atwood referenced earlier, but then this other article in The Guardian I also found of interest.
Also, the Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC) article 5 Reasons, and The Canadian Encyclopedia article. There was also an interesting article in the NYTimes written about the most recent adaptation, Anne with an E. I'm not at all sure I agree with what it says, but interesting. |
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