Poldark Saga - Winston Graham discussion

SPOILER ALERT!!!
This post is about Francis.
(view spoiler)[ So I am just reaching the part where Francis drowns in the depths of the mine, in the dark, hot water and alone. It's a disturbing read when he is just making amends with Ross and Demelza for the loss of the Carnmore Copper Company and his actions in the loss of the company. I truly believe, Francis had turned over a new leaf in a book. He was beginning to redeem himself.

Granted, things with Elizabeth were strained and not happy, but he was getting somewhere. As a man who was easily lead by George Warleggan's mind games, Francis was becoming a stronger person for being away from him.

I feel a little, what's the word, bereft. (hide spoiler)]

Ann wrote: "SPOILER ALERT!!!... I feel a little, what's the word, bereft."
I agree with your assessment and share your feelings. Francis was happier than he'd ever been, despite being flat broke and feeling like a failure in so many things. In later passages I find myself repeating "Don't go in the mine alone!" When anyone thinks to do that. Of course, Winston Graham isn't George R.R. Martin so everyone doesn't die, but I hold my breath just the same.

I just finished this part in the book and I agree, he was finally becoming happy again. Maybe not with Elizabeth, but he found new goals and was becoming a new and better version of himself. So sad what happened and the way it happended.

I'm at least thankful that Francis was able to reconcile with Ross & Demelza first. That was such a sweet exchange that he had with Demelza before he left for the mine. Imagine if he had died in Bodmin, if his gun had not misfired. He & Ross would have had so much unfinished business between them, and there would not have been the reconciliation with Verity either.

I agree. I was sad to see Francis go that way but at least he reconciled somewhat with the Poldarks. It would have been interesting to see how the story would have gone if he lived.

Francis had such a rough go of it...and his death was painful to read. He wasn't always the most likeable character, yet I found myself pulling for him all the same, so when he died this way, it took quite awhile for me to deal with it. I actually mourned him. :P

Francis hanging on for so long, only to drown a short time before being found was so sad! I really felt his hopelessness, thinking no one would be coming for you..I'm a good swimmer and could tread water or float for a long time, but in the cold dark and not knowing how long it might be would probably make me lose hope too.

Poor Francis! That haunting tower! In Book 4, Francis falls into the water deep in the cave all by himself, and Winston Graham leaves us hanging as to whether he'll be rescued or not. Can he hang on? Or will he drown? Let's see....has he been a good person? He came clean on tattling on Ross to Warleggan.... Elizabeth has come clean on saying it was her choice to marry him and not Ross. While he has not reunited with Verity and the Captain yet, he did tell Demelza she was the best thing to ever happen to Ross and the Poldark family.... Yes, I think Francis can go to his grave an honest man.... (But please, please! Let him live!)

Francis died sadly, but he went out with some of the best lines and sentiment of the series. What tops this? "You came here as a miner’s daughter, married into this ancient derelict family, took its standards as your own. So you mistake your own value, your own vitality, even your value to Ross. There are two qualities in blood, Demelza. There’s the quality of family and the quality of freshness. Ross was a wise man when he chose you. If he’s as sensible as I think he is, he’ll realize it. If you’re as sensible as you ought to be, you’ll make him.’"

Or this, in the same conversation: "Get rid of the notion that someone has done you a favour by taking you into our family.’"

Does anyone else think that perhaps Elizabeth drove Francis to an untimely demise? Just after having a lovely chat with Demelza, and before he went to the mine his thought was, "His own house depressed him; Elizabeth depressed him." And all that time he was the inconstant husband, the gambler, and short-tempered brother, how much of that temperament derived from his jealousy of Ross, which Elizabeth never seemed to adequately dispel, and basic frustration at not having a home filled with warmth and affection? Elizabeth was raised to be a proper lady and indeed, she was the proper lady. But was she a cold fish? And is that why Ross ultimately chose Demelza over Elizabeth? THAT one night with her convinced him she could never truly be passionate about anything, except maybe her children. Just throwing all this out there.

Wanda wrote: "Does anyone else think that perhaps Elizabeth drove Francis to an untimely demise? Just after having a lovely chat with Demelza, and before he went to the mine his thought was, "His own house depre..."

Yes, I like how you put that all together. I've been thinking about it all day. I think all this is what Ross is referring to when he tells Elizabeth that her indecision cost many people dearly. (He fails to mention Demelza in that sentence, but he could have added her to the list as well.)

As mentioned it the book, when Francis was dying, he knew that a year ago he had nothing to live for, but before he died he had everything to live for.