Reading the Chunksters discussion

Things become clear...

Thanks for keeping this moving Tracey. I am struggling to remember what happened in these chapters!

In these chapters Daniel learns of his heritage and Gwendolen’s life under Grandcourt is described as much darker than before with her living in fear of him. His fingers around her neck throttling her and his disdain alternating with his domineering attitude.

Do you see any comparisons between Daniel’s mother and Gwendolen and Mirah?

I saw a comparison between Daniel's mother and the young ladies. The Princess found a way to leave her so-called prison (what society determines - in this case strict, observed Judaism). Mirah escaped by fleeing her father and attempted suicide. Gwendolen thought she was escaping her prison of poverty, but traded poverty for a new type of prison. The Princess was very honest about her feelings toward poor Daniel and I think he feels a relief that he finally knows his background. It is a shame that she doesn't want Daniel and her new family to learn about each other.

I need to thank this group once more. I have a strong desire to go back to school to receive my doctorate, but for many reasons, I am not pursuing it at the moment. This group is helping me with not longing so much. Thank you.

Tammy Dayton wrote: "I saw a comparison between Daniel's mother and the young ladies. The Princess found a way to leave her so-called prison (what society determines - in this case strict, observed Judaism). Mirah esca..."

You point about Gwendolen replacing one sort of prison with another is a good one. It also struck me that the women had to lose something to be independent in any way whereas the men did not.

I am constantly surprised at how the things I am reading often throw light on to issues in my life at the time. This is one of the good things about reading the words and thoughts of others. I believe our situation is going on in the background of our minds seeking answers and thus open to suggestion when it arrives.

I was over Grandcourt and Gwendolyn, at this point. They no longer interested me, but boy did I love reading about the drama they inspire in these chapters. LOL! Gwendolyn at the point of conjuring an untimely death for Grandcourt…Oh, man! The gaul of that “married” woman to approach Mirah about Deronda. Gwendolyn is gross.

What I thought would be another heartfelt reunion, this time between mother and son, turned out to be difficult to read because of the Leonora’s nature…she was unfeeling and distant to me. Although, I understand she didn’t want to be a mother when Daniel was born, she does have five more children with the Russian prince, and she continues to cast Daniel away even while he attempts to forge a relationship with her. Again, I found Daniel to be nurturing and motherly, but this time to the very person who should have been all those those things with him. Perhaps, this meeting was too difficult for Leonora; maybe, she was consumed by guilt because of her life decisions? But I didn’t think so. She didn’t even meet him out of want or necessity, she chose to meet with him to unburden herself of his birthright because she was dying. Now that I think about it, I seriously doubt she was any more doting to her other five children than she was at this meeting with Daniel.

While I felt ill of Leonora, there’s something to be said about about what she says to Daniel about her life as a singer and wanting to live as an artist against her father’s will. She lived on her own terms during a time in which women did not. Leonora says to Daniel,

I did not think I deprived you of anything worth having…I had not much affection to give you. I did not want affection. I had been stifled with it. I wanted to live out the life that was in me, and not to be hampered with other lives…I did not want to marry. I was forced to marry your father. I had a right to be free. I had a right to seek my freedom from a bondage that I hated…And the bondage I hated for myself I wanted to keep you from. What better could the most loving mother have done? I relived you from he bondage of having been born a Jew (626-27).

And, her more that poignant words here,

You are not a woman. You may try-but you can never imagine what it is to have a man’s force of genius in you, and yet to suffer the slavery of being a girl (631)

Eliot’s voice jumping out of these pages, I thought…the oppression of women by men, thus the culture and society too.

Daniel Deronda is officially a part of the tribe…Nice! Mirah and Daniel are realizing their true affections for one another…Even better!

Mirah may have noticed her father in London…The twists and turns!