The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion

I got a little behind in my reading so I haven't yet got to this section so I cannot comment yet upon these chapters. Please post your thoughts and questions and I will join in when I can.

In case your book doesn't have chapters, this takes us through the big swoon.

This section got a bit repetitive for me so I have to say there's not a lot for me to comment. Hopefully, others will have felt differently.

The pearls, once again, change color. There was the nice twist of the telegram, and the gods indicating they had erred and forgot to let the Owls loose. I'm frustrated with the he doesn't love me anymore so now I love him. I know it's satire, but I think this behavior is self-destructive so not finding it humorous. Loved the untouchable Zulieka succumbing to the feminine swoon.

My book does not have chapters. Can someone help me understand the part where the gods entered the story. To me it was like switching stories. I didn't understand how it fit in with the rest of the story. Maybe I just got lost and confused and missed something.

They are an extension of the statues outside the Sheldonian theatre, supposedly watching events. Some of those were Roman Emperors, some were gods.

Something about the vapours:

http://www.wisegeek.org/what-were-the...

My favourite part of this whole section was the spoken vs. unspoken conversation between Katie and Melisande in ch. 14, especially this gem:

"You are very ugly," Katie signalled with her eyes. "I am very pretty. I have the Oxfordshire complexion. And I play the piano." With her lips she said merely, "His Grace is not called before nine o'clock."

I hope we will be seeing more of the lovely Katie as the novel progresses-she appears to be smiled upon by the Gods, at least.

Frances wrote, “Katie signalled with her eyes. . . .”

Yes, that was a delightful passage! I enjoyed the way he handles servants in general in the book.

Frances wrote: "My favourite part of this whole section was the spoken vs. unspoken conversation between Katie and Melisande in ch. 14, especially this gem:

"You are very ugly," Katie signalled with her eyes. "I..."

I agree. It was very well done.

I don't really understand the Dukes sudden and complete change of attitude regarding Zuleika. First he has this epifinamy the Zuleika does love him and so he decides he dosent really want to kill himself any more ( but still seems determined to go through with it because all the "cool kids" are doing it and he doesn't want a bunch of soon to be dead guys think he is dishonorable) but then he suddenly seems to not be in love with Zuleika anymore. She goes to him to declare her love and he snubs her, but still insists on killing himself just to prove a point.

I think he only still insists on killing himself because the owls were seen at his stately pile and now he feels fated/obliged to go through with it.

Frances wrote: "I think he only still insists on killing himself because the owls were seen at his stately pile and now he feels fated/obligated to go through with it."

I agree. He's doing it because of the owls

Frances wrote: "I think he only still insists on killing himself because the owls were seen at his stately pile and now he feels fated/obligated to go through with it."

I agree that the owls were important, but I'm not sure it is why he goes through with it; rather, I think it just confirmed for him that the fates required him to fulfill the obligation he had committed himself to.

Everyman wrote: "Frances wrote: "I think he only still insists on killing himself because the owls were seen at his stately pile and now he feels fated/obligated to go through with it."

I agree that the owls were ..."

Yes I don't think the owls were the sole reason why he was still determined to do it. He did go around trying to convince the others not to kill themselves I think as a way to justify his not doing it, but when they all refused he felt his honor was too much in jepirday if he didn't do it.

What I don't understand is how he went from the extreme of:

I am going to kill myself because I love her but she doesn't love me
I am not going to kill myself because she loves me
She loves me but now I am over her but I am still going to kill myself

I think the craziness of it is more of the satire on romanticism, which is often mixes love and death together.

Robin wrote: "I think the craziness of it is more of the satire on romanticism, which is often mixes love and death together."

Right. I see him playing off of the extreme emotionality of romanticism as well as the immaturity of the English school boy/college man of the upper and upper middle classes who has existed almost exclusively in male boarding institutions (Eton, Harrow, Winchester, then on to Oxford or Cambridge) and whose acquaintance with the feminine gender at the time would have been highly romanticized.

I actually got a kick out of these chapters. Zuleika is far less likable than the Duke, and we get to see a bit more of what he is thinking.

I think that he fell out of love with her when his pride was wounded - when she dumped water on his head.

But, he believes in the legend, and the legend says that someone will die when the owls return. Why suicide though? If it is fated, then even if he does nothing, he would die anyway.

A lot of fate vs. free will going on here.

Lynnm wrote: "A lot of fate vs. free will going on here. "

Oh, yes, absolutely.

Lynnm wrote: "But, he believes in the legend, and the legend says that someone will die when the owls return. Why suicide though? If it is fated, then even if he does nothing, he would die anyway..."

Yes, this had me puzzled too. I don't think it does much good trying to keep logic and credibility in mind during this story... it goes where it wants.

Janice George (JG) wrote: " I don't think it does much good trying to keep logic and credibility in mind during this story... it goes where it wants. "

Boy, does it ever!