Reading the Chunksters discussion

Please post your thoughts on this section.

Eep I read this section a long time ago, and I dont remember what happened. I think I will finish this weeks section that I'm half way through, and meet everyone on the other thread. I dont want to spoil anything by giving it away!

I don't remember what happened either!! Will go away and refresh my memory... :)

Glynis wrote: "I don't remember what happened either!! Will go away and refresh my memory... :)"

Here's my recollection:

Chapter 33's main element is Featherstone asking Mary Garth to get the will and burn it, her refusing, and his dying without having the will burnt.

Chapter 34's main elements are the observation of the funeral procession from Lowick, and Mr. Brooke's announcement that he has invited Ladishaw to come visit him.

Chapter 35 is the reading of the will and the appearance of Mr. Rigg.

Chapter 36 is mostly about the Vincys, Fred's disappointment at not inheriting from Featherstone, and Lydgate and Rosamond moving quickly toward marriage.

Chapter 37 has the death of King George IV (which means it's 1830, the first time I think we have a firm date for the book), Brooke buying the Pioneer and hiring Ladislaw to be its editor, and the key meeting between Ladislaw and Dorothea when she gets some family history, and the exchange of letters between Ladislaw and Casaubon which discloses the extent of the hostility on Casaubon's side.

AHA. Yes I remember being almost irrationally angry at Mary.

Becky wrote: "AHA. Yes I remember being almost irrationally angry at Mary."

Interesting, see, I remember being particularly proud of her. Well, if you are angry with her for not helping Featherstone burn a will.

OH, and Casaubon is a big, stinky, poopy-headed jerk.

I have an issue with someone that won't comply with a dying man's wish. I half-heartedly understood that she had good reasons, but the man was obviously dying. It couldn't wait until the morning.

and I second the motion about Casaubon's stinkiness. What does he think Ladislaw is trying to do, steal Celia away from him. He must not trust to Celia's righteousness very much then.

I recall that Mary's rationale was not being accused of anything inappropriate by burning the will. She was probably correct that she would have become embroiled in some controversy because of her long-time relationship (friendship) with Fred.

Sera wrote: "I recall that Mary's rationale was not being accused of anything inappropriate by burning the will. She was probably correct that she would have become embroiled in some controversy because of her..."

I think you're right that she might well have been.

Also, I think that in that day and age the law was something more mysterious and magisterial than it is today, and that somehow meddling in something legal would be a very scary thing to do.

Becky wrote: "I have an issue with someone that won't comply with a dying man's wish. I half-heartedly understood that she had good reasons, but the man was obviously dying. It couldn't wait until the morning.
..."

I can see that, but I got the idea that Mr. Fetherstone was a big bully and really didn't care what his wishes or actions did to Mary. And if Mary had done what he wished, I think his family would have done horrible things to Mary.

Juliette wrote: "Becky wrote: "I have an issue with someone that won't comply with a dying man's wish. I half-heartedly understood that she had good reasons, but the man was obviously dying. It couldn't wait until ..."

Agreed that it is a no win situation for Mary.

I would not have liked to be in Mary's position and in that time would not have burnt the will. I did enjoy the part where all the relatives that thought they were going to inherit turned up for the funeral and then grumbled when they realised they were not going to get any money. I have no idea who this Mr Rigg is either any ideas anyone.

I loved the suspense created by the writer in these chapters. I couldn't wait to find out who had inherited what and found the whole affair very amusing.

I'm a few weeks behind but I just finished this section and rather enjoyed it. I especially liked how Lydgate and Rosamond made hasty plans to get married. It reminded me of young love that just can't wait plus their hastiness made the story move quicker for me too. I hope to get caught up this week with the other sections.

Marry in haste, repent at leisure.

I'm sure Eliot's message (one of, at least) is how people marry before they know enough about their life partner.

Glynis wrote: "Marry in haste, repent at leisure.

I'm sure Eliot's message (one of, at least) is how people marry before they know enough about their life partner."

Totally agree!

Ignore my previous post -- wrong book! But yes, I agree with Jolene that Eliot is saying that couples in the 1830s didn't really have the chance to get to know their intended spouses, nor was that really expected of them, I think.

I just finished this section after reading it in many small bits!

I was also surprised that Mary would burn the will! I thought for sure she was going to cave at the last moment.

Juliette wrote: "OH, and Casaubon is a big, stinky, poopy-headed jerk."

Lol, well-stated! I agree, he seems to be the most jealous, selfish prick. He married Dorothea because she was devoted to him and wanted to help him with his work. Why does he assume she's changed in that now? And just because Ladislaw may or may not be making advances at her, why is he assuming she would give in? And why doesn't he just TALK to her about his reservations?

But I guess that all just goes back to the time and mindsets then, that women were the weaker sex, in mind AND body, and couldn't be trusted not to just go with every whim of fancy. That's silly, of course, but it did seem to be the view of the day, even of many women, not just men.

As far as the burning of the will, at first, I couldn't understand why Mary wouldn't do it, as it seemed to be the dying man's wish, but I realized he may or may not have been in his right mind, was putting her in a terrible position, and was probably just being spiteful. I don't remember, but wasn't he preventing her from going and retrieving a witness? Very shady business, if she had followed through. Must have cut her something awful to realize the implications of NOT acting, but I think she can live with herself more because she didn't. It's always best not to act, especially in legal matters of others, until you know more of the particulars of the story and what all of the implications are. Not acting in the dead of night, with only a dying man demanding you do something, is admirable.