Reading the Classics discussion

Please discuss chapters six through ten.

I really enjoyed the 6th chapter, I was truly entertained with the prank stories of "poor Peter". He was a man out of his time, when everyone was severe and well-mannered, he was puckish and light. His father, as a rector, was supposed to be grim and tried to make his only son the same way (and fails of course).

And of course he did teased his sister for being just like his father (Peter couldnt tease his father, so I guess she was a good replacement).

And although I read it laughing, that prank with the (view spoiler)[dress and the "baby" was horrible, I mean, truly horrible to expose one´s sister to the disgrace of an out of marriage baby. (hide spoiler)] I know that young people usually dont measure the consequences of their actions but it was pretty heavy. I even justify the explosive reaction of the rector. But lets face it, that part just before the Rector found out about his son in a dress, when he thinks that all the crowd is there to admire his flowers and how he is going to include that in a sermon is absolutely hilarious!

Finally I think Peter´s decision of (view spoiler)[ joining the Navy wasnt bad at all, I think it was more suitable for his character to be in the militia; although it was pitiable for his mother to decay like that, especially since it could all be avoided by a simple letter: "I joined the army. Peter" ... (hide spoiler)]

Sometimes it seems like the narrator is just telling the events as they were, and sometimes it seems like she is openly mocking the Cranford ladies.
I enjoyed so much chapter X. Obviosly Lady Glebmire was happier alone in the house, for what I've read Mrs. Jamieson wasnt the most interesting companion. And of course that poor dog couldnt have a long life eating cream and cake everyday!
I read twice the "assasins" description of Miss Pole just to laugh again haha.

OH, and I LOL in that part when they are all afraid (view spoiler)[of the headless ghost and wouldnt talk about it because they dont know where the head could be. (hide spoiler)]

Joy wrote: "Glad I wasn't the only one who found this book funny."

I think it was hard at the begining to get the humour of Gasket, it is really subtle, but after a while (and specially after chapter 6) I found my self really laughing at the Cranford ladies.

The overall tone is one of loving mockery.

Karel wrote: "I really enjoyed the 6th chapter, I was truly entertained with the prank stories of "poor Peter". He was a man out of his time, when everyone was severe and well-mannered, he was puckish and light...."

Interesting. I took it quite differently. In an era where for a young woman to get pregnant out of wedlock would have completely destroyed her hope of a good marriage and future, to pretend that your sister had indeed gotten pregnant out of wedlock strikes me as extraordinarily cruel. Even to pretend.

It seems to me the even worse than today posting a photo on facebook photoshopped showing your high school sister pregnant. Would that be taken as a casual prank, to be laughed off? At least today out of wedlock pregnancy doesn't mean a lifetime of failure as a woman, as it would have in the Cranford era.

As a father of two daughters, I frankly didn't think the rector's response was that excessive for his time. For today, yes, but in an era where caning was a normal discipline practice which it was virtually impossible for any boy to get through school without experiencing, I felt it might be slightly over the top but not unreasonably excessive.

Peter's response, OTOH, was absurd. To leave home because you got punished for ridiculing your sister and presenting her as a slut was totally unreasonable. He should have realized that he was out of line and taken his punishment like a man.

JMHO, of course. [g]

Karel wrote: "Sometimes it seems like the narrator is just telling the events as they were, and sometimes it seems like she is openly mocking the Cranford ladies."

Interesting. I understand what you're saying, but I think "mocking" is too strong a term for what I'm seeing, at least as I use the term. The tone seems more gentle and affectionate than mocking, almost fondly poking harmless fun at their little foibles.

What is also interesting to me is how trivial all their concerns are. They are not in the least concerned with events outside Cranford, they apparently have no interest in literature, politics, even music. It is all a matter of what they're wearing, how to live economically, servant problems, who should be invited to whose house and, almost more important, who shouldn't, and, of course, cards.

In one way, it's an absurdly insular life. In another way, it's a delightful oasis of isolation from the cares of the busy outside world. It would be a wonderful place for a vacation, but I'm not sure I would want to live there.

Lobstergirl wrote: "The overall tone is one of loving mockery."

Yes. Definitely loving.

Re harsh physical punishments like caning, whipping, beatings: some people can take it, others can't. (I'm talking physically, mentally, emotionally.) Peter was obviously a sensitive young man and couldn't take it. Abusive, violent behavior like this, as a "norm," only changes when society starts to realize it is excessive.

For an example of whipping as a form of discipline, read the true 19th-century account Two Years Before the Mast: A Sailor's Life at Sea, where it has an extremely powerful effect on everyone who is present, and it led the author (who was quite young at the time, taking time off from his studies at Harvard) to campaign against flogging when he got back home.

There were two characters interested in liteature, although of limited tastes, but, sadly, they both died.

I had seen the miniseries before reading the book, and I had gotten the impression that Peter was a bit mentally feeble, which led him to dress up and act like that, and not that he was trying to impersonate his sister. When I read the book, I got a very different impression.

Everyman wrote: "Interesting. I took it quite differently. In an era where for a young woman to get pregnant out of wedlock..."

Well, if you read carefuly I wrote (and quote) "that prank was horrible, I mean, truly horrible to expose one´s sister to the disgrace of an out of marriage baby. (...)I even justify the explosive reaction of the rector."

If I put myself in the time and place, yes, I still justify the reaction of the rector. Was Peter´s reaction over the top? Probably, but the army suited him.

As horrifying as it was, can I laught at the prank? Absolutely. As Alejandro Dumas wrote (as Porthos character): "I could mock the grill that roast me" (sorry for the poor translation hehe)

Most of his pranks were quite funny, IMO, but yes, due to the nature of the culture at the time, that last one was over the top. Although the rector's response was probably understandable, I also felt he was lashing out more for his own pride, than any thought of how the prank might have affected his daughter, which make his actions much less forgivable. However, I think it's hard to judge a place and time so different from our own, so what all of them should or shouldn't have done is difficult to say.

Yes, she's definitely poking fun at the ladies, but it's in a sweet way... much as I imagine we might make fun of our mothers or grandmothers for some oddity of a keepsake of theirs, or old words they use, or something that we find quaint about them. But heaven help the outsider who would make the same observations in mockery! We would be the first to defend them!

I had to laugh when they are all so afraid of being robbed, the whole situation was absurd. I think they were all just so bored with nothing interesting ever happening in that sleepy little town that even the idea of something infamous happening was deliciously appealing to them. It gave them something to talk about, and something to do.

"In one way, it's an absurdly insular life. In another way, it's a delightful oasis of isolation from the cares of the busy outside world. It would be a wonderful place for a vacation, but I'm not sure I would want to live there. " Everyman, I think you put this perfectly!