Reading 1001 discussion

2. For which character did you feel the strongest, either positively or negatively? Did your opinions evolve as the story progressed?

May was the stronger of the characters howbeit in a very quiet way but we see her strengths in her athleticism. Ellen is strong enough to leave her husband but she is weak in that she is letting other people make her decisions for her.

Yes, I think my opinions did change as the story progressed though it was there all along.

No question here. I prefer Ellen. Ellen was a woman ahead of her time. She was the most direct and overtly honest person. May manipulated things...though I do not think she was malicious.

I am with Lynn on this one. May had hidden depths she understood manipulation and how to play her cards to her best advantage, I don't think she was malicious but she was determined to keep her man and her reputation.

Ellen was a great character she escaped from a bad marriage and then ignored the advise of everyone else who wanted her to go back to her husband. She did the honourable thing with regard to Newland refusing to be a mistress and removing herself from his orbit. She lived an independent life.

I agree with Lynn and Book. Ellen was my favorite and I agreed with the decisions she made.

I thought of May as being too constrained by social mores and Ellen too little. However, we only see both women through the eyes of Newland Archer and he is not the most reliable witness. The reader would need to know what went on in the conversation between the two women to really be able to judge.