THEMES: Disillusionment

[kiakar]

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rstjm4 wrote:
I have to agree that Hannah is disillusioned with her marriage. She saw marriage as a way to get out, meet people, travel, experience those things she always longed for. And she probably honestly thought she could get that with Teddy. I certainly thought he would be one who wanted to travel and have his wife be more independent. But when he lost the election those things changed. I also think his sister and mother played a large part in his wanting Hannah to stay home and "entertain" the other ladies who had different views of the world than she did.

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Yes, it also seemed his family had alot of influence on what kind of life he did lead with his wife.

[3M]

I think disillusionment is part of most people's lives. The examples in the book were extreme because of the war and how it changed everyone. Being surrounded by the effects of so many deaths would disillusion anyone.

[bentley]

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3M wrote:
I think disillusionment is part of most people's lives. The examples in the book were extreme because of the war and how it changed everyone. Being surrounded by the effects of so many deaths would disillusion anyone.

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It did seem that way didn't it. Rather bleak when we were starting Part III of the book. I have the greatest respect and admiration for the generations who went through these wars and maintained hope and a sense of purpose when so many loved ones had perished. Everyone suffered including the privileged.

Bentley

[nfam]

I think a lot of the disillusionment is the product of the historical era. Most of the events took place right after the first world war. They fought the war so that things could go back to normal, but, of course, they didn't and the seeds of world war two were already sown. Some writers have called this period the "long vacation". The war was over, but nothing was quite grounded in reality.

The servants, particularly Mr. Hamilton were disillusioned. They expected that when the war was over things would get back to normal. They expected the house to function as usual, but Alfred came back a changed person, Hannah married someone they didn't care for and eventually Grace left. I remember Mr. Hamilton telling her that she would regret it, that she couldn't just leave that way.

I think the veterans, Robbie and Alfred were disillusioned. They fought for something, remember Alfred going off to prove his bravery, and Robbie and David looking to escape to adventure. It didn't turn out the way it was supposed to, for any of them.

Nancy

[Dusty_Phoenix]

Isn't the whole book about disillusionment? The changing of eras, or better yet the changing of roles: the role of men, of women, of the "classes," even of the house itself, leaves almost everything in a state of disillusionment. Nothing is what it was, or at best seemed.Even the role of our narrator isn't what we thought, or were lead to believe. What do you all think?

[dhaupt]

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Dusty_Phoenix wrote:
Isn't the whole book about disillusionment? The changing of eras, or better yet the changing of roles: the role of men, of women, of the "classes," even of the house itself, leaves almost everything in a state of disillusionment. Nothing is what it was, or at best seemed.Even the role of our narrator isn't what we thought, or were lead to believe. What do you all think?

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Great thoughts and I agree
Debbie

[Librarian]

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dhaupt wrote:

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Dusty_Phoenix wrote:
Isn't the whole book about disillusionment? The changing of eras, or better yet the changing of roles: the role of men, of women, of the "classes," even of the house itself, leaves almost everything in a state of disillusionment. Nothing is what it was, or at best seemed.Even the role of our narrator isn't what we thought, or were lead to believe. What do you all think?

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Great thoughts and I agree
Debbie

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I also agree, Great observation. But as the book ends there is life after disillusionment. Marcus is about to venture into a different type of writing. Grace passes contentedly. There is a sense of impending fulfillment at the end.
Librarian

Message Edited by Librarian on 01-21-2008 03:40 PM

[KxBurns]

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Librarian wrote:

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dhaupt wrote:

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Dusty_Phoenix wrote:
Isn't the whole book about disillusionment? The changing of eras, or better yet the changing of roles: the role of men, of women, of the "classes," even of the house itself, leaves almost everything in a state of disillusionment. Nothing is what it was, or at best seemed.Even the role of our narrator isn't what we thought, or were lead to believe. What do you all think?

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Great thoughts and I agree
Debbie

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I also agree, Great observation. But as the book ends there is life after disillusionment. Marcus is about to venture into a different type of writing. Grace passes contentedly. There is a sense of impending fulfillment at the end.
Librarian

Message Edited by Librarian on 01-21-2008 03:40 PM

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I agree with all of your thoughts on this guys. Although I would say the book ends on a note of acceptance rather than fulfillment. Fulfillment sounds too cheery to me

[bmbrennan]

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Librarian wrote:

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dhaupt wrote:

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Dusty_Phoenix wrote:
Isn't the whole book about disillusionment? The changing of eras, or better yet the changing of roles: the role of men, of women, of the "classes," even of the house itself, leaves almost everything in a state of disillusionment. Nothing is what it was, or at best seemed.Even the role of our narrator isn't what we thought, or were lead to believe. What do you all think?

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Great thoughts and I agree
Debbie

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I also agree, Great observation. But as the book ends there is life after disillusionment. Marcus is about to venture into a different type of writing. Grace passes contentedly. There is a sense of impending fulfillment at the end.
Librarian

Message Edited by Librarian on 01-21-2008 03:40 PM

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Marcus is about to embark on a new type of writing, however when the "secret" is revealed, both Ursula and her grandmother Florence will learn that Florence's mother murdered her father, it's kind of cruel to confess your guilt so you can be at peace and cause others to question their own lives leading to further disillusionment.

[KathyS]

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KxBurns wrote:

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Librarian wrote:

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dhaupt wrote:

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Dusty_Phoenix wrote:
Isn't the whole book about disillusionment? The changing of eras, or better yet the changing of roles: the role of men, of women, of the "classes," even of the house itself, leaves almost everything in a state of disillusionment. Nothing is what it was, or at best seemed.Even the role of our narrator isn't what we thought, or were lead to believe. What do you all think?

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Great thoughts and I agree
Debbie

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I also agree, Great observation. But as the book ends there is life after disillusionment. Marcus is about to venture into a different type of writing. Grace passes contentedly. There is a sense of impending fulfillment at the end.
Librarian

Message Edited by Librarian on 01-21-2008 03:40 PM

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I agree with all of your thoughts on this guys. Although I would say the book ends on a note of acceptance rather than fulfillment. Fulfillment sounds too cheery to me

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Definitely wasn't a cheery ending! I agree with you, Karen....acceptance was more my leaning.

I have to admit, here, I haven't read all of these posts, for a bazillion reasons. But in reference to one participant commenting about Markus writing this story...I want to add:
What's to say Markus writes this story in the way Grace told it? What's to say he doesn't write it with his own slant? Does he have to reveal every last detail of the ending for these people....revealing who killed Robbie?

Hurting someone, for the sake of truth, isn't always the way to go. Some things are better left unsaid, if truth doesn't change the course of things, for the better, then let sleeping dogs (Raverly? lie.....
sorry, had to say it......
(I think I've beaten that poor dog 'thread'-bear - ouch!)
K.

Message Edited by KathyS on 01-24-2008 05:27 PM