We know that Emma was orphaned, that Will's father shamed himself during the bank failures of the 30s and had a drinking problem, that Iris' brother was killed in the WW1, that Frankie grew up in a Brownstone in Washington Square, and that her mother writes letters about daily life in excruciating detail. How do these characters' backgrounds shape our impressions of them and their actions in the story? Do you feel you have a deeper understanding of particular decisions they make?
I think it is very easy to understand each character’s actions based on their background alone. I don’t want to say too much right now as I would have to reference events that will take place further on in the book, so I will have to come back to this later.
Iris thinks Emma is ashamed of exposing her underwear when her suitcase breaks open, but Emma says she's not the least bit ashamed. Why does Emma come close to tears in this scene?
Emma comes close to tears in this scene because she sees Iris being “so quiet and careful with Emma’s things.” We learn at the beginning that Emma grew up alone. We know that she struggles with her feelings of being alone in the world with no one to notice/care/ pay attention to the fact that she exists. I think she is touched by the simple act of kindness from a complete stranger who happened to take notice of her and was willing to reach out and help.
We get a close look at the love lives of each of the women characters in the novel. What part does love play in the lives of Iris, Emma, and Frankie? How does each woman regard romantic relationships, and how much importance do they each place on them? We see Emma surprised by a reference to casual sex in Tolstoy. Were you surprised at all to find casual sex treated--so casually--in a novel set in the 40s?
I think in the treatment of sex in the book, we are still seeing the author try to show the dichotomy between war torn London and placid America before its own entrance into that war. Over in London, people did not know if they were going to survive one day to the next. Sex is a basic human need that even in its most casual, still has that human connection that people will thrive on, especially in times of doubt and uncertainty. It is an affirmation of existence, feeling and almost a celebration of life. At the time in London, no one had the time to be proper and discretionary. There was no time for courtship. These people had to live in the moment, and that included sex.
I think Frankie exemplifies this in her own actions in the book. Their lives have been broken down into moments, not days, not months, but simply living one moment to the next. In terms of romantic relationships for her, I think it is something she doesn’t even consider. There are other things she needs to be focused on right now and quite frankly; I would (think I would at least) find it hard to get attached to somebody in that way at all considering the circumstances.
Iris though is interesting and I am not sure I have her completely figured out. When Iris hands Harry the certificate he asks her “you’re giving me a letter?” and she responds “of a kind.” I think this whole act is a reinforcement of her belief in the system, of what she does and who she is. I think it is another example in the book of the power a simple letter can hold and Iris understands this, being the Postmistress, and she is just translating that into her everyday life. I also like how Bonnie_C describes the piece of paper as a certificate of authenticity to who she says she is. And, it is a fairly powerful piece of paper. She is giving it to Harry saying “look, I haven’t been here before but I think that you are the one for me to lead the way. I am trusting you with this gift.” I think Harry in turn is really touched by her certificate. He sees himself as an ordinary guy, nothing special, and maybe not deserving of anything special, but here is a woman who has chosen him. Who wouldn’t feel tickled by that? We all want reinforcement that we belong and are, in the end, loved. And one more thing on this - I think that Iris is saying, this may not be how society does, I am 40 now, I am not married, but I am choosing to live my life as I see fit and they way I do it doesn’t make it any less real (or wrong).
Emma is, obviously, the most conventional of the three in regards to sex and love She is the only one out of the three where sex is just alluded to between her and Will. We “read” the physical acts of the other two. But I also think that this plays off the whole idea that during the time sex should only be happening behind closed doors, where no one talked about it, hence why we never see “it” between these two. Emma also would place a huge importance on her romantic relationship with Will. She has finally found someone who she belongs with. He is hers, and she his. Growing up as an orphan, I would think this is her ultimate goal and accomplishment (although I will say there is something else that goes here I don’t want to discuss yet because of spoilers).
Do you have a favorite character so far? Who, and why? Have any of the characters surprised you by the end of this first section?
I like Frankie.
ha ha
