Journal 2 - Trollope

11/10/2000

The Eustace Diamonds by Anthony Trollope

               Like Becky, Lizzie is.  She doesn’t slap her child but doesn’t appear to have named it.  “It was a wonder to himself that he, a lawyer, a man of the world, a member of Parliament, one who had been steeped up to his shoulders in the ways of the world, should still be so pure as to be capable of such a sacrifice” (I, 217).  Refers to Greycastle.

               A lot of time, it seems that Trollope’s heroines stand far above the men that they love.

               Like Chapter XXX’s title, “Too Proud for Sympathy”/  Which tries to stir a degree of sympathy for Frank.

               Talking about the drawbacks of having g a perfect character.  I keep thinking about Tennyson’s Arthur.  The flawless Arthur without even the taint of Mordred.

               “And yet in real life we are content with oats that are really middling, are very glad to have a useful horse, and know that if we drank port at all we must drink some that is neither good nor sound.  IN those delineation of life and character which we call novels a similarly superlative view is desired” (316).

               “The persons whom you cannot care for in a novel, because they are so bad, are the very same that you so dearly love in your live because they are so good” (316).

               Trollope argues for tolerance of Frank, for forgiveness of the characters in a novel in the same manner that we forgive our acquaintances.  But the reader cannot do that for two reasons (1)novels are escapism.  People read to escape real life and they except the novel world to be more black and white then the real world. A world where you don’t have to weigh everything to arrive at a judgment.  (2) But because we are forced to choose between characters.  If e we like or love Lucy as Trollope seem to want us to, we can hardly approve of Frank’s carrying on with his cousin.  At least until he is contrite or punished.  It is like being caught between two friend and you are going to chose the one you are comfortable with or the one you feel is right.

               Lizze is not totally dislikable even though she ignores her kid because of he r dreams of a corsair.  These dream and her son at looking for and rating the men she knows make her seem like a young and romance filled girl.  Except her seemly disregard for her child.  He is mentioned every so often to remind the reader that he is alive, but other than that seems to be in non-attendance.

               One feels sorry for the maid even if she is a thief.  What a name – Patience Crabstick!

               Trollope tells use early on that LIzze is not be the heroine of the story but at the end of the novel, her refers to her as the heroine.  Why that sudden change, especially after what she did to Lucy?  Trollope even hints that he will tell more about that later on.  Does he feel that Lizzie is the more interesting character. True, her story is more interesting and therefore predominant in the love story than Lucy’s, she who seems content to sit and wait.  But if anything, Lizzie is the anti-heroine.  One waits for her to get her comeuppance.  She marries the clergyman who people said would suit Lucy.

               Author the introduction is right.  Glencora isn’t herself just a mother.

11/17/2000

Phineas Redux by Anthony Trollope

               Madame Max seems to have changed from the first Phineas novel.  On page 155 (I) she debates about not coming/staying because of the presence of Finn.  She almost is afraid which is not at all like the character in the first novel.

               Trollope makes heavy use of hunting in these novels, very descriptive.  Parallel to the first novel for a parliament seat and the hunt for money and the hunt for a mate.  Why the descriptive and the heavy emphasis on it besides the use of parallelism  To show a society that will be well known to all his readers, enabling them to see the connection perhaps.

               Possibly against the expense, “When you go to Copperhouse Cross you are by no means sure of your opera” (I, 267).  He goes into the expense of pleasure.  Speaking out against in some ways.

               Description of Lord Chiltern reviewing the hounds, “Jove never was so autocratic and certainly never so much in earnest “ (II, 16).

               “When the little dog snarks, the big does not connect the snarl with himself, simply fancying that the little dog must be uncomfortable” (II, 27).  Wonder if that is the way General [Note: General was my dog.  He was a 90 pound Doberman] views things?  Definitely seems that way.  Trollope seems to know dogs.

               “Roses! The nosegays which are worn down at Westminster are made of garlick and dandelions”(II, 45).

               Good description of politics.

               I was under the impression that Phineas had more than two sisters.  Why no mention of the mother?

               What I don’t like is the fact that everyone condemns Lady Laura but support Lord Eustace.  This is especially hypocritical coming from Lady Glencora considering her behavior in the first novel.  As the books progress and Lady Glencora rises in power you begin to lose the feelings you had for her.  She loses her likability because of her judgement and treatment of people.

               The declared love of Madame Max and Finn does not feel very real.  More so on his part than on hers.  He seems to propose not out of love but because he has nothing better to do with his life.  He seems to mosey along.  He never seems emotional even when he is proclaiming his love or anger.

               The end of the book seems as if Trollope had debated about ending the series.

 

11/24/2000

The Prime Minster by Anthony Trollope

               If Lady glen is such a good, loyal and true friend how come we hear nothing about Alice Grey.  Grey did go into Parliament and has a brief cameo in Phineas Finn.  This does not seem to show great loyalty.  Duchess is a brat.

               On politicians, “None of the Minsters had o f course been able to leave the swollen pouches which are always sent out from Landman Saturday night, probably we cannot but think -  as arranged excuses for declaration and had possessed their mornings comfortably dozing over ne novels” (228).

               Morbid but a good description.  “As he did so the pundit called to him and then made a reach to him -for our friend’s back was turned to the coming train.  But Lopez heeded not the call, and the rush was too late.  With quick, but still with gentle and apparently unhurried steps, he walked down before the flying engine – and in a moment had been knocked into bloody atoms.” (II 235).

               What is most annoying about the book is the reaction of Emily’s so called friends.  Out side of her immediate family no one stands by her.  Perhaps her self imposed penance would have been less harsh if she had someone to lean on.  Someone more understanding.  No one thinks to blame her father who did not take the time to find out anything about the man she was about to marry.  Her excuse is her youth but he is only weak.  Why would she want to marry into a family who treats someone like that?  Trollope seems to be playing with class a little but also with the idea of guiding youth so that young adults can avoid mistakes.  But Fletcher is too much like Grey.  Carbon copies of each other.