Posted by Mike Dennis on March 14, 2006 at 08:14:29 from 81.76.100.189 user MTD.
I'm surprised and impressed that so many of you have got so much out of these topics.
Water - Nancy is in a panic, Dorothea can't understand why the arrival of a Great Aunt is causing so much upheaval. Nancy wants the flowers dealt with quickly so what she says is almost a shorthand for 'Don’t just stand there hurry up and get those flowers done, don’t bother going downstairs and wasting time there is water in the bathroom you dolt!' She knew flowers should go in fresh water from the kitchen not the stale water available in the bathroom.
GA - the 1930s was a time when relative's were accorded their respect expected in the social system even if they didn't deserve it, no matter how unpleasant, rude etc. they were. Clearly the GA had that reputation in the area but nobody dared say to her face 'shut up and go away' (or a more offensive version). I had a great aunt (my maternal grandmother's only sibling) who was disliked by most of the family (she wasn't up to GA's standard but she was selfish, thoughtless and bluntly told my grandmother when their mother died that she - the great aunt – had always been the favourite in the family), despite this she was always included in family gatherings etc. because as my grandmother always said 'blood's thicker than water'.
As for the D's reaction, they came from a family of university lecturers so their home life would be nothing like the sheltered country ways of the Lake District.
These were the interpretations I put on these things when I first read the books in childhood, and even never given them a thought until these threads started.
I have to admit I have only read the P&M once, maybe twice, the whole thing is so contrived and reads as if AR had to produce something to fulfil his contract with Cape