Posted by Peter H on August 20, 2007 at 15:29:56 from 217.42.253.133 user Peter_H.
In Reply to: Re: CaptainFLINT AS posted by Jon on August 20, 2007 at 13:57:50:
James Turner's behaviour in SA was, in general, no better than his Aunt Maria's was in the books where she appeared.
Sorry, Jon, but I can't agree with that. We must look at the context. Captain Flint, at the beginning of SA, was trying to finish writing a book, from which he needed the money (which, by the way, puts paid to ideas of great wealth, and also provides a link with AR himself). Anyone who has tried to get something written, whether it's a book, article or long letter, knows that you just simply do not want any disturbance. CF had already been bothered by his nieces, who wanted him to play pirate games on the lake. Then a loud firework goes off, and he sees a boy in a boat nearby. CF leaps to the wrong conclusion. OK, he should not have done, but I have a great deal of sympathy with him.
However (and this is my 'killer point'), when CF discovers the truth he apologises humbly and totally. How often does the G.A. apologise, Jon?
Looking at the G.A. - she part-ruins the Amazons' holiday, drives Mrs Blackett to tears, almost forces Cook to resign, wanders off on her own causing wholesale worry and dislocation, with Col Jolys' men and the police called out . . . . Need I go on? And not an ounce of remorse. There's just no comparison.
Toffs/ toffish - both irrelevant in this context. The behaviour of characters like CF and the G.A. (and everyone else for that matter) is primarily caused by the type of person they are deep inside. CF is sometimes irascible, while the G.A. is selfish and controlling. They would have been so whatever class they belonged to, although the manner in which they expressed themselves might have reflected their class, and also the extent in which they could get away with their behaviour. But they would still be the same persons.
AR was clever with his 'villains'. The message is clearly that there are good and bad in all walks of life. The burglars are almost certainly working class, George Owdon is upper middle, as is IMHO the G.A. The nastiest of all, Jemmerling, is plainly wealthy but seems to be classless - perhaps 'nouveau riche'.
I find all AR's characters utterly convincing. He avoided class stereotypes, and I think we should do him the honour of recognising this.