Posted by Ed Kiser on September 14, 2013 at 09:31:57 user Kisered.
In Reply to: Re: Water and Empire: Examination Paper posted by Peter Ceresole on September 13, 2013 at 21:49:02:
In PM, Dot tried to put herself in the mind of the GA to try to understand her, and it was her thoughts that she feels that the GA is not just trying to be a tyrant, but is sincerely doing what she things is best for the children. The GA has standards of conduct, of life style, and wants to see that such understandings of what is the proper way to do things is passed on to the subsequent generations. The GA is the elder and expects to receive the respect due to that relative position and in such an authoratative position, and is able to lead the children's learning into the proper directions. The GA is a product of the Victorian Age, and as such reflects at least some of the attitudes and social rules of that rather more strict time. Those are old standards that the GA grew up with, and had come to feel that was the correct way. She felt it was her duty to see that Nancy and Peggy, uh... I mean, Ruth and Margaret are brought up to appreciate those standards, to become the young ladies that would deserve the fullest of respect from those who knew them. Dot seemed to understand that the GA had good motives and the best of intent.
However, every age has that stage when the young person has to assert himself and strike for independance, and do things HIS way. It has been quite the common feeling that young people believe that the elder generation just does not understand. It is also quite normal that these young people, once they get out on their own, and especially when they in their turn become parents, that they are able to look back at their own parents and realize just how smart they really were all along.
Nancy wants to grow up, to feel that she is able to do things for herself. She was looking forward to "doing the housekeeping" - which I was a bit amused to find that meant, make out a list of what was to be served at meal time for Cook to prepare. "Housekeeping" had nothing to do with using a broom.
Even Dot, somewhat surprised to find herself in her own house with no elders there, understood the need to do her own "housekeeping" - and sat with a paper and pencil to outline just what was to be fixed for the next several meals, an outline that was not all that well followed for the next few days in spite of that being written. For Dot, she had to discover that "housekeeping" was more than making out a menue for the meals, it also involved COOKING, it took some experimentation to find just how long to boil eggs. It also involved the awesome task of preparing a dead rabbit, skinning it, and cooking it. She had to learn that making out a list does not keep the milk from spoiling, but has to be kept properly to keep the milk usable. For Dot, "Housekeeping" took on new meaning.
And thanks to the GA, because it was through her efforts, (and the writing of AR), that I was properly motivated to look up "The boy stood on the burning deck..." and for that to take its place in my mind as memorable words that I have been priviledged to feel. I would not otherwise have ever experienced "Casabianca" much to my loss.
As Peter said: "AR develops them really well as characters, which is why they come to life as they do." We knew these people. They were our childhood friends. We knew what they would do. We could depend on them acting the way they did, for being who we knew them to be.
They, and the concepts they taught us, have become another part of the treasures gained because of the persuit of the understanding of All Things Ransome.
Ed Kiser, Kentucky (kisered AT aol DOT com)