Posted by Magnus Smith on November 21, 2018 at 05:27:59 user Magnus.
In Reply to: Re: Least Favourite Character & Mr Farland! posted by Robin Selby on August 29, 2018 at 05:52:24:
Robin's theory that the Great Aunt could perhaps be a 'good' person inside, and is never given her due credit in the books, is very interesting. It was suggested her backstory could throw new light on her more recent actions, and paint her in a more forgiving light.
(A terrible thought for me, because I hated the GA with that uncomplicated sort of anger only a child could manifest, and that has stuck with me into adulthood!)
I started to turn this topic over in my mind after seeing the musical 'Wicked' at the theatre a few weeks ago. This re-tells the story of 'The Wizard of Oz' film, from the viewpoint of the (supposed) Wicked Witch of the West. It is fascinating how the entire film can be seen in a new light, if you take the musical's backstory and sidestory as gospel too. The green-skinned girl isn't quite what you thought.
You could perhaps take the GA theory to a whole new level, and suggest she perhaps had a wild childhood herself, running away from home with a friend, sleeping in boats, stealing food, posing as a working class kid somewhere... and then it all went terribly wrong, and disaster fell. The friend died? The GA sustained a lifelong injury/illness? So as an adult she would be desperate to stop any child in her care falling into the same terrible trap. Piano practice and best frocks could represent a well-meant wish to give Jim/Molly/Nancy/Peggy a better life.
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