Posted by John Richardson on February 28, 2002 at 12:14:32 from 62.253.128.6:
In Reply to: Church Going and the Great Aunt posted by Terence McManus on February 28, 2002 at 06:53:50:
>At the end of P&M she seems to me to be a slightly pathetic figure (and to Nancy as well since she steps in to save face for the GA).
...
>Does anybody else think that AR intended her to be a semi sympathetic character?
I disagree with your reading of P&M but agree that the general point you make.
Whereas we are asked to view the GA in Swallowdale (mainly through Titty's reflections) as entirely without redeeming features, I think most reader's would agree with Timothy, Dick, Dorothea and even Nancy that the GA is anything but pathetic at the end of P&M.
She comes out of it rather well - dealing with a very embarassing situation with characteristic forthrightness. Also her gameness when dealing the 'burglar' at Beckfoot. "I have a gun and I will shoot". As Nancy says "I never thought she had it in her". (All quotes BTW, are paraphrases).
Crucially, the similarities between her and Nancy are unambiguously made. Is it Dorothea who says "Hearing the GA saying 'Tin Trumpets' was rather like hearing Nancy call someone 'a galoot'". I think Timothy makes the same point a little later.
So she's not pathetic. But not easy. Similar to Nancy, but with a double generation gap.
I was reminiscing recently with the delivery boy who used to take my great-grandmother's grocery order every week in the 1930's. He's now about 90 (a little older than Nacy, John et al.) and my great-grandmother was born c. 1870 - perhaps 10 years after the GA but a Victorian lady in much the same mould.
Amongst other things, he opined: "She was bit of a tartar, Mrs Baron".