Posted by Allan Lang on March 26, 2002 at 21:47:40 from 202.61.171.25:
In Reply to: Re: er, I am disagreeing! posted by Peter H on March 25, 2002 at 21:52:50:
Bruce A Clarke "A character who is 3D is one who is rounded, one who does all things, talks, thinks, observes, has humour, fears and in toto is seen as a whole. "
Nancy is not 2 dimensional. As Peter H says of Susan: she has depth, but you've got to look for it.
Nancy's full-on enthusiasm tends to obscure the other Nancy: the one who choked reading her mother's note on Katchenjunga( SD), the one who needs only a glance from John to realize the importance of keeping Susan out of the tunnel entrance (PP), who answers Peggy's thought about Don accompanying them "Can't you understand he's wishing he never met us?"(SW)
She also exhibits concern about others: Titty's reluctance to dowse (PP), Peggy's fear of thunder(PM), as well as warning them of possible danger such as the risk of cutting their hands (Dot in PM, Brigit in SW). Of course this is the same Nancy who didn't warn Brigit about the blackberry thorns earlier, or John about the sharpness of the stones under the bridge in SD, but those were cases of "necessities of the situation".
Which brings us to the problem the Swallows have about understanding Nancy's risk taking in climbing Katchenjunga under the nose of the Great Aunt rather than waiting a day. But as Nancy details later, she had good reasons for doing that. Despite her apparent recklessness, most of her bold schemes work because she does think of the possible consequences beforehand and evaluates the risk. More than John actually, who gets into trouble when he forgets to be excessively cautious.
The whole of Picts and Martyrs hinges on Nancy's risk taking when justified evaluation.
The main goal is to keep the GA happy to protect Mrs Blackett from the GA's wrath.
But there are lines in Nancy's mind that must not be crossed. "She jolly well shan't sleep in mother's bed"; the GA shouldn't be at Beckfoot, she doesn't belong there, and her presence is not going to prevent the D's sailing or spoil their holiday more than the barest minimum, even if that isn't the safest option.