In this most recent installment we met, as we noted in class, new characters (Mr. Preston.Osborne Hamley) and got to know some old characters better (Sally and Phoebe Browning, Lady Harriet). We also noted that authors reveal character in a number of ways, one of which is what the narrator says about them. Looking carefully at the narrative description of each of these new characters (focus on language here--how the narrator not only describes what the characters look like, but how the narrator reports how they speak, not what they say). What about each character is revealed by what the narrator says about them?
This is also a friendly reminder that you must post twice weekly--once to this prompt and once in response to a classmate. We are getting good participation, but not everyone posts twice. Don't forget the other discussion either.
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What the narrator tells me about the following characters are: Mr. Preston is a handsome man with nice eyes and eye lashes, he is a land agent by occupation but a little sinister as well. He also has a secret.
Osborne Hamley is handsome, the eldest son of the Hamley’s, he does what he wants to do without care to his parents opinion, and he seems to be a bit opinionated.
Sally and Phoebe Browning were good friends with Molly’s late mother and are currently like mother figures to Molly.
Lady Harriet is the youngest and prettiest daughter of Lord and Lady Cumnor. She befriends Molly after Hyacinth becomes Molly’s stepmother.
In a nut shell;
Mr. Preston is a flirtacious man who is using his association with Molly to get to another woman.
Osbourne is handsome but he knows his parents are counting on him to be the next leader of the family and he takes some advantage of it. The fact that he doesn't come home right away from school also shows that he was somewhat deceptive because he knew he didn't do well and he deceived his parents into thinking he was at the top of his class when he really wasn't.
Sally and Phoebe seem to genuinely like Molly and they make the most of trying to help Mr. Gibson as friends even after the disappointment they feel by him announcing that he is going to marry Mrs. Kirkpatrick (fake-patrick).
I like Lady Harriet because she is not as stuck up as she appeared to be earlier in the story. She shows true concern and care for Molly and tries to oblige her by not criticizing the Brownings after Molly expresses how important they are to her.
The most striking characterization, to me, was that of Miss Sally Browning. When Mr. Gibson entitles her to take care of the house for him, pre marriage, the narrator reflects on the fact that Sally’s “love of power” is evident when “her usual good-humour [is] quite restored by proof of confidence in her taste and economy” (Gaskell 150). On the other hand, her sister Phoebe dwells on matters less privy. Upon first glance at Mr. Preston, the narrator introduces a sort of haughtiness in him when saying that he knew he was handsome. His possessiveness is also evident when we are told of his “strong passion for someone else” that was necessary to conceal (157). Lady Harriet’s description foreshadows her befriending Molly; she felt “much inclined to talk to Molly” (161). Lastly, Osborne’s character is one that we have to see through the elegance and languid beauty. His secretive nature is evident before his arrival, and I think that he does a good job of hiding it while flaunting a careless attitude.
Mr. Preston is a man of character. He is someone who thinks highly of himself and his looks. He is very sure and confident of who he is and feels that he can get whatever he wants.
Osborne is a person who is secretive and at times deceiving. He is trying to please his parents but has another side to him.
Sally and Phoebe always liked Mr. Gibson but they don't like some of his decisions especially when it concerns Molly.
Lady Harriet was hard to understand in the beginning. But as the story progresses, her genuine love for Molly helps Molly deal with the marriage of her father and Hyacinth.
Out of all the characters so far, Lady Harriet is the most genuine.
in response to cicelyj,
you pretty much summed it up. i'm going to have a hard time coming up with my own response. too bad i can't just put "what she said".
"Mr. Preston was very handsome, and knew it."(153) From this we can assume he's kind of vain and he uses his looks to get his way whenever he can. He is also a flirt, and he can use his flirting skills effortlessly, even when his eye is not necessarily on the woman he is flirting with.
The Brownings, although not rich, have a way of flaunting their own kind of grandeur. We discover that Phoebe actually considered that Mr. Gibson might ask her hand in marriage. At first we look at the Brownings and they are just a couple of spinsters, but this observation allows us to see that they haven't ignored marriage completely. It was a little surprising to find out about Phoebe's slight attraction to Mr. Gibson, but at the same time I guess we should've seen it coming.
Osborne finally shows up and his character has been somewhat predictable. He's got a small rebellious, devil may care attitude, but only a small one.
Lady Harriet was revealed to be a more caring person than she seemed to be at first. Her little tete-a-tete with Molly reveals her willingness to listen to Molly and actually engage in conversation with her. She knows what buttons to push, and which ones to leave alone as shown by the way she backs off of the Brownings once Molly lets her know that she likes them.
The first thing I noticed about Mr. Preston was that the narrator continually showed him apologizing for his house, or his room, or the dinner, etc. He acted as if what he was offering to the Gibsons was not good enough, since he was a bachelor and didn't know how to do such things. The narrator also said that "he had a really strong passion for some one else; some one who would be absent; and that passion it was necessary for him to conceal. This implies that he is sneaky also.
It is revealed that Phoebe Browning had some feelings for Mr. Gibson. However, these were put away when she was given the job to redecorate the house. Both Browning sisters are a little shallow, always gossiping about other people's lives.
Osborne was nothing like Molly expected. He was somewhat rude, a littl weak and feminine, and not at all as handsome as he had been made out to be.
Lady Harriet is shown to be very blunt and straightforward in her talking to Molly. She speaks down on the Miss Brownings and Molly jumps to their defense. It seems as if Lady Harriet knows exactly how to get under her skin.
claudia,
you are definately right with what you said to in your response, and with what you've just written I think I'm gonna have to really think about what to write. I agree with your views entirely. You have a great grasp on the characters and their character as "people".
Claudia...
I agree with your descriptions. Mr. Preston is handsome and knows it. And with his looks, he can flirt effortly. O. Hamley is spoiled with a little rebellion thrown in. And Sally and Phoebe are not as ignorant towards marriage as we first thought. Lady Harriet is going to be a major character along with Molly.
In response to cicely...
well, what can one say...you did sum up the characters quite accurately.
and i agree with you about lady harriet--she seems to change for the better and becomes a very likable person in my eyes. she does come to molly's rescue at one point, which shows much goodness in lady harriet.
overall, good summary of characters cicely.
Preston seems shady, with the “handsome and knows it” line, which is a very strong and polarizing line of characterization, especially from a narrator, though his concerns for his house in the presence of his guests seems to suggest a humble nature.
Osborne is a sissy, come on, let’s face it – by all narrative accounts, he’s a girly man. He was described with pale, girlish features by the narrator, almost sickly. Quite a stark contrast to the knight in shining armor that Molly had envisioned
When Molly arrives back from the Hamleys, she notices, the narrator points out, how loud and improper the Mrs. Gibsons speak, suggesting their lack of refinement, and Molly’s assimilation into the world of finer things.
And Lady Harriet, at first came off harsh and pompous, and though she still has that air about her, she also has a soft and enduring side, such as when she makes fun of the Gibsons and Molly protests, causing her to concede.
In response to Martin:
I agree that Sally was the most revealed character in the reading, through her own actions and words as well as the narrator's. I also agree with your choice of clothing; very sharp, my friend.
Shelley-meister,
So you think having character is thinking highly of yourself, thinking highly of your vast intelligence and gelid good looks? Well I’m not going to disagree with you. I think Mr. P is a very important character, and his characteristics passionately affect the novel and evoke emotion out of the reader. That, to me, represents a character that does his job. He was a “good shot” to himself, the people around him, the novel, and the audience (156).
cicelyj,
I agree with you. I like Lady Harriet a little more after this installment. She did seem more like a normal person in her interactions with Molly. I also liked the Brownings sisters better. They do genuinely like Molly and continue to give their support to Mr. Gibson, even after he announces his marriage to Mrs. Kirkpatrick.
Mr. Preston is confident in himself. He has a nice appearance and is willing to use what he has to manipulate situations in his favor.
As we get to know more about Harriet we see that she is genuinely there for Molly and is very supportive of Molly in helping her adapt to situations that happen throughout the story.
Osborne is very perceptive as he is ware of where he stands in the family and he is able to portray himself in the brightest light for his parents.
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