Friday, February 22, 2008
The Plot Thickens
The newly married Hyacinth Gibson comes to her new home. The even more in disgrace Osborne Hamley leaves his. What specifically do we find out about Osborne that reveals more of his character? What does Mrs. Gibson do and say that reveals more about hers? How do you as a reader respond to those characters?
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19 comments:
As a reader, I don’t care for either of those two; they can both suck a lemon. Mrs. Gibson seems a control freak, firing the maid who’s been with the family for, what, 16 years? No one in the house, aside from Mrs. Gibson, wants the maid gone, and even Mrs. Gibson confesses she wishes it could be another way, only she has principles that must not waver; pity. She also flexes her authoritative mussel when she wants to redecorate Molly’s room, and Molly protests. Molly doesn’t want to trash all of her deceased mother’s things, but Mrs. Gibson insists, not because she really cares about Molly’s position in all this, but because people would talk if she remodeled her own daughter’s room and not her stepdaughter’s.
Oswald comes across as selfish, and spoiled, while Roger is painted in an increasingly more attractive light. Oswald, with his pretension (he never even addresses Molly when he first enters) towards not only other people, but towards his own family as well, makes him an unlikable character. Now we find out, because of his lies, his is running his father deeper and deeper into dept, so deep in fact that Lord Hamley has to sell part of his land, which is everything to him. Oswald just seems like an effeminate, spoiled rich kid who is only concerned about himself. One last glaring sign that Oswald is someone we shouldn’t like: Hyacinth likes him. ‘Nuff said.
As a reader, I am disgusted by most of the characters except for Molly. Everyone is so pretentious, stuck-up, and quite frankly, they just get on my nerves. I don’t like all that constant looking down on folks.
Hyacinth/Mrs. Gibson, is coming into the home as the new wife of Dr. Gibson, and hitting everyone over the head with a sledge hammer as she goes about changing everything to her liking.
First, she wants to take away Dr. Gibson’s cheese, then she wants to fire folks, and then re-decorate; she is moving too fast. I can’t even keep up with Mrs. Gibson.
Osborne is snobbish and stuck-up and a brat of a man! He is also a troublemaker, a liar, and spoiled: Terrible qualities for a man to have.
But I do find it interesting that Mrs. Gibson is rather fond of Osborne. Mmmmmhhh! Two peas in a pod, perhaps….As the plot thickens…
In response to Chuck...
I know what you mean about those two characters...makes you want to slap them! Well, Hyacinth finds some of the servants a threat to her and her authority in the house as Mrs. Gibson, so she's going to do what she feels is best for 'her'. And why would Hyacinth want to touch Molly's room? I know she protested Hyacinth re-decorating, but Molly is 17 years old, not really a child. I guess I am saying, that Molly can have her room anyway she likes it. Jeez!
Yer, Osborne is just plain aggravating, to say the least. I also see that you also took notice of Hyacinth fondness of Osborne....hahaha! We will just have to read and see what continues to unravel with this plot.
Hyacinth reveals that she was only looking at the money when she married Dr. gibson. She is very selfish, controllig and in my opinion, very insecure. Why else would she ship her daughter to boarding school and not see her in 2 years. Jealousy is what motivsated her to bring change. Anything that is a threat to her security, will be eliminated. I feel sorry for Molly. Her life as she knew it will no longer exists as long as her father is married to Hyacinth.
Osborne is well aware that he will inherit most of his families fortune so to me he abuses his right. He is selfish, a liar, and is all out sneaky in his dealings. Regardless of what he does to others, he will not disclose his secrets. What is the reall killer is that Hyacinth likes him. That's scary. Maybe it's because they are 2 peas in a pod???
Well, Osborne has not only failed to get a scholarship or a fellowship that he was expected to earn, but he also put his family into extreme debt. He had run up the bills so high while at the university that Mr. Hamley was no clue how they will repay them. Then on top of that, instead of staying at the house to take responsibility for his actions, Osborne runs away once his parents find out what he has done. I never really liked Osborne to begin with, but this really made me not like him. He lied to his family and doesn't take responsibility for his actions. Plus, I think he might be gay.
Mrs. Gibson has started acting as if she is in control of everything and everyone. She does not think of Mr. Gibson, his job, or his patients. She does not think of Molly. She only thinks of herself and what will benefit her. She does not even try to understand situations from the viewpoint of her family members. She did not have dinner ready for her husband. She would not allow Molly to leave to help Mrs. Hamley in her sickness. She was controlling everything. I especially don't like Mrs. Gibson. I still can't think of her like she is a part of Molly's family either. I feel like she's intruding and ruining everything, like cancer.
Honestly, we can throw Osborne and Mrs. Gibson into the disgraceful characters of novels pot that already includes people like Mr. William Elliot and Mrs. Clay. To begin with, family is the single most important factor in a person’s life, unless your conviction says otherwise. And Osborne has shamefully brings down a prestigious family. His deceitful character plagues the economic, moral and even mental state of the Hamley family. His self-centeredness is sickening, and I pity the blind trust that his folks have-or had-of him. If I were to look him in the face, I’d make it clear that he is far from being a man, for running away from your mistakes will only strengthen the burden.
As for Mrs. Gibson, the hairs on the back of my neck raise as she continuously attempts to clean up house, for lack of a better term. I can see Old Man Gibson begin to grey after only a short time of marriage. Mrs. Gibson takes greediness to another level; nothing merits her attention unless “her own interests [are] dependent” on the situation (180). To me, she shows no class in her two-facedness as she is seemingly blinded by the fact that she’s a detriment to the Gibson household.
In response to EVERYONE,
I agree. All of you have the same views I do on Mrs. Gibson and Osbourne, so I find it very hard just to comment on one of your responses. They are all very good. But if you all liked these characters, I would probably just put "I disagree." I don't think I would want to start a riot or anything. So hopefully by telling all of you that I do, in fact, agree and you guys are awesome, maybe you'll love me and give me candy. I don't know. Man, I'm tired.
I'm not going to lie, if I were Molly, I would make Hyacinth's life living Hell. That woman is a needy, bossy, pretending witch. She made my blood boil when she fired Betty, who had been in the family for 16 years. What right did this woman have to do this? Just because Betty didn't do things the way she specifically wanted her too, she found the smallest, stupidest reason to get rid of her, and personally I was disappointed in Mr. Gibson for allowing her to do it. Such a shame that he is already "whipped".
Osbourne on the other hand is a sneaky rat who has no concern for others. He is spoiled and all too sure about his inheritance. He appears to be all about the money and I don't have anything good to say about him either.
I would not be able to tolerate either of these heathens. They are both selfish and spoiled. I cannot stand either trait, so my response to these characters is obviously very negative.
Mrs. Gibson is a fraud. I knew there would be some obvious character flaws that would eventually be revealed. We didn't see them when she was with the Cummor's because Lady Cumnor was to overbearing and she knew Clare too well. Lady Cumnor was a match that Clare wasn't cunning enought to handle. However, it has already become apparent that she thinks she is better than the townfolk in Hollingford and the Gibsons too just by what she says to them. Her attitude towards Mr. Hamley is selfish to say the least and she spends more time trying to be seen and praised by the "common" folks of Hollingford. She doesn't care that Mrs. Hamley is ill or about how Molly truely feels at all. She definitely doesn't care that she has married a doctor who has responsibilities to people other than her. She wants be treated as royalty although she is not. I feel sorry for Molly because she is really trying to get along with this woman but she only wants Molly to come at her becking call. Being seen with Molly is a pretense that she wants to use to build her reputation.
Osbourne is also a selfish, spoiled, fraud who has lied and misappropriated his mom and dad's money for his own good. He is just as pretentious as Mrs. Gibson. It's a wonder they don't end up being together at the end of this novel because they are two peas in a pod.
Martin,
I agree with you on your take of the characters. Mrs. Gibson is repulsive. She would most likely sell her own mother for personal gain. Isn't that why she shipped her daughter off, so that she wouldn't be called on the carpet in front of those she is trying to impress. What she hasn't realized is that just because a person has the money doesn't mean they also inherit class. It's either in you or it's not. Osborne, in many ways, is just like Mrs. Gibson. Selfish and greed is how he makes his way in life. Personally, I think that the two of them would make a great couple. But because of their character flaws, it wouldn't work out well.
I agree with claudia,
I feel like if I were Molly, I would do everything in my power to show Clare how much I despise her. However, now that Cynthia has come into the picture, maybe that will be her job.
We also now have a different light on Osborne. Perhaps he is not as selfish and spoiled as we thought. Now that his secret has been revealed, maybe we will get a better understanding of him. And I now have to take back my comment about thinking he was gay.
Erin,
I am responding to: “Plus, I think he might be gay.” I think it rather humorous that you’d say that. I don’t know that we have been exposed to him enough to make such as assessment, but if you mean that he lacks the qualities of a man, I totally agree. I haven’t found out his secret yet, so I’ll keep my current opinion on him. Thus far, we are introduced to a man who lacks family values—so it seems. Before I get too far into this, I’m now eager to find out what changed your mind about him (referring to your ‘response’ post).
Yes Dr. Battles, the plot indeed thickens. I was appalled by Mrs. Gibson’s desperate antics. How dare her, trying to control Molly! I know she was brought into the house to look after Molly, but she is being down-right monstrous. I do not like her at all. My initial reaction was a name that has to be bleeped out for this post, but is quite fitting of her pretentious character.
And Osborne. Why doesn’t he just tell the truth? My word, spending all of that money—on his wife I bet. I learn that Osborne is not as strong-willed as previously thought and not such a romantic either. He is a fake and a disgrace to his family. I am beginning to not like his character either.
How long before his secret gets out? I am sure Molly will have a slip of the tongue to the Brownings. LOL!
In response to Cicelyj
Bravo! Well put—my words exactly, “It’s a wonder they don’t end up being together at the end of this novel because they are two peas in a pod”. Mrs. Gibson and Osborne definitely have nerve. You’re right about their selfishness and pretentiousness. I believe we’re in for yet another twist in this book. I just hope these two characters shape up, which I know it is unlikely.
In response to Claudia, again:
I’m right there with you, (look behind you) I would make Clare’s life a living hell if I were under her parental control. I’m one to speak up if I feel something is unjust, especially if it happens to me! I would be extremely unpleasant to live with, to say the least (just ask my parents). However, while this is the path that you, Erin, and myself would take, that is not in character for Molly. She is shy, timid, naïve, and sheltered, she’s a door mat… Cynthia, on the other hand, she’s more of our mindset and has almost certainly had several confrontations with Clare already. I think she’ll add an element to Molly’s character that will, in time, make Molly a bit more rebellious, a bit more outspoken, and a bit more self confident. In time, they could become like peas in a pod (Yes! I knew I’d find a way to throw “peas in a pod” in there, everyone else was doing it and they made it look so cool).
In response to Erin (particularly her list of things Mrs. Gibson does not do):
It struck me that Mrs. Gibson made quite an oversight when she schemed to marry Mr. Gibson to get out of work. While it is true that being married did not mean working to sustain livlihood, being married is not *supposed* to be a ticket to laziness (even more so back then than now I think). She DOES have work to do -- the exact tasks Erin mentioned. I think that Mrs. Gibson is out to obtain an easy life for herself not matter how she needs to use others to acheive it.
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