How does the narrator emphasize the changes that Mrs. Gibson has brought to the Gibson home in this installment? Have Molly, Mr. Gibson, and the residents of Hollingford been reconciled to the change? What does Molly and Mr. Gibson's behavior when Cynthia and Hyacinth are in London reveal about their characters?
Oops--late again, and I don't have the "no computer" excuse this time. I do have the "no my own computer" excuse! Want to hear it??
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Well, Mrs. Gibson has definitely brought some changes to the Gibson household. She is very petty, concentrates too much on gossip, worries too much about her social standing with the community (especially the wealthy), and has just brought an overall uneasiness into the home. There never seems to be any peace with her there. And this is definitely proven when she and Cynthia are gone to London. There is finally some peace in the house. Mr. Gibson and Molly are able to visit their former friends and acquaintances and live the way they used to. I don't know if Molly, Mr. Gibson, or the Hollingford residents are reconciled to the change. I think that Molly and her dad have accepted it and dealt with it as best as possible, but the residents don't like Mrs. Gibson at all. It is easier for the residents to talk bad about Mrs. Gibson though than it is for Molly or Mr. Gibson.
Molly and Mr.Gibson seem to enjoy themselves much more when Cynthia and Hyacinth leave. It is like there is finally some peace and quiet, and everyone can take a breath of fresh air. I think that Mrs.Gibson is definitely a "party pooper" in that she is always wanting to be waited on hand and foot and she cares very little about those that she expects to bow down to her. Her selfish attitude has definitely made her a nuisance, but since Mr. Gibson is married to her, he has no choice but to suffer the consequences. Molly, being his daughter, has no choice but to deal with it in her own way, even if it nearly kills her to do so. I couldn't help but notice that she was relieved at Cynthia's absence as well. The tension between the two is thick enough to cut with a knife, and I think Molly needed to get away from Cynthia before she snapped.
Gaskell emphasized the changes that Hyacinth has brought to the Gibson home by letting us readers see how things are without her around. Everyone is in a lighter mood, and they don't have to be so careful and tense. I like how the Gibson's do things they wouldn't normally do when Hyacinth and her daughter are there. It seems that, for once, things are back to the way they used to be, and how they should be even now.
In response to Erin,
I did not mean to echo you, but apparently we both feel the same way, so that was hard to avoid. I think it is interesting that you say that it is easier for the residents to talk bad about Mrs.Gibson than it is for Molly and her father. I wonder why that is so?
Molly and her fatherdefinately enjoy the peace and quiet that came from Cynthia and Hyacinth leaving. THe changes that occured since Mrs. Gibson has been around are more noticable since she left by the way the characters are more at ease. The tension is gone and based on the description given of the characters actions and voice, the reader is able too see what negative effects Mrs. Gibson and her daughter bring to the household and lives of Molly and her father.
The line that best describes the change in the Gibson household said: "Molly could not imagine how she had at one time wished for her father's eyes to be opened, and how she could ever have fancied that if they were, he would be able to change things in Mrs. Gibson's character" (398).
Our dear Molly has been growing up right before here eyes, and we are witnessing her maturation. She has come to grips with the fact that there is no changing Mrs. G. Her inherent nature and mannerisms were instilled at birth, and there's no going back.
I wouldn't quite call it a 'reconcile' to change in Molly and Mr. Gibson's part. However, the more sarcasm I see out of him, the farther his initial sincerity seems to get.
When the Kirkpatrick girls are gone, the environment of the Gibson household is undoubtedly different--for the better. Molly seemed in better health and spirits, and Mr. G seemed like the old Mr. G we met 400 pages ago.
in response to claudia,
We do have very similar reponses! haha. I especially like how you pointed out that Molly is even relieved when Cynthia is gone. This attitude is a little different from the way Molly expresses her love for Cynthia to her face. I think that both Cynthia and her mother's drama-filled lives are too much for Molly. It is wearing her out because she is a very good, simple girl and she is finally realizing Cynthia's true nature.
side note here: I was in Aspen, CO this weekend and there was a lodge in town called the Molly Gibson Inn. I just thought that was funny so I threw it in there.
Shelley, I'm responding to your saying that "Mrs. Gibson and her daughter [bring] negative effects." Common now! I'm telling you guys; you're all riding Cynthia too hard. I think she's doing rather well for being the fatherless daughter of Hyacinth. She genuinely loves and cares for Molly and Mr. G. I don't think she purposely wants to 'break' the chemistry of the Gibson household. It's just life! They all can't be perfect little citizens having tête-à-têtes all day long!
As for Mrs. G, we can throw her out on the burner. She, however, DOES misdirect the idea of running a household with her two-faced and conniving nature.
I believe that Mr. Gibson, in the previous installment, finally begins to see who he has married. He spends most of his time away from the home and so it doesn’t seem to bother him as much. However, in this installment, Hyacinth and Cynthia both are removed from the household and the narrator tells about the relief that Molly and her dad feel now feel. The two do not have to walk on egg shells while holding their tongues (well Molly doesn’t have to hold her tongue because Mr. Gibson definitely gives Hyacinth a good lashing when needed) and they do not have to cater to her desires.
I do not think that reconciled is the best word for the way they have handled the situation with Mrs. Gibson. I think, more or less, they all have just suppressed their true feelings to avoid confrontation. When Hyacinth is not around it is evident how everyone feels about her. So in essence, I believe it accurate not to say reconciled, but instead all have suspended their thoughts, emotions, and feelings in the mean time.
Molly and Mr. Gibson’s character may best be described as timid (leaning more towards hesitant than shy), relieved, and torn (between faithfulness and happiness).
I am responding to the ladies on the post first:
I agree with what each of you have said. I personally do not like Cynthia nor Hyacinth. I think the two should packed up and leave more often or all together. There's definitely suspense in the air and just this overall abysmal ambiance when mother and daughter are at the Gibson's residence.
Now to you Martin:
Hang it up. There's no changing Cynthia. She is who she is and that's the daughter of a true, sinsiter nuisance.
In response to Martin's response to Shelley:
I agree that Cynthia should be cut a little slack considering herbackground. The girl was practically parentless after all, having no living father and a mother who never cared to be around or tend to her. Who could expect her to be an gracious and giving angel? I also agree with Martin that Cynthia is not purposefully trying to break apart the Gibson home -- she is being who she is, and in mostly naive to the fact that her personality/behaviour causes others pain.
P.S. -- All that was NOT to imply that I like her!!
I don't think that Molly and Mr. Gibson realize how much their relationship and lives have been negatively (at least somewhat negatively anyway) altered since Hyacinth and Cynthia's invasion until the two are both gone for an extended period. The emotion of being alone together and sympathizing with each other's trials (inflicted by Mrs. Gibson of course) is overwhelming to both; Mr. Gibson, ungiven to showing much emotion, cuts short their quality time but is much touched and almost regretful of his selection of a bride.
With as much calling as Mrs. Gibson does, one would guess she was settled into the Hollingford society, but the behaviour of neighbors during her absence tells us otherwise. Everyone is delighted to invite Mr. Gibson and Molly over to tea -- it is parties galore! I think they're celebrating the break from Mrs. Gibson.
I'm not entirely sure what specific event or occurrence "this installment" presents that makes us think any worse of Mrs. Gibson, (and, apparently, neither is anyone one else seeing as how everyone has answered the question in broad, unspecific terms)so I suppose I'll just follow the crowd (damnit) and also give a broad, general answer. Mrs. Gibson is fake, plastic person who is only concerned with pageantry and appearances. The only reason she does nice things (take care of Molly and, uh.... take care of Molly) is because she's afraid the town's people will talk about her if she doesn’t. Mrs. Gibson has brought a set of strictly adhered to societal rules into the Gibson household, getting rid of all the openness, honesty, and genuine feeling that previously presided over the house. Molly and Mr. Gibson seem reconciled (unhappily) with Mrs. Gibson's presence, but their neighbors, the Brownings, still see her as an interloper, as a temporary fixture, and not as Molly Gibson's real mother. When Cynthia and Hyacinth visit London and Mr. Gibson and Molly get to spend time together again, they are both happier for the experience. This implies that Mrs. Gibson and all she's brought into the house (including Cynthia) have served to stick a wedge in between Molly and her dad - revealing that both see Mrs. Gibson as an unnecessary nuisance.
Mrs. Gibson is a pain! She has brought some organization to the Gibson home in terms of the appearance of the house and how it is run (to her credit). However, with all the problems she has created with her bad attitude, it is questionable whether or not the marriage is really worth all the hassle. She has almost alienated the Gibson family with her fake sense of being nice when she is really being nasty, pejoritive is more like it. Mr. Gibson and Molly are able to salvage their relationships with their friends despite the new disturbed person in their family though. I don't really see whether there has been strong reconciliation for change so much as I see people merely adapting to what is new. Obviously Hyacynth has been a thorn in many peoples' sides and the residents of Hollingford don't seem to have much use for her.
Martin and tiara,
First to Martin - women know women and men know men. Like mother like daughter and as we read, I'm sure the truth will come out. because Cynthia is a product of her enviroment or lack of parenting, she is who she is and I wouldn't trust her for anything.
tiara - I can cut her very little slack because since she knows her mother so well, you would think that she would "break the mold" and be a more caring and considerate person. Just because her mother didn't give a damn about anybody but herself doesn't give a green light to Cynthia to be a mirror image.
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