tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post4927073974523338597..comments2024-03-25T09:01:20.997-07:00Comments on Diary of an Autodidact: Daniel Deronda by George EliotDiary of an Autodidacthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11849157548643091986noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post-41700469991196150592016-05-13T18:37:22.258-07:002016-05-13T18:37:22.258-07:00Ah, I loved this review! The quotes, the music exa...Ah, I loved this review! The quotes, the music examples-now I can't wait to read the book. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post-88349878032442802812013-11-13T10:41:12.023-08:002013-11-13T10:41:12.023-08:00Wow, this is a great review of the book! Gwendolyn...Wow, this is a great review of the book! Gwendolyn is a fascinating character and I read quite a few accounts that say Eliot used quite a bit of her own experience in creating her. <br />The BBC version of the movie is good. I mean, it's ok. I did get annoyed quite a bit at some of the casting and the plot changes. I'm inclined to say it's not a big deal if you skip it.BerlinerinPoethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06853762912371387793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post-53374031384300247812013-09-16T10:07:13.258-07:002013-09-16T10:07:13.258-07:00I didn't really feel sympathy for Lydia either...I didn't really feel sympathy for Lydia either. Certainly her vindictiveness was inexcusable. <br /><br />What I am trying to point out with my focus on the laws of the time is that there are many among us now that have divorced for any number of reasons. They have often remarried, and are fully accepted in our society and in our churches. The difference isn't so much what they have done, but what the law says about it. I wouldn't be too quick to just say "but you have to follow the law" and dismiss the actions of others. This comes perilously close to the risk to Gwendolyn of feeling self righteous because she was the legitimate spouse. (I guess that is one of the big questions the book raises. Who was worse, Lydia, or Gwendolyn?) Absolutely agree that Lydia was foolish in the extreme. (And what on EARTH did she see in Grandcourt anyway?) <br /><br />Again, I am not defending her, and did not find her an attractive character. I also loathed Grandcourt. (He is a delightful villain, though. The person who seems OH so respectable and desirable, but is an absolute snake.) <br /><br />I share your dislike of Gwendolyn's dependency. (I generally like strong women, and those who take responsibility for themselves. As I said, I loved her as a character, because she was complex and interesting. I would not enjoy her company.) I definitely agree with your analysis of her loss of backbone. <br /><br />I haven't seen the BBC version, although I have heard there are some plot changes, which I always find annoying. Diary of an Autodidacthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11849157548643091986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post-57094390411954797382013-09-16T08:46:31.428-07:002013-09-16T08:46:31.428-07:00Ah, this book hits upon all your pet topics. I'...Ah, this book hits upon all your pet topics. I'm going to ignore those because I think they don't need to be harped on continuously.<br /><br />I appreciated and agreed with many of your points. I actually couldn't stand Lydia. I thought SHE got what she deserved. Whether or not she could or could not get a divorce is of no consequence in my mind. There is no excuse for sin and she committed flagrant adultery. There is no excusing it with, "Look at the bad laws of the time." There IS no valid excuse for sin. If you decide to commit a sin and/or a crime with someone, you shouldn't be the least surprised when it doesn't work out well for you in the end. Going around cursing others does little except increase your own predictable frustrations. I don't care WHAT her reasons. I did not pity her and I found her ridiculous. (This is not to say that I don't believe she had a right to LEAVE an abusive husband. I think there is plenty of Bibical argument for getting out of an abusive marriage and I also believe that is just cause for a divorce.) But the laws of her land were different and you must abide by them. Leave him by all means. But don't expect an affair to work in your best interest and don't rely on a man who is happy to sneer at the laws of the land. And that leads to my dislike of Grandcourt in general and is a whole 'nother subject.<br /><br />I see why you'd say this is your typical Victorian novel where everything wraps up neatly. I didn't think it wrapped up neatly though. Gwendolyn is in a pathetic and unadmirable state. (I know I'm not supposed to think that, but I do!). She has lost all ability to think for herself and/or make any decisions while consulting someone older and wiser than herself. She throws herself emotionally at Deronda and expects him to lead her out of the mess she willingly walked into. I really, really disliked her reliance on Deronda at the end. I found that incredibly distasteful. I know there can be a desire to rely on someone that you THINK is strong in any given situation but that doesn't always mean that you are meant to do so or that you ought to do so. <br /><br />I just finished watching the BBC production and I liked how they handled Deronda in the end with Gwendolyn. He was sympathetic but there was a guard up (as there is in the book but I liked seeing it visually pronounced in the film version). <br /><br />All in all, I'm very glad to have read this one! And I'll leave it at that for now.Carriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08772667430500306088noreply@blogger.com