Villette Read-a-Long :: Week Seven
For those of you who were wondering why there was no post yesterday, it is because WordPress was down for a significant portion of the day. So no posts were able to be scheduled.
Welcome! We are reading through Charlotte Bronte’s Villette this February and March. Feel free to jump in at any time. You can see our reading schedule and guidelines in the starting post. Feel free to leave your thoughts on this week’s reading or a link to your updates in the comments section!
Week Seven
Chapters: 31, 32, 33, 34, & 35
Summary:
This section is full of realizations and new information for Lucy…
We watch as Lucy gets better acquainted with how shallow Dr. John is… she even notices that he would not like Polly is she weren’t already accepted by society. She also finds out that Dr. John is writing Polly and that they (admittedly) have feelings for each other. After confiding in Lucy, Polly solicits her advise on how to respond to Dr. John. Lucy – ever poised – gives her sound advice. Admirably, I think, as Lucy hints that she has known of Lucy’s feelings for Dr. John. (Does this make Polly cruel or just immature?)
And after a day spent with M. Paul, Lucy realizes just how much she cares about him. Conveniently after that, Madame Beck sends her on an errand to a Madame Walravens’s house where she meets a horrible troll like woman (Madame Walravens herself). Due to a storm, she is forced to stay in the home for a bit, and is reacquainted with Pere Silas (the priest whom she gave confession to so many chapters ago). It is this priest (and, as fate would have it, mentor to a certain somebody) who dishes to Lucy about M. Paul’s personal history. It is M. Paul who keeps M. Walravens, her servant, and Pere Silas in such comfortable lodgings (while he lives in a small den). M. Walravens is the grandmother of M. Paul’s long-lost (and long dead) first and only love, who also — so conveniently?- happens to be THE NUN!
Upon returning to school, Lucy is made to be tested by none other that the two men who frightened her so much on her arrival in Villette (and made her lose her way that long ago night). M. Paul has shown them her work, and upon not believing it could come from one of the students, they have arrived to make her prove herself. She is so afraid that she is unable to speak — and actually breaks down in tears. After calming, they give her the assignment to write an essay about human justice, which she does beautifully.
Later on, Lucy reveals to M. Paul that she is privy to his past. Learning this, he asks her if she would like to be very good friends with him — like a sister and brother. Lucy is thrilled and touched as she has finally found herself a family of sorts. As they are about to discuss the nun, they are interrupted. We will have to wait until the conclusion of this novel to find out what happens!
What I Thought: (This section contains spoilers)
First, good! Yes, Lucy — Dr. John is shallow. I’m sorry you are having to deal with giving Polly advise on how to navigate her relationship with him, but you are far better off, honey, believe me!
Now, frankly — I do not love M. Paul. Yes, he is romantic (he still loves his long lost lady). Sure he is a good guy (he gives to charity and takes care of those who weren’t great to him). Ok he is super loyal (see the last two examples). But, oh. my. gosh. M. Paul, my man, this is not a healthy situation for you! He needs to kick the troll out of the house — if he really feels like he needs to take care of her, she can live in the small den that he is living in now. And I applaud his strong love for (who else) the NUN! But come on, Lucy is flesh and blood and in your life. Please, dear man, don’t waste both of your opportunities for real, fulfilling love because of this over-developed sense of loyalty. Really, people, I’m all for loyalty, but this is the unhealthy kind (if that’s possible).
Now I’m wondering how Ms. Bronte is going to wrap this up? How are they both seeing the nun? Is the nun after Lucy because she spends time with M. Paul? Is there going to be a conclusion or a cliffhanger (would Bronte do that to us)? Will there be an actual point, or was this just a glimpse into Lucy’s life?
We have only seven more chapters to find those answers in. Remember: this next week’s reading is seven chapters (instead of five), and almost 100 pages. Make sure you make yourself a schedule or you might get overwhelmed next Wednesday night, haha! But we are almost to the finish line folks — great job for those of you who are still with me! And thanks so much to Jackie for last week’s guest post — SO FUN! We will be doing it again for the next read-a-long of John Adams (see below for information) so join us for that! (Yes, I realize I just used four exclamation points in this last paragraph. I am excited, apparently.)
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Next Read-a-Long : John Adams by David McCullough. (See here for more information.)
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Who’s (Still) Reading Along:
A Bookish Way of Life
Lit-Snit
Fingers and Prose
Mady
@So_Meow
The Sleepless Reader
@jackiemania
Tahleen’s Mixed-Up Files@elesscom
Susan E.
Savvy Verse & Wit
Readings and Things
Under the Boardwalk
The House of the Seven Tails
The Road Goes Ever Ever On
Grief Journey to Reading Journey
Join the Road
Books and Chocolate
Dolce Belleza
(If you are participating and I don’t have you on this list, please let me know. I did not include people who said ‘maybe’ so if you have changed your mind and are definitely reading along with us, let me know so I can add you. Also, if you are not going to be able to join us anymore please let me know and I will take you off the list. If you go for two weeks without sharing the link for your weekly update in my weekly update comments section, I will assume you are no longer participating and will take you off of the list. Thanks!)
Mine: http://thesleeplessreader.wordpress.com/2011/03/24/villette-by-charlotte-bronte-read-along-chapters-31-35/
My thoughts about M. Paul are very much like yours, but I’m sure he’ll see the light in the end.
Don’t you think the ghost nun is a prank from Ginevra?
Ooohhh… good question. I hadn’t thought of that. But does she know of M. Paul’s past? Would Madame Beck do it? Good guess — looking forward to seeing what’s behind it!
M. Paul surely has to be about as far from the traditional romantic hero as you can get – surely Charlotte had this planned completely deliberately all along – Their love / friendship / call it what you want is blossoming in a way I didn’t think novels went in for. My thoughts, as usual, at:
http://jointheroad.blogspot.com/
PS: Sorry for not getting around to commenting on everyone’s posts this week – I usually try to each week. Will make up for it this week.
PPS : Loving the new layout Wallace.
Thanks! I haven’t done anything new to the layout- but I’ll take that as you like the look of my blog.
Having read the book before, I should remember the solution to the mystery of the nun, but for the life of me I can’t remember – which is good when it comes to enjoying the book all over again.
I like your points about M. Paul. I’m hoping it works out.
I’m also interested to see what happens with the nun. I’m not sure if it’ll turn out to be a prank although because Gothis themes were popular at the time Villette was written and I’m not sure pranks jive with this theme. But I’ve been surprised several times by Ms. Bronte so we’ll see!
Amy’s thoughts on Villette
I’m glad shallow Graham and silly Polly regained their childish romance. It works for them. My feelings for Lucy are sorrowful–she always seems to be on the bad end of the stick. And, quite frankly I cannot seem to separate Lucy from the author. It seems to me that Charlotte is speaking to us of her own sorrows in life. At this point of the story I don’t really like M. Paul or his priest. I’m looking forward to hearing everyone’s thoughts next week.
It really does seem to be more autobiographical than I ever realized. Alexandra has been pointing out all of the places where Bronte actually visited (and based these fictional places upon) and Charlie Dryden pointed out that M.Paul was real — and Bronte fell in love with him when she was in Brussels (aka Villette)!
It is sad… I’m wondering if there will be any sort of happiness in the ending.
I’m going to be quiet this week, since I was so talkative last week. I can’t wait to talk next week for the finale!
P.S. Wallace – within the first few pages the John Adams book says JA does not drink tea (I’m assuming for political reasons!)! I may have to compare the characters to something else…which will hopefully come to me as I read!
Thank you, again, for last week Jackie! It was SO much fun!
Ah, you already started! I admit I started it last fall, but will probably have to re-read the beginning. Yes, that makes sense; no tea for political reasons. Hmmm… I still think it’s ok to compare them to tea. I’m sure they wished they could have drank tea. Maybe it could be a postmortem suggestion to them on what they should have been drinking.
I can do that
Hope JA will NOT roll in his grave!!!!
Haha, maybe it would be good for him!
Do you think that Lucy minded talking to Polly about Dr. John? That’s interesting, because I read it a completely different way. I was actually quite proud of her in this section. It almost seemed like her newfound spine/self esteem/level of understanding allowed her to be more magnanimous with P. than she had previously been. In the same vein, I also enjoyed seeing her sort of realize how crazy she had been about the letters.
I can tell from everyones comments that I’m probably the most pro-M. Paul of the read-a-longers. I just can’t help routing for those two.
http://readingsandthingsblog.blogspot.com/2011/03/villette-read-long-week-seven.html
Well, I don’t know if she was devastated about talking to Polly about Dr. John, but how can a person who has been so obsessed with someone not feel a twinge when having to give love advice to the person that their obsession has chosen. Maybe I’m just projecting, haha!
This week’s reading made me think “autumnal”, mellow with tints of sadness, something like the feelings reflected in Lucy’s speech about Paulina and Graham:
“I think it is deemed good that you two should live in peace and be happy—not as angels, but as few are happy amongst mortals. Some lives are thus blessed: it is God’s will: it is the attesting trace and lingering evidence of Eden. Other lives run from the first another course. Other travelers encounter weather fitful and gusty, wild and variable—breast adverse winds, are belated and overtaken by the early closing winter night. . . “
Is Lucy one of the “other travelers”? But even though happiness seems unfamiliar to her, this week we got to see her enjoying her blooming relationship with M. Paul:
“I grew quite happy—strangely happy—in making him secure, content, tranquil. Yesterday, I could not have believed that earth held, or life afforded, moments like the few I was now passing. Countless times it has been my lot to watch apprehended sorrow close darkly in; but to see unhoped-for happiness take form, find place and grow more real as the seconds sped, was indeed a new experience.”
BTW, the loud crashing in the tree episode makes me think we are dealing with a nun imposter rather than a real ghost. Perhaps M Paul is not the only one with a secret route into the pensionne garden?
Thank you , Wallace, for sponsoring this readalong. It’s so interesting seeing everyone’s thoughts and reactions. Want to share this wonderful quote by Charlotte Bronte about her writing (from Life of Charlotte Bronte by Mrs Gaskell):
“You warn me to beware of melodrama, and you exhort me to adhere to the real. When I first began to write, so impressed was I with the truth of the principles you advocate, that I determined to take Nature and Truth as my sole guides, and to follow in their very footprints. I restrained imagination, eschewed romance, repressed excitement; over-bright coloring, too, I avoided, and sought to produce something which should be soft, grave and true.
My work (a tale in one volume) being completed, I offered it to a publisher. He said it was original, faithful to nature, but he did not feel warranted in accepting it; such a work would not sell. I tried six publishers in succession; they all told me it was deficient in “startling incident” and “thrilling excitement”…
Jane Eyre was rather objected to at first, on the same ground, but finally found acceptance.” Charlotte Bronte letter to W. H. Lewes, Nov 6 1847
You’re welcome… glad to have you along for the past two months!
Love that quote from Bronte. It makes me want to read that biography even sooner than I had planned to!
I am not remembering the tree crashing (for whatever reason) but I believe you. I sense that you may be right about it being a prank (about the nun)… it’s just too weird that they are both seeing this figure. Unless, of course, it turns out that it is a ghost story. Hmmmm…
I was quite proud of Lucy for voicing her approval of the union between Polly and Dr. Graham – without bitterness or spite. But will she be resigned to just a brother-sister type love with M. Paul? Will Bronte answer all of my questions in a satisfactory way by the end? I can only hope.
Hard to believe we have only 1 week left. I have enjoyed this read-a-long – thanks, Wallace!
My post: http://grieftoreadingjourney.blogspot.com/2011/03/villette-read-long-chapters-31-35.html
Yikes, having finished the book in February (I was too enraptured to put it down!) I’m over anxious to get my posts published. We’re leaving for Florida tonight for Spring Break, so I’ve posted my thoughts on the book as a whole and given you credit for leading us through a thoroughly delightful novel. Well, not delightful as in cheery, but delightful as in moving and beautifully sad. If there is such a thing. Which I think there is.
So glad you enjoyed reading this book! I will wait to read your entire review until I finish the book — just in case there are spoilers.
And I agree; I think there is such things as beautifully sad.
I finished the book and am glad its over. I did enjoy the read along, I’m just not sure I enjoyed the book as much as getting to read everyone’s thoughts on it. As for the ending, well, lets just say its what I expected.
http://abookishwayoflife.blogspot.com/2011/03/villette-end.html
Good job for making it all the way through, Nadia! Especially because you didn’t care for it very much. I’m not sure I could have done that!
I will wait to read your review until after I have finished the book (so I don’t read any spoilers).
I’m not posting this week, partially because it’s too difficult to find the time to blog in the midst of a busy vacation, and partially because I couldn’t stop myself at chapter 35. I meant to stop reading and write my thoughts, but I couldn’t bring myself to stop reading and now I don’t think I could separate the final chapters in my mind.
I loved the book, loved the read-along, and can’t wait to write and read the final thoughts.
No problem! Looking forward to reading the end and discussing it with you (and everyone)! So glad you joined for this read-a-long.
Have a fun rest of your trip in Ireland!!!
Sadly I had no time for Ms. Bronte this week. Here’s last week’s post: http://litandlife.blogspot.com/2011/03/villette-readalong-week-6.htm. I’m eager to curl up with the book this weekend and see how Lucy makes out in the end.
I feel certain Elizabeth Taylor, with her joie de vivre, would throw back her head in laughter to THINK her demise could inspire a connection between… Lucy and M. Paul AND… George and Martha in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf!!
Our “little man of unreasonable moods,” with all his “passions and hurricanes and unjust accusations” was SO hard to take UNTIL Lucy got her Martha on, and made each new test and scathing attack a verbal sparring match. Egging each other on– “trying each other’s tempers–” as Charlotte points out, “He was a man not always to be submitted to; sometimes it was needed to resist.” His sarcasms and sneering injustice “gives her ambition” and “warms the blood in her veins;” the “comic side” of M. Emanuel’s behavior “tempted her to provoke,” VERY much like cinema’s celebrated bombastic couple.
“Never troubling himself about loss or lack of dignity”–”the ravings of a third rate London actor–” we’re talking dysfunction that almost rivals sister Emily’s Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights. But with an important difference. While M. Paul “delighted in Lucy’s faults and blunders”– in “petty bickering and recrimination”– “reconcilement is ALWAYS sweet.” “We are friends now… til the next time we quarrel.” And I have a VERY strong feeling their George and Martha days are behind them.
Yes! Love your comparison (and love that film…).
Having agreed with the the blogger who found chapters 26 to 30 so forgettable, I loved this latest set of chapters. Finally, Lucy seems to be emerging as someone whose observations actually lead to character development & plot development. Definitely believe that the nun is a prank — & still think it’s like to be Ginevra — Mme Beck is already too busy sneaking through Lucy’s room & inspecting her belongings! Is there a familial relationship betw Mme Walraven (so tiny & deformed) & Polly? That’s pure speculation on my part, but given the “coincidences” so far, I wouldn’t be surprised. Loved the scenes at Mme Walraven’s, esp. Lucy’s encounter with Pere Silas. For the first time in a while, I’m quite eager to see what comes next … it’s nice to feel that I’m not been motivated by the reading schedule alone. (This is, however, keeping me from a slew of other books that I need to finish or want to start, so I’ll think twice before committing to something quite so long, lovely as it seems to be becoming.) Until next time … Ellen
I hadn’t thought of M. Walraven’s connection, but it would be interesting if she were connected to someone else! Definitely eager to see how all of this turns out… thankfully we won’t have to wait long.
I still plan on finishing this, but I was unable to do this week’s portion because my uncle died and now we’re all getting ready to go to Michigan today. I’ll post my last two posts hopefully by the next scheduled one.
Oh, I’m so sorry. Please don’t feel pressure to post… I’ll keep you on the list, and you can come back whenever your ready and post (if you want). Take care of yourself — sending you virtual hugs.
I am sorry for your loss Tahleen.
Wondering about Madam Beck’s motive for sending Lucy on the errand. I may be missing something here because I did not take the time to translate the french.
I am torn between her and Ginerva being behind the Nun, I am thinking it is a prank. I could be wrong.
I’m thinking that Madame Beck was wanting Lucy to find out about M.Paul’s past. I can’t remember perfectly, but I don’t think you missed anything serious by not translating the french this time.
Sorry for my delay in posting – I was travelling and did not have enough time to sit at the computer and order my thoughts on these chapters until now.
So… Dr John is definitely out! He’s completely absent from these chapters, except when Paulina asks Lucy for her opinion on Dr John. After her response, Paulina tells her about their correspondence and how strong attachment they have already. Lucy does not seem affected by this news, so we can confirm that her feelings for Dr John are buried together with the letters she had received.
: I too was happy-happy with the bright day, happier with his presence, happiest with his kindness. 
And how will Lucy be able to make him forget the ghosts of his past?
In contrast, M Paul is now presented under a different light and as a match to Lucy. Still, I am not completely convinced, he’s spooky when he’s spying on the people at the pensionnat from his lodgings, he’s bossy when he tells her You want so much checking, regulating, and keeping down – does this mean that women can’t fend for themselves and need men to look after them? Or he’s he just bullying her? And he’s still attached to his long lost first love! Their relationship seems to be full of advances and steps back. While trying to describe it, I keep thinking of “however…”, “however…”. Nothing seems easy with these two. A few examples: M Paul shows his affection when covering Lucy in a shawl when he found her asleep on her room, and they also seem to be in harmony (despite religious differences) when after the prayer at the breakfast she smiled at the view of him “crossing himself as a woman” and “praying with child-like faith” and he responded to her smile by telling her ”Donnez-moi la main! I see we worship the same God, in the same spirit, though by different rites. Furthermore, on that breakfast day, Lucy seems to be cured from her “nerves” by M Paul! Happiness in not a potato, but can be achieved
However, on the way to the farm, once M Paul realises that she’s dressed in pink and avoiding him, he starts stalking her, and I laughed so much at … the new print dress I wore, pink in colour – a fact which, under our present convoy, made me feel something as I have felt, when, clad in a shawl with a red border, necessitated to traverse a meadow where pastured a bull. – no doubt who the bull is! And why did Lucy run away when she saw him distressed, even though she wished to ask him what troubled him and was sure he was looking for her? What is she afraid of? This seems pure teenager behaviour!
A new light is shed on M Paul once Lucy finds about his past, how he was in love with the girl that seems to be haunting the pensionnat dressed as a nun (who was seen by M Paul & Lucy when they were together at the garden) and also how he’s supporting his former love’s grandmother, an old maid and an old priest. Despite the latter and Madame Beck’s opposition, Lucy is now determined to find out more about M Paul. As an independent woman, Lucy does not like to be told what to do… and everybody knows that “the forbidden fruit is always the sweetest”. She confesses to M Paul that she knows about his past and he is touched about the fact that she agrees to continue being his “close friend”. Does M. Paul need to be “tamed” due to his moods? If so, Lucy will need a very strong self confidence to be his coach and survive all the “abuse” from him
If feels now that all inhabitants are characters of this book. On these chapters we find that the old priest, who was once M Paul’s master is Père Silas! And when Lucy is tested, to prove that she’s up to M Paul’s praise on her study of French – she realises that she’s challenged by the exact two men that scared her when she arrived to Villette. This seems to be such a tiny (shoe) village.
I’m also quite curious how this will end (I didn’t want to post knowing more than I should, so I have now a big reading task for the next couple of days
), I can only see that Lucy will end up with M Paul, but how? We have a lodging issue: he has a big house that is taken by his former love’s relatives/connections and a small den where he currently lives that he could *probably* share with Lucy – but are we talking about accomodation or his heart? Will this work and will Lucy accept this?
Thank you for your condolences, Wallace and Nise’. I’ve since finished the book, so I think I’m just going to put up a final post tomorrow.