Pretending, etc.
Posted by Laraine on February 26, 1998 at 17:17:53:
In response to Jilting Lucy, written by Kay on February 26, 1998 at 14:55:26
...] I don't think she consciously knew she was breaking the engagement to Cecil in order to marry George. She was deceiving herself, most of all.
In light of this, what do you make of the end of chapter 17:
"Lucy joined this army [of pious folk who follow neither the heart nor the brain and march to their destiny by catch-words] when she pretended to George that she did not love him, and pretended to Cecil that she loved no one."
Does Lucy know that she's pretending? Is that why she thinks of running? Or is this just the narrator commenting on things that Lucy does not actually know yet?
I guess I'd rather "embarrass the family" than marry the wrong person. And I'd be more concerned for my daughter's happiness than for appearances. Maybe this is a late 20th century attitude.
I agree, certainly, but I think that jilting someone for someone else was a really big deal in this society. Mr. Beebe turns away with complete coldness when he learns that the Lucy broke the engagement because she loved someone else instead of loving no one.
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