When Sweet Violets Sicken: The Impact of other Other Character's Illness and Injury in DFB's Plots
I'm afraid this paper became even shorter than intended, as I was suddenly asked to work more this week and lost time for research. So I might have forgotten a few more examples. So, please, add them if you like. DFB she doesn't use illness and accidents for character building like the Victorians and many other early 20th C writers, but more for the building of plots. There are few permanently delicate girls in her school stories: Nicola Carter in the Springdale books, and Althea Stoddart in Nancy at St. Bride's. There is also Alison Mellish in the historical 'Colmskirk' novel, The King's Curate. It's for her sake that her brother Patrick accepts the ministry in Kirkarlie. DFB doesn't describe illness very much from the point of view of the ailing person - but I might be wrong? DFB's preference for psychological problems is perhaps a little conspicious: Mrs Maitland in the Senior Prefect; Sylvia Drummond in Dimsie among the Prefects; Miss Caldwell in Nancy Returns to St. Bride's. We might add Lena Ewell in Dimsie Carries On and April in Wild Goose Quest. I won't mention the many instances even in DFB - common in many writers in all periods - when the death of parents or other relatives changes the situations of young characters, especially in the 'Colmskirk' novels. Or the men wounded in war or accidents (Peter Gilmour, Kenneth Orde, Miles Haydon) I will concentrate on a small aspect of illness important for many of DFB's books; how the absence of one character because of illness or an accident may influence the situation of other characters or the plot at large. There are two main types: A: One character stepping into the place of somebody somebody absent. Type A may have either a positive or a negative impact on the school as a community. B: The absence of one character leading to difficulties in clearing up a mistake. Major Examples: The Terra-Cotta Coat: Sylvia can't clear up her misunderstandings with Mona while the latter is ill with influenza. - Type B For Mona's Sake: The death of Mona gives Daphne a chance to gradually take over her place as Sylvia's chum. - Type A The Senior Prefect/Dimsie Goes to School: the Head girl Sylvia Drummond is absent because of a sprained knee and Daphne Maitland takes her place, until Sylvia returns as 'dea-ex-machina' at half term. In the same book, the former headmistress, Miss Darrell, must leave in order to look after an old relative, leaving her successor, Miss Yorke, to face initial difficulties. The disappearance of Dimsie's mother is also very importance for this book. - Type A Dimsie Moves Up: Sylvia - the accident prone - sprains her foot and Rosamund Garth to run for her in a cricket match; Primrose Garth's influenza gives Nita Tomlinson temporarily a greater influence over Primrose's chum Meg Flynn. ? Negative Type A This also postpones the final reconciliation between Primrose and Meg. - Type B Dimsie Among the Prefects: Sylvia's illness - 'neuralgia' from overwork - is important for the plot but a bit difficult to fit into my crude cathegories. Dimsie's absence from school after her accident postpones her full information of the events at school. - Type B That Boarding School Girl: The illness of Kathleen Hallam makes it difficult for Nancy?s friends to find the truth about the latter?s first term at St.Bride?s. - Type B Nancy Returns to St. Bride's: The 'Locum', Miss Warren takes over when Miss Caldwell has a break-down - 'brain-fewer' - Negative Type A. - This book was published in 1938, 6 years before Gay from China at the Chalet School! New House Captain: Sidney Carter visits her sick younger sister, Nicola, in spite of the town being out of out of bounds because of the epidemic. Diana Stewart is isolated by mistake and Peggy Willoughby must break this isolation to make up their differrences. Type B The Best House in the School: Sidney Carter gets her chance to make good as games captain when Alice Craven has hurt her knee. ? Type A Captain Anne: Nicola Carter is removed from school by her sister Sidney because of a weak heart, which gives Miss Marlowe a chance to make her own favourite Selina Duncan house games captain - with disastrous results - until the return of Nick. - Negative Type A As seen above, the wicked successors are only temporary: Nita, Miss Warren, Selina. Please add other examples if you like, either from DFB or other writers. Question: Is DFB less 'Victorian' than EBD in spite of being 9 years older? Eva Margareta Sorry if this message comes out a bit messy, as it was sent via webmail from a busy school library<g> ------------------------------------------------- WebMail från Tele2 http://www.tele2.se ------------------------------------------------- -- ________________________________________ Girlsown mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] For self-administration and access to archives see http://home.it.net.au/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/girlsown For FAQs see http://www.club-web.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/girlsown/faq-0.htm
