I love the portrayal of Miss Redmond (and of the staff generally). I think it was the first time I had ever encountered a teacher in literature who was not an all-knowing fount of wisdom, adored by her pupils, or (the other extreme) completely feeble and contemptible. It was such a revelation to me to read about a teacher as a flawed individual, with clear prejudices and grudges, exactly like the teachers I encountered in my own schools. It was also liberating to begin viewing teachers in that light.
The scene of Nicola trying to explain her and Lawrie's decision not to rejoin the Guide company is excruciating in its accuracy. Well done to Nicola for managing to get her point across. I'm afraid I would have been much more like Lawrie in that situation, struck dumb and scarlet. In fact, I probably would have agreed to rejoin Guides (and loathed every minute of it thereafter) because I wouldn't have had the strength to stand up to someone like Redmond. I love Nicola's confidence and uncowedness.
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timeasmymeasure
Re: Miss Redmond
Date: 2014-08-31 04:54 pm (UTC)The scene of Nicola trying to explain her and Lawrie's decision not to rejoin the Guide company is excruciating in its accuracy. Well done to Nicola for managing to get her point across. I'm afraid I would have been much more like Lawrie in that situation, struck dumb and scarlet. In fact, I probably would have agreed to rejoin Guides (and loathed every minute of it thereafter) because I wouldn't have had the strength to stand up to someone like Redmond. I love Nicola's confidence and uncowedness.