Re Nicola feeling sorry for her grandmother because of losing four sons in the war: this is close to Nicola's heart. Had it been four daughters she might have felt differently!
I think the reactions of the children, Dodds and younger Marlows, are very much in keeping with the 60s as is the behaviour of the adults. For instance, I had no idea my parents were divorced and had been for several years, until, aged nine, I overheard my mother mention it to someone. We children were never actually told. I think it was assumed we'd gradually absorb it without anyone ever explaining anything.
There could be quite a gulf between adults and children and I think AF reflects this in all her books, especially RMF. Children in the 60s had more freedom and spent much of their time out of adult company which was usually considered boring. I don't find Nicola's comment surprising. Adults apparently cope with everything so why not deaths of adult children. Nicola isn't an adult in spite of her maturity in some areas, so she doesn't think like one.
Neither did I find it surprising that, in FL, the lower deck hadn't picked up anything about living at Trennels being a permanent arrangement.
However, I always thought it odd that Mrs Marlow had never let on that she'd had four brothers. After all, it's standard stuff to ask about siblings of your parents at a fairly young age.
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timeasmymeasure
Re: Mrs Clavering
Date: 2014-12-01 05:05 pm (UTC)I think the reactions of the children, Dodds and younger Marlows, are very much in keeping with the 60s as is the behaviour of the adults. For instance, I had no idea my parents were divorced and had been for several years, until, aged nine, I overheard my mother mention it to someone. We children were never actually told. I think it was assumed we'd gradually absorb it without anyone ever explaining anything.
There could be quite a gulf between adults and children and I think AF reflects this in all her books, especially RMF. Children in the 60s had more freedom and spent much of their time out of adult company which was usually considered boring. I don't find Nicola's comment surprising. Adults apparently cope with everything so why not deaths of adult children. Nicola isn't an adult in spite of her maturity in some areas, so she doesn't think like one.
Neither did I find it surprising that, in FL, the lower deck hadn't picked up anything about living at Trennels being a permanent arrangement.
However, I always thought it odd that Mrs Marlow had never let on that she'd had four brothers. After all, it's standard stuff to ask about siblings of your parents at a fairly young age.