puzzled

[iconoclam.livejournal.com]

I know I'm probably missing something completely obvious, but I'm just about as puzzled as Ginty was by Mrs. Lambert's reaction to her comment, "but I suppose you could say we make up for the people who don't have any children" in The Attic Term. Why is the Lambert so offended?

Newbie trennels member here, by the way. I'm thrilled to have found this community, since I've never actually met anyone else who's even heard of Antonia Forest, let alone is fascinated with her work. I've read only the school stories so far, but I'm hoping to get my hands on copies of her other books sometime soon.

Comments

[tabouli.livejournal.com]

I've always assumed it's that the Lambert takes Ginty's comment personally, being a childless middle-aged woman. The dour fragility of the Lambert and level of offence at the comment hints at a personal tragedy of some kind relating to the absent Mr Lambert (as Ginty herself speculates later). Perhaps he left her for another woman because she couldn't bear children, or got another woman pregnant?

[ankaret.livejournal.com]

Yes, I always assumed that she had desperately wanted children and been unable to have them, with a side order of 'and it's not nice for a child of your age to be so flip and knowing about infertility, as it implies you've been thinking about sex'.

Welcome, iconoclam - I love your icon.

[iconoclam.livejournal.com]

Thank. My cat's a genius when it comes to sitting on things I'm trying to read.

[rosathome.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think that's basically it. The Lambert's point is that no matter how many children other people have it doesn't make up for the children she might have wanted but couldn't have. Though Ginty's statement may be true on a national level, it's certainly not on a personal level.

If you're looking for the non-school stories, try ebay. And Girls Gone By still has copies of the Thuggery Affair and Players Boy.

[sollersuk.livejournal.com]

In the 1950s and 1960s in particular there was a view that there were two groups of irresponsible couples: those who had no children, and therefore were self-centred and parasitic on the children of others, and those who had too many children, and therefore were irresponsible and libidinous. Both groups tended to be very defensive, particularly when confronted with the other.