Peter

[jackmerlin.livejournal.com]

This was mentioned in the last thread but two,but I thought I'd start a new one rather than add on an old. Is Peter a "poor copy" of Giles? We see him so much more from the inside whereas apart from a few lines at the end of RAH we never see Giles except from the outside. Peter has fears obviously but makes a point of making himself do the things he fears.And he is of course at the age of teenage insecurities etc.
I sometimes feel Peter's 'tragedy' is that he seems to have the potential to be a good teacher or farmer,(just to give two examples) but will end up in the Navy because it's the family tradition, and therefore is almost as limited in his life choices as the girls.Not that he won't do well in the Navy, I'm sure.

Comments

[antfan.livejournal.com]

I always think of Peter as fairly competent (!) I think because I'm much more familiar with the later books. In Peter's Room - well, he falls off a horse, having maybe jumped too many fences, but deals with his broken collar bone in a stoical manner. (And he's much more sensible about Gondal than Ginty/Patrick). In Thuggery Affair he deals with the Thugs in a fairly impressive manner - eg turfing them all in the river at one point. In Ready Made Family he helps Nicola rescue the younger Dodds from drowning and train crashes.

Not such a bad record!

Maybe he's growing up and becoming more competent as the books progress? Either way I like him tonnes better than Giles, who just reminds me of various arrogant public school types I've encountered over the years...

[jackmerlin.livejournal.com]

Oh good, someone to Peter's defence. I always liked Peter, and was a bit taken aback by all the anti-Peter comments.

[antfan.livejournal.com]

To me his very human weaknesses (er, exactly who wouldn't be scared shitless jumping five bar gates, climbing across sheer cliff faces - surely anyone sensible) make him more likeable. And maybe he should say straight out he's scared, but that's not easy when you've hordes of (in some cases younger) sisters jumping and climbing same. Giles and Patrick, with their "born to boss" masterful ways are the ones that get on my wick.

[tabithabun.livejournal.com]

Me too! I find him charming, I like the way he stands up to Edwin, I love his warmth with Fob (can't imagine Rowan or Giles bothering about such a young child). His Mummerset accent makes me laugh, he can be hilarious (e.g. to Patrick in RAH when he asks if he can be in his gang to take over the world), he struggles against his fears and insecurities and seems pretty hurt by Patrick's abandonment of him for Ginty/Nicola. I like the way he is manipulative enough to get out of his chores and nick the bathroom from under Lawrie's nose but there's no malice in him. Must be hard to be the younger brother to Giles who seems to be worshipped by all the others, parents included. I would put him near the top of my own Marlow Liking List.

saving the Dodds from drowning...

[tosomja.livejournal.com]

But his first response when he sees them climbing on the boat is to go off and have a ride by himself on top of the cliff, assuming Nicola will sort everything out! Seems a bit avoidant to me, and certainly not very responsible. Also, Nicola's response (something like 'Nicola bit back a response', can't remember exactly) indicates this isn't an unusual way for him to behave in a crisis.