Nicola's feelings for Patrick

[nickwhit.livejournal.com]

Picking up on a comment in an earlier post that Nicola only regarded Patrick as a friend, I rather thought it evolved into more than that - certainly by RAH when Nicola wants to look special at the Merricks' New Year party; and is delighted when Patrick asks her to dance with him 'practically continuously'. And even at the end of RMF, I took the last page about Nicola understanding Persuasion far more than Ginty knew to refer to her feelings for Patrick. (But it's a long time since I read Persuasion.) Whaddya think?

Comments

Re: Patrick, Nicola, etc.

[antfan.livejournal.com]

I agree its not especially surprising that she could write sympathetic non-catholic characters. However, like ooxc below, I was actually very surprised when I discovered, having loved the books for years, that she was an ardent catholic herself. And I suspect that is because her most sympathetic characters in my view...Nicola, Nick, Will Shakespeare, Rowan, Miranda sort-of - are all portrayed as skeptics. Even leaving aside the thorny issue of Patrick, Mme Orly, Kinky and Mrs Merrick are not exactly lovely are they? I suppose the Anthony Merricks are smpathetic but they are fairly minor characters. And religious piety in the shape of Ann doesn't get a very positive portrayal either.

It's odd, I think. Interesting certainly. I don't know whether it simply shows that AF was such a great writer that she transcended her own allegiances/world view in writing her characters. Or maybe it was to do with her own experience of having stood within different religions, and later fallen out of line with the Catholic Church herself. Either way its a fascinating part of the books - a more nuanced treatment of religious issues than I can think of in any other childrens' book.