November 23, 2007 by Ana T.
In this 3rd episode, Margaret is getting used to Milton and its people’s ways. The death of her mother will bring big changes to her life but the departure of her brother will lead to a big misunderstanding between her and John Thornton. Do you blame Margaret for not telling him about her brother or did you admire her integrity in keeping the secret even when her reputation was at stake?
Alex
Ana T.
Ana O.
Most of our reviews are written between the three of us. Nothing like three crazy heads working to get things right. Some are also individual but we still employ the 3rd person to stay into our original concept.
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There are actually 2 things that shake Thornton’s admiration for Margaret. One is that he saw her with a man at the train station and the other is that he knows she lied to the police about it.
I think Margaret didn’t want to tell Thornton the truth because she would betray her brother’s secret and risk his life. She could have told him after Fred was safely in Spain though….She was also very proud and probably didn’t want to explain her actions that she feels are wrong but not as other people see them (that’s what she tells Hannah Thornton at least).
Of course Thornton, being Thornton, tells her his foolish passion for her is over so the time for confidences and more intimate conversations is over…
I have one question, when Margaret and John meet at the Grand Exhibition he tells her: “I have presumed to know you once before and have been mistaken.”
What do you think he means?
For me me situation is rather complicated… I can understand why she didn’t tell John but, at the same time, why didn’t she say something before he could assume the worst of her?!! You are right Ana T., Margaret is also very proud and independent, so I don’t think she even thought about giving him any explanations, especially because they didn’t had any real connection. An impetuous man like Thornton, who also had his heart broken, could only think the worst when she saw her in the arms of that handsome young man.
I’ve been thinking about the phrase and I really need to see the serie again (good excuse, huh?
). Now, I’m intrigued…
No that I think about it, I’m not quite sure why Margaret didn’t tell Thornton. I think that this is another bit where the series differs from the book. I’m not sure of the timing, but did Margaret know for sure that Fred was safe at the time that she and Thornton had that conversation?
About the phrase, I thought he referred to when he proposed marraige to her?
You are right Dee in the series between Thornton seeing Margaret at the station and the foolish passion scene there’s no mention of Fred so we can assume she didn’t know. I’m getting book and series confused.
Regarding the phrase I had presumed Thornton felt duty bound to propose, not because he thought she loved him or that he knew her feelings. That’s why I was wondering…
Ola Ana T,
Yes, on reflection, I think you’re right – that he did propose out of duty. Or is it that he thought to propose out of honour and duty, but after speaking with his mother believed her about Margaret having feelings for him, and that’s what led to the comment? I don’t know…
I thought he meant he presumed to know her feelings when she came out to defend him at the riot, but then she dashed his hopes when he proposed.
I think Margaret still hasn’t ‘owned up’ to her feelings for him yet. That’s why she isn’t telling him. I don’t think it’s until he convinces the policeman not to go through with the inquest that she begins to realize how deep her feelings run. And by this time it’s too late to tell Thornton. He’s too hurt and he feels too betrayed to listen to her.
And I sigh every time I watch the scene when he comes and tells his mother that she turned him down, that nobody but his mother loves him and that he thinks he loves her more than ever.
Also – this is a point where I really don’t care for his mother. I have two sons that have both been hurt by women. I would NEVER tell them that I hate the women who hurt them. I may think it, but I think it would only add to their pain if I were to say something like that. Not to mention – they might get back with them and then I’ve left that dangling between us. Also – to tell him that a mothers love lasts for ever, but a girls love doesn’t (or something to that effect) is so wrong to me. I’m HOPING and PRAYING that both my sons meet a good woman who will love them.
Kristie,
It’s very interesting to have the perspective of a mother over those scenes with Thornton and his mother. I don’t have children so I cannot fully understand that powerful and blind love she seems to have for him. She was clearly convinced that Margaret was in love for her son and would never reject him. At her eyes, no one could! She wasn’t glad about it but she wanted him to be happy.
We can feel that’s very hard for Hannah to share her John with another woman but I think she feels more threatened because she knows there’s love involved. I doubt she would care if Anna Latimer was courted by John.
Dee,
Since I thought he proposed out of duty I found that comment odd but that seems to be the only explanation. I wish Fanny hadn’t interrupted them… that Fanny was a bit annoying!!!
Kristie(j)
I think she shows some feelings in the Exhibition too when she approaches where he is and looks at him. But they never seem to be able to have a decent conversation about their feelings. I think she forces a conversation after he has helped her with the policeman because then she the excuse of wanting to thanking him. But you’re right, by then he doesn’t want to listen.
I hadn’t thought of a mother’s feelings like that but you’re right of course. It was badly done of her. But what I like the most of their mother and son conversations is how we get to know John though them. How he defends Margaret to his mother after she has rejected him and feels even more deeply in love is, to me, a proof of his noble character. I starting to think you maybe be spot on when you said earlier she would be a difficult mother in law (or something along those lines…).
*chuckle* I think deep inside, Hannah would never think Margaret was good enough for her son. If Thornton had married Anne for example, Hannah would have been fine with that because she would know John didn’t love all that much and she would still be the number one woman in his life, but if he married Margaret, Hannah would be replaced because John loves Margaret so deeply and I think she (Hannah) would be very threatened by that.
I don’t think Hannah has that much love for Fannie – all her love is focused on John.
HOWEVER if she truly believes that Margaret loves John as much as he deserves to be loved – then things might be alright. But *heh heh* I would advise John to not have the two of them live in the same house.
lol oh yes, separate houses please!! These 2 women do seem to have a lot in common don’t they? They are both headstrong, passionate about those they love and what they believe in, hardworkers… yep, I do see some similarities!
ROFL Yep, they both have too similar tempers to be living in the same house.
I do agree with you, Kristie. If Hannah believes Margaret is the one meant for John, I do think she will be happy as well.
There are lots of fanfic stories online and some of them do show Margaret and Hannah living in the same house. I know you enjoy the P&P sequels Alex so you might find these interesting
I’m going to have a look! Thanks for letting me know, Ana T.