Jack Maynard
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#1: Jack Maynard Author: Josie, Location: London PostPosted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 7:03 am

Please discuss Jack here. Was he really a SLOC, or a typical EBD overbearing doctor? Was he right to dose Joey so often? How do you see his relationship with his kids?

 

#2:  Author: jennifer, Location: Sunny California PostPosted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 10:05 pm

I think that by modern standards, I'd find Jack somewhat overbearing, but by the standards of that time, he's not bad. He certainly comes across as much nicer than Jem.

Some of the glimpses we see of his relationship to Joey are very nice - particularly in "Jo to the Rescue". They seem to have an easygoing, teasing relationship, and to genuinely be friends as well as spouses. Jack also shows some of this with the triplets, particularlry in the Swiss books, where he's actively involved in what they are doing, and affectionate with them.

On the other hand, it's when he goes into autocratic doctor mode that he's the least likeable. He does seem overly protective of Joey, restricting her to bed, dosing her without telling her, keeping inform information from her to keep her from getting over excited. If some one drugged my drink without telling me there'd be charges laid, even if they were a doctor, or a relative!

For example, I can see not giving her the full story of Margot and Ted's dust up when she was in labour, or just out of childbirth, but refusing to tell her at all, even when she knew something was up, is patronising. She's an adult woman, and mother of eleven children, not a child, and deserves to know what's going on with her children. The persistent coddling of Joey could explain a lot of her traits.

His treatment of the children when he's angry is disturbing. After the Margot and Ted affair, he basically shuns Margot for a week or two, refusing to so much as speak to her, and when Mike misbehaves at the beginning of "Joey and Co in Tyrol" he is so angry he refuses to speak to him, for fear of what he might do, and is essentially planning to exile his seriously upset child for the entire summer, when this is basically the only time other than Chrismas when the kid gets to see his family! That sounds like a great way to teach a child that when they misbehave, their parents don't love them, and borders on emotional abuse.

 

#3:  Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 10:41 pm

jennifer wrote:
His treatment of the children when he's angry is disturbing.


Agreed. And yet he's so good with Margot in Rescue that it seems odd he can't manage her when she's older as well.

jennifer wrote:
After the Margot and Ted affair, he basically shuns Margot for a week or two, refusing to so much as speak to her, and when Mike misbehaves at the beginning of "Joey and Co in Tyrol" he is so angry he refuses to speak to him, for fear of what he might do, and is essentially planning to exile his seriously upset child for the entire summer, when this is basically the only time other than Chrismas when the kid gets to see his family!


I firmly believe that this is how EBD thinks men must behave when they are truly furious, as it's exactly what Jem does with Sybil after Josette's accident. It makes me wonder if the men in EBD's life did this.

 

#4:  Author: Ruth, Location: Physically: Lincolnshire, England. Inwardly: The Scottish Highlands PostPosted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 9:12 am

Jack Maynard is my favourite. He comes over as more friendly and approachable than Jem. I like the glimpses we get of Jack's relationship with Joey and the children.

I think Jack probably found it easier to manage Margot when she was younger than when she is really growing up.

I think Jack is quite right to send Joey to bed and dose her without her knowing - remember Joey has an aversion to taking medicine and bed rest!

 

#5:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 12:50 pm

KB wrote:
jennifer wrote:
After the Margot and Ted affair, he basically shuns Margot for a week or two, refusing to so much as speak to her, and when Mike misbehaves at the beginning of "Joey and Co in Tyrol" he is so angry he refuses to speak to him, for fear of what he might do, and is essentially planning to exile his seriously upset child for the entire summer, when this is basically the only time other than Chrismas when the kid gets to see his family!

I firmly believe that this is how EBD thinks men must behave when they are truly furious, as it's exactly what Jem does with Sybil after Josette's accident. It makes me wonder if the men in EBD's life did this.

Alternatively, she may have seen too many violent reactions, and seriously considered Jack's/Jem's approach a positive alternative. I have to agree that this is NOT one of their more endearing traits, however. Using the "I am too angry to discuss this right now" strategy is fine for a short interval, but letting it drag on for weeks? And not even explaining that much to the child?

 

#6:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 1:49 pm

I'm inclined to agree with Kathy that EBD probably thought she was writing quite progressive men. I didn't like the way Jack withdrew from his children when they did wrong or stupid things but I wonder if he knew much about their everyday naughtiness? You still hear mothers saying "If you don't behave, I'll tell your father." even today, casting them in the role of enforcer.

Also we only see the menfolk when the storyline requires it - we get little everyday snippets about their wives 'running gaily up the stairs to the nursery', coming and going between the school and home, dealing with household matters (including sock darning!) but the men are defined by their work at the San so they only impinge on family life when things go wrong or they are required to drive the expanding car for holidays.

There are little snippets, like in rescue, where Jack is obviously on easy terms with everyone and gets teased and Sybil lets slip that Jem was teased as well, then, in Adrienne, he tells Jo there is always room for one more - which I thought was lovely but they are rarely central to the story, except in a professional capacity.

Nowadays, I wish she had written more about the menfolk but, as a child, I had no real interest in them at all so didn't feel the lack.

 

#7:  Author: hpdeskjette, Location: S'pore PostPosted: Thu Apr 28, 2005 3:41 am

Kathy_S wrote:
KB wrote:
jennifer wrote:
After the Margot and Ted affair, he basically shuns Margot for a week or two, refusing to so much as speak to her, and when Mike misbehaves at the beginning of "Joey and Co in Tyrol" he is so angry he refuses to speak to him, for fear of what he might do, and is essentially planning to exile his seriously upset child for the entire summer, when this is basically the only time other than Chrismas when the kid gets to see his family!

I firmly believe that this is how EBD thinks men must behave when they are truly furious, as it's exactly what Jem does with Sybil after Josette's accident. It makes me wonder if the men in EBD's life did this.

Alternatively, she may have seen too many violent reactions, and seriously considered Jack's/Jem's approach a positive alternative. I have to agree that this is NOT one of their more endearing traits, however. Using the "I am too angry to discuss this right now" strategy is fine for a short interval, but letting it drag on for weeks? And not even explaining that much to the child?


My father used to do that to me all the time when I misbehaved badly... He would just ignore me until he stopped being angry... Very cruel to a child, but I must say it was an effective way of discipline!! I would be on best behaviour for weeks and weeks after that!!

That aside, I love Jack Maynard!! Nothing like a masterful man! (Yes I love Jem Russell too!!) I'd rather one of them anyday than the sensitive new age guys that seem to be all the rage nowadays (wimps I call them... no offence to anyone who prefers SNAGs... just an odd personal preference...)

EBD has ruined my life!

 

#8:  Author: Kitty,  PostPosted: Fri Apr 29, 2005 8:56 am

I don't think Jack is overbearing, at least not as much as Jem. Jem seems to become stuffier as the series continues and he accumulates more career prestige. Jack's character is more relaxed (although the 'doctor still knows best' attitude is consistent throughout).

It always amused me that Madge was worried that the girls might swoon over Plato before she hires him, yet as the series continues the school is closely associated with young doctors at the San and Dr Jack next door but nobody worries about teenage crushes on them. Laughing

 

#9:  Author: Kate, Location: Ireland PostPosted: Fri Apr 29, 2005 9:52 am

I think Madge was worried about Plato particularly because he was "romantic looking" - no tie and long hair.

As for Jack - I always thought that his reactions with his children were the reactions of a man with a temper - ie he knows he can't control himself to react in a proper and disciplined manner, so he ignores them until he has cooled off. I think Jack and Margot are very alike, so that would make a lot of sense - the only fly in the ointment is that I think EBD said somewhere that he had no temper at all, but what does she know?!

I *love* him in Rescue, where he starts reminding me of Julian Lucy (LUFFLUFFLUFF) and throughout most of the rest of the series, but there are places when he becomes a little too like Jem for my taste.

hpdeskjette wrote:
Nothing like a masterful man! (Yes I love Jem Russell too!!) I'd rather one of them anyday than the sensitive new age guys that seem to be all the rage nowadays (wimps I call them... no offence to anyone who prefers SNAGs... just an odd personal preference...)

I agree, I must say. Although I'm still firmly in the Julian Lucy camp. I could go with Jem or Jack if the ocasion called, however.

 

#10:  Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Fri Apr 29, 2005 1:00 pm

Kate wrote:
As for Jack - I always thought that his reactions with his children were the reactions of a man with a temper - ie he knows he can't control himself to react in a proper and disciplined manner, so he ignores them until he has cooled off. I think Jack and Margot are very alike, so that would make a lot of sense - the only fly in the ointment is that I think EBD said somewhere that he had no temper at all, but what does she know?!


I think it was Jo who said this and she may well have been blind to her husband's imperfections. EBD may have been casting a rather knowing wink at her audience in having Jo disavow her husband's obvious temper.

 

#11:  Author: Róisín, Location: Galway, Eire PostPosted: Mon May 30, 2005 8:23 pm

Hmmm I think Jack is tall, incredibly good-looking, strong, sensitive, funny.... but I do agree that I would have found him quite patronising sometimes. He and I would have probably had a fiery relationship as I don't see him backing down when he thought/knew he was right.

I would take him definitely over Jem. Jem starts out lovely then quickly turns middleaged and stuffy. And, I like to think, fattish. Razz

 

#12:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England PostPosted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 2:17 pm

I loved reading the interaction between Joey and Jack. They seemed to be really made for each other. I have tried looking to see if there was anything between them in earlier books than 'The Chalet School in Exile' but there doesn't seem to be any chemistry.

 

#13:  Author: joelle, Location: lancashire, england PostPosted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 4:57 pm

it seems only afterwards that they interact together well. beforehand there is nothing between them to hint - at least not that i can see except the stuff about jack liking her and marie (?) dropping hints

 

#14:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England PostPosted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 5:52 pm

They can get along well and tease each other which I think helps keep their relationship strong.

 

#15:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 11:05 pm

I do like Jack, and love the bits we see of his relationship with Jo.

He would be brought up in the 'Doctor knows best' era and as that continued for many years I can see why he behaved the way he did. It took us many years to get my gran to ask her doctor questions about her treatment as she was of this era and wouldn't question anything the Doctor said.

 

#16:  Author: delilah_siren, Location: Sydney, Australia PostPosted: Mon Jun 20, 2005 10:44 am

there is possibly interest from Jack in camp, but it's kinda hard to tell.
In the part where Joey is talking about not wanting to grow up:
"Dr Jack looked at her curiously. 'You'll have to grow up some day Joey.'"

Admittedly, that could mean anything.... but the looking at her curiously COULD poss be that he's starting to think of her in a grown up way....

And also there is Gillian, but since it's a fill-in I guess it doesn't count as much

 

#17:  Author: Róisín, Location: Galway, Eire PostPosted: Mon Jun 20, 2005 11:00 am

It's hindsight, but I saw that in Camp too and agree with you, Delilah. Also, the bit when Joey is 15 going on 16 and he "curtly" summons her to the Sonnalpe when Madge has been in birth difficulties with David. Utterly hindsight and my smutty mind reading into things...

 

#18:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England PostPosted: Mon Jun 20, 2005 11:17 am

delilah_siren wrote:
And also there is Gillian, but since it's a fill-in I guess it doesn't count as much


What about Gillian?

 

#19:  Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Mon Jun 20, 2005 2:24 pm

I have also always taken the fact that Jack brought Jo to the station to pick up Gillian and Joyce in Lintons as meaning something.

And Clare, in Gillian, Jo talks to Jack about marriage (not between them!) and he gives her a picture of Rufus for her to take to India.

 

#20:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England PostPosted: Mon Jun 20, 2005 2:25 pm

I'm afraid I haven't read the book 'Gillian'. Did Jack want to marry Gillian then before he proposed to Joey?

 

#21:  Author: Kirsty, Location: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Mon Jun 20, 2005 2:43 pm

No, Joey had been having trouble with another doctor at the San (way too pushy & rather ill-mannered) and just before she left for India she & Jack had the conversation that KB mentioned. Chapter 10 - Jo & Robin Depart. Or if it's not the one you mean KB, it's another one along similar lines. At the end of it
Quote:
In an instant he was gone, leaving Jo alone. Jack was immersed in medical matters for the next three hours, but when he was able to snatch a few minutes’ respite, he retired to his office to contemplate his conversation with Jo. The persistent feeling of unhappiness he had endured during the past six months or so had all but evaporated and at last he understood the cause of it. No more could he disregard his true feelings. He knew that they have to remain unspoken for some time to come, but at least now he had reason to be hopeful for the future and he was prepared to wait.


And there's another line somewhere (darn brain is failing!) that mentions in passing how Jack has noticed Jo growing up. And it's not the one from Camp. Right, train reading for the next few days trying to track it down.

 

#22:  Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Mon Jun 20, 2005 10:59 pm

Kirsty wrote:
Chapter 10 - Jo & Robin Depart. Or if it's not the one you mean KB, it's another one along similar lines.


Nope, that's the one!

 

#23:  Author: Elisabeth,  PostPosted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 10:02 pm

I've always liked Jack, especially in Exile and Rescue. His authoratative doctor attitude doesn't bother me in the least because I LIKE the way he always knows what to do and takes care of everyone and everything.

 

#24:  Author: keren, Location: Israel PostPosted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 10:59 am

delilah_siren wrote:
there is possibly interest from Jack in camp, but it's kinda hard to tell.
In the part where Joey is talking about not wanting to grow up:
"Dr Jack looked at her curiously. 'You'll have to grow up some day Joey.'"

Admittedly, that could mean anything.... but the looking at her curiously COULD poss be that he's starting to think of her in a grown up way....

And also there is Gillian, but since it's a fill-in I guess it doesn't count as much


In camp there is a place where he specicially says that he knew what she meant to him. (I will lookk it up later at home to quote it specifially)

 

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