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Romance: Jo of the Chalet School
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Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Sun Mar 28, 2010 9:05 am ]
Post subject:  Romance: Jo of the Chalet School
Welcome to this week's discussion, focusing on the theme of romance within 'Jo of the Chalet School'. Thankyou to the New Chalet Club for their synopsis of the book, taken from here.

Joey Bettany is eager for the second term at the Chalet School, founded by her elder sister in the beautiful Tyrolean Alps, to begin. And when Madge and Miss Maynard come back from Innsbruck with a very new pupil, all of Joey's protective instincts are awakened, for little Robin Humphries is only six years old, and the motherless little girl soon wins the hearts of the whole school.

With the winter drawing in, the girls are eager to know how they will fill the cold months, and folk dancing and the school magazine are taken up with enthusiasm. Joey, voted to be editoress, is particularly preoccupied, and when she disappears it is assumed that she has sought a quiet place to work on her editorial. But a search of the school proves fruitless and Madge is at her wits end until a frantic Joey reappears, bringing with her a new addition to the family.

The girls soon forget this latest escapade in the excitement of the arrival of the new singing master - Plato is like no one they have known before, and Joey is distracted from the latest prank of the Middles when her sister is unwell, and then her own carelessness leads to much worry for Madge in turn. Still more excitement when the first issue of the Chaletian arrives, leaving more than one of its young contributors sure where their future lies. The term ends in grand style with the performance of the first Nativity Play, 'The Youngest Shepherd'.

The Bettanys and Robin then spend a magical Christmas in Innsbruck.

The new term at the Chalet is full of excitement; there is to be an ice carnival on the Tiernsee and they girls hope to be able to go. And when Madge declares it unsuitable, some of her pupils are determined to have their fun, with nearly tragic consequences.

Danger is on hand from more natural causes too; the Robin falls into the mill stream tearing down to the lake and then the girls are woken from their sleep by the sounds of flood waters crashing around the Chalet.

But not all of the excitements are unpleasant; Grizel Cochrane returns to school late, following the death of her grandmother, full of the Girl Guide movement and nothing will do but the girls must start a company of their own.

It is an exciting term for Joey on a more personal level too; laid up in bed as the result of her own disobedience she embarks on writing an Elsie book. And with the term drawing to a close, she finds that a story of hers has won a competition. For Joey, this settles things and she announces, "I'm going to start right in now and be an AUTHORESS".

The final excitement for Joey, however, comes from Madge herself, when she announces news that will change both their lives forever.

The first romance that we hear of in the book is the relationship of Ted and Marya Humphries, Robin's parents. Through Madge, we learn that they were very happy together, but that Marya soon died from consumption, leaving behind her tiny daughter. We are told that they lived a simple life, and only realised what was going to happen the evening before it did. How did you feel about this relationship? Was it well portrayed?

The main romance in the book is, of course, that between Madge and Jem. We get some hints of it during the chapter on the flood, including:

Quote:
‘I wish Dr Jem were here!’ sighed Jo. ‘I can’t think why he should be at Innsbruck just when we need him most!’

‘Be quick, child,’ said her sister gently. ‘Help Robin, and dress yourself.’

‘But don’t you wish he was here, Madge?’ persisted Joey as she began to put on the Robin’s stockings.

Madge blushed, and shook her head. ‘I must go,’ she said; and left them to dress.


and in particular at the end:

Quote:
Joey’s eyes were growing heavy. Her long lashes fell on to her cheeks. ‘Madge, dearest,’ she murmured drowsily, ‘oh, I do so love you! I hope—I—hope—Dr Jem—’

There was no more. She was asleep.

As for Madge, she literally bolted into bed and lay awake for ages, thinking and day-dreaming before she, too, dropped off, to dream no more.


Then, at the end of the book, Madge announces her engagement to Joey and Robin:

Quote:
‘Coo! Won’t he be lonely?’ queried Jo with interest.

A little smile edged Madge’s lips. ‘At first he may. But it won’t be for long. You see, he’s going to be married.’

Joey stood stock-still in the middle of the path. ‘Married! Who to? Oh! How absolutely rotten of him!’

‘Joey!’ Madge fairly gasped.

‘Well, it is! Oh, he is a mean! I just hate him!’ And Joey turned and walked on, frowning heavily.

‘Joey!’ Madge’s voice was sharp with dismay. ‘Why, I thought you liked him so much!’

‘I did! I don’t now! I think he’s a pig! I’ll never speak to him again!’

‘But Joey, why?’ Madge was so much upset that she forgot to scold Jo for unparliamentary language.

‘To go and get married! To a beastly stranger!’

The elder girl’s face relaxed. ‘Oh! But—but—it isn’t a stranger, Joey dear!’

Jo looked up sharply. Then the slow colour flushed her face. ‘Madge!’

‘Yes, Joey!’ Madge’s eyes were starry, and she looked lovely as she smiled at her little sister. ‘You won’t hate him, Joey dear, when he is—your brother!’


Do you like Madge and Jem? Is their romance written well in this book, and does it seem natural to you? As a child, did you pick up on the hints? Do you think it likely that Joey would have realised how Madge and Jem felt about each other, as is hinted at earlier, or are these mere throwaway comments and she doesn't realise? (Sorry, that was a slightly confused sentence!) Why do you think EBD chose to write about a romance not only in a GO story, but for her headmistress?

Please discuss these and any other issues, related to the theme of romance or any other aspect of the book, below. Next week: Religious Spirit: Goes To It.
Author:  JB [ Sun Mar 28, 2010 10:08 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Romance: Jo of the Chalet School
The romance between Madge and Jem is my favourite in the series. He doesn’t fall in love with her at first sight, when he rescues her from the train crash (or if he does, he keeps it quiet) and, when they meet again in Jo Of, their relationship develops in a natural way over several months. I can’t remember how I felt about it as a child because, having read some of the later books first, I already knew that Madge and Jem married.

I find Joey’s gentle teasing and understanding of the situation perfectly realistic. She’s very close to her sister and has been used to taking part in family discussions, and, at this stage of the series, she really is perceptive. I like the interaction between Madge and Joey here. It seems very natural, more so than in some of EBD’s other books. It really irritates me in The Maids of La Rochelle when Elizabeth and Anne each turn down a proposal, yet they’re too ladylike to mention the subject to each other and don't seem to have noticed what's happening with the other.

I think Joey is lovely here – she isn’t jealous of Jem and she’s happy for Madge. Later on, her unhappiness at the thought of not being with Madge day to day is also handled well.

There are other GO stories of the time which have romance in them but I find it interesting that EBD has Madge start the CS, become engaged in the following book and married in the one after. I can’t think of any parallels in other books. Occasionally, Head Mistresses marry and the plot is about how the school copes with the new Head. At this stage in the series, I don’t find the CS typical school stories; they have a much greater “family” element to them. I really don’t believe she saw Madge as a career-woman in any way, rather someone who was forced by circumstance to work and who now has her happy ending. Perhaps there’s an element of wish fulfilment here too. I think there’s a big difference between how we read this today and how EBD saw it in the 1920s.

The Humphries’ romance is sad but I can’t it particularly affects me. It’s so like a lot of other, old-fashioned “back story” romances EBD tells and it’s too saccharine for my taste.

All in all, this is one of my favourite books in the series
Author:  RoseCloke [ Sun Mar 28, 2010 10:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Romance: Jo of the Chalet School
I liked the romance between Jem and Madge, but I always thought it was rather too convenient - he was always in the right place at the right time! Doesn't he also turn up during the ice skating incident? Why was he on that part of the lake - when the fun is elsewhere - walking in the dark? (Maybe he had secret smuggling connections through the alps and the San was a money-laundering operation! :lol: )

I do wonder, looking back, how much time they would have had to spend together before he proposed. She was the proprietor of a school, the term was full of drama and he was setting up the San. I suppose there's the illness of various girls, when they have some time together, but for Madge that must have been very stressful - not optimum husband-meeting conditions! They couldn't be chaperoned at the theatre or at the Kron Prinz Karl... or would it have been acceptable at that time for them to go by themselves? Jem is (I think) a little bit older than Madge and, at twenty four (?), Madge is hardly an 'innocent girl needing protection/supervision'.
Author:  JB [ Sun Mar 28, 2010 10:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Romance: Jo of the Chalet School
RoseCloke wrote:
(Maybe he had secret smuggling connections through the alps and the San was a money-laundering operation! :lol: )


Very likely. He was about to meet his Afrikaans speaking contact when he tripped over Joey. He had to marry Madge because he was worried she was suspicious about him and, as his wife, she wouldn't be able to testify against him.

I think he was carrying a set of Elsie books around Europe because they were necessary for code-breaking. Well, only of them was, but he was carrying the whole set as it was less suspicious.
Author:  sealpuppy [ Sun Mar 28, 2010 3:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Romance: Jo of the Chalet School
RoseCloke wrote:
Why was he on that part of the lake - when the fun is elsewhere - walking in the dark?


He was just mooning about on the ice, gazing sentimentally at the chalet and whispering: 'Oh, Miss Bettany! Oh, Miss Bettany!' (Because of course he was utterly respectful and the sacred name of Madge, never crossed his lips till she said Yes.) He also deliberately tried to trip one of the girls so he could stage a gallant rescue, but didn't intend it to be Joey.
Author:  Alison H [ Sun Mar 28, 2010 6:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Romance: Jo of the Chalet School
I love this book :D . I love Christmas in Innsbruck, and I find Madge and Jem's romance very plausible and very sweet. I particularly like the bit when Joey thinks Jem has got engaged to someone else and gets upset because she thinks he's perfect for Madge!

I'd love to know what Ted Humphries' job in Leningrad was, and I think it was awful that he was prepared to dump his 6-year-old kid on a complete stranger (he didn't know who Madge was at first) :( .
Author:  Cosimo's Jackal [ Mon Mar 29, 2010 8:42 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Romance: Jo of the Chalet School
JB wrote:

I really don’t believe she saw Madge as a career-woman in any way, rather someone who was forced by circumstance to work and who now has her happy ending.


I agree. I think she's very carefully repositioning Madge from school Head/single career woman, via (mostly) offstage romance, to Fulfilled Married Woman. I mean, I do think EBD also has some second thoughts about it, and gives hints of Madge's suppressed regret at having to leave her school, but this is a majorly happy ending, and probably rather more radical in its day than we can imagine.

Madge has, presumably, by the standards of her time and class, taken herself off the marriage market, declined going to India (where she could easily have married 'well') and set herself up for a very different kind of life for her sister's sake. Possibly, in going to live and start a business in a remote part of a foreign country - where she's unlikely to meet anyone suitable - with very little money and lots of organisational cares, Madge was consciously ruling out the chance of marriage altogether. But EBD rewards her with a big marital prize - major wish fulfilment there, I think. I mean, barring EBD's interest in throwing people together via accidents, what are the chances of Madge meeting anyone marriagable at the Tiernsee, where she never goes out socially?

I do like what we see of their romance, though I'm no fan at all of Jem after their marriage. The one thing I wonder about is Joey's wholly, very sweetly enthusiastic approach to their relationship and engagement, given that a year or two later, she's very wistful and reluctant to countenance any of her friends marrying, and hostile to the idea of marriage as 'taking people away'. I would have said that by any standards, it's a difficult moment for Joey. Madge is the only mother she's ever known, they've never been parted, and things will never be quite the same after her marriage - and I don't think Joey is old enough at this point to be able to think about the marital prospects Madge gave up for her, or to assume her sister might want things other than a flourishing school.

I assume EBD had to make Joey enthusiastic about Madge and Jem (even though I do think it's out of character), because Madge would never have married if Joey was made completely miserable by the idea, and EBD didn't want the Madge-Jem romance spoiled by Joey's unhappiness or reluctance. So we get this slightly unlikely exchange where you basically get Joey being the one to say that Jem should be marrying Madge! I do also wonder about Joey apparently being fairly quick on the uptake about Jem and Madge when she seems to have become considerably more dense a year or two on, and doesn't pick up on the pregnancy hints...
Author:  Nightwing [ Mon Mar 29, 2010 8:58 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Romance: Jo of the Chalet School
Cosimo's Jackal wrote:
The one thing I wonder about is Joey's wholly, very sweetly enthusiastic approach to their relationship and engagement, given that a year or two later, she's very wistful and reluctant to countenance any of her friends marrying, and hostile to the idea of marriage as 'taking people away'.


That actually seems quite believable to me, given that we know that Joey is quite immature in some respects and that she's not particularly good at thinking ahead! She likes Jem and hopes that he'll marry Madge, because she's young enough to think that it will be that easy (and it is, I guess!). But once she's faced with the prospect of exactly what that marriage will mean - that she'll no longer have Madge so close to her - she's bound to feel resentful. There's probably also an element of jealousy at no longer being the most important person in Madge's life, and if she recognised that in herself she'd only be more unhappy, given her dislike of selfishness.
Author:  MJKB [ Mon Mar 29, 2010 6:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Romance: Jo of the Chalet School
Nightwing wrote:
That actually seems quite believable to me, given that we know that Joey is quite immature in some respects and that she's not particularly good at thinking ahead! She likes Jem and hopes that he'll marry Madge, because she's young enough to think that it will be that easy (and it is, I guess!). But once she's faced with the prospect of exactly what that marriage will mean - that she'll no longer have Madge so close to her - she's bound to feel resentful. There's probably also an element of jealousy at no longer being the most important person in Madge's life, and if she recognised that in herself she'd only be more unhappy, given her dislike of selfishness.


I agree. Things always seem better when they are 'somewhere' in the future, particularly to a child. It's only when the time is no longer in the distance that reality kicks in and one begins to realise the consequences. I certainly don't think it's out of character for Joey to regard Madge's happiness as anything other than a cause for celebration. Later on in the series she is often reluctant to see her friends engaged and married, but by that stage she is aware, through Madge, of the shift in loyalties and obligations that marriage brings. Even allowing for that, Joey would always put the happiness of those close to her before her own feelings.
Like most other people, I loved the Bettany's christmas in INsbruck. It's absolutely magical. I love how the Menches treat both girls almost like daughers. Madge appears younger and less brisk and business like in their presence.
Author:  Katherine [ Mon Mar 29, 2010 9:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Romance: Jo of the Chalet School
Also, Madge is so much older than Joey; I think it's much harder to get your head round marriage and babies when it becomes your peers, rather than proper grown ups,doing it.
Author:  MJKB [ Tue Mar 30, 2010 10:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Romance: Jo of the Chalet School
Madge's romance, if you kind of ignore Jem, is really satisfying. It rounds off the early days of the School very nicely. It's a such a pity that she loses alot of her spark after she retires to Die Rosen. As a young reader I envied Madge her romance, but her marriage didn't appeal to me at all. Die Rosen became more of an extension of the san than a home.
Author:  Alison H [ Tue Mar 30, 2010 10:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Romance: Jo of the Chalet School
I wonder how both Madge and EBD, if you see what I mean, saw things panning out. Originally, Madge seemed to plan on staying closely involved with the school on a day-to-day basis, and they're always ringing her up about things and she has to approve new rules and even lists of prefects' duties. The turning point is perhaps when Mlle Lepattre, who's a very nice person but not really up to running things on her own, has to leave because of illness and Hilda, who is far more capable, takes over, but I'm never sure whether or not Hilda taking over led to Madge being less involved or whether EBD decided that it wasn't feasible for Madge to be so involved as well as having a home and family and being a fairly long walk away and that led her to write Mlle out and appoint someone more capable as Head.

Sorry, long and muddled sentence!
Author:  Emsnan [ Tue Mar 30, 2010 11:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Romance: Jo of the Chalet School
Cosimo's Jackal wrote:

Quote:
I do also wonder about Joey apparently being fairly quick on the uptake about Jem and Madge when she seems to have become considerably more dense a year or two on, and doesn't pick up on the pregnancy hints...


Despite being told how observant Joey is, particularly where her dear sister is concerned, she does not seem to notice that, throughout Madge's conversation with her when Madge tells her that she is going to marry Jem, her dear sister is wearing an engagement ring!
Author:  JB [ Wed Mar 31, 2010 9:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Romance: Jo of the Chalet School
Alison H wrote:
I wonder how both Madge and EBD, if you see what I mean, saw things panning out. Originally, Madge seemed to plan on staying closely involved with the school on a day-to-day basis, and they're always ringing her up about things and she has to approve new rules and even lists of prefects' duties.


I'd see Madge having to sign of prefects' duties as micro-management and showing a few problems with delegation. :) But, before she had the children, it can't have been that interesting for her stuck on the Sonnalpe with Jem working long hours at the San, so maybe she liked feeling that she still had a lot of involvement with the school. Once, she had her own children, her nephews and nieces, and various other adoptees on hand, I doubt she had time to think about who was Stationery Prefect. :)

I agree, though, that things change when Hilda takes over. In Lintons, Mlle Lepattre is described as Acting Head, Hilda AFAIK is always the Head Mistress.
Author:  Emma A [ Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Romance: Jo of the Chalet School
JB wrote:
I agree, though, that things change when Hilda takes over. In Lintons, Mlle Lepattre is described as Acting Head, Hilda AFAIK is always the Head Mistress.

IIRC, Miss Annersley is Acting Head for a while after Mlle Lepattre is taken ill, since it's not until New, I think, where Mlle takes a turn for the worse, and everyone realises that she'll never be able to teach again, that Miss Annersley is appointed as Headmistress.
Author:  emma t [ Wed Mar 31, 2010 6:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Romance: Jo of the Chalet School
This was my very first Chalet book and it's always been one of my favourites :mrgreen: I think that the romance between Jem and Madge is probably realistic for the time period.
Madge would not have needed a chaperone as she saw him during school hours, and out of school hours, Joey would have been there. Plus, as she is head of her family and of the school, she would have been more careful about her reputation. I don't think that Jem would have led her astray!
I do like this relationship; it's very well written, I think that Joey reacts in a way that makes her admirable. She is supportive of her sister, and it's very touching!
In a way, it is a shame that Madge was written out as a main character so soon, but for a nice reason, and is in the background once she does marry him.
I love the way EBD casually brought Jem into the story at the ice carnival - almost as if she intends them to be together :wink: It's a relationship that grows, rather than love at first sight, and if it is love at first sight on either side, it's kept to themselves.
Author:  MJKB [ Wed Mar 31, 2010 7:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Romance: Jo of the Chalet School
emma t wrote:
I love the way EBD casually brought Jem into the story at the ice carnival - almost as if she intends them to be together :wink: It's a relationship that grows, rather than love at first sight, and if it is love at first sight on either side, it's kept to themselves.


Did Jem follow her to the CS? I often wondered about this. It's several months after their first meeting, or did they bump into each other casually in between times. I Haven't read Jo of for a while so is it apparent that it is the first time Jem and Madge meet after the end of School at?
Author:  JB [ Wed Mar 31, 2010 7:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Romance: Jo of the Chalet School
Emma A wrote:
JB wrote:
I agree, though, that things change when Hilda takes over. In Lintons, Mlle Lepattre is described as Acting Head, Hilda AFAIK is always the Head Mistress.

IIRC, Miss Annersley is Acting Head for a while after Mlle Lepattre is taken ill, since it's not until New, I think, where Mlle takes a turn for the worse, and everyone realises that she'll never be able to teach again, that Miss Annersley is appointed as Headmistress.


Sorry, yes. I should have been clearer. I was surprised that Mlle is Acting Head when it's a permanent position, unlike Hilda who is filling in for the sick Mlle for a while. Once Hilda is appointed Head, she is the Head, not an Acting Head on Madge's behalf. I was surprised to see Mlle described as Acting Head when Madge isn't planning on returning.

Actually, i'm not sure that was clearer. :oops:
Author:  Alison H [ Wed Mar 31, 2010 8:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Romance: Jo of the Chalet School
MJKB wrote:
emma t wrote:
I love the way EBD casually brought Jem into the story at the ice carnival - almost as if she intends them to be together :wink: It's a relationship that grows, rather than love at first sight, and if it is love at first sight on either side, it's kept to themselves.


Did Jem follow her to the CS? I often wondered about this. It's several months after their first meeting, or did they bump into each other casually in between times. I Haven't read Jo of for a while so is it apparent that it is the first time Jem and Madge meet after the end of School at?


I don't think they met in between: Joey says something about "Oh, aren't you the man who helped us in the train crash?" so he can't have been to the school, and I can't imagine Madge sneaking off for secret trysts with him. I assume that he was at the ice carnival because he was in the area looking for a suitable site for his San, but I do like to think that he decided to look in that particular neck of the woods in the hope of bumping into Madge again :D .
Author:  Emsnan [ Wed Mar 31, 2010 9:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Romance: Jo of the Chalet School
It may not have been love at first sight but Jem was certainly very impressed with Madge at first sight as he says "Oh, you plucky girl" or words to that effect, when he helps her at the crash.

I always assumed he simply stayed in the area to organise the building of the Sanatorium, but I did think it was an amazing coincidence that he kept popping up every time someone fell over on the ice or in the water. I would love to think he was also hanging around because of Madge.
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