The CBB :: View topic - Books: The Head Girl of the Chalet School

Books: The Head Girl of the Chalet School

through

[^/[^Print]\]

The CBB -> Formal Discussions

#1: Books: The Head Girl of the Chalet School Author: Róisín, Location: Ireland

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 4:56 pm
—
There is a synopsis here. Here we have the story of Grizel as Headgirl. She almost doesn't hold onto the office, due to some wildness just before term starts, but Madge decides to trust her. As Headgirl, Grizel goes on to have some problems with Deira, one of the other Prefects. This is the story of the salt caves also, and the madman who lives there. Cornelia Flower is a new girl in this book, and starts off in a very rebellious way. Bride Bettany is born in India and there is a new matron on the block - Gwynneth Lloyd.

So! What do you think of Grizel as head? Do you think she deserved to be Headgirl after that trip to the Falls that she took without permission? Do you think that Deira acted justifiably at any point during her feud with Grizel - should she have been expelled for throwing that snowball? How realistic is the coincidental appearance of Frau Berlin again (at the burning hotel)? It is in this book that a heap of Old Girls get engaged, all at very young (too young?) ages - Gisela to the brother of a schoolfriend, Bernhilda also to the brother of a schoolfriend and Wanda to an army officer. Why was EBD so anxious to dispose of them in this one book?! David is born in this book too - how do you think EBD dealt with the birth of the first Chalet baby, bearing in mind that she was never a mother or aunt* herself?

And anything else to do with this book - please go ahead and join in. For myself, it's one of the scariest! I always read the bits about being lost in the salt caves under the covers Laughing

*that she knew of

#2: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 6:04 pm
—
My favourite part of this book isn't any of that Very Happy

- it's Marie and Andreas's wedding. Realistically I'm not sure that their budget would've extended to inviting the whole school Laughing

, but it's a lovely, lovely chapter.

IIRC we're not given any hints that Madge is expecting a baby. Obviously it wasn't something that would've been discussed much, certainly not in front of schoolgirls, but we usually get told that someone "is very busy" (Gisela)/"tired easily these days" (Janie Lucy)/"wasn't to be worried" (Joey). The scene where Jo returns to school in tears after seeing Madge, whom it's hinted had had a bad time of it, and baby David is very touching, and it's lovely the way the girls are all so excited about David's arrival.

Some of the "madman" remarks sound a bit weird by today's standards, but obviously attitudes were different then. And I really think that there should've been a mistress on duty outside the school at all times given the number of people who wandered off/ran away! Madge's "falling asleep to wake with God" explanation of death has to be one of the best quotes of the whole series. As for the salt caves themselves, they seemed to be forgotten about later, but I suppose that developing them for mining/tourism would've changed the nature of the Tiernsee too much and spoilt the background to the Tyrol books.

Grizel got away with a lot more than Anne Seymour did later on, but I always felt sorry for her so I'm glad she got a second chance - and I always get so upset when Deira burns Grannie's letter Crying or Very sad

.

As for the engagements, there do seem to be spates of these sometimes, like when Sybil and Josette both get engaged at almost the same time!

#3: Author: JayB, Location: SE England

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 7:07 pm
—
It's a while since I read this, and then it was only the abridged version (and this one is particularly badly hacked) so I'm not too well up on the details.

Maybe Jem and Madge helped out with the cost of the wedding? Marie, and all her family, worked very hard to get the school up and running and keep it running; it would have been a way of saying thank you.

EBD seems to have this idea that Continental girls married very young. I wonder how accurate that was. I think Gottfried gets EBD'ed, doesn't he, because he was only around 19 and a student when we first met him in Jo Of, and shouldn't have been in any position to be thinking about marriage a little over two years later.

Grizel's mad trip - it did happen outside termtime. Most of the other girls, whose family circumstances were normal and who would have been spending the holidays with their parents, could do mad things every day of the holidays, without it ever affecting their school careers. So, on balance, just, I don't think it would have been right to deprive Grizel of the Headship. And since she's too old to be sent to bed early or have her pocket money stopped, it's difficult to see what else Madge could have done.

I don't think Deira was justified at any point. Yes, Grizel was tactless, but as a girl who was nearly grown up and considered fit to be a prefect, Deira should have been mature enough to deal with it. But I don't think she should have been expelled. She didn't deliberately set out to harm Grizel, and she was genuinely remorseful.

#4: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 7:08 pm
—
I think the 'wildness before becoming head girl' incident was another case of EBD raining on Grizel's parade. Everything about Grizel has to be hedged around with her 'hardness' of character, yet Jo did much worse things in the running off line, and barely got reproached for them.

So Corny Flower had a hard time settling in, but she added some spice to the books, and made a very good contrast to the continental girls who would no sooner have dreamed of flying than disobeying etc, etc..

In many ways, I think Deira should have been expelled, especially after the stone throwing episode. Her burning Grizel's theory book, and incidentally her Grandmother's last letter was extremely spiteful and nasty, and her rebellion against Grizel was pointless. Certainly, she should not have been allowed to continue as a prefect after doing that. But that is another point - Grizel is partly blamed for the situation as she hadn't spoken properly to Deira, yet Jo is allowed to get away with being dreadfully offhand to Eustacia layer in the series, and the authorial voice is certainly not raised in criticism there.

I enjoyed the parts about the caves; I do reserve judgement as to whether the local 'peasantry' was as superstitious as they were portrayed, but this is a book for schoolgirls and it made the entire book more exciting.

On the whole, I enjoyed this book, even though Frau Berlin had to be dragged in again to play her villainous role (did the woman never go back to Germany? Or did she spend the rest of her time lurking in the Innsbruck area, ready to pounce on any CS grl she saw, so she could engineer a life-threatening situation?)

#5: Author: Róisín, Location: Ireland

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 7:13 pm
—
Jennie, you make Frau Berlin sound so scary! Laughing

Incidentally, why did practically the only German woman in the books have to have 'Berlin' as her surname? Was EBD afraid we would forget where she was from? Laughing

(Actually, am I completely wrong there and was 'Berlin' just a nickname the girls gave her because they didn't know her real name? Can't remember Confused

)

Alison - I can't believe I forgot that wedding! I love it too. Just goes to show how dense the early books are - how much goes on in them, compared to the later books.

#6: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 7:19 pm
—
I think part of the attraction of this book for me is that it's still about the school rather than half school half Jo Maynard.

#7: Author: JayB, Location: SE England

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 7:27 pm
—

Róisín wrote:

(Actually, am I completely wrong there and was 'Berlin' just a nickname the girls gave her because they didn't know her real name? Can't remember Confused

)

I think it was a nickname. They were never introduced, or in any situation where they would have learned her name.

#8: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 7:34 pm
—
I think Frau Berlin is just the name given to her by the School - I don't think we ever hear her actual name.

I agree that Grizel didn't deserve to lose her Head Girl status because of something that happened in the holidays - even though it was disobeidience on her part. Re Grizel's tactlessness and that being the reason Deira reacted - is that something that is expanded upon in the hardback? Only I didn't think it was too bad, and certainly not enough to warrent Deira's reaction. I think Deira should have lost her Prefect status for that, no she didn't mean to burn Grizel's letter - but she did deliberately burn the harmony, knowing that Grizel would have to do a great deal of work to make up

Grizel performed splendidly in the Salt caves when resuing Robin, though, again, not having an adult around was rather silly - and something that the CS Staff never seemed to learn from!

#9: Author: Mel, Location: UP NORTH

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 9:22 pm
—
I like this one very much and the hardback is a good fat book dealing with two terms. I think the choice of Grizel's escapade is ill-chosen as it doesn't seem the sort of thing an 18 year old would do even in those days, but often I get the impression that sometimes EBD has to rack her brains for naughty tricks, but I'm glad that Grizel remained Head Girl. Deira was very much at fault whether Grizel was tactless or not and isn't Jo herself renowned for her tactlessness? The wedding is lovely, but I wish that EBD hadn't used the same name for the cook and one of Jo's friends. The trip to Salzburg is suitably exciting and also points to the fact that Robin isn't seriously frail at this point or she wouldn't be allowed to go. Grizel is merely told to make sure that she goes to bed early and not to eat too much chocolate. The caves and the madman were seriously scary and very original I think. I see this book as the last of the early books because after this Jo becomes prefect/Head Girl and a Great Influence On The School.

#10: Author: jennifer, Location: Taiwan

Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2007 6:18 am
—
Grizel's episode was out of school time, but she was in the care of one of the mistresses at the time - it's borderline whether it was on school time or not. It's certainly irresponsible, though. Deira, however, is really out of line. Deliberately burning another student's property because she was miffed, then going on an anti-English tirade and refusing to apologise is worth an in school suspension and demotion from prefect duties at the least - vandalism and bigotry are pretty hardcore, even ignoring the rock throwing, and is in no way justified by the fact that Grizel was tactless.

One thing I find odd is the abrupt shift in Cornelia from this book to the next. Here she's decietful, destructive, cheating and underhanded, with no explanation for her behaviour. After this books she's slangy and mischevious but no more - it seems too abrupt a switch in personality.

#11: Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks

Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2007 10:42 am
—

jennifer wrote:

One thing I find odd is the abrupt shift in Cornelia from this book to the next. Here she's decietful, destructive, cheating and underhanded, with no explanation for her behaviour. After this books she's slangy and mischevious but no more - it seems too abrupt a switch in personality.

In later books Corney refers to the mothering that she got from Mademoiselle - presumably this is when it happens and it makes the difference Rolling Eyes

One of my favourite parts of this is the train journey when they meet Maria and The Stuffer - which is only in the hb, but makes the mentions later on make sense. And it explains the nickname The Stuffer

#12: Author: Laura V, Location: Czech Republic

Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2007 12:53 pm
—
This book is second only to Exile for me Very Happy

I love to read of Grizel's struggle as head girl, and the introduction of Cornelia. The story of the madman is quite far fetched but still highly enjoyable Laughing

And of course there's the first chapter set in England which is nice to see. I just love this book kiss

#13: Author: Loryat,

Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2007 6:04 pm
—
This has always been one of my favourites in the series, realistic or not! I think with Grizel and Joey (the two most prominent HGs in the early part of the series) we see girls struggling to deal with the responsibility of their new position. In later books the HGs are almost superhumanly responsible, deal with the middles with the inisght of a fully qualified mistress, etc etc. Grizel and Joey are 'real people' who respond far more believably to the duties of the position.

I have a theory about this book. EBD wanted to give Grizel a chance to shine before she made her all bitter and hard (which is a natural result of the treatment she receieves). We see Grizel thriving in the school environment that she loves, being mothered by Madge and Mdlle and sistered by Joey. In this book she is pretty heroic, generous, and responsible (once she gets the hang of things).

Grizel's running away - I find this very believable, and Grizel's creeping doubt as she begins her journey is IMO excellently written. It's a sort of 'I'm being really grown up I don't need supervision-wait I've done a really stupid thing' situation. I don't think it would have been fair for her to lose the position - as someone pointed out, if she had been living at home no-one would have known about it.

Deira's behaviour - completely unjustified but again, I think this is a more realistic depicition of prefects interacting than practically anywhere else in the series. How many fully grown adults behave in the way Deira does in the work place (with the exception of throwing the stone, lol)? Deira is only sixteen and a tantrum on being told to do something she doesn't want to do is IMO pretty believable.

Cornelia's intoduction - I think Corney gets the illness-reformation treatment that Stacie gets later on, only with her it's glossed over. All we knew is that she has rheumatic fever.

Numerous engagements - I liked them! I liked that we were learning about characters who had left the school - it contributed to the 'family' atmosphere.

#14: Author: Liz K, Location: Bedfordshire

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 1:41 pm
—
This is the next book I want to try and get in hb.

#15: Author: Mrs Redboots, Location: London, UK

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 6:02 pm
—
The thing that really worries me about this book is the Robin's going off with the "madman". Did nobody ever tell her about "stranger danger" and that you should never go off with people you don't know???? Madge, and the Robin's father, fell down rather badly on the job there! IIRC, she's only scolded for going off without asking, not for going off with someone she didn't know.

#16: Author: Lisa A., Location: North Yorkshire

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 10:32 pm
—
I think the ending of this one is lovely and quite poignant, with everyone collected in the flower garden. All is well, and there is an air of contentment and enchantment. Madge is thinking wistfully about the past and the future and having hopes for Joey's happiness; the future of the school seems assured and Grizel is happy and at peace. A really good moment.

#17: Author: Caty, Location: New Zealand

Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 5:31 am
—
I can't claim any involvement in this as I got the dates all mixed up & didn't attend! However, since the topic under discussion happened to be Head Girl, I thought I'd share the email.

On Sunday, 10 June 2007, a small group of Chalet Girls in New Zealand met to discuss The Head Girl of the Chalet School. We all had the Armada second cover style paperback plus one 1955 edition hardback.

Firstly, there were some major differences between the paperback and hardback editions which gave much more depth to the characters and the story. Cuts included the encounter with 'the Stuffer and Maria' on the train from Paris, references to the Pfeiffen family and part of Marie's wedding, Jem's concern about Jo reading Trilby, the conversation about saving Schillings for the Sanatorium bed and the exchange rate. Despite the out of period paperback cover, we liked this except that Cornelia has black hair on the back cover.

Some points from our discussion:

· Grizel's character: at first she is self-centred, irresponsible and domineering, the big shock of seeing the damage she has done and the possible public humiliation of losing her position of head girl, bring out her determination and strength of character but this time put to a positive use. She obviously succeeds in taking responsibility (Madge's words before the Salzburg trip) but is still careless of other people's feelings (dictatorial towards Deira and Cornelia) and the damage words can do. With all this we were puzzled that she was so well liked by the other girls but perhaps it was due to her prettiness or sporting ability or some personal charm?

· Grizel is often not liked in later books but here, because she is the book's focus, it shows her improving and growing up. However, despite the improvement in her character she doe not receive the traditional happy ending and is forced to continue with her music.

· Interestingly, this seems to be one appointment that is made to benefit the girl rather than the school. Madge is very concerned that this is her last chance to influence Grizel for the good. This is most likely why Grizel receives no punishment except the brief discussion with Madge in Innsbruck, and the agony of knowing herself in the wrong. Possibly this is also why she seems much closer to 'the family' in this book.

· This book introduced a lot of the later traditions: new head girls not wanting to be head girl, conflict between girls, the outside saviour to deal with problem girls (Madge in this book), expeditions during term, the sale and lucky dip for juniors, funding a Sanatorium bed, sheepdog for new girls, and lack of outside activity makes the girls crazy.

· The new matron: there is nothing in this book to suggest this is "Matey" except her prompt response to Cornelia and very thorough punishment.

· Mistakes: Mary Burnett is now older than Jo, Peggy is described as "dark like Madge".

· The death at the San: Jem seems to have been quite open about this, perhaps due to his inexperience with girls. We felt that in later times the death of a patient would have been kept from the girls.

· Betrothals: as Gisela was the first head girl and the first to be engaged, we would have thought a bit more would have been made of this, rather than focusing on Wanda and Bernhilda, it's also surprising that only Marie went to Wanda's engagement party.

· Madge's pregnancy: at four months pregnant during the first term it is surprising she was allowed to walk down to the school and teach for several days. Does Grizel know about Madge's condition during the holidays? There was a strong clue at the beginning of the summer term. Was the baby's arrival normal or were there problems? Eg, Miss Maynard's white face when her brother arrived, Jo said Madge was okay – now.

· The caves: would have been a good means for later adventures and expedition and it is disappointing this potential storyline was not followed up later.

· Mademoiselle: she has not yet grown into the position of headmistress, which must have been difficult with Madge popping in fairly often. She comes across as easily distracted, and without any real control over the girls. Grizel is made the stronger character, organising the girls and leading rescue trips without much interference from the mistresses.

· Cornelia: her behaviour in this book very much sets up her reputation as a naughty girl and her rheumatic fever may be the start of her fondness for Mademoiselle. As Cornelia spoke very little German and the madman spoke patois, it seems unlikely they would have had much conversation.

· The rescue: Friedel von Gluck is very much the man in charge but comes across fairly well, considering he wasn't a doctor. It was surprising that they didn't take a first aid kit but perhaps Matron had not yet prepared a large number for expeditions. The timing of Cornelia's journey to the cleft in the mountains, basically all night, seems longer than the rescue party's.

In conclusion, our group were generally not keen on this book, mainly because of a dislike of Grizel, but we found that is quite an important book in the series because it brings in a lot of ideas that are followed up later in the series and it is useful to read before going on. The character of Grizel seems to develop into maturity but this character development must have been stunted to produce the person we see in the later books, presumably due to career frustration, lack of family support and distance from the Chalet School's influence. In terms of readability and quality it certainly holds up well against other books from this period.

#18: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 7:45 am
—
I think a large part of Grizel's character problems after she had left the school were down to frustration.

Firstly: she was not musical, yet was forced to continue to study it, though she wanted to read for a Maths degree, or do a PE course. Thwarting someone's ambitions in that way can lead to problems. Basically, it was a failure to listen to Grizel, or to understand her.

Secondly: Evil Irene was definitely her enemy. if Grizel wanted anything, Irene would be sure to do her best to ensure that Grizel did not get it.

Thirdly: when Grizel's father died, he left her money tied up so she could not use it without the Trustees' consent until she was thirty-five. That was too old to become a PE teacher in her own opinion, anyway, though not too old to read for a Maths degree, if only she had not been too sunk in bitterness to see it. But to keep someonea child financially is equivalent to saying that they cannot be trusted with what is their own.

Instead, she feels forced to return to the single place in the world where she is accepted and has some value. Then all that is distrupted by the Anschluss, and she once again has to flee.

#19: Author: JayB, Location: SE England

Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:22 am
—
Was Madge right, I wonder, in wanting to keep Grizel at the school when she disliked teaching music so much? Grizel was good at organising and got results in what she set her mind to. She could have been a good secretary/administrator for the San, or PA to a big businessman or politician. In the war she could have been an excellent officer in one of the women's services, or manager of a factory, or organiser of welfare services for civilians. After the war her language skills would have been an asset in dealing with refugeees and displaced persons. Her sharp tongue could have been very effective in cutting through bureaucracy and getting things done. Was Madge holding Grizel back?

#20: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:25 am
—

Jennie wrote:

Secondly: Evil Irene was definitely her enemy. if Grizel wanted anything, Irene would be sure to do her best to ensure that Grizel did not get it.

Er - Irene? In which book is that name given as belonging to Grizel's step-mother?

#21: Author: Mel, Location: UP NORTH

Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:34 am
—
In reply to the query about Grizel staying on at the school, I agree that her skills would have been better used elsewher. I think Grizel was tangled up in depression and bitterness that lead to apathy. There was so much she could do, because as Music teacher she was underused. But there is nothing to sugggest that she played for a women's hockey team or helped coach the girls. It is as though she gave up until the offer to go to New Zealand.

#22: Author: Róisín, Location: Ireland

Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:44 am
—
KB that is the name that Liz gave Mrs Cochrane in the Unwanted drabble. You should read it, it's really good Very Happy

#23: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:51 am
—
Mrs Cochrane is called Irene in Liz B's brilliant drabble Unwanted - I always think of her as Irene now, even though EBD never tells us her first name!

I think Grizel would have been much better off away from the school - she obviously didn't enjoy teaching, she wasn't particularly close to any of the other mistresses, and none of the girls seemed to enjoy being taught by her - but no-one forced her to stay. As Mel said, she just seemed to get so unhappy and bitter that she did nothing to try to improve her life until she got Deira's offer of a business partnership.

#24: Author: Lisa A., Location: North Yorkshire

Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 1:41 pm
—

JayB wrote:

Was Madge holding Grizel back?

That's interesting - did Madge want to prevent anyone from competing with and possibly outshining Joey?

*goes off think about other evidence for this*

#25: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 2:41 pm
—
I don't think that Madge wanted to stop anyone outshining Joey, but she and Jem never really seem to encourage people to "reach their full potential", to use a modern phrase. Neither of them objected when Joey's plans on leaving school are just to hang around at Die Rosen and "help" with the children (although Rosa was employed as a full-time nanny). Admittedly that was Joey's own choice, but - even though it was largely due to medical concerns - they discouraged Robin from pursuing a career in settlement work. And I got the impression that the Cochranes thought quite well of Madge: maybe if she'd had a word with them on Grizel's behalf they might have listened to her.

It's a shame that we so rarely see any adults - either parents or teachers - discussing career plans with the girls (or boys).

#26: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 6:27 pm
—
I think that that was the outcome of EBD's own innate conviction that marriage and children were the best career for women. I'd be willing to bet that if she had married, there wouldn't be any CS for us to read, and therefore no board for us to procrastinate on.

#27: Author: macyrose, Location: Great White North (Canada)

Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 9:45 pm
—
Jennie wrote:

Quote:

I think that that was the outcome of EBD's own innate conviction that marriage and children were the best career for women. I'd be willing to bet that if she had married, there wouldn't be any CS for us to read, and therefore no board for us to procrastinate on.

A fiend of EBD's says much the same thing in EBD's biogaraphy by Helen McClelland:
"Mrs Vivian Pass, who knew Elinor well for many years, is certain that 'she longed to marry' ... This friend pointed out, too, that 'the Great War left so many unfulfilled people' adding, a little sadly, 'if she could have married maybe there might not have been so many Chalet School books but there would have been a contented Elinor.' "

I think thoughout the series marriage (and children) is seen as the best career for women, with religious vocations just as good (though a lot rarer), and singlehood with careers next. So it's not surprising that EBD gave three of her four favourite characters, Madge, Jo and Len (but not Mary-Lou, for some reason) engagements/marriages for their futures.

#28: Author: skye,

Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 11:36 pm
—

Alison H wrote:

I don't think that Madge wanted to stop anyone outshining Joey, but she and Jem never really seem to encourage people to "reach their full potential", to use a modern phrase. Neither of them objected when Joey's plans on leaving school are just to hang around at Die Rosen and "help" with the children (although Rosa was employed as a full-time nanny). Admittedly that was Joey's own choice, but - even though it was largely due to medical concerns - they discouraged Robin from pursuing a career in settlement work. And I got the impression that the Cochranes thought quite well of Madge: maybe if she'd had a word with them on Grizel's behalf they might have listened to her.

It's a shame that we so rarely see any adults - either parents or teachers - discussing career plans with the girls (or boys).

I thought that Robin had actually suffered a breakdown in her health and had been advised that she should not continue with that type of work? Which means that she must have already begun working in the field. So that would be more a case of she had tried it and couldn't cope with it, rather than being told she shouldn't do it.

#29: Author: jennifer, Location: Taiwan

Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 5:20 am
—
I think Madge and the mistresses wanted to keep Grizel where they could keep an eye on her - they say as much in Gay from China - so she wouldn't get into trouble. At eighteen this may have been reasonable, as she has no positive connection with her parents and is prone to acting out. By her late twenties this is a bit much - I wonder if they were worried that she'd go wild and start having affairs or something.

During the war she could have joined one of the women's services, or worked in a more traditionally male field, rather than staying on at a job she didn't like in a very insular environment. The opportunities were there, and she was old enough to break with her parents. The training she got during that could have led to another career when she came into her inheritance, or kept her if her father cut her off.

#30: Author: Loryat,

Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 1:14 pm
—

JayB wrote:

Was Madge holding Grizel back?

I really don't see this. I think Madge wanted to provide a familiar and supportive environment for Grizel such as she got at the school rather than she might have found in a different place. I think if Grizel had ever wanted to go into something else during the war years, Madge would have supported her. But due to the stranglehold on Grizel's money, Grizel probably felt that there was no point in even considering something new. Then Grizel grows progressively bitter and it's not till four years after the war that we even see her considering other career options - which involve working beside a fellow Old Girl, and being her own boss.

#31: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 2:01 pm
—
I know that it would've been very hard for Grizel to turn her back on her future inheritance from her father, but most people - admittedly those not used to the same standard of living as she was - did have to manage on their wages, and Grizel had some money inherited from her grandmother as well.

OK, she probably wouldn't have been able to put herself through PT training college, but maybe she could have got a job doing something other than teaching music if she really disliked it that much.

#32: Author: Ray, Location: Bristol, England

Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 3:57 pm
—
I think there'd have been a certain sense of inertia for Grizel, particularly once she'd been teaching for a while. It wasn't just the money situation that kept her tied to the school, it was probably also a touch of "How will I manage away from everyone I know?". Given her temperament and sarcastic tongue, she would have had a hard time settling into somewhere new and I suspect she would realise that.

Ray *who did have a few more thoughts on this book but can't remember them now*

#33: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 6:26 pm
—
I think you're right Ray - it's very easy to become so stuck in a rut that you don't even realise it. So Grizel would have continued on, unhappy but not realising that there was anything she could do about it. Then, out of the blue - the chance for happiness with Deira and her step-mother blocks it -no wonder she wasn't concentrating. At least the shock of setting Len alight was enough for her to confide in Hilda and to accept Hilda's help.

The CBB -> Formal Discussions

output generated using printer-friendly topic mod. All times are GMT

Page 1 of 1