Room With a View: Part Two (finished)
jennie fitz
Compared to Augie March and Angle of Repose, this novel was quick and
compact and didn't waste any words.
I love the way Forster draws us, the readers, into the action.
Because the plot is a sort of well-known construction, we are pretty
sure that Lucy will end up with George. Forster plays on this a
little bit, speaking right to our sense of omniscience and asks us not
to be judgmental of Lucy: "It is obvious enough for the reader to
conclude, 'She loves young Emerson.' A reader in Lucy's place would
not find it obvious. Life is easy to chronicle, but bewildering to
practice, and we welcome 'nerves' or any other sibboleth that will
cloak our personal desire. She loved Cecil; George made her nervous;
will the reader explain to her that the phrases should have been
reversed?" (116)
Throughout the book, a "good view" is a metaphor for what is right and
proper; for the values of a stuffy English society. In the opening
scene, in the hostel in Florence, Charlotte works hard to secure for
Lucy a room with a view. We are to understand that she is entitled to
it. Later, when Cecil comes to Lucy's home, he tries to engage in a
little witty repartee on the phrase "a room with a view" but only
succeeds in confusing her. In this he finds a way to disturb and poke
fun what is right and proper. And further along, George presents an
entirely different perspective: the only view worth seeking is the
entire blue sky. this is George's way of being the outsider, and
beginning to open Lucy's eyes to a different way of seeing. When Lucy
breaks off the engagement to Cecil and wants to run away to Greece to
recover, maybe move to London, become more independent; her mother
can't understand. Mrs. Honeychurch sees a life in London as "giving
up the view" for which her husband (Lucy's father) worked so hard and
was so proud. Finally, George and Lucy do end up together, married
and honeymooning in the very same room with a view from the opening
scene. they've come full circle and come fully into their adult lives
together.
However...I was surprised that Mrs. Honeychurch was so upset with Lucy
and George in the end. Well, first I was surprised that she did not
like Cecil (and that she did not orchestrate his arrival as finace as
I had guessed). And she was relieved that the engagement was broken
but not forgiving of Lucy's marriage to George. The sense is that
Mrs. Honeychurch wants her daughter to be happy, but not at the
expense of causing a scandal. The book ends with the Lucy still
unforgiven and possiblity of never begin able to return home. But
this isn't the focus...the focus is the love of the two yound people.
They have a view, but they did it in an untraditional way, and they
are making it their own view.
Loved it!! I'm going to put it near the top of my list. And an extra
bonus was reading about all other English summer scenes - while a huge
storm is raging outside!
Till next book....
Jennie