Both Isobel and the Parks/Wilson plot reveal that women are punished for the sexual transgressions both of themselves and of men. Neither Freddie nor Sir William suffer consequences (until Mrs. Wilson takes a hand, of course)--Freddie's even out to turn it to his advantage, and would if it weren't for Mabel. And Rupert's fling with the undercook--although no one cares particularly, Mrs. Crofts DOES warn her that she's playing with fire. No one says a word at all to Rupert, and it's perfectly clear no one will.
It interests/disturbs me that Isobel and Mabel show no signs of forming an alliance--possibly because the Upstairs women don't have real relationships with each other. The only actual conversation between women Upstairs (I think and correct me if I'm wrong) is Sylvia and Constance at the end, and that conversation primarily betrays their callousness, shallowness, and general inability to FORM an honest relationship with anyone. This is very much in contrast to the women Downstairs, witness (for only one example) Mary and Elsie's several conversations, also Mrs. Crofts and Mrs. Wilson, whose legendary hatred of each other turns out (a.) to have deep-rooted causes and (b.) to be less enduring than their bond as sisters. That, in turn, reflects back Upstairs, as Sylvia's relationships with Louisa and Lavinia are as shallow and faithless as everything else that happens Upstairs.
It's also interesting, while I'm on the subject, that the men don't seem to form relationships/alliances at all. Lord Stockbridge hates everyone; Freddie and Commander Meredith are both angling so anxiously for their own advantage (with their varying degrees of ethicality) that they can't see anyone else at all; Rupert and Jeremy have that strange incestuously close friendship (by which I mean nothing sexual at all); Denton destroys his chance at relationships with ANYONE without ever realizing they were there at all. Downstairs is characterized primarily by skirmishing between the male servants, especially the visitors' valets and Sir William's staff, but also between George and Jennings--and that is clearly a contest for dominance that has been going on for a very long time.
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momijizukamori
no subject
Date: 2003-07-04 08:23 am (UTC)It interests/disturbs me that Isobel and Mabel show no signs of forming an alliance--possibly because the Upstairs women don't have real relationships with each other. The only actual conversation between women Upstairs (I think and correct me if I'm wrong) is Sylvia and Constance at the end, and that conversation primarily betrays their callousness, shallowness, and general inability to FORM an honest relationship with anyone. This is very much in contrast to the women Downstairs, witness (for only one example) Mary and Elsie's several conversations, also Mrs. Crofts and Mrs. Wilson, whose legendary hatred of each other turns out (a.) to have deep-rooted causes and (b.) to be less enduring than their bond as sisters. That, in turn, reflects back Upstairs, as Sylvia's relationships with Louisa and Lavinia are as shallow and faithless as everything else that happens Upstairs.
It's also interesting, while I'm on the subject, that the men don't seem to form relationships/alliances at all. Lord Stockbridge hates everyone; Freddie and Commander Meredith are both angling so anxiously for their own advantage (with their varying degrees of ethicality) that they can't see anyone else at all; Rupert and Jeremy have that strange incestuously close friendship (by which I mean nothing sexual at all); Denton destroys his chance at relationships with ANYONE without ever realizing they were there at all. Downstairs is characterized primarily by skirmishing between the male servants, especially the visitors' valets and Sir William's staff, but also between George and Jennings--and that is clearly a contest for dominance that has been going on for a very long time.