The Girl in the Gatehouse Discussion Questions

I just finished reading this novel yesterday, and though I did not care for it as much as some of Julie Klassen's other books, it was tolerably good and I enjoyed it. I had started reading it last year and didn't finish it for some reason or another, probably because I found it uninteresting at the time- and it does start out rather slow- but having read and enjoyed The Tutor's Daughter and The Maid of Fairbourne Hall, I decided to try it again. I found it charming and clever, and I have decided to answer these discussion questions I found in the back of the book.








#1 Had you known that Jane Austen's name never appeared in her books during her lifetime? Did it surprise you that novel writing was considered (at least by some) improper and unladylike? In what ways might those attitudes continue today?

 Yes, I did know that Jane Austen published anonymously during her lifetime. Since I've seen Becoming Jane (yes, I know it's not entirely accurate, but I think it did succeed in  conveying how adamant Jane's parents- namely her mother- and others were against her writing) and I've read quotes and other snippets Jane Austen wrote or said at the time in her life, it didn't really surprise me that novel writing was considered improper for ladies by most people. However, it did surprise me how angry Captain Bryant became when Mariah told him that she was the elusive "Lady A". I suppose it would seem very improper and unladylike for a young woman to publish such 'scandelous' novels, because young ladies were supposed to feign ignorance on most serious subjects and so I can kind of see how a woman writing such a novel would wish to remain anonymous, especially if her family was already ashamed or disappointed in her.


#2 Mariah's situation (sent away after an indiscretion to live in relative isolation) was loosely based on the fate of one of Jane Austen's characters in Mansfield Park (although Maria Bertram was a married woman who had an affair.) Did you think Mariah Aubrey's father treated her unfairly? How have attitudes toward "vice and virtue" changed since the early 1800s?

 Even though Mariah had gotten herself into a great deal of trouble by trusting James Crawford, I am inclined to think her father was maybe a bit too hard on her. After all, even though Mariah was to blame in part, it was mostly Mr. Crawford's fault and just poor judgement on Mariah's part. She obviously never meant for it to happen at all. I know it would've been very difficult, but I think her father ought to have forgiven her. Attitudes towards "vice and virtue" have certainly changed a great deal! These days, anything goes, when back then the sort of scandal Mariah was involved in was just that: a scandal. It's an awful shame how 'lax' people and their propriety have become. Then again, back then men could do whatever they jolly well pleased, and if women ever committed any indiscretion it was a huge deal. And yet others, like Mariah's father, were so appalled by others' impropriety that they refused to forgive them. So I suppose even though people's views in general have certainly changed, there were bad and good kinds of people then, and there are bad and good kinds of people now.


#3 Did you learn anything new from the historical quotes at the beginning of each chapter? what quote in particular did you like? Why?

 Well, as you likely already know, I love quotes, and so I quite enjoyed reading the ones the author chose to put at the beginning of each chapter. Most of them were about woman authors and writing in general, which I liked, and most of them had at least something to do with Jane Austen (surprise, surprise- Julie Klassen seems to be somewhat obsessed,) but there were a great many that I found extremely clever. (That is not to say I didn't like Jane Austen's- I did, but I admit it did get rather tiresome.) Here are some of my favourites:

 " At painful times, when composition is impossible and reading is not enough, grammars and dictionaries are excellent for distraction."     -Elizabeth Barret Browning

 " A novel, like poetry, should have for its hero a person superior to the common herd of men"   -Lady Shelley

 " Walter Scott has no business to write novels, especially good ones. It is not fair. He has fame and profit enough as a poet."     -Jane Austen

 "A novel must be exceptionally good to live as long as the average cat."    -Lord Chesterfield

  "I have finished a novel called Pride and Prejudice, which I think a very superior work. I wish much to know who is the author, or ess as I am told."     -Annabella Milbanke

 And here is one that I simply resent, from that horrid man Nathaniel Hawthorne ,who just says one nasty think after another. (That's right, the same Nathaniel Hawthorne who said of John Brown, "Nobody was ever more justly hanged.") It was written in a letter to his publisher in 1852:

  "All women, as authors, are feeble and tiresome. I wish they were forbidden to write."  
     -Naughty Nathaniel Hawthorne

Despicable man! I could just cook him!

 

#4 Did you figure out the mystery of Captain Prince early on? What about the "treasure" in the gatehouse? Did you spot any red herrings (false clues) that led you to believe there might be real treasure (say, jewels or gold) in the gatehouse?

 No, I confess I did not figure out the mystery of Captain Prince. *Hangs head in shame*. I was probably as puzzled as Mariah about the strange man roaming the roof with a telescope. so much for my Nancy Drew detective skills! Neither did I suspect of there actually being any "real" treasure in the gatehouse, although I kind of suspected that Hugh- that devil- wanted Francesca's journals for something. I didn't guess early on that he had actually published one of her novels, but it didn't really surprise me that much, because that is JUST like something he would do.

#5 Captain Bryant spent many years trying to gain his father's approval. Can you relate? How so? What makes father/child relationships so important?

 I feel like I've read so many books where the son endlessly tries to gain his father's approval, but to no avail. Matthew Bryant's father wasn't as fire-and-brimstone as Frank Wyatt in Hidden Places, though, thank goodness! I can't say that I really relate, because I've never exactly felt that I had to try very hard to gain someone's approval. I suppose that's because I mostly don't really care what other people think of me- to a certain extent, that is. I don't wish people to think I am a hard-hearted villain, of course- because I'm not- but I honestly don't mind if they think I'm somewhat....eccentric. Because really, I am, and there's no denying it! Yes, I think father/child relationships are indeed important, because ideally, you want to be able to admire and look up to your father as someone you can trust and depend upon. If a father is cold and unaffecionate, it can make it difficult for you to be close to him. Also, in Frank Wyatt's case, it makes the child very frightened of their father, and that is never a good thing.

#6 Did you find yourself growing fond of any character that you did not care for at the outset? Which character was your favourite? Why?

  At first, I didn't really care for Miss Dixon, which is strange, because by the end of the story she was one of my favourite characters. I started out picturing her like Beatrix Potter's companion in Miss Potter, Miss Wiggin, who, if you've seen the movie, is not exactly all smiles and benevolence. I suppose it was because the author first described her as being "barely fifty, but complaining like a much older woman." But after a while, the character grew on me, and even though I still think of her as Miss Wiggin, I liked her immensely. Also, Martin the manservant really grew on me as well. When it was first mentioned that he had a hook, I thought, Oh dear, Lemony Snicket. But he wasn't your regular hook-handed, villainous, child-napping man at all, and when I found out he had been a ships' steward ( hooray for the British navy!), I liked him all the more. I also thought it was charming the way he and Dixon teased each other all the time. Even if it was a little too obvious that they would end up together. :)

Favourite Characters:

 - Martin

 - Miss Susan Dixon

 - Lieutenant William Hart- Captain Bryant's former first officer who comes to stay with him at Windrush Court. He seemed a bit bitter at first, sort of a I-know-I'm-crippled-but-I'm-still-just-the-man-you-are-and-I-don't-want-your-pity-so-just-leave-me-alone kind of guy, but I eventually grew to like him, and he and Lizzy's romance was just so sweet- in truth, I liked them better that Mariah and Matthew, probably because there wasn't so much un-needed drama involved in their relationship. Plus, I just liked the characters better.

 -Miss Amy Merryweather, the kind, frail old lady from the poorhouse whom Mariah befriends. She was always so cheerful and optimistic, despite her bleak circumstances, and her unfailing faith in God was definitely inspiring. Later in the story it is discovered that she was sold into prostitution by her own father when she was young, but then Percival Prin-Hallsey (aka Captain Prince) came along and bought her freedom and placed her in a respectable home. She and Captain Prince's relationship reminded me of Miss Matty Jenkyns and Thomas Holbrook in Cranford, because even though they never married, love without marriage is still a sacred thing. I admit I was disappointed with the scene where Miss Amy died. (Honestly, Julie Klassen, can't you give me a decent tear-worthy death scene?) And for one of my favourite characters in the book, no less! Arggg. I prize my tear-jerking, epic death scenes, ( even though that must sound kind of morbid), and needless to say this was not the best *cough* one I've ever read. Not the worst, but by no means the best. Miss Amy deserved better.

 - Most everyone from the Honora House poorhouse- the Merryweathers, Lizzy and George Barnes, Maggie. But then again, the poor folks are always the favourites, aren't they? Even though their circumstances were none too pleasant- and they had to put up with that abominable Mrs. Pitt- they all seemed so much happier than Captain Bryant's stupid house party. It was especially evident when Captain Bryant and his so-called 'friends' tried to put on the theatrical, because it was clear they didn't have near as much fun as the players at Honora House. It just goes that wealth and position isn't everything- unconditional cheerfulness is!


Least Favourite Characters:

 -Captain Matthew Bryant- yes, I know, he's the hero (per se) of the story and therefore I am supposed to like an admire and revere him and all that- after all, a novel should have for its hero a person superior to the common herd of men- but I didn't. I'm not sure why, exactly, but he seemed rather......weak. And for a sea captain in his majesty's navy, one cannot be weak. In the author's note in the back of the book, I read that  Captain Bryant was inspired by Captain Wentworth of Persuasion and..... Forester's Horatio Hornblower? WHAT? Nothing about him was in the least bit equal to Horatio. Nothing. Except, of course, that he was a navy captain. Since I am not at all acquainted with Captain Wentworth, I would not presume to judge how Matthew Bryant compares or measures up to him, but he was certainly no Horatio. But of course, no one is. In a way, he reminded me somewhat of Arthur Clennam in Little Dorrit, since all the while he was trying to win the fickle and shallow Isabella Forsythe, Mariah was the one who truly loved him. However, I did not like Captain Bryant near as much as Arthur. I know Julie Klassen is capable of creating a likable hero, because I did truly find Henry Weston in The Tutor's Daughter very satisfactory indeed, but Matthew Bryant was, needless to say, not my favourite. I'm not sure if I'd go so far as to say he's my least favourite, but I honestly didn't like him much.

 -Hugh Prin-Hallsey was an abominable scoundrel. I knew I disliked him from the start. I did find it rather comical, however, how he and Mariah's Aunt Francesca disliked each other so much, and I can see how she would.

 -Ned Parker- another abominable scoundrel! I started out liking Ned and I admit I was, like Mariah, deceived by his seemingly charming ways, but then he made clear to everyone that he was a complete idiot. Before he made the big scandalous scene during the theatrical, however, I was very amused at how he and his mother bantered back and forth and teased and scolded each other, sort of like Edmund Sparkler and Mrs. Merdle in Little Dorrit. (One thing I've noticed about Julie Klassen is, a good many of her characters in each story remind me so much of Little Dorrit characters!)



#7 What was your reaction to Amy Merryweather's red yarn as a symbol of our life to come? (As a reminder, she said, "Don't hold on to the knots and forget the life ahead.") Have you had to get past knots in your own life?

 Oh, dear Amy Merryweather and her metaphors! I did like her analogy about the yarn, and her advice not to become distracted with knots and forget about the life God has promised us in the future. As Horatio Hornblower wisely says, "Each of us has a maggot in our past that will happily destroy our future." We can't let the maggots eat away at our futures- we should just kill the darn things and remember all the wonderful blessings God has given us and the life He has in store for us!

#8 Mariah did not blame God for her problems, but she no longer felt worthy of His love. Have you or someone you've known had difficulty embracing forgiveness? How did that affect your relationships and /or self-esteem?

  It is easy to see how Mariah could feel unworthy of God's love- after all, she had disgraced her family's good name and condemned herself to a life of regret because of what she had done. But forgiveness is unconditional. No matter how great the sin, God still forgives, and that's what's so absurdly wonderful about it. Sometimes I think about just how unworthy I am, which, I'm sure you know, is not the most pleasant thought in the world, but really, we're all unworthy and undeserving, and yet He still forgives us. Because even though we are- all of us, even Horatio Hornblower- sinners, God is good. And He is enough.

#9 Go back and read the first two words and the last two words of the book. Any thoughts on why the author may have chosen them?

  I do not pretend to possess equal frankness with her ladyship Julie Klassen (haha,) but as the first two words were "The end" and the last two words were "the beginning", I think she must have chosen them because at the start of the story, Mariah felt as though it was the end of her life as she had know it and nothing would ever be the same for her again, which I imagine is none too pleasant a feeling, and at the end she was just beginning her life with Matthew didn't know what the future might have in store. It's actually quite straightforward. Funny, I didn't notice the significance of the first and last two words until I looked back again!

#10 If you could ask the author one question, what would it be?

 My dear Mrs. Klassen, have you ever even seen Hornblower? Do you even know who he is?Kidding! Honestly, I don't really know. I'd most likely ask her where she finds all of her quotes, or whether she's ever considered writing anything that was not set during the regency era. Things like that.

This question wasn't in this book but rather The Maid of Fairbourne Hall, and since I (almost involuntarily) do this anyway with almost every single book I read, I have decided to include this question just for the mere amusement of it:

 -If this book were ever made into a movie, which actors would you like to see in the leading roles?

  I love speculating about casting books! However, I usually can't make up my mind as to which actors should play the main characters in novels, but once in a while it's quite obvious. For instance, Dr. McGrath in Fire by Night IS Michael Fassbender and  Lady Weston in The Tutor's Daughter IS Francesca Annis and Gabe Harper in Hidden Places IS Gerard Butler. More often it's the smaller, less significant characters who I can really picture being played by a certain actor. Here is my 'dream cast' for The Girl in the Gatehouse:

  Mrs. Pitt-- Pam Ferris

I've only seen Pam Ferris in Little Dorrit as Mrs. General, (and although I've never seen it, she is Mrs. Squeers in The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, 2001), but I immediately pictured her as Mrs. Pitt, the cold and unfeeling poorhouse matron. Mrs. Pitt also made me think of Mrs. Frouchie, the orphanage matron in the American Girl Samantha movie, but I think if this book were ever made into a movie- that is, if I were the casting director, I would cast Mrs. Ferris









Albert Phelps-- Tom Wilkinson

I suppose it was because Mr. Phelps the gardener reminded me so much of Dr. Chausible in The Importance of Being Earnest that I thought of Tom Wilkinson, but from the very start he was the face of Mr. Phelps. I've seen Mr. Wilkinson in quite a number of films, actually, including The Patriot as General Cornwallis, Sense and Sensiblity as John Dashwood (the elder- at least, I think that was his name,) The Conspirator as Reverdy Johnson, and Martin Chuzzlewit as Seth Pecksniff (he was so weird in that!) He seems to be very good at playing odd but well-meaning older gentleman, which is exactly what Albert Phelps is.






John Pitt-- Matthew McNulty

Yes, I know, Edward Bell, ugh. But John Pitt is ugh, so I think this guy would be perfect. John Pitt is Mrs. Pitt's only son (who thinks he's all that) and who admires- bothers, actually, is more like it- Lizzy Barnes. I did not like him, and Edward Bell immediately came to mind for some odd reason, even though they're not really the same sort of *bad* character, but I think this is who I'd cast.












Amy and Agnes Merryweather-- Judi Dench and Eileen Atkins

The Merryweather sisters didn't particularly remind me a great deal of Miss Matty and Miss Deborah- actually, they sort of made me think of Miss Mamie and Miss Emily Baldwin in The Waltons, except neither Miss Mamie or Miss Emily were cranky like Agnes. I suppose it was because the whole Captain Prince, long-forgotten romance was reminiscent of Ashley Longworth! Eileen Atkins and Judi Dench are just so good at playing sisters, though, that I think they would be quite charming as Miss Amy and Miss Agnes, Judi Dench as Amy and Eileen Atkins as Agnes. That is not to say that Eileen Atkins (or Miss Deborah) is grumpy, that's just how I picture it.

Isabella Forsythe-- Georgia King

Just as Captain Bryant's futile quest to win Isabella Forsythe made me think of Arthur Clennam, Isabella, naturally, gained the face of Pet Meagles. I've never thought of Georgia King as very pretty- alright, people, let's face it. There's just something not right about her mouth. I don't know what it is, but unfortunately, it's not very flattering. However, if not for her mouth, she very likely would be very pretty indeed, and she has that delicate, fair complexion that is generally thought of as pretty, or was back in those days, (oh, those days!), and that's exactly how I picture Isabella- fair and dainty, but not strikingly beautiful.






Captain Prince-- Martin Shaw

I really don't know anything about this guy, as all I've ever seen him in is Cranford as Matty and Deborah's brother Peter. At first I pictured Captain Prince more like the horrible, mentally unstable Captain Sawyer in Hornblower. However, it soon became obvious that this captain was not in any way like the tyrannical Sawyer, even if he was a bit unstable. I suppose it's because he was (rather) old and kind and had been a traveller in his earlier days that he made me think of Peter Jenkyns. Plus, I had really liked Martin Shaw as Peter- much better than Jonathon Pryce!- and so I think I should like to see more of him. That, and he just looks like a kind old sea captain!









Hugh Prin-Hallsey-- Nathaniel Parker

You probably don't need me to tell you who THIS horrible gentleman is, but I shall tell you anyway- this, my friends, is the actor (who, I'm sure, is probably a very nice person...) who plays Harold Skimpole in Bleak House. This is the only movie I've ever seen him in, but since Hugh Prin-Hallsey is the type of scoundrel who is more of a fop who doesn't really mean any harm and whose main goal in life is for wealth and ease, Harold Skimpole seemed to fit the bill.



The ending of this book, I admit, was strangely reminiscent of a Barbie movie- everyone marrying each other, the bad characters coming to bad ends, Hugh Prin-Hallsey believed to be residing in a "shabby Cheapside inn".....just a little too happy-ever-after, if you ask me. The wedding scene was like the author completely copied it from Barbie Rapunzel, or maybe that was just me? Not that I don't LOVE Rapunzel, (it remains one of the best Barbie movies of all time- they don't make them like they used to, but then I suppose I'm sentimental), but for a historical novel, it seemed just a bit too...happy, if that's even possible!
I'm not saying I didn't like the book; I truly did. Of course, I've read much better, but this was a refreshingly simplistic, charming novel, one I would recommend, especially if you like the regency era in general.

  "Harmless amusement!"  -The Monthly Review, about Emma

Very Truly Yours,

 Emma Jane



Mood: dreamy