"Pictures of perfection, as you know, make me sick and wicked"

[epea_pteroenta]

OK, I promised eolivet an analysis of that intriguing line of Mary's from S02E03 "The truth is we're very much alike so naturally I think she's perfect".

I've already written about it quite a bit in this post so this will quote and use that (because I'm lazy).

Comments

[eolivet]

Heh -- this was my initial interpretation of the line, and then I read other interpretations and liked those better. Nothing like reading my initial interpretation of the line was "correct" -- hee! :D

they are both dealing with the consequences of actions they would have wished to avoid and which will paint them as blacker than they are.

But...Lavinia's "scandal" is she loves her father so much, she stole secrets to save her family! It's the nicest, most selfless thing anyone could do (Lavinia's a veritable Jean Valjean!) It's almost a good thing she didn't tell Matthew, because it almost makes Lavinia look better! :p

It's a HUGE contrast to Mary's own scandal -- an arguably unthinking, but nonetheless selfish act that could ultimately ruin her family if it ever got out. "We're very much alike?" Oh, Mary... :(

her silent complicity and agreement with Violet and Rosamund's scheming I think made it plain that she would not really be too sorry if Lavinia really was a scheming harlot and could be thrown out of the nearest air lock.See

[epea_pteroenta]

Nothing like reading my initial interpretation of the line was "correct" -- hee! :D

Well, of course it was! Oh, I don't know about correct... rochvelleth has already managed to add another layer to it above!

But...Lavinia's "scandal" is she loves her father so much, she stole secrets to save her family! It's the nicest, most selfless thing anyone could do (Lavinia's a veritable Jean Valjean!)

Yes, morally it was a beautiful act, worthy of a Disney heroine. However, legally she still stole the secrets. And if she got caught she could get into trouble, I would imagine. The public would be on her side, I would expect (they tend to be against politicians misbehaving) but it would nevertheless be a scandal. And the story of the young beauty who stole secrets to protect her dear father... It would be an excellent story!

Stop it with the tone of cynicism, self!

Do you believe if Lavinia was revealed to be the Whore of Babylon that Mary would've told Matthew as much?No. It would not have been Mary's place to do so (and she knows full well that in

[eolivet]

she would have strongly encouraged Lavinia to tell him, perhaps even supporting her while she did. Perhaps she might feel that if Lavinia somehow manages to do what she did not have the courage to do, then that can somehow put her own failure there to rest?

Awwwww!!! Of course she would -- yes, that makes so much sense. :) I sort of love that idea, actually -- by helping Lavinia, she would've helped to atone for her own sins...aww.

I ain't writing that fanfic though...I've filled my Lavinia quota. ;)

You can see a lot of Violet in both Rosamund and Mary, and actually some Rosamund in Mary

Oh, interesting -- never thought of it that way!!! I have to say, considering this is a TV show and none of these actors are actually family, that's some pretty good writing and acting to communicate that. :D

To Matthew, as I see it, the idea of uncovering deep dark secrets about her past is just rather hilarious and clearly some quirky plot of Violet's. He's not taking it seriously.That I disagree with -- maybe at dinner, but when he's talking

[clunkhall]

Would love to know what [info]clunkhall thinks... (Being the Matthew expert! :P)What a testimonial! :D

[clunkhall]

What does that mean in terms of Mary/scandal, then? That oh, he doesn't expect her to be perfect anyway, so why should he care? No, I don't think so. What I do think is that it will contribute to Matthew not judging her, and being able to move past it, because he doesn't have her on this unrealistic pedastal to begin with. He KNOWS her. (Which actually, also, just makes me appreciate even more Mary's "perfect" line. She knows they BOTH know she isn't, like a little in-joke... IDK

[epea_pteroenta]

I really love your interpretation in all ways but one! (As we already sort of discussed on MSN...)

I do think Matthew put Mary on a pedestal, at least at the beginning. I don't think he had ever seen anyone like her before. And his comment about living in a dream acknowledged that to a certain extent. But, as we were discussing, I think it is possible to marry that with not being taken in by Mary's character. He didn't think she was perfect, but he did, perhaps, have unrealistic expectations of her, based on his less practical view of the world (perhaps?).

So yeah, I'm agreeing with you - and I do think it's possible to feel the two things at the same time, but I think there was an aspect of pedestal putting with Mary. But it was a pedestal of intense admiration. I'm not sure that Matthew is necessarily looking up at Lavinia now, if that makes sense. He's not seeing the real girl necessarily, but he's looking sideways rather than up.

Gosh, that was a weird metaphor. :S