In Defense of Matthew
So much backlash against Matthew. He's my favorite character, dear, sweet Matthew. Many think he's changed a great deal in S2. Thanks to the war, that's inevitable. Unfortunately, as eolivet has pointed out, JF decided to not attempt to flesh out Matthew's character in any great detail, just rendering a few war scenes here and there, and showing him
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I pretty much agree with it all, but especially the effect of his injuries and Mary nursing him. I hate it when people accuse Matthew of being selfish here, but he's been through so much, he just can't deal with wondering why Mary IS nursing him - it's easier to just think it's out of duty/friendship. Not to mention, WITH his injuries, he thinks he's not suitable for any woman, so he has even more of a reason to stay in denial about Mary!
And as for the dance - I don't get why people think he planned it or was a complete cad. He asked her for a simple, spur of the moment, friendly dance and everything just spirralled out of control from there! (Initiated, I might add, by Mary!).
I would also like to add in here, Matthew IS right in a way to say Lavinia died of a broken heart. To recover from something as awful as the Spainish flu, you need the will to fight! And Lavinia had lost that will because of what happened with Matthew. Yes, she might have died anyway, but she gave up the fight because of Matthew and he knew that and it added so much to his guilt.
Oh and I also agree, we have seen too little of Matthew from Matthew's point of view. It was similar in series 1 to be fair, but because he was more a "wear his heart on his sleeve" then, it was easier to fill in the blanks.
I do think if we'd seen a few more scenes from HIS point of view, not Mary's, it would have helped people understand him more. However, the dots are all there IMO and I think it doesn't take much effort to join them.
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YES YES YES.
I would also like to add in here, Matthew IS right in a way to say Lavinia died of a broken heart. To recover from something as awful as the Spainish flu, you need the will to fight! And Lavinia had lost that will because of what happened with Matthew. Yes, she might have died anyway, but she gave up the fight because of Matthew and he knew that and it added so much to his guilt.
Great point, something I forgot to comment on (surprising given the book I wrote). It is true to say she died of that broken heart, especially from his point of view. And honestly if I had been Lavinia, I probably would have died too.
If only we could have gotten more from Matthew's side. Some of this defense might have been rendered unnecessary. Sigh.
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Perhaps - though after series 1, I remember loads of people hating on Mary and having to bitterly defend her, and everything was from her point of view then!
I think to a large extent, some people just refuse to see what's there because they don't like it!
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