Cecelia- charcterisation Flashcards
“Wintery…”
“Unused rosewood…”
Wintery hedge
Unused rosewood music stands
“Genuine Meissen porcelain…..
“The work of a great artist Horoldt, who pained it in 1726”
“The Tallis home….”
“….barely 40 years old bright orange brick squat, lead panned baronial Gothic to be condemned one day in an article by Pevsner….as a tragedy of wasted chances”
Cecelia’s narrative voice
Descriptive, detailed, slow prose as she describes everything with precision and care making it possible to visualise the “Wintery sedge” and “unused music stands” . Her writing provides readers precise contextual knowledge.
Cecilia’s narrative voice (self conscious)
Her musings are incredible introspective and self conscious as she observes her surroundings but also her place in it self consciously as if she imagines how her descriptions will be judged. Her critique of her family members/home is especially pronounced which is an attempt to differentiate herself from her gaudy, tasteless environment. Ironic as the Tallis home can be seen as a representation of all the Tallis and C who is “a tragedy of waste chances” as she flirts about her home aimlessly.
Cecilia’s narrative voice (self conscious John Berger)
The postmodern art critic (John Berger) has described in his book (Ways of Seeing) the ways in which women imagine themselves being observed by an imagined other. Cecelia acts with a keen awareness how she appears to others and how she will look in memory.
“She had returned from Cambridge with…”
“A vague notion that her family was owed an uninterrupted stretch of her company.”
“She had returned home from Cambridge with a vague notion “A vague notion that her family was owed an uninterrupted stretch of her company.”
Cecelia has a warped vision of her own importance. It is clear she is not needed at home and is free to further her career or enjoy her summer with friends but she constructs this “vague notion” she is needed. The metaphor “uninterrupted stretch of her company” creates the impression her presence is redundant. When she is needed she feels “she was not inclined to help—it was too hot, and whatever she did the project would end with calamity” . Thus, she would rather feel that “she was needed” rather than do anything of importance. Is this a consequence/condition of the modern women who is inundated with opportunities/ ideologies causing overwhelm? Stuck between old vs new
“When she wasn’t…
“Nurturing her migraines, (Emily) seemed distant, even unfriendly”
“When she wasn’t “Nurturing her migraines, (Emily) seemed distant, even unfriendly”
Irony- should be nurturing her children but is instead neglectful.
Present participle- Emily’s self absorption/victimised mindset is continuous and unable to be antidoted.
Intertextual references. A developed secret language.
First time they communicate- through Intertextual references.
A third language blooms between them and allows them to communicate what they feel they cannot. Foreshadows their letters that have to be written in code to pass censors.
Theme- We rely on literature/art to communicate a deep truth inside of us even before we can admit this truth to ourselves. Briony’s novel also allows her to communicate hidden truths, experiences.
“He might be thinking she was…
“Talking to him in code, suggestively conveying her taste for the full blooded and sensual”
“He might be thinking she was Talking to him in code, suggestively conveying her taste for the full blooded and sensual”
Sexually charged lexis- betrayal C assertion that she does not mean to be suggestive.
“I’d rather read read Feilding any day”
Greater affinity towards Feilding, known for his satire. Signifying C’s desire for fun rather than study. The fact she is constantly reading but never finishing highlights the unfinished nature of her story.
“Denying his help… was his punishment. The unexpected freezing water that made gasp was his punishment…Drowning herself would be his punishment”
Allusion the Shakespeares Ophelia who drowns herself, there are many paintings recreate this moment. Thus C acts as the victimised sacrificial women to punish Robbie. They both are playing roles only to be understood by each other but Briony misunderstands and misconstrues this.
