Relationships With Men

Question 1

Mr Nugent is impressed by Isabella’s skills

Answer 1

Isabella: ’He found it interesting, I think, that I could make scones and also lasso cattle. Indeed he declared his love for me, which was most distressing.’ p.20

Question 2

Isabella’s feelings towards Jim Nugent

Answer 2

Isabella: ‘I wouldn’t have you think I was in love with Jim Nugent. It was yearning to save him that I felt.’ p.22

Question 3

Isabella finally falls in love with her husband

Answer 3

Isabella: ‘It was Doctor Bishops devotion to her in her last illness that made me decide to marry him. He and Hennie has the same sweet character. I had not.’ p.22

Question 4

Isabella’s perception of marriage

Answer 4

Isabella: ‘I did wish marriage had seemed more of a step. I tried very hard to cope with the ordinary drudgery of life… And John himself fell ill… I began to love him with m whole heart but it was too late.’p.22

Question 5

The impact of the Emperor’s favour to Nijo’s life

Answer 5

Nijo: ‘There was nothing in my life, nothing, without the Emperor’s favour.’ p.23

Question 6

Joan and her lover

Answer 6

Joan: ‘In the end I did take a lover again… He was one of my chamberlains… Yes, if it hadn’t been for the baby I expect i’d have lived to an old age…’ p.26

Question 7

Nijo and the priest

Answer 7

Nijo: ‘He was in love with me when I was thirteen, he was very upset when I had to go to the Emperor, it was very romantic, a lot of poems.’ p.27

Question 8

Gret likes..

Answer 8

Gret: ‘Big cock.’ p.25

Question 9

Walter found it hard…

Answer 9

Griselda: ‘Walter found it hard to believe I loved him. He couldn’t believe I would always obey him. He had to prove it.’ p.33

Question 10

Joyce’s treatment of Angie and her future’s only hope is to find a husband, but that didn’t work for her.

Answer 10

‘She’d better het married. I don;t know who’d have her, mind.’

Question 11

Win as a mistress

Answer 11

Win: ‘His wife was visiting her mother. It was like living together.’ p.56

Question 12

Win and Nell objectifying men

Answer 12

Win: ‘I’ve got a Mr Holden I saw last week…Pushy. Bit of a cowboy.’ Nell: ‘Goodlooker?’ Win: ‘Good dresser.’ p.57

Question 13

Nell tells Win about Derek

Answer 13

Nell: ‘Derek asked me to marry him again.’
Win: ‘He doesn’t know when he’s beaten.’
Nell: ‘I told him I’m not going to play house, not even in Ascot.’
Win: ‘Mind you, you could play house.’
Nell: ‘If I chose to play house I would play house aces.’
Win: ‘You could marry him and go on working.’ Nell: ‘I could go on working and not marry him.’ p.59

Question 14

Win questions Louise’s sudden change of heart moving jobs. Perhaps it’s something to do with a man?

Answer 14

Win: ‘No long term understandings come to a sudden end, making for an insupportable atmosphere.’ p.62

Question 15

Win and her marriage

Answer 15

Win: ‘I lived with a fella and supported him for four years, he couldn’t get work…. Got married in a moment of weakness and he’s inside now, he’s been inside four years, and I’ve not been to see him too much this last year.’ p.76

Question 16

Joyce and her husband going through a rocky patch

Answer 16

Joyce: ‘And if I wanted to go out in the evening he’d go mad, even if it was nothing, a class, I was going to an evening class. So he had this girlfriend, only twenty-two poor cow, and U said go on, off you go, hoppit. I don’t think he even likes her.’ p.93

Question 17

Joyce gets visited by her friend’s hubbies.

Answer 17

Joyce: ‘Mind you, the minute you are on your own, you’d be amazed how your friends’ husbands drop by. I’d sooner do without.’ p.94

Question 18

Marlene and men

Answer 18

Marlene: ‘Oh there’s always men… There’s fellas who like wot be seen with a high-flying lady. Shows they’ve got something good in their pants. but they can’t take the day to day. They’re waiting for me to turn into their little woman. Or maybe I’m just horrible of course.’ Joyce: ‘Who needs them.’ Marlene: ‘Who needs them. Well I do. but I need adventures more.’ p.94