Women and John Segundus
First, after perusing the various sites linked to our fabulous blog, I realize we need to spend more time with John Segundus. As an orginal English magician, the proprietor of the first school of magic, and the biographer of Jonathan Strange, he deserves to be wined, dined, and cuddled.
I am also interested in discussing further the role of women in the novel. The gentleman with the thistle-down hair uses two women--Lady Pole and Arabella--to fulfill his freakish desires at Lost-hope, but also a man, Stephen Black. Does he pick those he enchants based on their submissiveness or their genders?
Also, what happens between Lady Pole and Sir Walter when she returns? Does Arabella wait for Jonathan? What is the deal with her black dress, wandering on the snowy moors, and not remembering any of it? Does the peat harvested by Stephen to replace Arabelle symbolize anything?
I am also interested in discussing further the role of women in the novel. The gentleman with the thistle-down hair uses two women--Lady Pole and Arabella--to fulfill his freakish desires at Lost-hope, but also a man, Stephen Black. Does he pick those he enchants based on their submissiveness or their genders?
Also, what happens between Lady Pole and Sir Walter when she returns? Does Arabella wait for Jonathan? What is the deal with her black dress, wandering on the snowy moors, and not remembering any of it? Does the peat harvested by Stephen to replace Arabelle symbolize anything?
posted by Anonymous at 8:05 PM
2 Comments:
It seems like the gentleman with the thistle-down hair likes to pick on those who are already submissive. Maybe that's why he hates Jonathan and Mr Norrell so much, he can't control them. Arabella was submissive to Jonathan and Lady Pole and Stephen were both submissive to Sir Walter. I guess he figures that at least with picking people who are already submissive he wouldn't have to break their spirit to make them submissive.
Katie, do you view John Segundus as one of the heroes of the novel? How do you think posterity, decades or centuries down the road, will look upon Segundus' role in this business?
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