A Room with a View

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A Room with a View

• Chapters 11-15

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• 11 In Mrs Vyses Well-Appointed Flat
• 12 Twelfth Chapter
• 13 How Miss Bartletts Boiler was so Tiresome

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TITLES

• The titles contribute to the overall comic
  effect.
• They are jocular and detached as they specify
  scene, lay out the cast of characters, and
  identify thematic strands and symbolic motifs.
• The most extreme example is the title of Chapter
  6, in which nearly all the characters thus far
  assembled
• are listed as in a dramatis personae of a play.
  The lengthy title concludes in a comic
  anticlimax they drive out to see a view
  Italians drive them

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• well-appointed flat - well equipped or
  furnished properly supplied
• gt note the irony what does the flat lack?
• Miss Bartletts Boiler was so Tiresome (plot)
• gt what other significance do the words
  tiresome or boiler have?
• Chapter 12 gt significance?
• the two chapters that function as the emotional
  and symbolic pivots of the novel, Chapters 4 and
  12 the murder in the piazza and the bathing
  scene at the Sacred Lake have no titles.
• gt draws attention to their importance - they
  cannot be reduced to clever phrases in a satiric
  scheme.

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CHPT 11

• Introduction to London Society
• Note the differences between the the society
  described in Surrey, Summer Street and London.
• Pg113 ..dinner party consisting of the
  grandchildren of famous people..food was poor,
  but the talk had a witty weariness that impressed
  the girl. One was tired of everything, it seemed
  gt society is not as tight-knit emphasises the
  intellectual over the body there is a general
  jaded or cynical air that is probably part of the
  pretentious intellectualism.

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Chpt 11

• Lucy is negatively influenced impressed
  learns to play the social game gt Pg 113 One
  launched into enthusiasms collapse..laughter
• Note choice of music Schumann
• its dejected phrases and sadness of the
  incomplete.. are more appropriate for the London
  crowd.
• Note description of Mrs Vyse. Compare to Mrs
  Honeychurch

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Chpt 11

• her personality , like many others had been
  swamped by London.. implies loss of independence
  or individuality
• she was mechanical, and behaved as if he was
  not her son, but, so to speak, a filial crowd gt
  note lack of intimacy, connection and personal
  relationship. Detached and distant.

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Chpt 11

• He saw the needful fire had been kindled in
  Lucy. As she longed for attention, as a woman
  should, and looked up to him because he was a
  man. (p110) Chivalry
• Lucys and Cecils relationship gt appears
  slightly more passionate, sparked by a new
  neediness on Lucy's part. she felt safe in the
  London flat
• Cecil's conclusion that Lucy has come to
  understand her place as a woman and learned to
  respect him as a man betrays his immaturity and
  lack of sensitivity.
• Cecil's lack of response to Lucys nightmare gt
  distance in their relationship, and it further
  symbolizes Cecil's lack of sensitivity towards
  her.

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Chapter 11 Letters

• We should reflect on the use of letters thus far
• References to letters and letter-writing in ch 5
  (with Charlotte sending and receiving letters)
• Letter-writing in chapter 8 (Mrs Honeychurchs
  letter to Mrs Vyse)
• What is conveyed in the concept of a letter?
• Something written therefore not disputable?
• Note the way the letter in Ch 8 reflects very
  little concrete information reflects societys
  conventions of refinement and tact.
• Letters are important form of social
  communication and interaction even
  entertainment
• Consider its use as a narrative tool.

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Chapter 11 Charlottes letter

• What is said?
• Charlotte is aware of Georges presence in Summer
  Street
• Charlotte is still in contact with Miss Lavish
• Lucy has suffered a great misfortune
• Charlotte feels there is a need to warn Lucy
• What is not said?
• The kiss is not mentioned and is not even
  directly alluded to
• Charlotte has a poor regard for George (He never
  suggested giving Eleanor a cup of tea)
• Charlotte is still maintaining her martyr role
  (see ch 7, p 71)

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Chapter 11 Lucys reply

• What is said?
• The kiss is almost addressed (When Mr Emerson
  forgot himself on the mountain)
• She addresses practical considerations such as
  rationalising reasons for the absence of tea
• She asserts a sense of control (You must see it
  would be too absurd)
• She asserts a new social strength (Cecil is aware
  of who the Emersons are)
• She makes more assertive statements (do not put
  Private outside your envelope again)
• What is not said
• An admission of the kiss
• A direct statement of irritation at Charlottes
  attempt to spread or incite gossip

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Chapter 12

• Note Seasonal motifs? Autumn (in contrast to
  Spring in Part 1) All that was gracious
  triumphed (p115) gt presaging maturity
• Theatrical presentation Focus on Freddy and
  Beebe as chorus-like commentators
• I suggest we should hinder them Beebes
  delight in social mischief echoes that of Chapter
  6
• Bees in classical and medieval times were often
  associated with industry and celibacy. They make
  honey so are associated with flattery. Beebe is
  honey mouthed but also has a sting when provoked

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Chpt 12

• Note the quotation from RW Emersons contemporary
  Thoreau (p116 Mistrust all enterprises that
  require new clothes) foreshadowing of the
  later events of the chapter?
• the trappings of civilization interfere with our
  appreciation for natural simplicity.
• Note the male-dominated world of the chapter.
• Emersons philosophy of equality (equity) with
  women is clearly indicated (p117) they shall
  be comrades. gt ideal relationship
• Freddys scepticism
• Note Beebes response as Emerson descends the
  stairs We are to raise ladies to our level? gt
  what does it suggest of his attitude to women?

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Chpt 12 bathing in the Sacred lake

• the Sacred lake is presented as a kind of
  pastoral Arcadia an idealized rural setting
  where nature is kind and men and women can escape
  from the evils of society.
• Motor cars, commerce, duty, authority and class
  have no place here.
• The place lies beyond seasonal change and
  hopefully the intrusion of men.

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• By putting their clothes away, the men have put
  away all worldly considerations.
• The sacred pool is a place of innocence and
  childhood. this is emphasised by the use of
  slangy or infantile language polly-wog
  apooshoo, kouf,
• Their actions are a demonstration of the kind of
  natural innocence that has been largely crushed
  by Society or the Church's repressive attitudes
  towards the human body.

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• The writing is playful, celebratory and lyrical
  grass is sward, weeds are salad and the sun
  is shedding the most glorious heat.
• The description seeks to disrupt the mundane and
  everyday. There are touches of the burlesques
  becos you have 3 men rotating in a diminuative,
  weed-filled pond like nymphs

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Chpt 6 and Chpt 12

• Like the Kiss in chpt 6, this incident implies a
  baptism into life through extensive use of water
  imagery.
• In chpt 6, George is described as a swimmer who
  prepares Here in chpt 12, he falls into an
  experience expressed in terms that are mostly
  associated with water.

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• in chpt 6 there was a release of passion
• Here there is much male ragging and horse play,
  splashing and spreading of water.
• Effect on George is a release of inhibition and
  sexual energy. The effect is wholly beneficial
  released from his gloom, the forces of youth
  burst out leading to great display of high
  spirits. P121
• Michelangelesque on the flooded margin p120 is
  also applied to George associating him with
  vitality and life while paradoxically idealising
  him as the perfect youth worthy to be worshipped
  by the other 2 with deference.

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• George appears in a comfortable alliance with
  nature "He regarded himself as dressed.
  Barefoot, barechested, radiant and personable
  against the shadowy woods" (123).
• However, the swimming incident is described
  (regretfully by narrator) as a moment of passing
  innocence "On the morrow the pool had shrunk to
  its old size and lost its glory" (123).
• Still, the experience changed its participants in
  a lasting way "It had been a call to the blood
  and to the relaxed will, a passing benediction
  whose influence did not pass, a holiness, a
  spell, a momentary chalice for youth" (129).
• Religiously charged words like "benediction" and
  "holiness" help convey the significance of this
  moment.

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• High spirits shown here are exclusively male and
  seem strangely excessive.
• Such a scene is magical and marginal and seems
  at odds with the general pattern of the text gt
  it suggests an imaginative outbreak on Forsters
  part gt a need to celebrate masculine flirtation
  and camaraderie in a manner that declares its
  power and sexual appeal while simultaneously
  masking and concealing these things. critic
  Markley

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• It is on Georges body, Markley argues, that the
  gaze is chiefly concentrated.
• The bathing scene carries a sexual charge in its
  language, in the space it opens in the narrative
  for other longings, other resolutions. Here
  Forster writes homosexual desire without giving
  it either a name or an action. critic - Eric
  Haralson

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Chapter 12

• The culmination of the chapter comes with the
  intrusion of the female presence (Lucy and Mrs
  Honeychurch)
• Note Cecils chivalrous actions Come this way
  immediately (p122) gt he must lead women..
• Note Lucys Mrs HCs reaction attempting the
  tense, nonchalant expression
• The comic incongruency of the womens attempt at
  formality Bow, Lucy better bow

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Chapter 13

• The chapter opens with the concept of rehearsal
• Note the continued use of theatrical metaphor and
  motif
• A fault in the scenery, a face in the audience,
  an interruption of the audience onto the stage,
  and all our carefully planned gestures mean
  nothing, or mean too much. pg 125
• Forster often presents scenes as staged theatre.
  In this way, he emphasises the public role of
  each character on the social stage and their
  behaviour often as staged performances for the
  public eye.
• In staging the scenes and action, he reminds the
  audience/reader that what we are witnessing
  (reading) is at a remove from reality, is only a
  story.
• He enjoys playing games with the
  audience/reader rendering believable characters
  whilst denying their substantiality.

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Chapter 13

• Note thematic significance of the idea of
  rehearsal why does Lucy need to rehearse?
• it is impossible to rehearse life pg 124
• A shift in Mrs Honeychurchs view of Cecil?
• the 2 civilisations had clashed pg 126
• Cecil has told you to think so pg 125
• Note the description of Windy Corner and its
  healthy values the grittiness went out of life.
  It generally did at Windy Corner . Social
  machine was clogged, poured in a drop of oil.
  pg 127-8

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Chapter 13 Lucys resolve to not invite
Charlotte

• Note Lucys adamant, stubborn attitude.
• there was little view and no view of the
  skyp126
• I wouldnt do that with all this muddle p127
• Lucy displays an uncharacteristic unkind attitude
  in the chpt. WHY?
• Mrs Honeychurch
• She is kind to everyone, and yet Lucy makes this
  difficulty when we try to give her some little
  return. (p130)
• Note the delicacy in the term difficulty
• Note the implications of the phrase little
  return

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• Lucys fears
• the ghosts were returning they filled Italy,
  they were even usurping the places she had known
  as a child (p130)
• Note the construction and language of the
  paragraph
• Consider the way in which the events in Italy are
  seen as ghosts.
• Possible meanings
• Ghosts faded memories of Italys passion and
  life, buried deep in her subconscious now
  resurfacing they disturb haunt her difficulty
  of dealing with them.

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Chapter 13 Charlottes inevitable visit

• I suppose Miss Bartlett must come, since she
  boils eggs so well (p130)
• May me and Lucy get down from our chairs?...We
  dont want no dessert. (p131)
• Significance of Cecils tone and use of
  non-standard voice and construction.
• Cecil is bored by the Honeychurch family's
  domestic plans and insults them all by using
  deliberately poor grammar. His tone is deeply
  sarcastic.

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Chpt 14

• The title of this chapter, "How Lucy Faced the
  External Situation Bravely" refers ironically to
  Lucy's tendency to deal with the surface of
  situations rather than probing into the root
  causes of her discomfort.
• Refers to Lucys lack of self-reflection she
  never gazed inward. Pg 132. put it down to
  nerves.
• Now Cecil had explained psychology to her one
  wet afternoon, and the troubles of youth in an
  unknown world could be dismissed. 132 gt his
  influence on Lucy is to obscure.

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The Muddle

• Narrator tells us that Lucy "loved Cecil George
  made her nervous will the reader explain to her
  that the phrases should have been reversed?"
  (132).
• Narrators direct appeal to us/reader suggests
  that we know more about Lucy's life than she
  does.
• gt involves us in watching Lucys development and
  hoping that she will appreciate her feelings for
  George in time.
• Foreshadows Lucys change

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Charlotte Bartlett (CB)

• Charlottes arrival at Windy Corner marked by
  familiar martyr language
• begged to be given an inferior spare room
  something with no view, anything. (p132)
• Comic muddle she contrived to bungle her
  arrival (133)
• Comic confusion and misunderstanding over the cab
  fare gt the boys and Cecil play a mean trick on
  Charlotte
• gt trivial episode hides a deeper meaning gt
  parallel to Lucys own muddle lack of clarity.
• Novel beginning to draw similarities between Lucy
  and Charlotte. c/r come here old lady.. (127)gt
  Possibility of Lucy becoming a Charlotte if she
  rejects true love.
• Episode also possibly draws attention to
  Charlottes obsessive desire to suffer (becos
  of her attitudes and beh)

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• Notice the imagery in Beebes perceptions of
  George
• He will work off his crudities in time(c/f
  p148 Ch 15 the man was ill-bred. He didnt put
  on his coat after tennis ).
• He is waking up (p133)
• gt process of maturing and transforming
• Like Lucy.

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Chapter 14

• When Lucy and Charlotte are alone together, we
  notice a significant change in Charlotte
• Have you told him about him yet? (p135) gt she
  is direct and purposeful.
• Charlottes view remains unchanged
• How dreadful! she murmured, how dreadful, if
  Mr Vyse should come to hear of it from some other
  source.
• Once a cad, always a cad. That is my poor
  opinion.
• Lucy defends George. ..said the girl entering
  the battle, George is all right. (135)

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• Lucy lies to Charlotte I think I can trust
  Cecil to laugh at it. (135)
• she knew in her heart she could not trust him,
  for he desired her untouched.
• gt Lucy is wise enough to know Cecils desire to
  possess her untouched. She does not however
  realise the full extent of his desire to mould
  her as his own.
• Repressing her feelings for George is causing her
  to lie. c/r chpt 13 wondering whether she would
  get through the meal without a lie (128)

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Chapter 14 the unfortunate slip

• In her defence of George, Lucy makes a Freudian
  slip.
• "Mr. Emerson lost his head. I fell into those
  violets and he was silly and surprised. I don't
  think we ought to blame him all that much" (136).
  gt implies George kissed her on impulse not
  design.
• Howeverfurther disclosure
• It makes such a difference when you see a person
  with beautiful things behind him unexpectedly.
  (p136) gt the unfortunate slip
• Lucy unwittingly reveals her own feelings of
  passion gt she too lost her head. The passion
  was mutual

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Narrative

• Narrator cleverly hides this revelation in Lucys
  grand speech in the defense of George.
• Narrator draws our attention to the slip but
  leaves Lucy unaware of any revelation gt creating
  irony.

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Chpt 15 The Disaster Within

• Why is the disaster within?
• The true disaster is not the one Lucy attempts to
  address. Once again she lacks self-reflection and
  seeks to repress.
• Opens with a further seasonal motif Autumn
• What does this suggest?
• Note the reappearance of Phaeton rash,
  ill-fated ride this time contrasted by Apollo
  competent, unswerving, divine.
• Suggests a chance for a mature conclusion to the
  muddled affair.

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Chapter 15

• In this chpt, there is again a polarisation of
  Male and Female society.
• This is reflected in the opposing forces of
  Christianity (in the sense of Church) and
  Paganism (p139) gt the women prepare for church
  while the men sit in the sun. (139).
• Yet the concern with clothes and fashion imply
  that church going is a social rather than a
  religious experience for the women.

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Chapter 15

• Lucy ignored the Sacred Lake and introduced them
  formally (p140)
• Note the revealing statement she turned the
  conversation to a less disturbing topic
• The reader learns more of the arrangements that
  have brought the Emersons to Summer Street Note
  Cecils involvement and the impact upon the Miss
  Alans George says the Miss Alans must go to
  the wall. (p141)

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Chpt 15

• Lucys relationship with Cecil
• Note the reversal of perceptions Lucys
  perception of Cecil ..this afternoon seemed such
  a twittering sparrow. (147)
• She finds it difficult to pay attention to him
  her attention is drawn to George. her nerves
  refused to answer to the clang of his she gazed
  at the black head again (George)stroke it

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Chpt 15

• Lucy compares George to Cecil to Cecils
  disadvantage. All he (Cecil) said pained her,
  though he exuded tolerance from every pore
  somehow the Emersons were different. (140)
• George is depicted as naturally affectionate
  ..put his arm around his fathers neck gt
  touches Lucy deeply like sunshine touching a
  vast landscape (142) Cecil is cold,
  undemonstrative.
• George is vulnerable his awkwardness went
  straight to her heart men are not gods after
  all
• Cecil the only relationship Cecil conceived was
  feudal that of protector and protected. He had
  no glimpse of the comradeship after which the
  girls soul yearned. (143)

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Chpt 15

• Georges eyes laughed and Lucy suspected that he
  and her mother would get on rather well. (141)
• Georges kindness vs Cecils selfishness. he
  never realised that it may be an act of kindness
  in a bad player to make up a fourth (145) c/r Mr
  Emersons distress at the plight of the Miss
  Alans.

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Chpt 15

• Significance of tennis
• Tennis has suggestive terminology doubles,
  deuce, serve fault, advantage in and out, ser,
  love, match. gt for courtship and love.
• Tennis vs Reading Physical activity vs Mental
  activity. Cecil favours intellectual pursuits at
  the expense of the physical unlike George who
  does both.
• Playing tennis with George appears to have
  enlarged Lucys senses. An how beautiful the
  Weald looked! (145) noticing more things
  (views).

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Chapter 15 ending of chpt

• Return to the view
• Miss Lavishs book (note the nom de plume
  Joseph Emery Prank)
• Theres an absurd account of a view in this
  book
• The man was ill-bredhe didnt do (p148)
• The chapter closes with Chapter 2 of Lavishs
  novel
• there came from his lips no wordy protestation
  such as formal lovers use (p149)
• Georges second kiss opens the floodgates again
  gt Lucy is determined to squelch it.

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