Villette: Week Four

We are now at week four and I've just finished reading chapters 16-20.  Basically, Lucy has been enjoying the company of her godmother and Dr. John, whilst recuperating from her mental fainting spell.  She is staying at their place, as school is still not in session.  During this stay she has come to feel happy and comfortable being surrounded by these two familiar faces and allows herself to be taken to museums and about town.  She finds herself feeling free.  In fact, she is at the museum looking at a painting of Cleopatra when she runs into M. Paul,  who chastises her for being alone in a museum and for staring at that particular painting.  He sits her in a corner and tells her to stare at these other works which are much more suitable for her.  She finds the whole bit rather odd, but amusing.  Oh and then there is the dress - a pink dress.  Lucy's godmother gets it made for her since they will be attending a concert. And we all Lucy would rather look drab than fab, so there is a bit of reluctance on her part to wear it, but she easily caves and finds herself satisfied when Dr. John merely glances at her in it.  Of course, this stay does include talk about Ginerva - Dr. John's object of affection.  Lucy wishes John would look elsewhere for love, since she is privy to the fact that Ginerva is merely using John for the presents he gives her and has no real interest in settling down with him.  Luckily, Lucy gets her wish when at the concert - John notices Ginerva mocking his dear old mother and from that moment forth he tells Lucy that he could never be with someone who would belittle his beloved mother.  He finds himself disliking Ginverva more and more.  Lucy is glad that John is free of his lust for Ginerva, but does ensure him that her bad behavior is not filled with malice, but simple child's play - which he does not believe. 

And so you see, we are back with Lucy revealing memories to us that sort of include her, but are really about other people.  Where is she in all of this? Why doesn't she want us to know her? Yes, we do learn that she is insecure when she puts on that pink dress for the concert, but that is about it.  And yes, we know she hated being alone in the house and freaked out about it and went to church and then fainted - all of which displayed how shot her nerves were. Oh and of course she reveals to John that she recognized him some time ago, but didn't tell him so.  My point is that though Lucy does reveal bits of herself, she doesn't really reveal true self with us.   I want to get inside of her head, instead of being held back at such a distance.  Seriously, where is this book going?  Is Lucy even going to matter by the end or are we going to forget about her before the last page is turned?  I'm starting to wonder why I decided to give this book a read - its making me mental trying to feign interest in a character who has no character to speak of- all she has are observation skills and a penchant for blending into the scenery. UGH!

Alright, well I'm off to read something interesting and will be returning to Villette next week.  Happy Reading!