After a brief review, I remember that this is the part in which Lucy makes a life-altering decision. After going to London on her own in search of work (which I think is pretty gutsy for such a young girl) she decides to travel to France to look for a job teaching English. She doesn't know a soul in France but on the crossing she meets a young girl, Ginevra Fanshawe, who is at a French school in a town called Villette (hence, the title) and Lucy decides to go there to look for work. Upon arriving at the town at a late hour, she luckily encounters an Englishman man who gives her directions a reputable inn; however, she gets lost, and serendipitously finds Madame Beck's school for girls.
Though Lucy has no references and little experience, Madame Beck sizes her up and decides to give her a shot as a nursery-governess. Much of the weeks' reading are about Lucy's experiences at the school and a great description of Madame Beck, who is kind of a tough lady making her way in what is still largely a man's world. Lucy and Madame Beck don't exactly like one another, but it's obvious that there's a lot of grudging respect between the two. Eventually, Lucy works her way up in the school, teaches more advanced students and apparently becomes pretty fluent in French. The Englishman reappears, and so does the young lady from the boat, Ginevra.
So far this was my favorite section. We got a lot of background and character development, especially Madame Beck. I don't know if I like her exactly -- she's tough, but not quite a villainess -- and I think that's how Bronte wants the reader to feel. I still don't know that I've gotten to Lucy very well, though I admire her guts -- first, she's gone to London on her own; then, she travels to a foreign country without any contacts or prospects, found herself a job; and now she's taken control of some uppity French students. There's a great scene [MILD SPOILER ALERT!] in which Lucy is thrown into a situation substituting for the teacher of 60 teenaged girls, not much younger than herself, and she knows if she gives them an inch they'll walk all over her. She has to show them that she's in control, and she takes a sassy student and locks her in a closet. Well done!
I've now read about 40% of Villette but there's a lot left to go. I'll try to catch up and write posts as I'm reading from now on -- hopefully I won't lose momentum if I slow down a bit. This book isn't quite as engaging as Jane Eyre, but I'm willing to give it more time.
I'm reading this as part of Unputdownables Villette Read-A-Long. Visit the link if you'd like to read more thoughts on this book.
If you liked this section better than I did, you're doing better than me. I hated this section with a passion!! I almost gave up, but waited until a few chapters into Part 2. or Part 3, can't remember which...
ReplyDeleteYou are right that Jane Eyre is much more engaging than Villette, but I must admit that I'm enjoying the story and characters much more in Villette than in Jane Eyre. So far, its turning out to be quite a good read!
ReplyDeleteThat scene with Lucy first teaching the girls is awesome. I feel like there's so much more to her character and we're getting glimpses of what's underneath her quiet facade.
ReplyDeleteAmanda -- I think it's slowing down a little and something happened that I found completely unbelievable, but I'll comment on that in a couple of weeks. I'm going to keep at it though. But definitely different than Jane Eyre.
ReplyDeleteNadia -- I was listening to an audio of Jane Eyre today and I just wanted to throttle Mrs. Reed!! At least I don't hate any of the characters in Villette, not yet -- although Ginevra could use a sharp slap, in my opinion.
Erin -- I like Lucy's spunk. I'm waiting to see more of her character revealed.
I think it was gutsy of her to go to France, too, but I also think it was a part of having so little options. I feel that her life is so tragic; who is there to support and encourage her? She's got to be lonely, not to mention financially struggling. As a teacher, though of children, I smiled when she 'won' the battle with the older girls. I thought for a moment they would best her, but I should have known Lucy was tougher than that.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying really hard to stay on the schedule (it's been fun letting a section kind of percolate before I write about it), but it has been tough-- I see why you got ahead. I thought this book started in a more interesting manner than Jane Eyre, but I think Jane Eyre really got into the meat of the story faster.
ReplyDeleteBellezza -- It was a gutsy move but let's see how it plays out. I"m getting kind of bogged down in the middle.
ReplyDeleteMindy -- I'm listening to an audiobook of Jane Eyre in the car and I do think the story is much more engaging. There's a lot of sections in Villette I seem to be skimming over. Jane Eyre seems much more plot-driven, Villette more character-driven. But I haven't read Jane Eyre in years so we'll see.