Alright. Is everyone hydrated? Does everyone have access to chocolate or another endorphin inducing substance? *cracks knuckles*
So, Maud liked Jane Eyre? And clearly fancied Mr Rochester. The references in this chapter, besides the obvious direct quote one, are so numerous, I won't bother pointing them out.
Fine, I'll point out some. Dean asking Emily if she thinks him handsome. The way Dean is described as someone Emily finds part of her tribe, easy to talk to about everything. Again the reference to Emily being a fairy/elf. I am sorely tempted to go in for an analysis for those lines from that song in the scene from Jane Eyre, but frankly, the point is still the same.
It's like, in this case, much like in the Red Room/guest room scene, Montgomery took Brontë's idea and ran with it, but this time she made it waaaay way worse. I mean, if there's worse than a mentally ill wife in the attic? It's a tie, maybe it's a tie. Though, as this girl is 12 and the situation carries on over several books, it's really worse.
What I find deeeeeeeeeply disturbing is how Emily is described as seeing Dean as, not handsome but clearly attractive. "magnetic green eyes", sensitive lips, with strength tenderness and humour. I guess we've witnessed Emily having opinions about men before but they are pretty pointed here.
I don't remember exactly how I reacted to this part when I read this first as a 9yo, but I do remember the time I actually took in that he was 36, and what he meant by "waiting for her" (probably a few years later when mum gave me the rest of the books). I do remember I always tried to skip over the Dean parts or read them quickly.
As a whole Dean is made out to be an interesting character which is also continuously disturbing. Like, if Dean was just a friend like Fater Cassidy from the start, I'd love him as a character. If Emily was 10 years older when they met or Dean described to start having designs on her only when she grows up, this would not be so creepy. Alas, Maud made it weird.
Just as a thought experiment, for which I feel much more guilt than for considering the origin stories of the aunts, I wonder if Dean's cynicism is because of his back and having been shunned because of it? Just because of it or was there already something off about him earlier? Seems like he had one friend at least in Emily's dad. And as a reward for him being friendly years ago, he makes designs on his preteen daughter? Some friend.
Ok, enough Dean bashing. Can there be enough Dean bashing?
Now I want to read Jane Eyre.
