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In our second set of chapters, we follow the journeys of the two sisters as defining developments take place in each of their lives—marriage for Alice—and the start of a new career for Bianca—but both of which despite their promise bring challenges and disappointment.

Summary
As we left off last week, Mr Bryant was on the verge of proposing to Alice but wished to speak to his sister first, while Bianca was making her way in Mr Simpson’s circus having worked her way to becoming the lead performer.

Alice and Mrs Helmsby, as planned have set out on their holiday, and since Mrs Helmsby chances upon and reconnects with an old friend, Alice gets a chance to do the things she wants, like spending time on the beach with a book. We also get some insights into her nature, impacted as it is with the sights she sees on her way. Meanwhile, her book (I think, most likely, Corinne, or Italy by Madame Germaine de Staël-Holstein) has kept her so engaged that she has missed dinner and gone ‘missing�, which means a severe dressing down is probably in order from her mother. But luck is in her favour, for she is ‘rescued� by Mr Bryant, who makes his proposal. Alice does get a earful before making this known to her mother, but once she does her world pretty much changes. Not only in her own home, but in her whole neighbourhood, her status has changed; the interests she was once chided for, now praised.

The marriage takes place, but the planned wedding tour is postponed since Mr Bryant is kept by work. The couple do make a visit to his sister Mrs Lauriston, who seems nice enough, yet shrewd assessing Alice’s appearance as also every move. She also becomes the cause of shattering any ideas that Alice had about what marriage is and the kind of relationship she would like with her husband; advising that pretence and manipulation must be her approach rather than honesty and friendship. Alice is clearly nervous about her new duties, and Mr Bryant, nice though he is, hasn’t quite been able to understand the kind of encouragement she needs for her happiness. Alice’s actions or feelings might seem a tad childish at times, but that seems also the result of the absence of the clear, honest communication she expected perhaps to have with her husband. But even in these early days, her role is being limited to the house and amusing herself, with little in their lives being a true ‘partnership�. Meanwhile, her mother dies after an illness and she feels the loss deeply, another point where Mr Bryant is unable to gauge her feelings and provide any semblance of sympathy let alone what she really needs.

Bianca has been making her way in Mr Simpson’s circus, and is the principal performer. Her old benefactor, Conrad Percy re-enters the scene. His arrival causes a flutter in Bianca’s emotions for she was the slightest bit in love with him. Conrad’s arrival causes some nervousness but also enables her to perform to her best. Then again on the other hand, she questions the quality and calibre of company she is in, wanting to join the theatre proper. Conrad once again proves a saviour giving her not only the money to free herself from the debt she owes Mr Simpson, but also finding her a place in a larger theatre company. While this means a better chance, it comes with a price. Bianca not only finds herself at the bottom of the ladder once again—this not impacting the effort she puts in—but no one in this company either pays her attention or attempts to befriend her even when time passes. But then the lead actor, a great performer finds her genuine interest and efforts evidence of the talent she has in her and gives her some valuable advice. Part of this, the warning against the manager’s unwelcome attentions, she is too naïve to understand when they start to manifest. While she manages to settle things with Harriet, the previous victim, but spurning the manager’s advances spells trouble. Alongside she is also falling in love with Conrad, making perhaps a similar mistake to her mother before her.

Where will all this lead?

Women’s role
Once again through both threads we see Jewsbury question women’s lot and the challenges and limitations they had to face, no matter what course they chose or were forced into. Alice has certain expectations of marriage, wanting friendship and sympathy from her husband, but then Mrs Lauriston’s advice shatters the honesty and path she was looking to adopt. Mr Bryant might love her but seems unable to really share his life with her, whether it is work problems or showing an interest in her pursuits or sympathy when she needs it. So a woman in her position must live suppressing their true selves.

Bianca on the other hand might be ‘freer� but both chances she has had—Mr Simpson a good person and taking genuine interest in his performers but financially attempting to cheat her—and the larger company not only giving her no genuine attention but also exposing her to harassment--come with challenges she has to face as a woman

So was there any course where women could be themselves?

Women’s worth
Relatedly is the issue of worth; the changes in people’s attitudes from disapproval to admiration as soon as Alice accepts an advantageous proposal; alongside the social ostracism of sorts Bianca has to face from some company at least having chosen to act as a profession.

Marriage
Jewsbury also casts a critical eye on the Victorian idea of marriage. Men free to be busy with their work, and turning to their wives when they need, while at the same time women having to live only by certain codes, taking to only certain pursuits, not to expect any genuine friendship or partnership from the relationship. A pretence or farce rather than a real relationship

Considering the primary theme of the book, it will be important to watch Jewsbury's portrayals of married women and single women. I'm concerned with her example of the married Mrs. Lauriston. Nothing edifying can come of analyzing someone so clearly mean-spirited (first paragraph, Chapter XIV). If we want to learn about the effect of societal limitations that marriages put on women, we'll need reasonable women as examples.

At this 1/3 point in the story, I think our heroines are at interesting points in their storylines. Alice's dissatisfaction with her marriage is interesting. Her husband is in no way cruel and he allows her freedoms and control but he has a certain set of expectations of a wife's role and a fairly emotionless attitude that Alice is finding unrewarding. Alice is at a similar point in a marriage as the heroine in another Victorian novel I am currently reading Mary Elizabeth Braddon's The Doctor's Wife. The major difference is that Alice is a much more sympathetic heroine than the doctor's wife and, unlike with that heroine, I find myself hoping for Alice's good fortune. At this point, I'm not sure what that would be or how to get there without her husband changing, something I don't foresee.
Bianca's story is intriguing as I can't yet compare it to any other early Victorian age (1840s) heroine. She definitely has my sympathy and her story has my interest.

I am quite impressed with Jewsbury. We are used to some "preaching" in Victorian novels: it was quite usual that authors interrupted their narration to give the reader some of their own thoughts. And so does Jewsbury - but WHAT thoughts she has to offer! About women:

“No mildness, nor amiability, nor goodness will stand us in any stead, unless the power to make ourselves felt and feared in an extremity, makes itself apparent through all the beautiful sky-blue haze of amiable qualities.�

... or about religion, verging on heresy:

“The mysteries of religion, as made visible in books of theology, are rendered frigid and mechanical; men are forbidden to believe any thing, or to hope any thing, but what is already written. The future life is mapped out as definitely as the life which now is; orthodox monotony has attempted to strip even death of its mystery � The mephitic atmosphere of scepticism, is a relief from this; - we at least breathe more freely.�

What I find striking about Alice's part of the story is that Mr. Bryant is not at all a "bad" husband. On the contrary: he must have appeared quite normal and "good enough" at the time. A run-of-the-mill Victorian husband, so-to-speak. Showing emotions, talking business, taking seriously just wasn't the thing to do with your wife when you were one of those. It is a shrewd choice by Jewsbury to show how such a "normal" husband, when coupled with a sensitive, idealistic, and insecure girl, can produce a fair amount of unhappiness.

Brian wrote: "Considering the primary theme of the book, it will be important to watch Jewsbury's portrayals of married women and single women. I'm concerned with her example of the married Mrs. Lauriston. Nothi..."

I agree Brian; Mrs Lauriston can't really be taken as a typical version of the Victorian married woman since she does have that mean, manipulative streak; but much the same, neither can Alice since she is more emotional than most; perhaps we need to see them as representing different facets.

Brian wrote: "At this 1/3 point in the story, I think our heroines are at interesting points in their storylines. Alice's dissatisfaction with her marriage is interesting. Her husband is in no way cruel and he a..."

Glad you are enjoying it; I am as well; I think both stories are interesting in themselves, and I wonder if and how they will link up in terms of whether the sisters do end up learning about each other.

I like Jewsbury's approach in Alice's story of making Bryant a normal person rather than a cruel or negative character, thereby demonstrating both that it isn't just 'niceness' that matters but temperaments and outlooks.

sabagrey wrote: "I am quite impressed with Jewsbury. We are used to some "preaching" in Victorian novels: it was quite usual that authors interrupted their narration to give the reader some of their own thoughts. A..."

Agreed sabagrey; I think his being normal highlights better that the problem lay with the prevalent views of men's and women's roles.

Since Brian Fagan and I are in so many groups together, I have added my middle initial E (for Edward) to my name to help distinguish us.
I have often found myself being pleased with how smart I sound when quoted by other GR posters and then finding out that it wasn't me but Mr. Fagan who made the comment. Hopefully, this will eliminate my having such disappointing moments.

So Brian E is the 69 year old guy from Springfield Illinois while plain old Brian is the younger guy from Kansas City in the neighboring state of Missouri.

Ha ha, just got back from a trip and saw this. Thanks for the kind words, Brian :)

Brian E wrote: "Since Brian Fagan and I are in so many groups together, I have added my middle initial E (for Edward) to my name to help distinguish us.
I have often found myself being pleased with how smart I sou..."

Apologies Brain E and Brian Fagan for the confusion; one does tend to simply see the first name on the comment and respond

No need to apologize Lady C. , you didn't do anything to cause confusion. You were posting the appropriate reply in the appropriate manner and quoting the appropriate Brian.
Posters with the same name operating in the same thread will always result in some confusion. As Brian and I will likely be operating in the same book threads in the future, I thought it best to remedy the situation. And you are right, I probably should use "Brain E" rather than "Brian E" as my site name.

Would Alice have been happier with a young poet, I wonder? Jewsbury shows us a stereotype of the time, I think, the successful industrialist who is a "good match" by virtue of his ability to make money and provide, but whose solid, practical nature is at odds with the Romantic ideal of a lover and therefore at odds with Victorian sentimentality. Alice is all sentimentality at this stage, and if she'd been a bit more practical in nature she would probably have just gotten on with life and enjoyed her status as the other married women seem to do.

Bianca IS more practical because of her circumstances, but still rather naïve about changing jobs. Of course she'll start at the bottom, as she did in the circus. Of course she's bound to attract the attention of the wrong sort of men, being a woman essentially on her own, whereas Alice has her mother's protection until she marries. I think Jewsbury is saying quite a lot here about the dichotomy of womanhood; you're damned if you do marry and at risk if you don't.