(no subject)

[tree_and_leaf]

I've been catching up on the Archers (you've got to do SOMETHING to enliven sewing buttons back on), and thought that the scene between Usha and Ruth was quite well done, particularly Usha's side of it.

Except. When Usha began a sentence of remonstrance with the fatal words "Surely, surely" I thought - Good Lord, she's only been involved with t'Vicar five minutes, and she's channelling Mrs Proudie...

Comments

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

She did, however, point out that a 'wonderful, kind man'† who makes a move on you when you are upset and suffering from low self-esteem is, looked at from an outsider's perspective, taking advantage of the vulnerable and confused.

I was pleased Usha said that - in part because I've been shouting it at the radio myself. However I did rather feel that if she wanted to be of real use, instead of bleating "you've got the perfect marriage" which from an outsider's perspective says nothing (and probably gets said to lots of women who objectively have unpleasant marriages to vicious men) she ought to have focussed on the practical. "You mean, you'd leave the farm? And Ambridge? And your children? And what is actually so bad you want to leave for?" I can't imagine anything more likely to get Ruth's back up than saving her marriage becoming a local project. But then I'm rubbish at the sympathy and prefer the practical myself, so I expect I'm biased.

[tree_and_leaf]

Actually, I agree with you: but I suspect we were supposed to imagine Usha as being so shocked by the news that she's not just giving advice: I think she's always been rather envious of Ruth for having a stable and (apparently) strong marriage and finds it very unsettling to see it possibly break up. She was, for instance, quite wrong that Ruth was 'perfectly happy' before Sophie came on the scene - but it's interesting that Ruth didn't try and correct her on that, for all she wanted to defend her conduct.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

I think she's always been rather envious of Ruth for having a stable and (apparently) strong marriage and finds it very unsettling to see it possibly break up

You're probably right. I wonder also whether Ruth and David's troubles are making her look back at her own relationships - especially with Richard - and wonder what would hae happened had they not failed at that state.

But Ruth was certainly simply wanting her to say "follow your heart" - and from her hesitency in telling her, possibly suspecting even beforehand that she wasn't going to.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

Can't find email address, so... I'm going to be in Oxford next Friday afternoon and wondered if you'd like to meet up for coffee/flapjack, with a promise not to talk about "my Snape and his children"? My email's catherinemck@ hotmail.com if you want to drop me a line.

[tree_and_leaf]

That sounds lovely. I shall drop you an e-mail soonish, but my address is treeandleafster @ gmail.com .