Courtship is period in a couple's relationship which precedes their engagement and marriage, or establishment of an agreed relationship of a more enduring kind. During courtship, a couple get to know each other and decide if there will be an engagement or other such agreement. There were formally particular rules to be followed with no direct contact to each other. The male is often depicted as 'soft'... A kiss or sexual behaviour would often be seen to ruin a relationship. Carter uses this 'antiquated' term as it seems to deem that their relationship is more courtly. Courtly love is often described by several key elements one including a ritualistic output.The young girl is the constant recipetent of a 'white rose' for instance. Using 'courtship' provides an alternative method of pre-marriage love , a different way of behaving.
One particular reading on this 'courtship' idea is that her story
by 'courtship is to indicate irony as the young girl is made 'a
circulating object of exchange':
By Roxie Drayson, Year 3, Goldsmiths
College, University of London
"However in truth, when Beaumont's
Beauty first considers the possibility of marrying the Beast, her motivations
are primarily those of practicality and gratitude for the generous gifts
lavished on her: ‘“Am I not very wicked,” said she, “to act so unkindly to
Beast, that has studied, so much to please me in everything? [...] It is true,
I do not feel the tenderness of affection for him, but I find I have the
highest gratitude, esteem and friendship; I will not make him miserable, were I
to be so ungrateful I should never forgive myself”’. She is not a
woman in love, but someone calmly calculating her prospects and economic
obligations. She can therefore be read as a representation of female collusion
within the patriarchal exchange system of women.
Mimicking Sade by adopting the role of ‘moral pornographer’ who ‘through
the infinite modulations of the sexual act’ reveals ‘the historical fact of the
economic dependence of women upon men’, Carter uses her first
revision of Beamont's 'Beauty and the Beast' to illustrate the system of
material exchange upon which the original's romantic concept of marriage is in
fact founded. In the ironically titled 'The Courtship of Mr Lyon', she
highlights the construction of the female as a circulating object of exchange
by allowing, in a sentence concerning the white rose that Beauty's father had
promised to buy her, a fleeting syntactic ambiguity about what is being bought,
Beauty or the rose: ‘not even enough money left over to buy his Beauty,
his-girl-child, his pet, the one white rose she said she wanted’. The
white rose, signifying Beauty's status as a commodity, later becomes a token of
exchange in a system of private ownership between the male Beast and Beauty's
father".
Beth Delahaye also makes a good point:
From the story, we can see that Mr Lyon
does act as a male figure in an old fashioned courtship , by expressing his
love by only 'kissing her hands,' he retains a gentlemanly aspect to his
character. My Lyons behavior is arguably more appropriate of the title
Courtship than it would be of any other word, such as 'affair' or 'dating' as
these words bring with them an implication of sexual behavior, which is
not true of the story.
2. Look at the spelling of 'Lyon'. How
well do you think it anticipates the ending of the story? Discuss why Carter
chose to spell the word in this way.
There is the clear link that Lyon
indicates the eventual change . It provides the link of human nature , to him
and the title of his address. The spelling does anticipate the ending
particularly well as a clever way of indicating it .It is such a subtle remark
to the eventual transformation . However it provides the thought that the
lion/man biological forms are mixed and marred in the story , by their spirit
and appearance.
3. Read the description of the girl in the opening paragraph of the
story. How is she described? What is the implication of the description and how
is it developed in the plot?
"This lovely girl who skin possesses that same , inner light so you would have thought she , too , was made all of snow , pauses in her chores in the mean kitchen to look out at the country road. Nothing has passed that way all day".
The link to the 'bridal satin' provides in itself an obvious link to the eventual hinted resolution as indicated by Carter saying 'Mr & Mrs Lyon'... on the last sentence of this story. The abstract adjective of 'lovely' given provides reference to her appearance , 'made of all snow' perhaps indicates the lightness of her skin , but on the other hand may represent her character as faint weak and feeble to her changing surroundings between poverty and extreme wealth gained in the experience of the Beast and her father, or her characteristics as a virgin and therefore the connotations of purity can obviously be remarked. 'The inner light' an indication of her secured morals at this point , which are later disturbed by the riches of her father having passed through his troubles when she moves away from the Beast to London , to leave him in solitude.The descriptions later on in the story indicate her change as her nature is no longer transparent- she is now described as 'petulant' as her earlier 'freshness was fading'. Her skin, described earlier as possessing 'light,' is now described as 'pearly', suggesting a tone of opacity , meaning she may be trying to cover hide her nature as it is no longer transparent to reveal her obvious pleasantness , indicating she is no longer as pure or kind as she was when she lived in poverty. The implication of this whole description is that she is extremely pure and very beautiful, the 'perfect' wife. This is developed by the girl almost losing her purity once her father becomes rich and she becomes corrupt and 'less' beautiful. This is also developed by her later marriage to the beast once she seems to realise what she was losing and remembers her promise.
4. How is the girl's father described? Look at his physical
appearance and behavior?
"He cursed the useless car , the last straw that broke his spirit ;
then , nothing for but to fasten his old sheepskin coat around him , abandon
the heap of metal and set off down the snow-filled lane to look for help".
The father is a broken man with only emotion dictating his actions ;
cursing the car was the last straw and so the taking of the rose is merely an
act of giving up on his once respected wealth and self values , as
he pushes away his morals to one side for his family's sake. His poverty
is indicated by his sheepskin being a poor quality coat. This can be seen when
we are told of his 'old sheepskin coat,' which is later described as
‘squirearchal’ which refers to the class of the landed gentry, in aristocratic
times suggesting that once he was a fairly wealthy man. This relates to
the court case we later learn that the father has been waging for many years to
try and regain his wealth, though never directly told, it is suggested that he
lost the money in either risky ventures or by gambling.
"In too much need to allow himself to be intimated , he squared up
to the mahogany door".
It seems here that the father has sunk so far down the ladders of
capitalism that he is no longer physically able to be fearful when approaching
this grand building. Perhaps formerly he would like to have been seen as a man
close to fulfilling something similar , to reach the point where he could own
such a house , and perhaps would be more tentative to mark a contact or
friendship with this Mr.Lyon. However as a man on poverty perhaps he just seeks
refuge and aid in this encounter , he seeks merely sympathy , which involves
being looked down on to a degree in comparison to perhaps remarking
similarities between the two of them.
"It gave him further comforting proof of his unseen host's
wealth and eccentricity to see the dog wore , in place of a collar , a diamond
necklace".
Finding comfort in a dog wearing a diamond necklace is not the usual way
in which someone is relieved or found at ease in such a grand house. However
perhaps it's the extent to which this man is powerful but does not restrict his
fellow being by using a collar , someone used to manipulate and move a dog ,
the diamond necklace recognizes and represents the role of independence and
self -worth arguably. However perhaps it is just the symbolization of how far
Mr.Lyon will go to express his wealth and desires without showing his face ,
something he attempts to hide through his mask.
"Time for another whisky as he tried , unsuccessfully to call Beauty
and tell her he would be later"
By making that phone call it affects the rest of the plot. The drinking
of the whisker is to provide the casual message of depression and desperation
in a way drowning his sorrows with the bitterness of his alcohol to match the
bitter plot of his recent downhill journey with money.
"it was for my daughter , said Beauty's father. All she wanted in
the whole world , was one white , perfect rose"
To take the white rose and then start calling the Beast a 'good fellow' seems a bit like he is sucking up to someone he hasn't met before... However he perhaps does respect the manor of the house for providing the opportunity for a phone call and view of this huge house. Taking the white rose may on the one hand bear little significance as he was simply taking something of his property for his daughter and the binary opposites of thieving and keeping your family provides an overlapse of morals crossings , Beauty's father does not have the strongest morals, as despite recognizing the act stealing and its consequences he steals the flower for Beauty. This provides more clues as to how he may have lost his wealth. The rose however is a representation however of how this man will take an opportunity when made available which is evident after Mr.Lyon says he can can take the rose as long as he brings back his daughter and shall have his wealth return.
The way the father talks about his
daughter shows patriarchal and possessive themes, for example, he calls her
'his girl-child, his pet.' Both terms could be seen as somewhat derogatory, but
the repetition of the word 'his' shows his ownership and property of his
daughter. Her father is also described as having 'no fear', when he first
enters into the Beasts domain, this could be as he is brave and is showing
strength by trying to find a way to contact his daughter, or it could be
because he secretly knows that he will not be the one the Beast seeks thus he
will not be in any direct danger.
5. Which characters and themes is the father associated with? How is he
connected with them?
Family: His actions in this story seem bound by his daughter , but he
still does what is best for his wealth , it turns out not too bad for his
daughter on the other hand either mind , and therefore it seems to initiate the
message that wealth can provide temporary contentedness but not in the same way
that love brings back Mr.Lyon and Beauty. The father of the girl in the
Tiger's Bride- By losing his wealth and to a degree his family the father bears
resemblance to this character but appears to have less of an edge to his
character in comparison.
The Objectification of Women:Beauty becomes an object when her father
uses her as payment for his debt to the Beast. Even though Beauty lives
luxuriously both at the Beast's and in London, like the heroine in "The
Bloody Chamber" she is seen as property.
Roses: The white roses represent a
"mythologized" idea of a woman. Beauty's rose grows unnaturally in
the middle of winter, yet it is still perfect; it represents her unspoiled,
gentle, virgin self. Beauty and her father both want the rose, so they both
subscribe to an idealized idea of who she is. She is objectified into a rose.
When Beauty's father steals the rose, expressing his desire to keep her
virginal and perfect, the result is that Beauty becomes a literal object - the
payment of her father's debt. When she sends the Beast roses, she is sending
him reminders of her idealized self, which he cherishes. At the story's end,
Beauty takes charge of her own desires and returns to the Beast. The roses have
wilted, as has her identity as the perfect object of a woman. She is aware that
she is part of a trade-off which will see her father’s financial problems
solved.
6. How is the father represented by
Carter? What values does he stand for and how far do they contribute to the
development of the plot.
- Family above the law
(stealing of the rose)
- Pleasing those you love
- Self-Righteousness (does not
seek death not that depressed , overt prestige with the Beast)
- Example of capitalism
(nothing without his finance)
7. Use your own words to describe Mr.Lyons' property. Look carefully at
the way it is described , and particularly the adjectives used. Why is it
described in this way? What is the overall impression made on the reader?
“Sweet, retiring melancholy grace, would have seemed deserted but for a
light that flickered in an upstairs window"”
Someone summing up a foreshadowing of the ending in the opening phrase: "sweet , retiring melancholy grace" . If the house and it's atmosphere is meant to be a reflection of a character , then this setting is matching. The father entering the house is perhaps still suspectful of other goings on in the house.
Mr Lyon's property is described in a heavily Gothic manner "a
miniature, perfect Palladian house that seemed to hide itself shyly behind
snow-laden skirts", with many conventions being met such as a seemingly
abandoned Manor house, yet it has the crystals containing flowers, the Gold
clean knocker and the single light in an upper room of the Manor house. It's
described in this way as a direct comparison to where Beauty lives a small
house where she, a tenant and daughter of the owner, is the servant and maid
doing chores. Whereas Beast lives in a Manor that appears to belong in age
past, (16th century).
Mr Lyons property is described luxuriously, giving an obvious indication
of excessive wealth and power. When it is first seen by Beauty's father, it is
called a 'perfect, Palladian house,' and the language in the descriptive
passage concerning the property seems to be quite feminine, with words such as
'skirts, 'flourish,' 'grace,' and 'sweet,' suggesting that perhaps the Beast
made it this way as he yearns for partnership from a woman and wishes to make
his home inviting for them. However, the description is also very Gothic, as it
has key characteristics of Gothic architecture such as the 'wrought iron
gates,' and its 'melancholy grace,' and also the 'light that flickered,' giving
the reader a feel of tension and mystery, as it becomes obvious from the way
that the house seems to 'hide itself,' foreshadows that the owner of the house
may not be all he seems.
Others To Do
9. Look closely at the description of the Beast , and analyse the
linguistic techniques used. These should include: the use of repetition ,
adjectives , nouns , verbs and imagery. What effect does the description have
on the reader? How do you feel about the Beast , and what has made you feel
like this?
10. On page 45 , Beauty arrives at the house of Mr.Lyon , the Beast. How does she feel about this , and how do her feelings change? Track the changes and development of her feelings from page 45 to the end of the tale. Give specific examples of language used to describe this developing relationship.
12. There are two sections (pages 44-45 and 50-51) which contain direct speech. Why do you think there is a change in narrative style? Why is the change at these points of the story? Does it have any impact on the reader's feelings towards the characters? If so , which character does if affect and how? How is language used to manipulate the readers' reactions to characters and events?
13. Beauty is described before she meets the Beast , when she is living in the 'mean' household which is all her father can provide. After meeting the Beast she lives in luxurious surroundings in London. Compare the two descriptions and decide whether her personality changes as well as her financial; circumstances. Select quotations to support your opinions.
14. When Beauty returns to the Beast's house , there are many changes/ What are they , and what has caused them? Return to the traditional fairy story (refer to your answer to question 8) and compare the description of the Beast's house when Beauty returns , the house found by the 3 bears after Goldilocks has visited it , or the gingerbread house after the children have left it . How does Carter draw on traditional means of a story-telling to depict change? How do her descriptions differ from the traditional story you are using?
Your response to question 5 is very good. It is also worth considering the very 'masculine' behaviour of surrendering to a more dominant male. The tales so far focus on weak, flawed male figures who yield to more dominant figures.
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