A review by kxowledge
Consequences by E.M. Delafield

5.0

This was such a good read. Delafield denounces the Victorian mentality. Yet she is not gentle towards the protagonist either – it’s not just others’ failings, it’s also hers. Alex Clare, the protagonist, is unable to find love and understanding, although she is desperate for a real human connection. She is clearly defined by others (as further stressed by the choice for the chapter titles), she’s not expressing herself and not examining herself and her heart, choosing instead to be led by her latest whim. Even when she was excited at the prospect of the next step, she was letting time pass by and not enjoying the moment itself. She’s always waiting, not appreciating the present – Delafield expresses this clearly when she says “The old sense of ‘waiting for the next thing’ was strong upon her, and she spent her days in desultory idleness”.