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A review by readingisadoingword
Doctor Thorne by Anthony Trollope
relaxing
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Another Trollope and another installation of the Barsetshire Chronicles that I loved!
It felt like there was a lot, but yet very little going on in the book all at once.
The Gresham family finances are in a state and young Frank Gresham MUST MARRY MONEY! However, he loves Dr Thorne's niece, Mary, who is illegitimate and poor......or is she?!
This sums up the plot. However, in following the trials of Frank and Mary's love, Trollope deals with many other societal questions of the day.
WEALTH/WORTH
Wealth underlies almost every aspect of this book. It determines people's fates and how they are treated, and despite exhibiting the highest moral characteristics, lack of wealth somehow determines people's worth. Mary Thorne is honest, kind and principled, yet her lack of money sees her being ostracised and maligned by the Greshams and De Courcys. She has neither birth nor wealth to recommend her to them and they refuse to give merit to her other qualities.
Other characters such as Sir Roger Scatcherd and his son Louis have huge wealth but are plagues by alcoholism and questionable morals, Mr Moffat has money but is unfaithful and fickle.
When then does wealth actually = worth, or does it ever?
CLASS/BLOOD
Mary's illegitimate birth is another barrier in her life, despite her being raised genteelly and behaving like a perfect lady. However, those of similar "low" birth such as the Scatcherds, Mr Moffat and Miss Dunstable are partially accepted by the upper echelons of society due to their money. Poor Beatrice suffers at the hands of her cousin's dictates about the quality of "blood" and misses out on a potentially happy match.
So class of birth and heredity of blood are all......until enough money is involved?
PARENTAL DUTIES
There are various familial models in this novel. Despite her origins, Mary is adopted by her doting uncle Dr Thorne and they are the epitome of a devoted and happy family. He taking on the role of a father and standing by Mary as best he can at all times.
The Greshams are predominantly contented. The father, despite having squandered his family's fortune, is affectionate and doting and Lady Arabella, although somewhat mercenary, at least believes she has her children's best interests as heart.
Sir Roger Scatcherd fails his own son, who inherits none of his father's work ethic or admirable qualities but only his alcoholism.
LOVE
There is familial love as exemplified by the Dr and Mary, romantic love as seen between Frank and Mary and platonic love between Miss Dunstable and Frank and indeed the Dr and the Squire.
GENERAL
There is commentary on politics, lawyers, the aristocracy etc. layered throughout Dr Thorne, however for me it was the central characters that engaged me and I felt for them all, in what often seemed like an impossible situation.
THOUGHTS
One thing I love about Trollope is that he puts your mind at rest. He doesn't keep readers in suspense or allow misunderstandings. He reassures you throughout that all will be well, although there may be some bumps in the road. This is the kind of relaxing reading experience I enjoy.
Two characters that have stayed with me in an unexpected fashion have been Miss Martha Dunstable and Lady Arabella. Miss Dunstable is a gem! She's smart, self-aware, generous, and kind and doesn't take herself too seriously and I think would be great fun and a great friend.
I had a much more mixed reaction to Lady Arabella. I really hated her to begin with! How could she disregard Frank's feelings in preference to money? How could she be such a hypocrite regarding status of birth when it came to Mr Moffat or Miss Dunstable? How could she treat Mary so unfairly? However, I almost changed my mind about her when I thought of the contrast in how the two parents were portrayed. Mr Gresham (the Squire) was favourably portrayed as indulgent and kind and not wishing to distress or upset his children. Whilst being aware they he was the cause of their downfall, he didn't really want to undergo any unpleasantness to rectify it. He also often insinuated to Frank that he regretted marrying Lady Arabella - hardly fair! Whilst Lady A had many faults, she was willing to take difficult and unpopular action to try and "save" her children. Not that I agreed with her actions or opinions, but I thought the contrast of favourably portrayed, indulgent father and unfavourably portrayed, dictatorial/disciplinarian mother was an interesting, gendered view.
So...I really enjoyed this novel. There was so much more to it that the experience of the eponymous Doctor and I look forward to meeting some of these characters again in future Barsetshire instalments!
It felt like there was a lot, but yet very little going on in the book all at once.
The Gresham family finances are in a state and young Frank Gresham MUST MARRY MONEY! However, he loves Dr Thorne's niece, Mary, who is illegitimate and poor......or is she?!
This sums up the plot. However, in following the trials of Frank and Mary's love, Trollope deals with many other societal questions of the day.
WEALTH/WORTH
Wealth underlies almost every aspect of this book. It determines people's fates and how they are treated, and despite exhibiting the highest moral characteristics, lack of wealth somehow determines people's worth. Mary Thorne is honest, kind and principled, yet her lack of money sees her being ostracised and maligned by the Greshams and De Courcys. She has neither birth nor wealth to recommend her to them and they refuse to give merit to her other qualities.
Other characters such as Sir Roger Scatcherd and his son Louis have huge wealth but are plagues by alcoholism and questionable morals, Mr Moffat has money but is unfaithful and fickle.
When then does wealth actually = worth, or does it ever?
CLASS/BLOOD
Mary's illegitimate birth is another barrier in her life, despite her being raised genteelly and behaving like a perfect lady. However, those of similar "low" birth such as the Scatcherds, Mr Moffat and Miss Dunstable are partially accepted by the upper echelons of society due to their money. Poor Beatrice suffers at the hands of her cousin's dictates about the quality of "blood" and misses out on a potentially happy match.
So class of birth and heredity of blood are all......until enough money is involved?
PARENTAL DUTIES
There are various familial models in this novel. Despite her origins, Mary is adopted by her doting uncle Dr Thorne and they are the epitome of a devoted and happy family. He taking on the role of a father and standing by Mary as best he can at all times.
The Greshams are predominantly contented. The father, despite having squandered his family's fortune, is affectionate and doting and Lady Arabella, although somewhat mercenary, at least believes she has her children's best interests as heart.
Sir Roger Scatcherd fails his own son, who inherits none of his father's work ethic or admirable qualities but only his alcoholism.
LOVE
There is familial love as exemplified by the Dr and Mary, romantic love as seen between Frank and Mary and platonic love between Miss Dunstable and Frank and indeed the Dr and the Squire.
GENERAL
There is commentary on politics, lawyers, the aristocracy etc. layered throughout Dr Thorne, however for me it was the central characters that engaged me and I felt for them all, in what often seemed like an impossible situation.
THOUGHTS
One thing I love about Trollope is that he puts your mind at rest. He doesn't keep readers in suspense or allow misunderstandings. He reassures you throughout that all will be well, although there may be some bumps in the road. This is the kind of relaxing reading experience I enjoy.
Two characters that have stayed with me in an unexpected fashion have been Miss Martha Dunstable and Lady Arabella. Miss Dunstable is a gem! She's smart, self-aware, generous, and kind and doesn't take herself too seriously and I think would be great fun and a great friend.
I had a much more mixed reaction to Lady Arabella. I really hated her to begin with! How could she disregard Frank's feelings in preference to money? How could she be such a hypocrite regarding status of birth when it came to Mr Moffat or Miss Dunstable? How could she treat Mary so unfairly? However, I almost changed my mind about her when I thought of the contrast in how the two parents were portrayed. Mr Gresham (the Squire) was favourably portrayed as indulgent and kind and not wishing to distress or upset his children. Whilst being aware they he was the cause of their downfall, he didn't really want to undergo any unpleasantness to rectify it. He also often insinuated to Frank that he regretted marrying Lady Arabella - hardly fair! Whilst Lady A had many faults, she was willing to take difficult and unpopular action to try and "save" her children. Not that I agreed with her actions or opinions, but I thought the contrast of favourably portrayed, indulgent father and unfavourably portrayed, dictatorial/disciplinarian mother was an interesting, gendered view.
So...I really enjoyed this novel. There was so much more to it that the experience of the eponymous Doctor and I look forward to meeting some of these characters again in future Barsetshire instalments!