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Bookpossum · 08-09-2013, 08:31 AM

Yes I agree with you, fantasyfan, because there was this requirement to sacrifice oneself for the greater good of the family and the firm. Being happy and true to oneself was of no importance compared with appearances and what others would think. I'm thinking here particularly of the matter of Tony's second husband, with Thomas wanting her to go back to him rather than expose them all to the scandal of a second divorce.

I'm not sure how far along you are with the story, so I'll use the Spoiler.

Spoiler:

08-09-2013, 08:31 AM	#104
Bookpossum Snoozing in the sun Posts: 10,137 Karma: 115423645 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: iPad Mini, Kobo Touch	Yes I agree with you, fantasyfan, because there was this requirement to sacrifice oneself for the greater good of the family and the firm. Being happy and true to oneself was of no importance compared with appearances and what others would think. I'm thinking here particularly of the matter of Tony's second husband, with Thomas wanting her to go back to him rather than expose them all to the scandal of a second divorce. I'm not sure how far along you are with the story, so I'll use the Spoiler. Spoiler: I think we are shown that Thomas was living his whole life under enormous strain, keeping up appearances at immense personal cost, so that in the end, it killed him. He was one of those to whom Thoreau referred, leading a life of quiet desperation. At least he recognised that Hanno would never be able to do it, and it was an example of his faulty judgement that he chose the worst possible person to manage the wind-up of the business.