Montraville deserves a swift kick to the face. Or a punch, like I said in the title. Regardless, Montraville definitely is not my favorite character.
First, Montraville guilt trips Charlotte into visiting him again and again, even when she expresses that their meetings need to end. On page 42 he turns into a whining, prepubescent schoolboy with he thinks that he "was dearer to Charlotte than any thing in the world beside." Where does this dude find the right to assume he is more dear to Charlotte than her PARENTS? Why should she "brave the dangers of the oceans" for him? What has he done for her? Why is it her duty to soften "the hardships of war?" Of course she's like 5 years old (okay she's 15 but still) and doesn't know any better, so she's overtaken by his charms and his whining and his guilt trips. Presumably he knows this, and he uses her innocence and inexperience to play into his favor.
And when Charlotte CLEARLY tells Montraville she doesn't want to go with him and wants to stay for her parents' sake, he LIFTS her from the ground and forcibly PUTS her into the chaise to be taken away to the ship. (And of course, in typical damsel in distress fashion, she faints). He's even called "her betrayer" like hello that should be the first sign she needs to jump right out and turn right around and go home. It seems to me that she's not happy right from the start.
Then Montraville doesn't even send her letter to her parents letting them know she's okay! As if he could be anymore selfish.
On page 65: "He laughed at her simplicity, called her a little ideot, and patting her on the cheek, said she knew nothing of the world." Wow. So did he just want a little puppy to follow after him and take care of him, or did he want a woman? Sorry she's only 15 and he's probably 40 or 30 or something not close to 15 and she hasn't had a chance to discover the world for herself, especially since this guy has decided to take control of her.
Toward the end of our reading, Charlotte is stuck waiting for Montraville to spend any amount of time with her. Yet she still hangs on, hoping he'll show, because he's all she has now (thanks to him).
It seems to me Montraville is a prick.
But then again, I can't put all the blame on Montraville. Charlotte did put herself into this situation. She couldn't stopped it from the very beginning if she hadn't read Montraville's letter or had not agreed to meet him. Still, I prefer to blame Montraville since he is the adult in the situation.
Katrina,
ReplyDeleteYour description of Montraville is spot on! I found it absolutely appalling that he would abandon Charlotte after how lovesick and infatuated he claimed to be. He took advantage of Charlotte and her youthfulness and naivete without any concern about what would happen to her. I found it especially ironic since Montraville’s father had warned him about taking advantage of a young woman and causing her any suffering, yet that’s exactly what he ended up doing. Also, he displayed no sign of remorse for causing Charlotte such distress and ripping her from her family. In fact, when they were on the ship and Charlotte finally realized the reality of her situation, Montraville “too well understood the cause of her tears. He kissed her cheek, and bidding her not make herself uneasy, unable to bear the silent but keen remonstrance, hastily left her” (p. 65). So, not only was Montraville the cause of her sorrow, he didn’t even try to comfort her! Not to mention that once they reached New York, he placed her in a small house and left her alone with empty promises; “but often, very often, did he promise to renew his visits, and, forgetful of his promise, leave her to mourn her disappointment” (p. 68).
Pretty much, you’re not the only one who would enjoy taking a punch at Montraville;)