I like your musings here, teddie. However we define John's feelings about Jamie, I don't think they are "true love," and I love your simple yet brilliant observation that it can't be, because it's one-sided. There are so many wonderful insights from everyone, and I also especially like the idea that Jamie's inaccessibility to John has in fact furthered the unfortunate and unrequited desire, and allowed it to take on a life of its own. And yes, there's no practical way to imagine John and some other Jamie-esque man having a domestic life like John & Isobel will, in the world these characters inhabit. >>>> -- LJG Discussion board

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Date Posted: 17:28:21 10/18/07 Thu
Author:

pamelalass
Subject: I like your musings here, teddie. However we define John's feelings about Jamie, I don't think they are "true love," and I love your simple yet brilliant observation that it can't be, because it's one-sided. There are so many wonderful insights from everyone, and I also especially like the idea that Jamie's inaccessibility to John has in fact furthered the unfortunate and unrequited desire, and allowed it to take on a life of its own. And yes, there's no practical way to imagine John and some other Jamie-esque man having a domestic life like John & Isobel will, in the world these characters inhabit. >>>>
In reply to: teddie 's message, "Wow and wow. There is so much great stuff here, I'm not sure where to start! Pamelalass, I do believe that John must remain alone mostly because of historical circumstances. What might he do, afterall, given his social position--the need for discretion seems to make it almost impossible for John. Were he a more bohemian type, things could be different for him, perhaps.>>>>>>" on 14:41:24 10/18/07 Thu

But I still keep thinking this is fiction after all, so why have a brilliant, magnetic character who happens to be homosexual, and then "curse" him with unhappy love affairs, a dead first love, and an impossible love-from-afar for a heterosexual man who ends up being one of his dearest friends (and who has women swooning for him wherever he goes, both within the text and outside it, where we sit as readers!)? It stands to reason that at least a few homosexual men must have had romantic, fulfilling, committed relationships throughout history, even with the need for secrecy and the fear of discovery. And in most great fiction with an element of romance, the lovers have to face adversarial conditions and conflict to drive the plot and stir the reader's emotions, right?

Perhaps the answer to my question is as simple as the notion of a "tragic" hero, forever unlucky in love. Or that John's story has not yet been fully told, and more patience is required (I'm hoping it's this!)!

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Pamelalass, I wish for the same--that John's full story has yet to be told, and that good things will come to those that wait, lol! Considering, though, the scrupulous honor and social correctness DG has attributed to John, it would seem unfathomable for John to bust out in full love mode (ok, so I exaggerate a little!), There is evidence though, that our handsome Johnny circumvents the predictable in this story, (his behavior at the hanging, for example), illustrating his willingness to raise eyebrows for what he believes is just. Perhaps there is hope... (NT) -- teddie, 18:06:04 10/18/07 Thu

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