"My Lady Ludlow" by Elizabeth Gaskell

My Lady Ludlow is the third and final of three stories in the collection entitled The Cranford Chronicles by Elizabeth Gaskell. I have to say from the beginning that this was my least favorite of the three.

The first page deceived me into believing I would find it enjoyable; the narrator, Margaret Dawson, begins telling the story in her old age looking back on the days when "the post came in but once a month; - but letters were letters then; and we made great prizes of them, and read them and studied them like books. Now the post comes rattling in twice a day, bringing short jerky notes, some without beginning or end, but just a little sharp sentence, which well-bred folks would think too abrupt to be spoken." I had to laugh because this made me think of e-mail - in fact, as an example, check out the entire message I just e-mailed to my mom:

i updated it. check it out. -liz

The plot is simple: Margaret Dawson (the narrator, remember?) goes to live with a Lady Ludlow, a fine example of an aristrocratic heiress, who is described as kind, loving, etc... But I have to admit I had a difficult time finding out why Lady Ludlow was so kind because the entire story seems to center around the fact that girls and children should not be educated; they should be happy with the place that God has placed them in and not desire to be smarter than their "betters." I'm sorry, but my 21st century womanly mind has a hard time wrapping itself around this concept. Lady Ludlow, in response to the parson's desire to open a Sunday School replies with, "

"I consider a knowledge of the Creed, and of the Lord's Prayer, as essential to salvation; and that any child may have, whose parents bring it regularly to church. Then there are the Ten Commandments, which teach simple duties in the plainest language. Of course, if a lad is taught to read and write his duties become complicated, and his temptations much greater, while, at the same time, he has no hereditary principles and honourable training to serve as safeguards."

My favorite part of the entire story was a very long, short story in the middle of the book about two people getting killed by the guillotine during the French Revolution - Lady Ludlow used this very long, short story to share with Margaret Dawson (the narrator, remember?) why the useless rubble of society should not be educated but I don't think her point was really made other than the popular generalization that the semi-educated lower classes rose up and took over.

In the end Lady Ludlow seems to acquiesce a little to the idea of those beneath her receiving education (although very little education). But it never feels to me like she does this because of her goodwill towards others, but merely giving in even though it is against her better judgement.

I had a difficult time enjoying this book and it took me quite some time to finish. Written by Elizabeth Gaskell, it is of course written well. I just don't really get it and don't want to put in the effort to "get it." All I have to say is that I have finished The Cranford Chronicles series and now I can watch the BBC miniseries!