Hey, I'm interested to know what everyone's thoughts about Emily Tallis are. I mean I haven't read the whole book but in later stages of the book Briony grows up doesn't she, wouldn't that kind of make Emily's character kind of fade away. Which makes me wonder what the significance is of her character and her husband is in relation to Briony and her atonement for her sin. And another question: does emily Tallis even deserve all the self pity and sympathy she gives herself. Even without a migraine she refuses to take responsibility when the twins go missing because they aren't her children. I think she's quite selfish - what do you guys think?
I do believe she deserves sympathy because she is basically a single mum since Jack Tallis is hardly around. Emily Tallis had to manage the household by herself and her sickness prevented her from having a good relationship with her children and the fact that she regrets this tells us that she does care. What proves this even more is that she has a “tentacular awareness” for her children and wants to be a mother to her children by wanting to help them. “If she were not ill, she would go up now and supervise or help, for it was too much for them, she knew. Illness had stopped her giving her children all a mother should”-pg 66. Some might say that this is no excuse but if Emily is exposed to sunlight, it could provoke a migraine attack. So I don’t think it is wrong for her to be concerned about her health. If she does get ill, then she won’t be around at All because she will have to be at hospital because migraines have the potential to take life. This means the household won’t have parent supervisory. It will put a financial strain on Jack Tallis and will have an emotional impact on the family. Regarding the twins, she hardly has time for her own children because she is sick, so taking responsibility for somebody else’s kids will create unfairness and her children will feel neglected. I think the significance of Emily’s character throughout the book is to protect Briony, “To love her was to be soothed. But how to protect her against failure, against that Lola”-pg 65. For a more detailed description of Emily, check out chapter 6.
ReplyDeletei see what you mean, and your view definitely does make me more sympathetic towards her. but the oart where she calls herself a "wronged child and wronged wife", isnt it a bit of a stretch to want sympathy for something that happened a long time ago now, when the twins go missing. is it fair for her to look at Lolas reaction as a performance because of what her sister was like. Considering what Lola might or might not have been through (Brothers attacking her or someone else...) she was probably genuinely concerned about her brothers who seem to be on their own in the Tallis Family in a sense. she doesnt even care enough to call the police...thats not motherly at all, wether or not their your kids, they are in her home and shoudl be a responsibility. Sure, i agree the migraine does earn her my sympathy but shes made it define her, even when shes fine and shes feeling fine. She does love Briony, i agree, maybe shes a bit too protective, maybe thats why Briony appears to be so ignorant.
ReplyDeleteWow, didn't notice that had so many grammar and spelling errors. X_X
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ReplyDeleteHaha!no Randall I just wanted 2 see if it was sending sorry 4 the ok,no,no reason 4 Emily 2 feel sorry 4 herself she is supose 2 be the mother figure but is pushing that onto Cecilia not letting her be a young adult but be the mother before her time,a mother is the most important puzzle 2 the family and she is just as absent as Jack simply because she runs away from life instead of dealing with it,that's not a good example 2 set 4 her kids life isn't fair she is a mother and needs 2 act it n put her kids 1st not herself!SHE NEEDS 2 GET OFF THE SELF PITTY TRAIN
ReplyDeleteAnd Leon as the oldest n the male especially when his home should be the one that holds everything together like a father figure u know be his fathers son yes its not fair but that's life u got 2 go with it,maybe if Emily was present in her kids life she would realise how controlling Briony is and try and do what's best 4 her as a growing child because you don't get things your way in the world you'll be cut short and this will ruin their family in the long run and she is partly 2 blame
ReplyDelete"And Leon as the oldest n the male especially when his home should be the one that holds everything together like a father figure u know be his father’s son yes it’s not fair but that's life u got 2 go with it,"-Kelse. From my understanding, you saying that Leon should take the father's role because Mr Tallis isn't around, so why is it a problem for Cecilia to help out her mother when her mother is sick?
ReplyDelete“A migraine is a severe, painful headache that is often preceded or accompanied by sensory warning signs such as flashes of light, blind spots, tingling in the arms and legs, nausea, vomiting, and increased sensitivity to light and sound. The excruciating pain that migraines bring can last for hours or even days. A migraine headache causes the sympathetic nervous system to respond with feelings of nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. This response also delays the emptying of the stomach into the small intestine (affecting food absorption), decreases blood circulation (leading to cold hands and feet), and increases sensitivity to light and sound.” Migraines shouldn’t be taken likely, that is why I have sympathy for her. I do understand that she shouldn’t take advantage of the situation but she is just concerned about her health, she is human too. Emily delegates her role as a mother because she is not in the condition to be an active mother and it is good enough for me that she tries, it is the thought that counts. "She lay in the dark and knew everything. The less she was able to do, the more she was aware. But though she sometimes longed to rise up and intervene, especially if she thought Briony was in need of her, the fear of pain kept her in place." Emily does have mother qualities, the awareness of her children "tentacular awareness", and can attend situations that are serious "As for their mother, untypically she rose to the crisis."
Don't get me wrong,Leon can set up just as Cecilia has he is the oldest,but Emily should go 2 the doc get it shorted out because this is her family as we can see the issues that she doesn't know because she is absent there is no mother around 2 take care of the family and what about cecilia she needs a mother as a young growing girl
ReplyDeleteCecilia is a woman, a woman. I mean she is doing the unthinkable in the library and the fact in most households, at Cecilia's age you should be living on your own and possiblely even married. Even so, the fact that Emily delegated her duties as a mother towards Cecilia, actually benefits her when she has kids because she will know how to handle situations as she gained experience when looking after Briony. Besides that Cecilia doesn't need her mother,her family, she cuts them all off since they sent Robbie to jail."They turned on you, all of them,even my father. When they wrecked your life they wrecked mine. She was a young thirteen, i know, but i never want to speak to her again. As for the rest of them, i can never forgive what they did...Realistically, there had to be a choice-you or them. How could it be both?I've never had a moment's doubt. I love you."If she needed her family she wouldn't have put Robbie before them. Do you still think Cecilia needs her mother? (To answer your other question, read my above comment)
ReplyDeleteWhat about being a young adult n living her life 2 the fullest?she didn't have someone 2 be there for her as she is 4 Briony,we do all kinds of things 4 love but they wouldn't ever aprove of Robbie simply because of who his parents are and that they don't have money not how hard he tried 2 make it but because how it would effect their fake status,maybe if Emily was present she could of taught Cecilia these things but she had 2 grow up on her own
ReplyDeleteEmily doesn't deserve sympathy,because she was quick to judge her sister with the decisions she took with her husband(late husband),I think she does that because,she also wants a divorce but she is dependent on Jack.Lets agree that Emily is an unhappy woman that has no time for her kids,Cecillia does all that a mother has to do,for her.and as for little confused Briony;if her mother was there for her maybe she wouldn't be so confused and stuck between childhood and adulthood...hope I haven't gone off topic
ReplyDeleteI also dnt think the self pity nd symphathy she puts on to herself is worth it! First of all the only person she cares about so far is Briony , she delegated her duties on to Cecelia as stated by Randall she also doesn't pay much attention to Leon , she also doesn't care about Robbie she actually doesn't like him. Even though Emily is facing marriage problems her ''cheating'' husband she has a lot to live for her kids so all she can do is get her migraines sorted and take charge of her family because it all depends on her as jack z never home
ReplyDelete# yah guys you get where I'm going with this but yah
I agree nowhere in the book do they say how severe Emilys migraines were, there was no vomiting or diarrhea so we cant really base our sympathy of how severe migraines can get when she could just have a normal migraine. i still stick with my opinion, Emily Tallis is still irresponsible, Migraine or not. Even when shes fine, she does not take full responsibility for her home even though she describes her children as her most treasured possession. We can think of many incidents, the roast chicken, the twins going missing...
ReplyDeleteGuys?iv got a question this whole thing with Briony hating robbie,we see its from her point of view and understanding b4 his arrest and what what,but why would she feel that way and not speek up how was she protecting Cecilia then,the disconnection or what ay,or was it just of her nature
ReplyDeleteI understand it as the following: Briony wants to protect Cecilia from Robbie but she never confronts Cecilia to tell her about Robbie. What she rather does is to create her own storie to understand the situation and then she just interfere between Robbie and Cecilia thinking that Cecilia will be delighted about her interference,but she wasn't. So yes there was a disconnection between Briony and Cecilia , but once again it is open for discussion: Was there just a disconnection or was briony just too afraid to face the reality? Think about that...
ReplyDeleteBriony likes controlling things and having things her way as a way of thinking about herself not others and their feelings
ReplyDeleteI would like 2 start discussing the rape and everything around it
ReplyDeleteMy messages aren't going through and neither am I getting everyones updates
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