#69 - The Tortoise and the Hare - Elizabeth Jenkins (Choice: Nic) (Venue: Vivat Bacchus, Farringdon)

29th November 2012
Present: Jane, Gill, Nic

Despite the low turn out we had a prolonged and heated discussion about this one.  We all loved it, despite different takes on the morality of the characters.  We were fascinated by this glimpse of a (mostly) by-gone era and wholly agreed on our distaste for Evelyn.  Our thoughts and loyalties were divided over Imogen and Blanche, however.  Imogen was very much a product of her time: reserved, lacking confidence, deferential, overly concerned with her looks.  In short, lame: a fading beauty with seemingly little else to offer.  Undoubtedly, she was kind, gentle, well-meaning but, also, she was dull; dull, dull, dull, while Blanche, in contrast, proved it was possible to be educated, opinionated and capable - albeit at a price; spinsterhood.

Questions:

Who, then, could blame Blanche Silcox for grabbing the opportunity for physical and emotional closeness with, ahem, both hands.

What loyalty did Blanche owe Imogen and why?  Because they were both women?  We discussed this at length, with some feeling that Evelyn was the only one who owed a duty of loyalty to Imogen and some feeling that Blanche too should have had regard to his married circumstances.

Seeking a more modern context, we compared Imogen with Lady Diana Spencer - conventionally attractive, doe-eyed, dutiful, none-too-bright, considered "appropriate" for The Family and allowed by her family to marry a much older man and a position and responsibility beyond her years - and Blanche Silcox with Camilla Parker Bowles - less attractive by conventional standards but intelligent, forthright and with an unspoken hint that privately, she is happy, nay, raring to, go at it like a rabbit.

We can't help who we fall in love with, "whatever love is" (sticking with the Charles and Di theme!) So, is it wrong for a married person to fall in love with someone else and leave?  We decided no, that is not wrong, that is human but, if the eventuality arises, how one extricates oneself is what counts.  We all know spouses who have left in unbecoming ways, with spiteful and unnecessary words.  Dignity and courtesy at all times, we counsel.  Evelyn did not have that.  Although, in fairness to him, a state that did not come naturally to us, we did recognise that Imogen had given him every reason to believe she would accept another woman in his life, albeit if the affair were conducted discretely and at a distance, neither of which Evelyn managed.

So, Evelyn was a barrister, Blanche and Imogen were women, the cast feasted in London, where cheese was a feature of the meal and so, by protracted argument, we justified our restaurant.  We three are women, Gill is a barrister and there is a magnificent cheese room and turophile at Vivat Bacchus in addition to a splendid wine list, which Evelyn would have adored.

And there we have it, another fabulous night!