Talk:Doctor Thorne

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It is probably better to say that Mary's background is not explained to the characters in the novel. Thorne is a recent resident in the village, and Mary was initially put to nurse and then to a boarding school. It becomes an issue only after young Frank proposes to her; It is not quite accurate to say that Lady Arabella discourages association because her children have grown up. Catchsinger (talk)

There are problems here. Since nobody knows that Mary is illegitimate, she cannot experience shame of illegitimacy. Also Henry was the elder brother - minor slip but we may as well have it right. When time allows I will edit the plot summary; meanwhile a short tidy to the introduction Catchsinger (talk) 15:14, 7 March 2021 (UTC)[reply]

When Mary asks her uncle whether her blood is as good as the Greshams, he gives her to understand that she is illegitimate. This is fairly early in the novel, so perhaps she can experience the shame of illegitimacy. 192.161.113.119 (talk) 22:41, 17 August 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Henry is the younger brother; this is repeated several times at the beginning of chapter two. 192.161.113.89 (talk) 11:53, 22 August 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, you are right Catchsinger (talk) 12:27, 8 September 2024 (UTC)[reply]

That is not correct. Dr. Thorne informs Mr. Gresham the elder about Mary's parentage in case the latter objected to her associating with his children. This is referred to in chapter VII: "To one friend, and only one, did the doctor tell the whole truth, and that was to the old squire." Clarityfiend (talk) 00:56, 29 September 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, someone knew though the quote is not to the old squire, just the squire, which is to say Frank Gresham Senior (the old squire John died in Ch 1). However, he did not spread the information, so there was no public knowledge of the illegitimacy. Mary herself was put in the picture very near the end of the novel because of the Scatcherd inheritance.--Catchsinger (talk) 16:17, 30 September 2024 (UTC)[reply]

AHhhhH - an unexpected problem of the variety "Homer Nods" - an error by Michael Sadleir which I was laying on the original authors of the page. Michael Sadleir, normally so reliable, says on p376 of the quoted edition that the squire is John Newbold Gresham with wife Lady Arabella. NOT SO! John was the squire in Chapter 1, but dies when Frank is 24 and married to Lady Arabella. It is their son who is 21 near the start of the novel and enamoured of Mary Thorne. This must be an error in transcription of notes or some such. Catchsinger (talk) 17:02, 2 October 2024 (UTC)[reply]