Watching Downton Abbey, set before and
after the First World War, we get a glimpse of the aristocratic lifestyle of Duke and Duchess of Grantham, living in their huge castle, spread
over acres of rolling fields and woodland as far as the eyes can see.
Living a life of luxuries and served by
valets, butlers, footmen, housekeepers, maids, and drivers, it was
most ironic that none of the three daughters of Lord and Lady
Grantham was eligible to inherit the title of their father as well as
his properties. The ladies of leisure, brought up to behave ladylike
with impeccable manners and speech, were desperately looking for
wealthy husbands who could afford to provide at least the same level
of luxuries which they were accustomed to.
The eldest, Lady Mary, was bitter
because she could not inherit her father's estate. With the original
heir lost in The Titanic, her cousin Matthew Crawley became heir.
One fine day, a Turkish diplomat, Kemal
Pamuk, visited the family and seduced virgin Mary, but unfortunately
died in her bed under mysterious circumstances. Because of the affair
even her mother described her as 'damaged goods'. The scandal was
about to break out if not for the timely intervention of newspaper
proprietor Sir Richard Carlisle, who paid off the woman. His
intention was to marry Lady Mary but his use of blackmail and
bullying nature got onto her nerves as they got to know each other.
Even her father noticed it and when he knew about the Turkish
incident, he was supportive of her. He advised her not to marry Sir
Richard under such circumstances and to go to America for a few
months until news of the scandal blew over. “I want you to marry a
good man, a brave man... someone who can make you happy.” He
admitted that before, he would have gone along with Mary's idea to
marry someone to prevent a scandal, but after having been through a
war and a murder trial (involving his valet, Bates), he was a changed
man. He advised Mary to “... go to America and bring back a cowboy
and shake us up a bit!” Mary was very much touched by her father's
understanding and truly relieved that she need not marry the
increasingly obnoxious man.
Later when pressed for an explanation,
Mary warned Matthew that he would despise her when he knew about the
real reason for wanting to marry Sir Richard. Having heard her story
on Pamuk, he asked if she loved him. “I hardly knew him... it was
lust.” was her reply. Matthew pondered and said he could never
despise her and that there was nothing for him to forgive her since
they each lived their separate lives for a period. Matthew was to
marry Lavinia, who selflessly promised to look after him (when
paralyzed) for life. Matthew had a miraculous recovery from paralysis
and impotence, the latter fact would have affected the lineage.
Lavinia was heartbroken when she saw
them dancing and kissing intimately. Soon after, she contracted
Spanish Flu and before her last breath, gave her blessing to Matthew
to be happy for her sake. Matthew told Mary that they should start to
live their lives together from then on. Having been through trials
and tribulations in her relationships, Mary told Matthew to be
certain of what he said about marrying her and that she would prefer
a proper proposal. Matthew obliged with bended knees, “Lady Mary
Crawley, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?” There was
no doubt that Mary would accept and full-heartedly as they hugged.
From a practical point, Matthew as heir
to Lord Grantham's title, had earlier promised Mary that she could
continue to live in Downton Abbey as long as he is alive. So it was
such a wonderful coincidence that she would get to marry the man she
truly loved and to be with her family and served by friendly
household staff.
Earlier, Mary's youngest sister, Sybil
fell in love with their driver, Branson. They tried to elope but was
discovered by Mary and Edith who found them in a hotel, on their way
to Gretna Green, a place known for elopers to get married. Mary
admired her for being brave enough to make such a big decision which
went against parents' wishes and crossing the class divide.
Initially, Lord Grantham blew his top and tried to pay off Branson,
thinking he was after his money. But Sybil was obstinate and even
said she would follow him to Ireland regardless of whether she gets
his blessings or anything from him. He relented and even gave his
blessings and promised to give her some money for her wedding. Sybil
was overjoyed with relief and hugged him warmly. Only her mother, Mary and Edith
attended the wedding in Ireland. When Lady Cora received news that
Sybil was pregnant, his lordship was not pleased initially and said,
“So this is it... she had crossed the Rubicon.” Lady Cora tried
to influence her husband to accept them, by suggesting that she hope
they would as a family go over to visit them, and have them here.
“...even the driver?” asked Robert and she replied, “Yes, even
the driver.”
During the war, Edith got to know a man
of substance. She was overjoyed when she knew he was invited for
their Christmas party. Sensing her interest in him, he tried to
distance himself and pointed out to her that his right hand is now
disabled. Later, Edith visited him at his home and suggested going
for a drive. He refused and had to remind her that he is too old and
especially now that he is crippled, it would not be fair to her. She tried to be friendly with men going after her eldest sister when she was not around. That she tried so hard to woo an older man of substance, showed her desperation to get someone of stature.
Lord Grantham's sister, Rosamund, was a
rich widow. She came for the Christmas party with Lord Hepworth as
partner. Dowager Lady Violet knew his father, who had wooed her
before. She knew this man as a fortune hunter and that he was after
Rosamund's wealth, inherited from her late husband. She asked Lord
Hepworth about their Hepworth House and two other properties which he
confirmed to have been sold. Having confirmed her suspicions, she
advised him to be frank with her while she informed Rosamund and that
the final decision rests on her. It was by chance that maid Anna saw
Rosamund's maid and Lord Hepworth behaving like lovers. She led Mary
and Rosamund to catch them red handed in a compromising position in a
room. Lord Hepworth could only offer a lame explanation of “It's
not what it seems.” Rosamund retorted with a what else could it be?
She was not only upset with her wrong choice of a suitor, but more
because her mother was proven right!
This story shows the irony of rich
daughters having to look for rich suitors so that they could continue
living a life of luxuries which they are accustomed to. For Sybil,
who fell for their driver, she had to forgo her lifestyle for the
love of her man. For Rosamund, though she was prepared to share her
wealth with a known fortune-hunter, his unfaithful behaviour was unacceptable.
This reminds me of how Prof. Higgins
made a lady out of flower girl, Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady.
Having achieved ladylike speech and mannerism and passed rigorous
tests when she fooled friends of Higgins for a lady with a genuine
aristocratic family history, she found herself lost as a lady of
leisure, unable to be her former self and work like before!
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