Book and film reviews usually tell you much about their author, sometimes more than they tell you about the nature and the quality of the work in question. This is as it should be because each of us will have an experience governed by what has gone before, what we have become, and what has been our purpose and expectation in deciding to use valuable time on this activity instead of another.
When engaged in some work in depth, as I try to understand and evaluate from the viewpoint of the creator, the judgement of others and my own, I prefer to make a commentary as I go along with a loose leaf notebook and then reconsider what has been written and form a judgement which I can live with. The taking of notes can spoil the emotional involvement but I need them as a means of absorbing information and fact, supplemented later through the internet, my library and other records. I wish I had a photographic memory and an encyclopaedic ability to recall knowledge. Sometimes I know there are other references, relationships, similarities with other work, but usually I have to move on, unable to justify to myself the time required to substantiate what may be no more than a feeling.
With Brideshead Revisited, the work has become the main activity of three days it was essential to read the final page and experience again the last scene of the TV adaptation to understand the significance of aspects of what has gone before and the author's primary objective. He may have commenced the work with only a concept or the rough outline of what he wanted to achieve. But for me it is work where the final words are the springboard of everything that happens before and was constructed to achieve than end.
Throughout the book in all his talks with each member of the family you feel he protests his agnosticism too much. He likes Cordelia, the youngest member of the family because of their shared love for Sebastian and he respects her faith although is puzzled by it and questions her about the sense of vocations she has which takes her to the convent and then work in Spain during the Civil war and then to North Africa with Julia and Bridey during world war 2. Bridey who is serious about his faith, contemplating becoming a Jesuit but accepting his duty as first son is progress to the title and look after the estate, however he only occupies a small suite of room at the top of the house after his mother dies. He changes his approach when he gets married to a woman older than he, wanting to take over Brideshead, but his hopes of son are questionable to have a son, not realising that the widow is past child bearing and just interested in finding security for herself and her children. The marriage is blessed by the Pope although the instigation for this appears to be his wife whose original marriage was blessed as one of a group of 70 new brides. He appears to accept without a fight when his father decided to entail the estate to Julia and not his first born because of dislike for his wife as Common. It is Bridey telling his sister, Lady Julia, that his wife will not be able to meet Julia while she lives in sin that precipitates the emotional and spiritual break down. Bridey disapproves that Charles has not religion but he treats him with respect and is instrumental in kick starting his career as a fashionable painter inviting him to undertake paintings of the London Home, Marchmain House before it is pulled down.
Despite professing indifference to what Lady Marchmain has to say he dopes not ridicule her Catholicism to her face and is embarks upon the mission to try and bring Sebastian to see before she dies. One has the impression that had Charles been willing to convert to Catholicism she would have accept his marriage to Julia whether as she remained opposed to the marriage of her daughter to Rex Mottram recognising the kind of man he was. That Sebastian is so hostile to his mother and the Catholic church, doing everything he can to rebel, indicates the strength of his boyhood beliefs which only changed when his father insisted on sending him to that bastion of the British Aristocratic, Political and Church of England establishment, Eton, followed by Christ Church generally accepted as the Oxford playground for the upper class, day. It is therefore no surprise that he is shown as becoming deeply spiritual and being cared for by an order of Brothers. I see more of Sebastian in me that I like.
The TV adaptation suggests that he takes up with Julia on the voyage from New York after two years on his won painting, his wife who has come to see him as a wife in society and a mother at a point when he is seeking passion as part of a total relationship experience which makes him feel alive. She has an unhappy marriage and un unhappy affair which took her to New York. One suspects that he would have had had an affair with anyone who had become available but Julia offers more, connection with his past relationship with Sebastian and the family and a life at Brideshead. He makes no effort to understand the hold Catholicism has had on her or how to cope when she breaks down after Bridey brings out her underlying conflict over her way of life and Catholic heritage and upbringing. ( As an aside I kept thinking of Princess Margaret who became something of a rebel, unable to marry the man of her choice because he was divorced, then taking up with an society artist photographer, then having affairs off shore, but always letting no one forget she was the Queen's sister with status and duties).
The first of two scenes at the end of the book upon which reveals the purpose of the whole work begins when it is Charles who objects on behalf of Lord Marchmain when Bridey and Cordelia insist that a priest try to give him the final absolution for his sins. He is delighted when Lord Marchmain dismisses the priest and horrified when it is Julia who takes the lead in arranging a second try as her father's health deteriorates. While it can be argued that Julia is only showing respect for her mother's belief and gratitude to her father for entailing the estate to her rather than Bridey, we are aware, as Charles is shown to be aware, that this is more about Julia's own inner turmoil as it is about saving the soul of her father.
When father makes the sign of the cross in response to the request to give some physical indication that he is sorry for his sins and wants forgiveness of God, it is a vindication for the life and beliefs of Lord Brideshead and Lady Cordelia and its confirms what lady Julia has been feeling, that she has to return to the fundamentals of her former faith. Charles finds himself in conflict hoping that Lord Marchmain resists and vindicate his own position that this is all mumbo jumbo, but he also hopes there will be some sign because he knows how important this is for Cordelia, Bridey and Julia, who he has deep feelings for.
However it only when the sign of the cross is made that he feels its force and significance and knows that his relationship with Julia will never be the same again. It is however at the point that I begin to understand Evelyn Waugh who through the character of Charles finds it difficult to feel as others feels, he has always felt an outsider, looking on, envious, wishing he was part of something other than his life, wishing he could feel the passion and abandonment of others, whether for their faith, as an artist, as a drunkard or as a lover. He is attracted to Sebastian first because the man is an exhibitionist going around Oxford carrying a teddy bear and wearing clothes which draw everyone's attention and soon he is wearing the same clothes and behaving in the same way ; he is seen out and about with Antoine, Anthony Blanche, an open gay exhibitionist who gets him ducked in the river; he goes around with Boy Mulcaster loud, obnoxious member of the aristocracy who takes him and Sebastian to a hostess dive which gets him before the courts after the car in which they are taking three women away for an orgy is involved in a near accident. He continues to behave as an outsider in the Army, separate from the men and fellow officers. These and other instances show that Charles, and I suggest Evelyn Waugh want to belong to something more than painting, marriage, fatherhood and pleasures.
We therefore come to that last page in the book and last scene in TV Adaptation, and which is inadequately handled in the film. The significance of the oil lamp light in the Brideshead Chapel. Unless you are a Catholic, one does not appreciate its significance, (the Olympic flame is a secular form) The blessed light in her chapel symbolises faith and justice.. A Catholic does not expect worldly success and most Catholics are prepared for suffering in life and at death. They do not expect happiness or look for it but to be in a state of grace. This is also of importance in other religions. The Muslim fundamentalist also sees his sacrifice as achieving a state to grace for himself and also for his family. Both believe it their duty to convert others to their faith to prevent souls being lost and in fairness Catholics and Christians have used the sword to achieve this objective in past times, However those who feel their faith know and understand that you can never force another to change beliefs and have to find a faith for themselves.
When Charles Ryder see that flame still lit in the Chapel at Brideshead he goes off in a Churchillian statement about its significance for all those fighting against the contemporary tyranny of the day, but he also understand its significance against injustice and tyranny throughout time and as a statement of undying faith.
He also understands and feels it statement of faith and what Catholicism can mean and is on his way to a meaningful conversion acceptable to the church and in literary terms acceptable Julia and by implication he is on his way to achieving his dream or marrying Julia if he can convince her of his faith after the war and they both survive.
He also learnt that Brideshead was part of the means and not an end in itself, d something which Julia has her doubts about, do you want me or Brideshead more she asks, would you give Brideshead up and give my faith a chance? Alas he is not yet ready and a Hollywood ending is not the point. I do not know what kind of Catholic Evelyn Waugh became but he seems to me one of those who recognise that churches, bibles and rituals can become obstacles to the practice of faith.
Having read the book and viewed the TV adaptation once more I maintain the opinion that the new film is a good attempt to communicate the main points and objectives of the book and it is possible to forgive the liberties taken with crucial aspects of the story.
When engaged in some work in depth, as I try to understand and evaluate from the viewpoint of the creator, the judgement of others and my own, I prefer to make a commentary as I go along with a loose leaf notebook and then reconsider what has been written and form a judgement which I can live with. The taking of notes can spoil the emotional involvement but I need them as a means of absorbing information and fact, supplemented later through the internet, my library and other records. I wish I had a photographic memory and an encyclopaedic ability to recall knowledge. Sometimes I know there are other references, relationships, similarities with other work, but usually I have to move on, unable to justify to myself the time required to substantiate what may be no more than a feeling.
With Brideshead Revisited, the work has become the main activity of three days it was essential to read the final page and experience again the last scene of the TV adaptation to understand the significance of aspects of what has gone before and the author's primary objective. He may have commenced the work with only a concept or the rough outline of what he wanted to achieve. But for me it is work where the final words are the springboard of everything that happens before and was constructed to achieve than end.
Throughout the book in all his talks with each member of the family you feel he protests his agnosticism too much. He likes Cordelia, the youngest member of the family because of their shared love for Sebastian and he respects her faith although is puzzled by it and questions her about the sense of vocations she has which takes her to the convent and then work in Spain during the Civil war and then to North Africa with Julia and Bridey during world war 2. Bridey who is serious about his faith, contemplating becoming a Jesuit but accepting his duty as first son is progress to the title and look after the estate, however he only occupies a small suite of room at the top of the house after his mother dies. He changes his approach when he gets married to a woman older than he, wanting to take over Brideshead, but his hopes of son are questionable to have a son, not realising that the widow is past child bearing and just interested in finding security for herself and her children. The marriage is blessed by the Pope although the instigation for this appears to be his wife whose original marriage was blessed as one of a group of 70 new brides. He appears to accept without a fight when his father decided to entail the estate to Julia and not his first born because of dislike for his wife as Common. It is Bridey telling his sister, Lady Julia, that his wife will not be able to meet Julia while she lives in sin that precipitates the emotional and spiritual break down. Bridey disapproves that Charles has not religion but he treats him with respect and is instrumental in kick starting his career as a fashionable painter inviting him to undertake paintings of the London Home, Marchmain House before it is pulled down.
Despite professing indifference to what Lady Marchmain has to say he dopes not ridicule her Catholicism to her face and is embarks upon the mission to try and bring Sebastian to see before she dies. One has the impression that had Charles been willing to convert to Catholicism she would have accept his marriage to Julia whether as she remained opposed to the marriage of her daughter to Rex Mottram recognising the kind of man he was. That Sebastian is so hostile to his mother and the Catholic church, doing everything he can to rebel, indicates the strength of his boyhood beliefs which only changed when his father insisted on sending him to that bastion of the British Aristocratic, Political and Church of England establishment, Eton, followed by Christ Church generally accepted as the Oxford playground for the upper class, day. It is therefore no surprise that he is shown as becoming deeply spiritual and being cared for by an order of Brothers. I see more of Sebastian in me that I like.
The TV adaptation suggests that he takes up with Julia on the voyage from New York after two years on his won painting, his wife who has come to see him as a wife in society and a mother at a point when he is seeking passion as part of a total relationship experience which makes him feel alive. She has an unhappy marriage and un unhappy affair which took her to New York. One suspects that he would have had had an affair with anyone who had become available but Julia offers more, connection with his past relationship with Sebastian and the family and a life at Brideshead. He makes no effort to understand the hold Catholicism has had on her or how to cope when she breaks down after Bridey brings out her underlying conflict over her way of life and Catholic heritage and upbringing. ( As an aside I kept thinking of Princess Margaret who became something of a rebel, unable to marry the man of her choice because he was divorced, then taking up with an society artist photographer, then having affairs off shore, but always letting no one forget she was the Queen's sister with status and duties).
The first of two scenes at the end of the book upon which reveals the purpose of the whole work begins when it is Charles who objects on behalf of Lord Marchmain when Bridey and Cordelia insist that a priest try to give him the final absolution for his sins. He is delighted when Lord Marchmain dismisses the priest and horrified when it is Julia who takes the lead in arranging a second try as her father's health deteriorates. While it can be argued that Julia is only showing respect for her mother's belief and gratitude to her father for entailing the estate to her rather than Bridey, we are aware, as Charles is shown to be aware, that this is more about Julia's own inner turmoil as it is about saving the soul of her father.
When father makes the sign of the cross in response to the request to give some physical indication that he is sorry for his sins and wants forgiveness of God, it is a vindication for the life and beliefs of Lord Brideshead and Lady Cordelia and its confirms what lady Julia has been feeling, that she has to return to the fundamentals of her former faith. Charles finds himself in conflict hoping that Lord Marchmain resists and vindicate his own position that this is all mumbo jumbo, but he also hopes there will be some sign because he knows how important this is for Cordelia, Bridey and Julia, who he has deep feelings for.
However it only when the sign of the cross is made that he feels its force and significance and knows that his relationship with Julia will never be the same again. It is however at the point that I begin to understand Evelyn Waugh who through the character of Charles finds it difficult to feel as others feels, he has always felt an outsider, looking on, envious, wishing he was part of something other than his life, wishing he could feel the passion and abandonment of others, whether for their faith, as an artist, as a drunkard or as a lover. He is attracted to Sebastian first because the man is an exhibitionist going around Oxford carrying a teddy bear and wearing clothes which draw everyone's attention and soon he is wearing the same clothes and behaving in the same way ; he is seen out and about with Antoine, Anthony Blanche, an open gay exhibitionist who gets him ducked in the river; he goes around with Boy Mulcaster loud, obnoxious member of the aristocracy who takes him and Sebastian to a hostess dive which gets him before the courts after the car in which they are taking three women away for an orgy is involved in a near accident. He continues to behave as an outsider in the Army, separate from the men and fellow officers. These and other instances show that Charles, and I suggest Evelyn Waugh want to belong to something more than painting, marriage, fatherhood and pleasures.
We therefore come to that last page in the book and last scene in TV Adaptation, and which is inadequately handled in the film. The significance of the oil lamp light in the Brideshead Chapel. Unless you are a Catholic, one does not appreciate its significance, (the Olympic flame is a secular form) The blessed light in her chapel symbolises faith and justice.. A Catholic does not expect worldly success and most Catholics are prepared for suffering in life and at death. They do not expect happiness or look for it but to be in a state of grace. This is also of importance in other religions. The Muslim fundamentalist also sees his sacrifice as achieving a state to grace for himself and also for his family. Both believe it their duty to convert others to their faith to prevent souls being lost and in fairness Catholics and Christians have used the sword to achieve this objective in past times, However those who feel their faith know and understand that you can never force another to change beliefs and have to find a faith for themselves.
When Charles Ryder see that flame still lit in the Chapel at Brideshead he goes off in a Churchillian statement about its significance for all those fighting against the contemporary tyranny of the day, but he also understand its significance against injustice and tyranny throughout time and as a statement of undying faith.
He also understands and feels it statement of faith and what Catholicism can mean and is on his way to a meaningful conversion acceptable to the church and in literary terms acceptable Julia and by implication he is on his way to achieving his dream or marrying Julia if he can convince her of his faith after the war and they both survive.
He also learnt that Brideshead was part of the means and not an end in itself, d something which Julia has her doubts about, do you want me or Brideshead more she asks, would you give Brideshead up and give my faith a chance? Alas he is not yet ready and a Hollywood ending is not the point. I do not know what kind of Catholic Evelyn Waugh became but he seems to me one of those who recognise that churches, bibles and rituals can become obstacles to the practice of faith.
Having read the book and viewed the TV adaptation once more I maintain the opinion that the new film is a good attempt to communicate the main points and objectives of the book and it is possible to forgive the liberties taken with crucial aspects of the story.
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