I perfectly second your point of view, as, in my opinion, art is a form of expression, not a selling business; but at the same time I know that the issue is overall complicated because often if you auto-publish (so you can publish what you want) it is very difficult (at least if you write in a minor european language as in my case) people won't probably read you at all; secondly ...let's face it, for most writers money and fame matter (I just watched the new Simpsons' episode last night and it was direct to the point).
You surely have more sources on Éléonore than me, but at least is a consolation that you too find her difficult. Yet I think she has so much potential as a fictional character because (this is my interpretation and please feel free to disagree/ comment on that) I see her as a perfect example of strength, commitment and intelligence (as I refuse to portray as a rather simple, plain woman as most writers have done). And also bravery, because I think there is much courage in staying next to someone like Robespierre (whatever their relationship was) because intelligent, self-aware, highly-achieving and highly-demanding people are not always easy, especially when they found themselves in a position of high-responsibility (I must admit that one of the few things I think Domecq was able to portray well in his book was the sense of Robespierre as a person whose brain (metaphorically) `does not switch off', of this continuous reflection-action-reflection circle which is a cipher of a certain kind of personality). And it is interesting to speculate which psychological reactions Robespierre's death can have determined in Éléonore, which, in this sense, really became a modern Cornelia (sorry, I do not find a less typical comparison right now) only after Thermidor (and I mean it in a very positive way as Cornelia is one of my preferred figures from the Roman Republican Era).
As for Charlotte...complete frustration. She is rather interesting to me as she is the less of an `heroine' type and her `negative' feelings and attitudes shows more than in other cases; these features picture her as someone who probably falls within the `average people' (by which I mean she acts and re-acts as most people would do in her situation), yet her memories (a doubtful text as they are) underline also this steady background of regret and sadness -wether precedent or generated by the affective loss she suffered in Thermidor- that would make her a fabulous fictional character. I have very mixed feeling toward her as an historical character as I can't relate to his behavior not to what appears to be her ethic scale at the same time I feel really connected to her loss. *very personal statement to follow* Mutatis mutandis, it is always difficult to come to term with the death of someone close to you as a brother, someone to which you relied upon as you would do with your own parents -or even more-, especially when death comes in a not expected way and in an unnatural time; of course life goes on as it has to be and yet there is always this shadow of memory, sadness and what ifs that becomes part of you (at times withdraws and at times comes back) and you don't really want to let go (every time I read her memories I can't help but shed a tear for my own brother).
It would be very interesting to have some feedback from you and general from people of this community, perhaps I will try to translate some parts into English (or rather have my wife do that -the fortune of having a native English speaker at home!).
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timeasmymeasure
Re: Clarification 2
Date: 2011-11-24 08:38 am (UTC)I perfectly second your point of view, as, in my opinion, art is a form of expression, not a selling business; but at the same time I know that the issue is overall complicated because often if you auto-publish (so you can publish what you want) it is very difficult (at least if you write in a minor european language as in my case) people won't probably read you at all; secondly ...let's face it, for most writers money and fame matter (I just watched the new Simpsons' episode last night and it was direct to the point).
You surely have more sources on Éléonore than me, but at least is a consolation that you too find her difficult. Yet I think she has so much potential as a fictional character because (this is my interpretation and please feel free to disagree/ comment on that) I see her as a perfect example of strength, commitment and intelligence (as I refuse to portray as a rather simple, plain woman as most writers have done). And also bravery, because I think there is much courage in staying next to someone like Robespierre (whatever their relationship was) because intelligent, self-aware, highly-achieving and highly-demanding people are not always easy, especially when they found themselves in a position of high-responsibility (I must admit that one of the few things I think Domecq was able to portray well in his book was the sense of Robespierre as a person whose brain (metaphorically) `does not switch off', of this continuous reflection-action-reflection circle which is a cipher of a certain kind of personality). And it is interesting to speculate which psychological reactions Robespierre's death can have determined in Éléonore, which, in this sense, really became a modern Cornelia (sorry, I do not find a less typical comparison right now) only after Thermidor (and I mean it in a very positive way as Cornelia is one of my preferred figures from the Roman Republican Era).
As for Charlotte...complete frustration. She is rather interesting to me as she is the less of an `heroine' type and her `negative' feelings and attitudes shows more than in other cases; these features picture her as someone who probably falls within the `average people' (by which I mean she acts and re-acts as most people would do in her situation), yet her memories (a doubtful text as they are) underline also this steady background of regret and sadness -wether precedent or generated by the affective loss she suffered in Thermidor- that would make her a fabulous fictional character. I have very mixed feeling toward her as an historical character as I can't relate to his behavior not to what appears to be her ethic scale at the same time I feel really connected to her loss. *very personal statement to follow* Mutatis mutandis, it is always difficult to come to term with the death of someone close to you as a brother, someone to which you relied upon as you would do with your own parents -or even more-, especially when death comes in a not expected way and in an unnatural time; of course life goes on as it has to be and yet there is always this shadow of memory, sadness and what ifs that becomes part of you (at times withdraws and at times comes back) and you don't really want to let go (every time I read her memories I can't help but shed a tear for my own brother).
It would be very interesting to have some feedback from you and general from people of this community, perhaps I will try to translate some parts into English (or rather have my wife do that -the fortune of having a native English speaker at home!).