Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2004
From: jhexam7563@aol.com
Subject: Nina Balatka, Chap. X: Pawning Goods; Hounded Relentlessly
A little noise to disturb the quietness:
Nina has pawned the last of her valuable possessions, and gets enough money to stave off starvation in the house in the Kleinseite. In the ensuing "quiet," however, she is hounded relentlessly by her doubts, fears and anxieties:
1. Her father seems irreversibly sinking into lifelessness
2. Anton is all quiet; there is still no definite wedding date
3. Aunt Sophie & Co. remain sequestered in their hatefullness
4. Nina feels more and more isolated
5. After Nina and Anton marry, how will her father be cared for
6. Nina needs an older female counselor, but none is available.
Rebecca Loth unexpectedly calls on Nina. They "have words" with each other by way of getting better acquainted. As Nina already knows, Rebecca has been chosen by Stephen Trendellsohn to be Anton's wife. Rebecca restates the popular belief that an Anton-Nina match would lead to disastrous consequences for all involved, and adds that (like an incumbent office-holder to a challenging political newcomer) Nina is too new to the area and doesn't know what she's getting into. Nina maintains her position as bride-to-be, and adds that she would die for Anton. Rebecca suggests that Nina do the right thing for Anton, the man of stature, and thus for the whole of Prague Jewry: first, do nothing foolish such as do away with yourself, and release Anton from his promise to marry. Rebecca promises, in return, not to marry Anton. Rebecca is very candid about her aspirations concerning Anton and about her secondary role in his affections. Nina insists on claiming a victory, but is not sure if a limited, moral victory would do for the rest of her life. She will go to Anton with this new idea asking his opinion and abiding by whatever he says.
My comment: Rebecca provides a moment of relief. In the first paragraph Trollope gives us Nina's "frame of mind," which includes, I guess, a summary of her thoughts and feelings. "...no one could say why he should not get up and and dress himself, and he himself continued to speak of some future time when he would do so; but there he was, lying in his bed, and Nina told herself that in all probability she would never see him about the house again." Granted that her father is very important to her, still, considering the many pressures Nina is subject to (some of which is at her own hand), it is remarkable that she can listen to, and think of someone else. The same thing applies to Rebecca: the course of her life is being determined by events in the Balatka household.
Richard
Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2004
From: jhexam7563@aol.com
Subject: Nina Balatka, Chap. X: Characters' Ages
Age, like the weather in real life, is always something in Trollope to talk about. I almost forgot that in this Chapter we find out from Rebecca that she is 24, Anton is 24+10+1 =35, and Nina is how old? My guess is between 18 and 21, toward the younger end of that range. I had thought Anton and Nina were closer in age: they seem two idealistic young people, rebels, fighting the whole world.
Richard
Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2004 Now on our Home Page the Old New Synagogue, possibly the one that we
have seen mentioned in Nina Balatka.
There is an old legend that the foundation stones for the Old-New
Synagogue were brought by angels from the destroyed Temple of
Jerusalem. It is the oldest synagogue in Europa at the present, from
the year 1280.
The Old-New Synagogue, which is not part of the Jewish Museum, is one
of three Prague synagogues, together with the High and the Jerusalem
Synagogues, in which divine services are held. Richard Mintz
Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2004 "Josef Balatka might die," and that soon. Stephen Trendellsohn himself has
not all that long to live. Mr Trendellsohn was troubled by two delinquencies
when he set out for the office of Karil Zamenoy. His dealings with Balatka had
been from the start very unbusinesslike; and, secondly, he "had not
recognized all the evils which would come from a marriage between his son and a
Christian maiden." A patchwork of good and bad comes from this situation. The
missing title-deed was supposed to be in the Zamenoy office, but they say Nina has
it for sure. Mr Trendellsohn may be exposed as a poor businessman, but if his
son does the right thing by Rebecca, he can bask in his son's business
reputation. Instead of an exile whom he cannot recognize as his son, he could be
father to the leader of the Jewish community. Mr Trendellsohn returns
home with a bone to pick about Nina's everything (credibility?
trustworthiness?). Mr Trendellsohn argues from a local example of perfidious Christians; Anton
argues from the heart. With his father's words in mind, Anton escapes into
the darkness.
Anton knows that he is standing on the edge dividing what he should and
should not do. He finds himself standing below, looking up at the light in Nina's
window trying to divine the truth from a distance at such-and-such an angle,
and resolves that Nina's faithfulness should be tested once again. Then he
will go away, taking her with him. At home in the presence of Rebecca and Ruth,
Anton is rebuked by his father about his upcoming marriage, and takes umbrage.
Rebecca acts as intermediary, and reveals, from her interview with Nina,
that there may be an honorable "out," that Nina may be willing to back off if
Anton will ask her how it now stands with her. But, there will be no deal for an
adamant Anton. Excuses are made so that Anton and Rebecca leave together,
which gives Rebecca the opportunity to deny any ulterior motive in separating
Anton from Nina, and to say she is enough of a realist to be free of the "girlish
pride" of fanciful ideas regarding marriage. Then Rebecca rushes off into the
darkness---much as Nina might do.
Apparently, Mr Trendellsohn has had harsh words to say to Anton many times in
the past. Anton has been tested much, proven to be a good son, earned much
for himself and his father, and still has not become a Partner in the Firm.
I'd say he's predisposed to bolt from the barn.
With only two delinquencies, Mr Trendellsohn is a blessed man. :)
Richard
Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2004 Thank you again to Richard to stepping in on this "orphan" week. Our
quietness definitely needed to be disturbed.
When we first meet Rebecca earlier at the time Nina was in the Jewish
Quarter, I got an impression, and this may be just me, that she was
perhaps a bit snooty. I couldn't tell then either if she really loved
Anton or if she felt it would just be a good match.
Early on in this chapter I was still uncertain of Rebecca's feelings.
She could have been coming to see Nina as she would anyone she
perceived as a threat to her possible marriage with Anton. It's just
that in Nina's case Rebecca had a very good argument because Nina was
a Christian.
By the end of the chapter though I have to believe that Rebecca truly
loves Anton and wants what is best for him--what she perceives as
best for him in relation to the life, friends and family that he
already has. I really feel for Rebecca now and hope we do see more of
her later in the book.
I think the age difference between Anton and Nina was alluded to
earlier, but it might have been by Ruth who, at her young age, even
thinks Nina is old.
Dagny
Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2004 Money is running low in the house in the Kleinseite, and thus fear of
starvation begins to rise. Souchey is driven to the desperate remedy of picking up
scraps of food thrown into the street. Nina is required to inform Souchey that
he must go elsewhere for food and work. As a matter of fact, he has been
invited to be Lotta's special guest this day in Aunt Sophie's kitchen for a hot
meal.
The subject of her misalliance is opened to Souchey, who is shown capable of
making disparaging remarks to his mistress. There is an awareness that
Souchey is venturing into enemy territory, and though Souchey has been discharged
from the Balatka household, he is expected to retain his old loyalties. He
doesn't need to be reminded.
Anton, quite unexpectedly, shows up on Nina's doorstep. She is
overjoyed---perhaps a new day is dawning, the day of her dreams. Anton, however, has come
to return the necklace which he has redeemed from the broker, and to renew his
search for the title-deed. An indignant Nina invites him to search the
premises to his heart's content. Her discontent is great enough that she breaks
off her engagement(!), and requires that Anton, on his knees, ask for her
forgiveness. He will forgo the knee-feet business until his testing of Nina is
complete.
Meanwhile, back in the kitchen, a wily Lotta exercises her talents to engage
Souchey's help in accomplishing Nina's ultimate downfall. The crux of the
matter according to Lotta is: what will be the final disposition of Nina's
immortal soul? Souchey believes that he can help find a place in Buelah-land for
Nina's soul, and at the same time remain faithful the Balakas.
Richard
Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 Anton: He knew that she would be raised almost to a seventh heaven of
delight if he would only call her to the door and speak to her a
dozen words . . .
Nina: In the mean time, Nina, chill and wretched, crept to her cold
bed, all unconscious of the happiness that had been so near her.
And he blew her a kiss and blessed her in his heart. Think of the
happiness Nina would have had if Anton had actually kissed her and
blessed her in person.
Is it possible that Anton loves Nina as much as we would be led to
believe? It seems to me if that were the case he would have thought
more with his heart than with his head and knocked at the door.
Dagny
Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 On our Home Page now is another picture from Prague. This cemetery
would have been in existence when Trollope visited and is unchanged
since then.
This ancient cemetery, in the heart of the Jewish Town was opened
perhaps in the 15th century (the oldest tomb on the top is from the
year 1439) and closed to further burials in 1787. There are twelve
layers in which people were buried, thousands of graves are
underneese and twelve thousands of tombstones on the top. The
pictoresque groups of tombstones from various periods result from the
fact that older stones were lifted up several times from the lower
layers. Dagny
Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 Nina questions whether she did the right thing, turning Anton out. She is
relieved of the weariness of this sorrow by that of another sorrow: the doctor
says her father is beyond any permanent medical help. She sends Souchey to
tell Mr Trendellson the news, feeling, in this initiative in Anton's direction,
that she must be "excused." But, it produces no response from him. Instead,
the young sojourner Ruth has been sent with all the respects and sympathy of
the Trendellsohns, and with a basket of comfort for Nina from Rebecca. But, no
direct word from Anton. In true Nina fashion, she backs away from the basket
which evidently contains Rebecca's love for Nina and which Nina is most
reluctant to accept. A true ambassador, Ruth slowly convinces Nina of Rebecca's
sincerity by revealing the basket's contents, the first of which is a charming
note revealing a sincere affection. It may not be what she expected or wanted,
but Nina's head is turned by Rebecca. It's all that she needs at the moment,
evidencing all the seemingly small things, the attention to small details that
one woman can show to another woman.
Nina is finally comforted after being convinced by Ruth to resume her visits
to the Trendellsohn household: Nina has even more reasons now to make those
visits.
Father Jerome comes to administer to the dying man and his family that which
only he can adminster. Although he had once been a dear friend, his name has
been used as a weapon to threaten Nina. The priest surprisingly accepts Nina
as she is, but requires her to verfy the fact of her waywardness. She
questions the priest as to her position in the Catholic Church after marriage to
Anton. Nina receives enough assurance from Father Jerome that she later "restored
the picture of the Virgin to its place" in her bedroom.
Richard
Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 Dagny, this is just the type of behavior, in my opinion, that has
prevented Anton from becoming a Partner in the Firm. Mr Trendellsohn
has probably recognized early on a certain flightiness in Anton, a
tendency to go off the deep end where only unexpected results are
found, towards that bourne whence the traveler may not return. (And
I'd better slow down before I go off the deep end---which I have a
tendency to do.)
I think that if Anton had a guitar handy, he'd sing a song, too.
And that's not what the Jewish community of Prague wants or needs of
its businessmen. Probably, the Jews here have only recently been
allowed to do more than act as moneylenders, or work as itinerate
tradesmen. They are probably being closely watched as to their
business practices. My "probablies" can only multiply at this point,
so anyone jump in here to set things straight.
Richard
Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 Richard wrote:
Thank you. I hadn't thought of that. My idea had just been that Mr.
Trendellsohn was a controlling type person that didn't want to let go
the reins. But that doesn't work since Anton has been handling most
of the business transactions for a while now.
Dagny
Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2004 I finally searched out a copy of Nina B in the University of London library=
(it
had to be fetched from the stacks, not deemed shelvable); and read it last
night at about 5am when I couldn't sleep.
I think it is a really intriguing book having read He Knew He Was Right and
Can You Forgive Her? quite a long time ago, it seemed to me to have
similar preoccupations with questions of how women ought to behave with
respect to their families' wishes / social rules- especially as in HKHWR
those opinions are quite extreme. And where a woman really believes in her
own right to determine the course of her life, even though the people around
her don't quite see it like that. But all translated to this strange context…
I wasn't sure how much emphasis to place on the Jewish/Czech setting, for
this reason. My introduction [by Robert Tracy, Berkeley], says the "unfamiliar
settings offered Trollope chances to depict lovers separated by divisions
sharper than those usually found in English life and fiction"; i.e. ones of race /
religion however I felt the similarity of the divisions to those in his other
books more than the differences. Did anyone else feel that Prague and
Judaism concealed London, and conventional Victorian values?
I read in my introduction that the book was published in Blackwoods
Magazine without a name on it. I believe that was typical practice of
Blackwoods at the time but normally a serial would appear without a name,
but with `by the author of Middlemarch. As was pointed out in the
introductory posts to the book, Trollope in this case evidently chose to begin a
sort of experiment in giving no clues at all, hoping to be able to expand his
literary horizons without disappointing his regular readers.
However, some people at the time felt Trollope had wasted his time trying to
disguise his identity in the Spectator, Richard Holt Hutton wrote "no one
who knows his style at all can read three pages of this tale without detecting
him as plainly as if he were present in the flesh". [p. viii, Tracy ed for =
Oxford World's Classics]. I thought this was a lovely quote other people might enjoy!
Emma
In reply from Dagny:
Hello, Emma. Welcome to the group.
It is really a shame that so many of Trollope's books are hard to
find. Have you been able to locate the next two books, Linda Tressel
or Ralph the Heir?
Dagny
Re: Are we in Prague, or England?
A warm welcome to Emma.
How about we are both in Prague and England. We are in Prague
because Trollope has gone to great lengths to situate us there
and he means to depict this particular maze, locale and culture.
We are in England because he can't be elsewhere finally.
That's brilliant insight. Yes the foreign setting allows him to go to extremes
and also make visible what would threaten the reader if he made it "too close" for
comfort. Yet, as you say, he has done this before and in England.
My argument is still he wanted the analytic psychology of romance
and the exotic setting was the solution. But I agree with you about the potentials and strengths
he gains from the change and the analogy.
Ellen
Date: Sat, 14 Aug 2004 On our Home Page now is the Old Town Bridge Tower in Prague.
The entrance gate from the Old Town to the Charles Bridge, designed
by Petr Parler. One of the most beautiful Gothic towers in Europe.
The tower contains copies of the enthroned figures of Charles IV and
Wenceslas IV. Over the archway is a row of carved emblems of
territories belonging to Charles' Empire. Date: Sat, 14 Aug 2004 I really like Ruth more and more. Her kindness and care in packing
the basket for Nina and her father is remarkable. They have only just
met and Ruth is so against the marriage of Nina and Anton, not only
for her own sake but for Anton's.
Dagny
Date: Sat, 14 Aug 2004 Dagny writes:
Yes, Dagny, the more the hidden contents of the basket are revealed, the more
do we all like Ruth and Rebecca. So with their biblical predecessors.
Rebekah, believing/feeling her son Jacob to be the favored one, deceives the blind
Isaac into blessing Jacob who goes on to get the "Gold Belt" wrestling with
the Angel. Ruth, the Moabitess, loses her husband (one of the children of
Israel) and follows Naomi, her mother-in-law, back to his native land
believing/feeling her life to be inextricably connected with Naomi's life. Ruth becomes
David's nanna (the David of kingly fame).
On the other hand, Mr Trendellsohn believes/feels that Nina has the
title-deed, but stands to be condemned because he never should have allowed the
situation to get to the "feeling" stage. From the start, he should have had a much
more solid assurance, a much stronger purchase on the illusory deed. The same
with Anton---he believes/feels Nina has it, and we hate him because, as a
result of his "feeling," he will test Nina to the limit.
Does Trollope have a hidden agenda here?
Richard
Date: Sun, 15 Aug 2004 Dagny wrote:
Richard wrote:
I wrote the wrong name. I meant to say I liked Rebecca more and more.
Ruth brought the basket, but of course it was Rebecca that packed it
and sent the note.
Dagny
From: "dagny"
Subject: Home Page: The Old-New Synagogue
The Commentary:
From: jhexam7563@aol.com
Subject: Nina Balatka, Chap. XI: "Joseph Balatka might die"
From: "dagny"
Subject: Nina Balatka, Chap. X: The Noble Rebecca
From: jhexam7563@aol.com
Subject: Nina Balatka, Chap. XII: Money Low, Utter Distrust and Treachery;
Religious Belief and Bigotry
"I would sooner fall in the gutter than eat my aunt's meat."
From: "dagny"
Subject: Nina BalatkaWhat a sad scene.
From: "dagny"
Subject: Home Page: Old Jewish Cemetery
:The Commentary:
From: jhexam7563@aol.com
Subject: Nina Balatka, Chap. XIII: The Young Women in the Tale to the
Rescue
From: "Richard C. Mintz"
Subject: Nina Balatka, Chap. XI: Anton under the archway
From: "dagny"
Subject: Nina Balatka, Chap. XI: Anton under the archway
Dagny, this is just the type of behavior, in my opinion, that has
prevented Anton from becoming a Partner in the Firm. Mr Trendellsohn
has probably recognized early on a certain flightiness in Anton, a
tendency to go off the deep end where only unexpected results are
found, towards that bourne whence the traveler may not return.
From: "emma townsend"
Subject: Are we in Prague, or England?
From: "dagny"
Subject: Home Page: Old Town Bridge Tower
The commentary:
From: "dagny"
Subject: Nina Balatka, Chap. XIII: Ruth's basket
From: jhexam7563@aol.com
Subject: Nina Balatka, Chap. XIII: Ruth's basket
I really like Ruth more and more.
From: "dagny"
Subject: Nina Balatka, Chap. XIII: Ruth's basket -- and Rebecca
I really like Ruth more and more.
Yes, Dagny, the more the hidden contents of the basket are
revealed, the more do we all like Ruth and Rebecca.
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