What Is Lucy In A Room With A View

The ideals of society and social classes have changed considerably throughout many decades; often causing numerous concerns between the old and new ways of one’s thinking and doing things. In the book, Story and Structure by Laurence Perrine, he states that the theme in a fiction novel is “the controlling idea or its central insight… it is the unifying generalization about life stated or implied by the story” (Perrine 92). Hence, the theme illustrated in the novel, A Room with a View by E.M Forster, is shown as, while on the verge of a new era, old social ideals are often left behind, bringing in new social values that are more appropriate. Although, this change can affect some individuals positively, it may also have a negative impact on
those who are have difficulty adapting and therefore causing disagreements among society. This theme highly contributes to the main character, Lucy Honeychurch’s development as it allows her to overcome and break away from all the strict social standards of gender and class, thus, giving her the opportunity of achieving happiness by being able to make her own decisions. Despite Lucy’s social position, she opposes society’s expectations and decides to marry George Emerson who is born of the lower class. Throughout the novel, Lucy matures from a naïve girl to a self-assured and independent woman, going against the traditional, gendered stereotypes. Lastly, she realises what she truly wants and becomes her own person as she chooses to diverge away from who she is expected to be. Many often believe in the importance of maintaining traditional social standards, although they are not always exemplary, thus, causing some to want to move away from social ideas and hierarchies. Nevertheless, the novel follows the main character as she faces the challenges the high social class’s values and expectations.
Throughout the novel, Lucy constantly struggles between the social classes barriers, especially when it comes to the person she wants to marry. When she first meets George, she instantly avoids associating herself with him because of his social status. She denies all feelings that she has towards him and instead convinces herself that she loves Cecil Vyse, who is seen as an appropriate husband. Nevertheless, she increasingly begins to disagree with the social values in which her family and friends strongly believe in. Lucy becomes aware of her true feelings towards George and realises that Cecil is never going to be the perfect match for her nor will make her happy. Thus, this realisation causes her to end her engagement with Cecil. This characterizes Lucy as a round character, considering her “complex and many sided traits” (Perrine 66). Despite her social status and the expectations of society; she decides to marry George, who is especially seen as an unsuitable partner in the eyes of her closest friends and family. Furthermore, Perrine explains that a theme only exists when, “an author has…to reveal some truth about it or when [they have] deliberately introduced as a unifying element some concept or theory of life that the story illustrates” (Perrine 93). This is demonstrated by Forster as he shows the outcome and the reactions of individuals during a period in time when society is gradually changing its values to a more modern perspective. Lucy’s family show complete disapproval of her marriage, “the Honeychurches had not forgiven them; they were disgusted at her past hypocrisy; she had alienated Windy Corner, perhaps for ever” (Forster 193). Despite this rejection, Lucy is able to get away from the standards of her social class. She realises that her values have changed and that she no longer wants to follow the ideals in which she grew up in.
The time period in which the novel is set portrays how women are inferior and dependent on men.
They have few opportunities and rights of expressing their own ideas and opinions freely. In the first chapters of the novel, Lucy is portrayed as a naïve and passive character, nevertheless she is able to mature, become independent and overcome the negative attitudes that are directed towards women. Throughout the novel, she develops into a dynamic character that “undergoes a permanent change in some aspect of character, personality or outlook. The change may be a large or a small one; it may for better or for worse; but it is something important and basic” (Perrine 70). Lucy demonstrates this development by increasing her confidence along with the help of George and his father. Hence, enabling her to stand up to other characters, especially Cecil, who is seen as prejudiced and patronizing, “I won't be protected. I will choose for myself what is ladylike and right. To shield me is an insult. Can't I be trusted to face the truth but I must get it second-hand through you? A woman's place! You despise my mother…” (E.M Forster 160). Lucy shows that she does not want to be controlled or ordered but rather, be an equal in the relationship. She is also tired of being told how a lady should act, illustrating her detachment from the traditional and gender stereotypes. In addition, Perrine defines one the principles of theme as being, “the central and unifying concept of the story.
Therefore it accounts for all the major details of the story… [and is] not contradicted by any detail of the story” (Perrine 98). From the beginning of the novel, Lucy is constantly influenced and told how a proper lady should act. But further on in the novel, Lucy doubts and questions the idea of the perfect woman as she sees how not only are women controlled but are also unequal on many occasions. Lucy breaks away from the accepted and traditional ideals and becomes a self-assertive woman.
Furthermore, many of the social values and expectations in which Lucy grows up with, shapes and influences her to become someone who she’s presumed to be. When she goes to Italy and meets George, she begins to realise that she wants to be individual and be able to think for herself. This causes her to diverge away from who society expects to be. Her ambition allows her to gain more opportunities of expressing her own opinions and to be equal. According to Perrine, “a story is successful when the characters are dramatized-shown speaking and acting…” (Perrine 68). Lucy is characterized as such by constantly questioning and doubting her values, by marrying George and also by standing up to the strict social values as well as Cecil, who treats and objectifies Lucy because of her gender. Additionally, Perrine states that, “the theme may be equivalent to the revelation of the human character” (Perrine 93). Forster illustrates this in Lucy when she decisively chooses, with the help of both George and his father, to make her own path towards who wants to become rather than allow others to build her life. Towards the end of the novel, Lucy shows her satisfaction in the result of her decision, “To think that evening…that she shouldn’t have heard your father was in the house. For she would have stopped me going in, and he was the only person…who could have made me see sense… If Charlotte had only known, she would have stopped me going in, and I should have gone to silly Greece, and become different for ever” (Forster 194). Lucy shows that she is aware of the opportunities and freedom that she could have missed if she had not come to the realisation of what she truly wanted. Nonetheless, with the help and the influence of George’ father, Lucy is encouraged to pursue the freedom of being herself. She is able to successfully achieve happiness as she overcomes society’s norms.
The novel, A Room with a View by E.M Forster, establishes how individuals are greatly influenced by society’s expectations.
This can affect their beliefs and attitudes towards new and different social ideals. Furthermore, the novel portrays the theme as being, while on the verge of a new era, old social ideals are often left behind, bringing in new social values that are more appropriate. Although, this change can affect some individuals positively, it may also have a negative impact on those who are have difficulty adapting therefore causing disagreements among society. This notably contributes to the main character, Lucy Honeychurch’s development as it allows her to overcome and break away from all the strict social standards of gender and class, thus giving her the opportunity of achieving happiness by being able to make her own decisions. She marries George Emerson despite him being from a lower social class as well as ignores the consequences of being rejected from her family. She matures from being gullible and trusting into a strong and independent woman by defying the gendered stereotypes. Moreover, Lucy is able to find her identity as she deviates herself from becoming the woman that society expects. Over the course of the novel, many experiences contribute to Lucy’s growth of becoming an individual person, as Twayne Author Series, author of the essay, A Sense of Deities Reconciled: A Room with a View states, “The overall movement of the novel results in
enlightenment for Lucy, after several divagations into falsehood. With one side of her nature she responds to passion as it concenters in George; with another, she aligns herself with upholders of Victorian social standards, Charlotte Bartlett and Cecil Vyse… Finally, Mr. Emerson… instructs her about the sanctity of passion, and gives her the courage to claim the man she loves” (Twayne Author Series). This shows how although Lucy is born and raised with the influence of the high social class values, her change of view and opinion leads her to escape the conventional standards of society to a less controlling and appropriate as well as accepted ideals of society. Regardless of the consequences, Lucy attains her happiness through her determination, overcoming the restricting boundaries and values that she grew up with.