Friday, February 17, 2012
Nosy Neighbors
What is the significance that so much can be seen through windows and across lawns? Everyone in Dorthea's house can watch everything that happens during Featherstone's funeral procession without being seen themselves. In fact, people had come from out in the country because "the news had spread that it was to be a 'big burying'." The characters are all interested in what occurs in others' lives. Almost no one is satisfied with their own "side of the fence" as it were. The town of Middlemarch sort of becomes its own character as dozens of eyes watch everything that occurs. The characters cannot go about their daily lives without the worry of what someone else will see or say.
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I think what all voyarism with the windows reflects small town life. In small towns like this, everyone knows everything. Gossip travels fast in small towns. Since the family can see without being seen shows you never know who is watching in a small town.
ReplyDeleteThis screams out "plain busy-bodies" everyone wants to know everyone elses business and expects that it's okay too; honestly it's not. It can often times lead to popping ones' bubble space or becoming to personal. I've heard that when you live in a small town---people know you like the back of their hand and that what's your business is the whole towns business. I come from the city but am known in my community; I'll admit we have the type of people who are in others business and try to uphold a social standard to others but they don't know my whole life story, and probably never will.
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