which I've spent an inordinate amount of time on. But it was time worth spending; Elizabeth Gaskell's novel is a trove of rich and fascinating characters. My last four posts on the novel have been concentrated on some of the most interesting characters in it, and now we've arrived at the protagonist of Wives & Daughters, Molly Gibson.
Nowhere is Molly's loyalty more evident than in her relationship with Cynthia. While not blind to Cynthia's faults, Molly has grown to love her as a sister, and helps and defends her staunchly, even though most of Cynthia's problems are of her own making. Despite her natural reticence, Molly faces Mr. Preston at Cynthia's request, dealing with the mess which her stepsister got herself into. And when this results in gossip and speculation that nearly ruins Molly's reputation, she still loyally keeps Cynthia's secret despite suffering personally because of it.
What makes the relationship between Molly and Roger work so well is that it isn't something that comes out of nowhere, for no apparent reason. Rather, it progresses naturally from shared interests and troubles, to close friendship and then love. Their relationship is a true partnership, and particularly satisfying because their characters are so likable and so well suited to each other. The romance between Molly and Roger is a believable and heartwarming one, and it is truly sad that Elizabeth Gaskell died before she could finish the book, and their love story. Gaskell was at the height of her ability as a writer at this time, as is obvious in her skillful character development, and it is equally sad that she did not have the opportunity to produce more fictional works: I would have liked to read her next novel. As it is, we must be grateful for what we have, and content ourselves with enjoying her existing books, Wives & Daughters being one of her best.