Chapter Synopsis

Memoirs of a London Doll
February 23, 2009

Chapter 7: The West End of Town

Maria is now living with her new mamma in Hanover square, and life is very different. Lady Flora was true to her word and had a large, handsome doll purchased for little Ellen Plummy in exchange for Maria. She also purchased a nice cradle for Ellen and one or two other items.

A new featherbed of superior quality was purchased for Maria, together with some furniture, including a doll's wardrobe made of cedar wood, which is very special to Maria.

Maria, left alone in the carriage while Lady Flora and her governess visit a bakery, is troubled by the fact that she had grown accustomed to think herself not only very pretty but one of the very nicest and best dolls there could possibly be. She had always understood that Mr. Sprat was one of the very first doll-makers in England. She considered herself a charming doll, but when she saw many other dolls of a different make in the Soho Bazaar, she felt them quite superior to herself. This hurt her vanity and humbled her. She had been very vain and conceited, but now felt much less so, for she had seen other dolls in the world who were far prettier and better made. On the other hand, she had been loved by two mammas and so felt contented and felt no jealousy or envy of the prettiness and fineness of the others. She also felt that if she was amiable and could become clever, she should never be without someone to love her.

DISCUSSION:

I liked the way Maria, after seeing the fancier and better dolls, realized that she is comfortable with herself just as she is and knowing that she was loved by two mammas.

The thing I didn't care for was the fact that she believed that "if I was amiable and could become clever, I should never be without someone to love me." On the one hand she is content with herself and not jealous of other, better dolls; but at the same time, she believes that she must be amiable and more clever to be sure she has someone to love her. It sounds to me like she is not so "content" but has a struggle to "be better than the rest" to keep someone's love. Seems kind of sad to me. A doll (and a person) deserves to be loved for what and who they are and not have to think they need "play games" to keep that person in their life.
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You know what this chapter reminded me of? Sevashteen! (Not that Maria is like her, but the way the new Mama and her mother keep wanting to buy her the best of the best!)

I am glad she saw the prettier dolls, so she was reminded that she should be less vain and conceited. Hmmmm....there is that Sevashteen thing again! She does seem a bit insecure in herself. This reminds me of Hitty, when she came from India with Little Thankful, and was at the party with the haughty china dolls.

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