The Doll’s House
Week of March 31, 2008

Chapter 19:

The Plantaganets have been relegated to two rooms in the dolls’ house -- the attic and the kitchen -- while Marchpane enjoys the rest of the house. Apple could not stay away from the forbidden rooms. He was not afraid of Marchpane and didn’t dislike her like the others. Everyday he would ask her to sing to him. However, Marchpane did not know any songs because in all those years spent in the nurseries, her head was always so filled with thoughts of herself there was no room for a song to enter.

Marchpane knew the Plantaganets did not want Apple to spend time with her, so every day she asked Apple to sing to her. The Plantaganets, being afraid of Marchpane, never stopped him from seeing Marchpane; however, one day Birdie surprised everyone and marched right into the other room to get Apple. Marchpane asked Birdie why she wouldn’t let Apple play with her. When Marchpane spoke, Birdie got confused and could not speak. Tottie spoke for her and said they chose not to. Birdie all of a sudden said, “Yes, you let him do dangerous things.” “Do I?” asked Marchpane, and she smiled and said “Yes, I do if I want.” Tottie told her she had better not hurt Apple as he is “our little boy.” Marchpane retorted, “Wait and see. Wait and see, you little splinter.” Suddenly Emily declared Apple should be Marchpane’s little boy. The Plantaganets are stunned. Tottie starts desperately directing wishes towards Emily, while Marchpane smiles her heavy china smile back at Tottie.

DISCUSSION:

Marchpane’s evilness is really coming out. It’s creepy to think that such mean thoughts and deeds are emanating from this beautiful china doll. The thought that she enjoys causing worry and stress to the Plantaganets about letting Apple do dangerous things is sick. Is she that evil that she truly would want harm to come to Apple?
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Oh, this is a terrible chapter indeed. I was proud of Birdie for going in and getting Apple. She knew it was wrong of him to visit Marchpane, and she was brave and determined--and was not too proud to take care of her little boy. Mr. P. can anguish, Tottie can wish, but Birdie acted.

Poor Apple, as only a child would be, is falsely flattered by the attention of Marchpane, and is foolishly visiting her every chance he gets.

Marchpane is an evil doll. There is no question of it. She didn't even know any songs! I hope Emily is able to come to her senses soon, instead of being overwhelmed by She-who-must-not-be-named!
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I was proud of Birdie, too. She had that one thought - to get Apple -and she did. Marchpane enjoyed muddling up her mind though.
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I am not sure she has thought far enough ahead to actually plan harm for Apple--I had the feeling she was encouraging him more to cause harm to the Plantaganets. The mental anguish would be her reward. On the other hand, if something bad happens to Apple, she surely won't care!
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I think she is simply so self absorbed and narcissistic that she doesn't care about anything except doing whatever will accomplish getting the Plantaganets out of what she considers to be...her house.
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At first I thought she was trying to wish the P. family right out of the dollhouse, but then I realized that Marchpane likes them right where they are, so she can reflect her power over Emily right back at them. And to call Tottie a 'splinter'!!! Mean, mean, mean!
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The moral and spiritual aspects of this chapter seem to me to be inescapable.

Apple, though everyone agrees he is a child and acts as a child, expresses his free will and self-centeredness in his "naughtiness". Marchpane knew how to exploit his own self-concern by encouraging him to sing his own song - "because most people, however small, like to sing their own songs the best". Apple liked people who said "do" better than people who said "don't". I certainly find this to be true in my own case.

The contrast between Marchpane and Birdie is drawn even finer in this chapter. Consider how we, in contemporary speech, use the terms "heavyweight" and "lightweight", giving the former a certain glory and using the latter to denigrate someone's intellect or character. Marchpane relies on her heaviness and uses it to bend others to her will. Yet it is Birdie, I believe, because of her "lightness", or maybe her openness to her own frailties, who was able to receive the "one thought" and act on it.

Finally, drawing on my own faith, it's hard for me to ignore the references to Apple's being a Plantaganet - Royalty - and the temptation, through Marchpane's influence, to leave off his place in the "royal family" for the dubious reward of her favor. Though it seems to be Emily who decides that he should become Marchpane's little boy, you can easily perceive the dance of Apple's willfulness partnering with Marchpane's own evil desire for dominance.

Just my two cents and do consider the present economy....
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Apple does seem to be a typical little boy in his me-me-me stage. How funny that he has never aged, in all the years! I guess once a doll has a personality in this book, it does not change or grow (as opposed to Hitty, where I have always felt she has reached a maturity at the end of the book that she did not possess at the beginning) (and Miss Hickory--her maturity was somewhat willy-nilly, but she did experience spiritual growth towards the end).

Marchpane certainly does not show any signs of growing!

..."you can easily perceive the dance of Apple's willfulness partnering with Marchpane's own evil desire for dominance."--oh, yes! He appears to be a willing co-conspirator in his insistence on being with Marchpane. She must be the fascinating older 'kid' to him--he is too innocent to see that she is no more a child than Tottie. Probably because she never says don't, so she seems like a fun doll to be around. She, on the other hand, is fully aware of what she is doing, and takes great delight in it.