Is George Germaine Impotent?

Ellen Moody

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[This document is a note to the author's Trollope's Comfort Romances for Men: Heterosexual Male Heroism in his Work — GPL.]

In addition to the previously cited studies by Marwick and others, I'd add that although there are many comments throughout the novel by the narrator lamenting George Germaine's lack of conventional masculinity and manly self-government (39:69) , there are equally passages which present George as unfairly hurt and a victim because he is honorable and decent and sensitive. See Is He Popenjoy?, 60:268, where George writes a letter, thus documenting himself, and the narrator's comment. Trollope destroyed letters. Hall, Trollope's Letters, vii, says "Trollope customarily destroyed letters he received." Again George may think that "he should lord it over" Mary "is necessary to his happeness" (19:179) and fears he will be "contemptible" before others if he does not (20:95), but Trollope places close to this statement a long striking meditation by the narrator likening George to Hamlet, and describing George's kindness, thoughtfulness, and rejection of the Dean's ambition. The meditation is juxtaposed to a noble, strengthening letter by Lady Sarah Germaine's to George, where she outlines the better motives fuelling his conduct motives she shares (29:288-89).

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Last modified 9 August 2006