Near the beginning of the story, after Tristran has been
born but while characters are still being introduced, we see some of the nature
of Tristran’s true love, Victoria. The
narrator explains that she “was used to having her own way, and, if all else
failed, or even if it did not, she would appeal to her father, and he would
accede to her demands.” We see right off
the bat that Victoria is spoiled, and, generally, spoiled is not a very nice
characteristic in a person. It seems as
if Tristran is fooled by her pretty looks and merely thinks he loves her. (In the movie, I think this is portrayed very
well.)
What I notice is, every time Tristran’s love for Victoria is
mentioned, the narrator has a subtle sarcastic tone that I find humorous. Or, as often as he speaks of her, he sounds
foolish and lovesick and wistful. It
seems to me that the narrator finds this funny as well.
Compare this tone with the tone taken when Tristran and
Y’vaine realize their love and get married.
It is all rather matter-of-fact.
There is no foolishness or wistfulness in Tristran’s words; he realizes
his feelings, accepts them, and acts upon them.
Y’vaine, in the same way, acts on her feelings, but is willing to put
her heart to the side. Neither does
Y’vaine ask Tristran to do something stupid to earn her love. Later, after a few years of marriage and
travel, they are able to laugh and be “tart,” as the narrator says Y’vaine is
(but not rudely so).
It seems that the narrator has opinions on Tristran’s
relationships. While he is being a fool
running to unknown territory to pick up a piece of rock that probably would
have been burnt up to earn the affection of a spoiled girl, the narrator is
sarcastic. Much of what Tristran does is
funny. But when Tristran gets his
priorities right, and marries Y’vaine, the narrator takes him seriously and treats
him so.
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