The Defense / Attack on Liz
In the comics community the Foobiverse’s Journal, the posters there frequently take Liz to task for still coming home to mother in the summer and in particular, recently for her lack of enthusiasm with respect to Constable Paul Wright. As it turns out, the monthly letters provided the explanation for Liz’s choice of living with her mother in the summer, so I took great delight in having the good constable leap to the defence of his beloved and regurgitate the monthly letter explanation and speak at length about what would have to take place before he and Liz could be an old married couple. I can only hope that Lynn Johnston takes the same consideration in writing what happens to them.
On the second part of the criticism of Liz, over her seemingly complete lack of interest in her boyfriend Paul, I also took great delight in having Howard recount a conversation between Shawna-Marie Verano and Dawn Enjo, where they tear Liz a new one over the long list of insensitive ways she has treated her relationship with the good constable.
So in one day, I had one character lift her up as the other character beat her down.
In tomorow's strip, Liz rescues April from looking like a clown, while inadvertently attracting her father's attention about her appearance.
On the second part of the criticism of Liz, over her seemingly complete lack of interest in her boyfriend Paul, I also took great delight in having Howard recount a conversation between Shawna-Marie Verano and Dawn Enjo, where they tear Liz a new one over the long list of insensitive ways she has treated her relationship with the good constable.
So in one day, I had one character lift her up as the other character beat her down.
In tomorow's strip, Liz rescues April from looking like a clown, while inadvertently attracting her father's attention about her appearance.
posted by howard at 11:29 PM
5 Comments:
A big "yes" on #2! It's ridiculous to arrangement to agree to, and, as you suggest, if it's about money, she can certainly pay some rent over the summer. And if Gary and Vivian insist on their summer kick-out even then, it's time for Liz to get herself an apartment of her own, with a year-round lease.
According to one website I found, on teaching positions in first-nations communities in Canada, Liz should be making about $45,000/year. On that, she could certainly afford a place of her own.
When I was a kid, we used to rent summer cabins from people who left their personal effects there.
Where those personal effects from the owners or from other persons who rented the cabin? When we have done rentals like that, the effects were always from the owners.
As for money, as aprilp_katje indicates, Liz should be making good money. So then the question has to do with:
a. Are there apartments even available in Mtigwaki? It sounds crazy, but I used to work with people in a small town near Death Valley in California, where there was no rental property. If you worked there, you had to buy a house. I am not familiar enough with 1st nations remote communities to know the answer to that question. Considering that no one seems to have a car and you have to go to Spruce Narrows for everything, it seems to me that apartment rental could be limited.
b. It is not really an issue of money. The issue being explored by Lynn is the slow development of the idea that Liz no longer considers Milborough to be her home. We have seen Liz run from loneliness in Mtigwaki, to getting her cat, to her mother calling Mtigwaki home for Liz, to not only acceptance but acclaim in Mtigwaki, to getting a native boyfriend. On the Milborough front, this is the first New Years where we have not recounted the New Years Eve party and its usual shenanigans with Anthony and Thérèse. Liz giving her clothes to April is a symbol that Liz is giving away her life in Milborough.
Long term, Paul and Liz are going to have to find a way to reconcile their living arrangement with respect to where they work. Of course, the real first step is for Liz to figure out if she really likes Paul or if he is just convenient.
I think your analysis of the "progress of Liz" is spot on, Howard. It will be interesting to see what develops when Liz returns to her Mtig life. Provided we get to see that (I hope so).
I know what you mean about owners, rather than renters, being the ones to leave things behind in summer rental properties. But I don't think the connection is so off base, as Liz is the person who lives in that space during the non-tourist rest of the year.
But all this is probably besides the point, as you suggest in your analysis. Lynn clearly wanted to create a reason for Liz to keep returning home. She could just as well have reported "I have to go home every summer because of MacGuffin." :)
I'll have a double MacGuffin with cheese please.
After Liz's holiday pronouncements, I will be very interesting in seeing what she does this summer. The things she said, practically say she won't be back.
Living in Milborough for 2 months would be a long stretch away from Paul, plus being a nonholiday time, would also be an excellent time for Paul to be introduced to Liz's family, if she were to visit.
However, if she stays primarily out of Milborough, where will she stay? With Paul? It's possible even with the prudish Pattersons. Mike and Dee seemed to go without getting any flack from Elly and John when it "appeared" they were living together before they got married. Of course maybe they spilled the beans about the secret marriage to Elly and John before they could get any flack. I do not remember the exact timing of that.
So, maybe Paul and Liz move in together over the summer. Do you think it is likely?
IIRC, Mike an' Dee spilled their news about the secret wedding right away.
Well, we have seen Liz share a place with Eric, in her own prudish Liz way. Maybe by now she's matured beyond the separate-bedroom pretense?
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