Out with the Old, In with the New
Today in For Better or For Worse, Elizabeth Patterson continues her story about the marriage of Anthony and Thérèse Caine. It does paint a more sympathetic view of Thérèse Caine, but what is notable is that it addresses most of the majour complaints about that story as it had been originally presented.
1. Jealous Thérèse is gone. Almost every old appearance of Thérèse Caine showed her to be upset whenever her husband showed the slightest bit of attention to Elizabeth Patterson, and did not accept that they were just friends. When I read the strips from 2003 – 2005, that was the impression I got, i.e. Thérèse Caine is irrationally jealous of anyone spending any time with her husband Anthony. As it turned out, Thérèse was justified in her suspicions, so you had to look back on the old strips with a different eye, that Thérèse knew what was really going on, and then that led you to draw a new conclusion about why Thérèse’ and Anthony’s marriage ended.
2. Anthony Caine is no longer the one who pushed Thérèse into having Françoise. The image of Anthony suffered when he pushed for a family, and complained when career-minded Thérèse, spent more time at work than at home. Now it was the mother’s fault.
3. The mustache. The ugly “pornstache” was the bane of regular readers for years. Now he has shed it as a sign of accepting his daughter’s opinion over his ex-wife”s.
4. Thérèse’s and Anthony’s divorce was uncontested. There was an element to Thérèse leaving Anthony the house and the child, which made it look as though the woman was so desperate to get away from Anthony she would make whatever concession was necessary. While it left Anthony free and clear to be with Elizabeth, it also painted a very bleak picture of the way Anthony treated Thérèse. Now, it turns out she decided to be greedy.
Since the discussion of the divorce was introduced by Candace, it seems like this analysis of the Caine marriage is going to conclude on Saturday. We know the reprint strips start on September 3, so I expect next week is going to be Mike and the kids setting up the hybrid.
1. Jealous Thérèse is gone. Almost every old appearance of Thérèse Caine showed her to be upset whenever her husband showed the slightest bit of attention to Elizabeth Patterson, and did not accept that they were just friends. When I read the strips from 2003 – 2005, that was the impression I got, i.e. Thérèse Caine is irrationally jealous of anyone spending any time with her husband Anthony. As it turned out, Thérèse was justified in her suspicions, so you had to look back on the old strips with a different eye, that Thérèse knew what was really going on, and then that led you to draw a new conclusion about why Thérèse’ and Anthony’s marriage ended.
2. Anthony Caine is no longer the one who pushed Thérèse into having Françoise. The image of Anthony suffered when he pushed for a family, and complained when career-minded Thérèse, spent more time at work than at home. Now it was the mother’s fault.
3. The mustache. The ugly “pornstache” was the bane of regular readers for years. Now he has shed it as a sign of accepting his daughter’s opinion over his ex-wife”s.
4. Thérèse’s and Anthony’s divorce was uncontested. There was an element to Thérèse leaving Anthony the house and the child, which made it look as though the woman was so desperate to get away from Anthony she would make whatever concession was necessary. While it left Anthony free and clear to be with Elizabeth, it also painted a very bleak picture of the way Anthony treated Thérèse. Now, it turns out she decided to be greedy.
Since the discussion of the divorce was introduced by Candace, it seems like this analysis of the Caine marriage is going to conclude on Saturday. We know the reprint strips start on September 3, so I expect next week is going to be Mike and the kids setting up the hybrid.
posted by howard at 1:26 AM
6 Comments:
My head hurts from all the retconning. Witness April 26, 2006, where Anthony tells John about Thérèse having left: "She said I was the one who wanted a house and I was the one who wanted a baby--and now I had it all." Note he didn't deny this: "It wasnt ME, it was her PARENTS!"
And Candace's line about taking Anthony for all she could get also makes no sense, based on what's been established.
Nice try, Lynn.
I’m surprised that LJ is complicating the story by adding Therese’s parents to the pot. If they were/are overbearing parents who were desperate for a grandchild then I would expect them to remain seriously involved in Francie’s life.
Liz wrote the following in the 11/05 newsletter:
"Speaking of living alone, I wonder if Anthony's made the break with Therese yet. He's gotten himself into such a mess. He wanted a house and kids so badly, I think he must have rushed into marriage without really thinking it through. Not that I like her very much, but marriage is made and unmade by both participants. The question is, can they make it work? I still care about him so much, but the last thing I need is to complicate his life and mine. I'm glad I'm so far away from the situation. I'll always be a friend - I could never be "the other woman"!"
Liz obviously understands that “marriage is made and unmade by both participants.” Will tomorrow at long last reveal Anthony’s responsibility?
Anon NYC
aprilp_katje
Lynn has been testing us over at April’s Real Blog, to make it work. For example, Anthony’s quote of Thérèse to John makes sense, if she is trying to hurt Anthony and focuses the blame for her leaving solely on Anthony, and fails to put any blame on her own parents.
Also, Candace’s line about taking Anthony can make sense. Thérèse may have been the career-minded one, but that does not necessarily mean that she made more money than Anthony. Gordon Mayes practically handed Anthony his job, and Gordon may pay Anthony huge money, since Gordon is the wealthiest man in Milborough, possibly the wealthiest in the Toronto area.
Anon NYC,
I’m surprised that LJ is complicating the story by adding Therese’s parents to the pot. If they were/are overbearing parents who were desperate for a grandchild then I would expect them to remain seriously involved in Francie’s life.
We have seen very little of little Francie’s life. However, we have seen Anthony attend a wedding, and go on a dinner date, without little Francie. So, it is possible the parents of Thérèse have been providing baby-sitting for Anthony. We haven’t seen the complications of either her parents or Anthony’s parents, and actually hope Lynn Johnston puts it in there, particularly if there are some of the parents who don’t like Elizabeth all that well. Of course, the way the last week has been running, I expect both sets of grandparents will adore Elizabeth and be critical of Thérèse for throwing away her wonderful husband and baby.
Liz obviously understands that “marriage is made and unmade by both participants.” Will tomorrow at long last reveal Anthony’s responsibility?
Not the way it’s been going. We have been getting more sympathy for Thérèse’s position in the marital relationship, but so far the blame has been placed on anyone who dares to try to change someone (Thérèse or Thérèse’s parents). As long as Elizabeth is telling this story, I would surprised if she says anything negative about Anthony.
“As long as Elizabeth is telling this story, I would [be] surprised if she says anything negative about Anthony.”
It’s been said that truth, like beauty, is in the eyes of the beholder.
Anon NYC
Anon NYC,
It’s been said that truth, like beauty, is in the eyes of the beholder.
Now there's a good summary line for this whole week.
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