Gosh
In today's new-run of For Better or For Worse, let’s just ignore the fact that by offering to keep Lawrence, Elly has essentially given her approval to Connie to go on the trip to Montreal to chase after Phil, even after telling both Phil and Connie that she disapproved of the relationship. So much for Elly standing by her own opinion. Let’s also ignore that by announcing she was making the trip without mentioning Lawrence and by prepacking Lawrence’s suitcase and putting it in Elly’s house, Connie knew that Elly would agree to take Lawrence and most likely did not bring him up in yesterday’s strip in order to give Elly the opportunity to volunteer. In fact, Connie practically says that with the line, “I didn’t want to ask for such a favor.”
What I found the most interesting was Connie’s use of the word “Gosh”. The term seems affected coming from Connie. Given that Connie has pre-packed for Lawrence in anticipation of the outcome, it implies that Connie is used to manipulating Elly. When she says, “Gosh. You are so sweet. I don’t want to impose.” the whole line sounds like a sweet-talking person getting ready to take advantage of someone.
The term “Gosh” in this strip has been used almost entirely for mild swearing. “Oh my gosh” or “my gosh” are the phrases used. You can see them in these strips. In contrast, the use of the term “God” is used almost exclusively as a proper name, as you can see in these strips and these strips. The exceptions are this strip and this strip, where “God” is used for the swearing.
Even so, in all those strips showing “Gosh” and “God”, you don’t get the impression that one of the characters is putting on a fake speech and using the term in order to fool another character, as you do in today’s strip. This is an unusual move for Connie, who usually is a very straight talker, when she talks to Elly. Although Elly blames Phil for leading her on, it seems clear to me that new-run Connie is the one doing all the leading. This is a far cry from the clueless and selfish, but innocent Connie of 1981. New-run Connie is a manipulative schemer.
What I found the most interesting was Connie’s use of the word “Gosh”. The term seems affected coming from Connie. Given that Connie has pre-packed for Lawrence in anticipation of the outcome, it implies that Connie is used to manipulating Elly. When she says, “Gosh. You are so sweet. I don’t want to impose.” the whole line sounds like a sweet-talking person getting ready to take advantage of someone.
The term “Gosh” in this strip has been used almost entirely for mild swearing. “Oh my gosh” or “my gosh” are the phrases used. You can see them in these strips. In contrast, the use of the term “God” is used almost exclusively as a proper name, as you can see in these strips and these strips. The exceptions are this strip and this strip, where “God” is used for the swearing.
Even so, in all those strips showing “Gosh” and “God”, you don’t get the impression that one of the characters is putting on a fake speech and using the term in order to fool another character, as you do in today’s strip. This is an unusual move for Connie, who usually is a very straight talker, when she talks to Elly. Although Elly blames Phil for leading her on, it seems clear to me that new-run Connie is the one doing all the leading. This is a far cry from the clueless and selfish, but innocent Connie of 1981. New-run Connie is a manipulative schemer.
posted by howard at 9:46 PM
4 Comments:
In today's new-run of For Better or For Worse, let’s just ignore the fact that by offering to keep Lawrence, Elly has essentially given her approval to Connie to go on the trip to Montreal to chase after Phil, even after telling both Phil and Connie that she disapproved of the relationship. So much for Elly standing by her own opinion.
We knew going in that Elly doesn't have the courage of her own convictions so this isn't a shock; her wounded over-reaction when things fall apart will also not be a surprise.
Although Elly blames Phil for leading her on, it seems clear to me that new-run Connie is the one doing all the leading. This is a far cry from the clueless and selfish, but innocent Connie of 1981. New-run Connie is a manipulative schemer.
Which makes her failure to latch onto Phil all the sweeter; since he'll be a cheating cheater who cheats, it'll be two nasty people playing nasty games while Elly sits there unhinging her jaw.
DreadedCandiru2,
Which makes her failure to latch onto Phil all the sweeter; since he'll be a cheating cheater who cheats, it'll be two nasty people playing nasty games while Elly sits there unhinging her jaw.
When you put it this way, the story has a remarkable resemblance to the Elizabeth and Constable Paul Wright story. Elizabeth travels back to Mtigwaki and catches Paul with Susan, after playing the nasty game of “follow me if you want me.” If this is repeated, it will make me wonder if there was a similar situation to this in Lynn’s own life with her first husband.
In Lives Behind the Lines, when Lynn was talking about her first husband, she said, “Even after all the evidence is in, and the ever-accepting spouse (now turned attorney) produces the ultimate evidence, there is still one last line that will stagger the most definite mind-set.” To me, “the ultimate evidence” implies that she caught him in the act, like Elizabeth catching Paul with Susan.
If this is repeated, it will make me wonder if there was a similar situation to this in Lynn’s own life with her first husband.
I'd say that it was a distinct possibility; given that Annie's bio showed her as being sort of a cold fish who slammed down Steve's attempts at rekindling their romance as being "impractical" and something that could have waited, it seems to me that it took two people to really make a mess of her first marriage.
The only thing which would make me think that Lynn might not show Phil as a cheating cheater is that he is also the avatar for her brother. Of course having avatars for family members has not stopped her from savaging her son with her new-runs of Michael, so maybe that won't mean a thing.
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