Sanditon Character Review: Tom and Mary Parker

The schedule for the Character Review posts will be changing to Friday (or Saturday at the latest from now on).

*I apologize for not posting last week. I had other writing priorities that came first.

*Warning: This post contains spoilers about the characters from the book and the television show Sanditon. Read at your own risk if you have not watched the show. There is something to be said about a well-written, human character. They leap off the page and speak to us as if they were right in front of us, as flesh and blood human beings, instead of fictional creations.

The best relationships, whether they be personal, romantic, or professional, are ones in which one person balances out the other. In the  PBS/Masterpiece television series, Sanditon (based on the unfinished Jane Austen novel of the same) the narrative is kicked off when the carriage carrying Tom and Mary Parker (Kris Marshall and Kate Ashfield) crashes. Briefly taken in by the Heywood family, the offer to give the eldest daughter, Charlotte (Rose Williams), an opportunity to spend time with them in Sanditon.

Tom is the dreamer. Mary is a pragmatist. His dream is to turn this small seaside town into a fashionable and popular tourist destination. Unfortunately, his financial means are limited and he is not exactly a details kind of guy. The money comes from Lady Denham (Anne Reid). The nitty-gritty of the business comes from his brother Sidney (Theo James). Sidney also happens to be Charlotte’s first love.

Mary does more than take care of their children and maintain their home. She has the ability to bring her husband back to reality when necessary. When it becomes obvious that their carriage is in need of imminent repair, it is Mary who speaks the truth. Her husband would prefer to believe that everything is fine. That does not mean, however, that she does not lose her cool when Tom goes too far. When she finds out that he bought her a necklace when they are in debt, she is furious (as she should be).

To sum it up: In an era in which marriages were often a business arrangement, this is a love match. What Mary lacks, Tom has, and visa versa. It is this balance that allows their relationship to flourish and prove that love matches are possible.

Which is why they are memorable characters.

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My Moment: 106 Women on Fighting for Themselves

We all know that we live in a world that is not exactly kind to those of us of the female sex. In order to get what we want, we need to speak up.

My Moment: 106 Women on Fighting for Themselves was published earlier this year. Co-written by Chely Wright, Linda Perry, Kristin Chenoweth, Lauren Blitzer, and Kathy Najimy, the book contains stories of women standing up for themselves. They run the gamut from famous to unknown, young and old, and come from across the world.

Starts at 3:02

I loved this book. Though the subjects are all different, they have one thing in common: they were faced with a moment in which a decision had to be made. They could either use their voice or stand down. They chose to stand up for themselves. In doing so, they changed their lives and inspired others to do the same.

Do I recommend it? Yes.

My Moment: 106 Women on Fighting for Themselves is available wherever books are sold.

To Leave or Stay on Twitter, That is The Question?

Social media may seem innocuous. It is an opportunity to expand your world, connect with other people, etc. But like anything in life, there is a downside.

After nearly a year of speculation, Elon Musk announced that he had finally purchased Twitter. One of his aims with the platform is to ensure that free speech continues to be the raison d’être of the site. He also plans to limit permanent bans of those who have been considered to be problematic (he who shall not be named among them). By the way, Kanye West‘s account has already been reinstated.

The question is, do those who truly believe in free speech and democracy jump ship or stay and fight?

It’s understandable why many have considered leaving if they have not done so already. The signs are already pointing to the website possibly becoming a right-wing shithole.

But what I think we have to remember is that the ultimate power is in our hands. If we stay and continue to speak up, we can show Musk that he is not the all-powerful deity that he thinks he is. It also comes down to advertisers. That’s the only way the company makes money. At the end of the day, if we, the users stay, that will hopefully show Musk that he cannot allow Twitter a free for all.

Which is why I intend to stay.

P.S. If you want to follow me, you can do so at Writergurlny.