#'her upbringing [...] like some traits of her physiognomy seemed more appropriate to the other sex'

[susansontag]

you’d have to be so silly to think dumas wasn’t trying to imply eugenie is a lesbian in the count of monte cristo lol. she’s only just properly been introduced where I’m at and she’s basically described in accordance with invert theory. this is how people understood these ‘tendencies’ I’m p sure his audience would have known exactly what he was implying

#'her upbringing [...] like some traits of her physiognomy seemed more appropriate to the other sex' #'with something even firmer and more muscular in her beauty' #'you are the only woman I know who is so generous in speaking about others of your own sex' #like sorry but this was obvious code (and no doubt it'll get more unflattering in its depiction this is actually quite nice for now) #that would be understood by dumas's audience #like sorry I don't think they were coming away thinking she was just v pro-women lmao #moth.txt #what I'm reading

[pedanther]

Mlle Danglars was beautiful but, as Albert said, her beauty was somewhat strict: her hair was a lustrous black, but there was a certain rebelliousness in its natural wave. Her eyes, as black as her hair, were framed in magnificent eyebrows that had only one defect, which was that from time to time they were quizzically raised, and the eyes were exceptional above all for their determined expression, which it was surprising to find in a woman. Her nose had the precise proportions that a sculptor would have given to Juno; only her mouth was a little too large, but it exhibited fine teeth which highlighted the excessive redness of lips that did not harmonize with the pallor of the complexion. Finally, a beauty-spot at the corner of the mouth, larger than is usual with these freaks of nature, completed the look of resolution in the face that somewhat dismayed Morcerf.

For that matter, the rest of Eugenie’s person was of a piece with the head that we have just attempted to describe. As Chateau-Renaud said, she was Diana the Huntress, but with something even firmer and more muscular in her beauty.

As for her upbringing, if there was anything to be said against it, it was that, like some traits of her physiognomy, it seemed more appropriate to the other sex. She spoke two or three languages, had an innate talent for drawing, wrote verse and composed music; this last was her great passion, which she studied with one of her school-friends, a young woman with no expectations but (one was assured) with everything needed to become an outstanding singer. It was said that a great composer took an almost paternal interest in this girl and encouraged her to work in the hope of eventually finding a fortune in her voice.

The possibility that Mlle Louise d’Armilly (this was the name of the talented young person) might one day appear on the stage meant that Mlle Danglars, although she received her at home, did not appear with her in public. Despite this, while she did not have the independent position of a friend in the banker’s house, Louise did enjoy a higher status than that of an ordinary governess.

— introducing Mlle. Eugénie Danglars (and friend), The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, as translated by Robin Buss

#the cristo account #the count of monte cristo #chapter 53 #eugenie danglars #lost in translation #not a reblog