Fourth Scene: Elizabeth In The Shadow of 'The Great Lady' Demelza
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There is no doubt that Demelza's first ball here was a highly prestigious one. It was actually a national thanksgiving celebration for the King's improved health and was the Grand Assembly and ball in Truro hosted by the Lieutenant of Cornwall.
The experience was essentially an embellishment and reinforcement of Demelza's success at a local level with the Poldark family and friends. Then this was transposed at a higher level to the wider and grand society. There is an interesting link and interaction here by Elizabeth with the Ross and Demelza love story that adds to the layers that would lead to Elizabeth experiencing that familiar egg on face scenario and that extra sting in the tale for the narrative against her for this event. This is that it so happened that
Winston Graham had chosen Elizabeth to be the first one to encourage Ross to bring Demelza out into society in the first place. She had done that at the Trenwith family Christmas party.
Backfired: It was Elizabeth's Original Suggestion!
"She's greatly changed since I saw her last, and that's not seven months ago, and I think she will change more yet. You must take her out into society and bring her out."
Elizabeth to Ross 'Ross Poldark' (Internal Book 3 Chapter 8)
As with the quote extracted above, when speaking with Ross about bringing Demelza out into society, Elizabeth had commented that Demelza had already changed so much and considered that she would continue to do so. It might then seem that her suggestion to Ross was made in support of Demelza and to encourage Ross to give Demelza the exposure to their higher class society in order for her to learn and grow from this. Presumably this would enable her to change even more so that she would fit in better.
However, despite Elizabeth making this recommendation and saying Demelza seemed charming and particularly that she had changed 'greatly' since she last saw her, she still told Ross that Demelza was a little 'gauche'.
In his discussion with Elizabeth it is interesting that it was Ross, (whose expectations of Demelza always seemed to be exceeded), who was the one to exercise caution that he would not want Demelza to be snubbed at such events by women like Ruth Teague. Yet Elizabeth dismissed his concern as him being
'too sensitive' and highlighted that Demelza may want to go and may have the
'courage' for this.
From this it did seem as if Elizabeth seemed to recognise that such an adventure for Demelza would required bravery. She certainly did not suggest that there was nothing to worry about. If so, and if she thought it was a challenging task, then that might explain why she might not have been prepared for Demelza to fare so well, so soon, and to surpass her expectations as well as Ross's.
It is worth noting that Elizabeth's expectation would form part of the astonishment and humiliation narrative for when she observed an outcome that was quite different to how she imagined it would be. However, while it would be a surprise for Elizabeth, it would be an unwanted one.
A Prejudiced Expectation Of 'Understandable' Antagonisms'
"That's understandable....it was meeting the family wasn't it? And she is a little gauche yet. She would perhaps expect to find antagonisms.'
Elizabeth explaining to Ross her thoughts on why Demelza may have been reluctant to come to Trenwith for Christmas
It is significant that Elizabeth clearly expressed a view to Ross where she validated that it was 'understandable' that Demelza might have expected 'antagonisms' from her Poldark in-laws and therefore not to be received so warmly at Trenwith a year and a half before when first married to Ross. Yet Francis was quite dismissive about Demelza's background being a matter of importance and conveyed to Ross that it did not matter where she was from. Instead Francis spoke as if Demelza's likeable traits were the things that carried weight in the impression that Demelza made for herself. In contrast Elizabeth did not in anyway counterbalance Demelza's likely fear of antagonism with a view that matched Francis where in doing so she made the focus about Demelza's character rather than her class. In fact Elizabeth did the opposite by drawing a correlation between Demelza's manners (her gaucheness) with whether she would be liked and respected. So not only did Elizabeth have a more prejudiced outlook, she thought others would too! Actually Francis's view on Demelza's likely acceptance by the family matched Ross's who when Demelza complained that the Poldark's were not her sort and she should stay back, told her that
"Your mother bore you the same way as theirs." He clearly thought that the Trenwith Poldarks would see her as an equal and after making the decision that they would go, Ross had thought that with a short stay over
'Demelza would have a chance of meeting them as an equal, but the strain of best behaviour would not be prolonged.' But as stated above, Elizabeth stopped short of reassurances and sharing a view that while Demelza may have feared antagonism, that of course there was never a chance she would get that from her in-laws there at Trenwith. Again these are the indications that Elizabeth held the prejudice that Francis, Verity, Ross and even Agatha did not seem to hold towards Demelza.
It is this prejudice that would set Elizabeth's expectations of Demelza at that family event, but also at the much grander society event.
The Expectation Of A Snake Pit For Demelza
If it was Elizabeth's outlook that antagonisms were possible and reasonable against Demelza by her own in laws, then it would surely follow that bringing out Demelza successfully to a grand ball would be an even taller order from Elizabeth's perspective. This is at least initially. It could well have been thought of by Elizabeth as Demelza entering into a snake's pit. This is where
unlike with new family, fancy high profile attendees that held a similar prejudice that Elizabeth seemed to have, if less inclined for a pretence at manners towards Demelza, would have no obligation to be warm to her and to hide their antagonism. This would not be so likely for someone that was essentially a stranger to them and furthermore someone that was so far below them as a miner’s daughter.
Indeed it is important to take into account the society at that time of 1789. For instance,
Elizabeth knew well that George Warleggan was considered an upstart and was only given grace in the gentry community because he was a rich and therefore powerful man in a patriarchal society. How then did Elizabeth really expect Demelza to be received in grand society? Ruth Teague was the only female non family member who joined the Trenwith Christmas Family party. She was rude and spiteful to Demelza and
in many ways Ruth's bitchy behaviour towards Demelza could have been indicative of what Demelza might have faced at the grand ball when trying to mix with the ladies there. With that in mind
the key issues considering Elizabeth's expectation for Demelza and the baptism of fire in her coming out into society is one thing, and another is what Elizabeth hoped Demelza would face. Again this is relevant to the set up for Elizabeth's eventual disappointment and jealousy.
The Question of Elizabeth's Good Will And Hopes For Demelza's Success
'He (Ross)/believed that she (Elizabeth) would be genuinely pleased to see him over his infatuation for her at last and happily settled. (Which showed that he really knew very little about women.)'
Narration of Ross thoughts on Elizabeth meeting new wife Demelza along with narrator's comments First edition 'Ross Poldark' (Book 3 chapter 7)
Although it is not spelt out whether there was genuine good will from Elizabeth in her encouragement of Ross to bring Demelza out into society, there are indications about this. Obviously the idea that Elizabeth probably thought this would be a hard task for Demelza where she might face
'antagonisms' from stuck up strangers, is a consideration. However
perhaps the biggest giveaway of Elizabeth's lack of good will, to the extent that she did not really want to help Demelza excel, is in the narrative excerpt above. Winston Graham provided this in the first edition text of the first book. This was a number of scenes before Ross and Demelza went to the Family Christmas party at Trenwith.
Of course Elizabeth was the kind of character who was self conscious about appearing to be nice and this is despite Winston Graham stating in interview that actually Elizabeth was
'not a very nice character'. He wrote that Ross hoped to show Elizabeth that he was happy with Demelza as his wife and that she was
'..no common substitute either from his own class or another.' While Ross thought Elizabeth would be happy for him in his happiness with Demelza, quite unusually Graham cheekily added in bracket
'(Which showed that he really knew very little about women)'.
Though this aside comment from Winston Graham might apply to many women, since it was in response to Ross's thoughts about Elizabeth's mindset, it was clearly Graham confirming that Elizabeth was one woman that certainly was not genuinely happy about Ross moving on with Demelza. Some women may leave that there as it is and keep that feeling to themselves. For others
such as it seemed with Elizabeth, it may be an emotion that drives ill will and a motivation to cause an unfavourable development against them or just Demelza. That’s implied in Elizabeth’s direct and covert attempts at certain times to find out is Ross was happy with Demelza. Indeed over time, just as Graham narrated, Demelza came to perceive that Elizabeth had not wished her marriage well and as covered at length in this previous post Elizabeth did exude
a competitive spirit against Demelza. Together with other indications,
Elizabeth's good will was definitely questionable and suggestive of a thought process leaning towards a hope for Demelza's failure.
Elizabeth's Strong Reaction Against Demelza Succeeding
The second indication of Elizabeth's ill will for Demelza's social success is covered in
'Observing The New Prize Wife - Demelza' and is from Winston Graham's revelation that Elizabeth had been
'piqued' by Demelza's success at the family Christmas event at Trenwith. Of course, unlike Verity who was proud of Demelza and happy for her to do well, the fact that in reality this upset Elizabeth confirms that deep down she did not truly want Demelza to be successful.
So perhaps she had made suggestions for Demelza to be brought out into society as a natural line of conversation and to 'appear' to be supportive. But, based on her annoyance, it would obviously then follow that if Elizabeth resented Demelza for her success at a private family party with a few friends included, then she could hardly have been truly happy and supportive about her being a immediate success at a glamorous event with the wider society of high profile gentlefolk attending.
The third indication of Elizabeth's ill will indicating that she did not hope for Demelza's social success was also covered in the last post. This was Elizabeth's reaction to Francis's compliments of Demelza and his suggestion that she could easily be accepted into society despite her lowly class. Since Elizabeth was a typically composed character her angry outbursts calling Demelza Ross's
'little wife',
someone who could be mistaken for a servant and who should first play the small lady before the great one,
showed the strength of Elizabeth's feelings against Demelza. It also showed she did not want Demelza to act in a certain way where she could be thought highly of. It indicated that essentially through Elizabeth's eyes Demelza was the gauche
'beggar girl' that she also referred to her as to Francis in that argument. There is no doubt that rather than wanting Demelza to be admired as a
'great lady' when the stakes were even higher, that really
Elizabeth wanted Demelza to 'stay in her lane' or 'in her place'. This to Elizabeth was a lane where Demelza was not at all or quite accepted or embraced as being
'one of them', or just as good if not better than as a lady like herself. Unfortunately for Elizabeth she did observe Demelza to play very well and to be received as if she were indeed a much admired great lady.
Demelza's Triumph On The Bigger Stage
'They laughed at almost everything she (Demelza) said as if she were a wit. In a way it was all very enjoyable, but she would have liked it in smaller measure to begin with. '
Narrative of the male attention Demelza drew at the grand ball 'Demelza' (Internal book 2 Chapter 10)
It could be argued that Winston Graham was 'milking it' when it seemed like he was really seeking to make his point in portraying quite how much Demelza was such as success again, this time at the Grand Assembly ball. Indeed she was presented as a
'belle of the ball' figure. While Elizabeth could only gain the attentions of George Warleggan, Demelza was swarmed by the likes of Hugh Bodrugan, Robert Bodrugan, Osborne Whitworth, William Hick, St John Peter, Ensign Carruthers and John Treneglos. To emphasise just how much of a hit Demelza was
Graham added narration that at a point Demelza felt like a lion tamer trying to manage the interest she had which had even led to squabbles amongst the men fighting for her attention and a dance with her. But the interest also included admiration from very high status and notable women too. This included the Honourable Mrs Maria Agar and the very difficult and critical Lady Whitworth who would later show readers the extent of her difficult and critical nature in her dealings with Morwenna as her daughter in law.
Even Elizabeth's High Class Friends Admired Demelza
"Mistress Demelza, permit me to introduce two of my friends who are anxious to meet you. Lady Whitworth and the Honourable Mrs Maria Agar. This is Mistress Poldark."
Patience Teague making requested introductions 'Demelza' (Internal book 2 Chapter 10)
When thinking of the stings in the tale for Elizabeth it cannot be such a coincidence that Graham specifically chose one of the few friends he had associated Elizabeth as having and who Elizabeth respected so much, to be interested in Demelza and to heap such praise on her. This is especially when he had narrated Elizabeth’s jibes to Francis in that argument they had about Demelza that Demelza would be an embarrassment to them to her friends. However, Maria Agar specifically had noticed Demelza, asked who she was and said to Lady Whitworth that Demelza was
“…quite beautiful..” Maria was impressed with Demelza's style of dance and wondered who she was with. Her interest was so pressing that Patience Teague was called upon to introduce Demelza to her and Lady Whitworth, during which Lady Whitworth admitted to Demelza that she admired her dress, and Maria was so enamoured with Demelza that she said
"Tisn't the dress. Tis the way it's worn."
"How is your wife? ...she was much remarked on at the celebration ball...."
George to Ross 'Demelza' (Internal Book 3 Chpt 3)
“Your wife, I understand was quite the success of the evening….Several ladies remarked on her beauty. And I believed the Lord Lieutenant asked who she was.”
Pascoe to Ross 'Demelza' (Internal Book 2 Chpt 12)
In addition to all the praise Demelza received at the ball her success was made clear by Winston Graham as having left a lasting impression after it. For instance, George had later bumped into Ross at the Seven Stars tavern and despite his own self hating prejudices of the lower class he acknowledged that Demelza had been much talked about at the ball. Ross had also heard for himself from Pascoe that women had admired Demelza’ beauty and the Lord Lieutenant had noticed her and ask who she was.
Again all of this narrative reinforced the idea of Demelza as a wife that was considered worthy and that fitted in famously to Ross's gentry society. This therefore ridiculed Elizabeth's deep desires for Demelza to be seen as she was seen through her eyes and perhaps to be labelled an ‘embarrassment’ as per her theory. Therefore this would be as much lesser
'gauche' than before and a long shot away from a great lady. Again the reverse had happened as Demelza was not just celebrated and embraced by her new Poldark family and their circle but then with their wider high society too.
The acceptance that Demelza received from high society belied Ross’s own initial thought that marriage to Demelza would damn him in the eyes of his class and John Treneglos’s thought that the marriage was an act of ‘solecism’. Instead she was a hit and this was a reinforcement of the frustrating and
powerful obstacle that Demelza really was to Elizabeth who once again had the experience of being lowered into the shade again. Indeed, besides George Warleggan and a couple of other offers for a dance Elizabeth did not have a queue of men including her husband waiting on and insisting on this or hanging around to talk to her because she was fun, engaging and too alluring. Neither was there any particular interest in her from the ladies including her friend the Honourable Mrs Maria Agar.
Elizabeth did not stand out that night. However Ross's 'little wife' as she had called her, did. This then warrants consideration of her inner emotion and turmoil to really understand the theme in action.
The Mortification of Elizabeth’s Jealousy
"The very feeling of jealousy is an offence to one's spirit, it is a degrading sensation and should be stamped on."
Ross on his jealousy of Demelza's infatuation with Hugh Armitage 'The Angry Tide' Internal Book 3 Chpt 11
Reaction wise, Graham in the first edition text of
'Demelza' had already declared that Elizabeth was jealous of Demelza but he narrated this again for this event and highlighted that the source was Demelza's
‘blossoming’. That is the narrative excerpt cited at the very top of this essay. The information that Elizabeth was trying to fight against her jealousy is also significant
because this suggests that it bothered her and it was a matter she must therefore have been struggling with. Hence the fight! Of course fighting against jealousy is something someone does for their own benefit and peace of mind. It would not have been a nice feeling to have and generally is not sought by anyone with relish.
However it really does fit well with the humiliation degradation narrative because jealousy is a self admission of feeling lesser than you do without it, and for instance resenting someone for having something you do not have. In this case that was Demelza's impressive development and growth in manners and style, her favourable spotlight and the admiration of others.
This is what caused Elizabeth to feel lowered again and that general feeling of degradation and that her own profile had been undermined. It is likely that Winston Graham understood jealousy that way too, as he used Ross to voice this idea with the quote above from
‘The Angry Tide’ that jealousy is an offence to one's spirit, that it is a degrading sensation and that just as Elizabeth was trying to do, that it should therefore be stamped on and got rid of.
The Astonishing Embarrassment Of The Student Becoming The Teacher Scenario
‘If he (Ross) had thought of Demelza at all during the last hour he had thought of her in Verity’s safekeeping. (It never occurred to him to think of Verity in Demelza’s.”
Narrative of Ross looking out for Demelza at the Grand Ball and seeing her managing a cried of interested men and verity sitting quietly beside her. ‘Demelza' (Internal Book 2 Chpt 10)
Graham included more stings in the tale for Elizabeth as she was placed with Demelza on the ride home from the night out. While Demelza was terrified about this, little did she know that Elizabeth was feeling that not having made a success of married life she was grateful that Demelza started a conversation about motherhood instead. This is since Elizabeth thought that this was her
'one great success in life'. Graham narrated that
'...with Demelza the mother she (Elizabeth) could expand and talk as she could not have begun to with Demelza the wife.' 'Demelza' first edition (Internal Book 3 Chpt 12). It is a revealing line which emphasises Elizabeth's own sense of her failure and furthermore that amongst all the other successful displays that she had seen of Demelza, that Elizabeth recognised that this 'beggar girl' was a success in an area that she personally failed in. This was to the point that she as the supposedly greater lady wanted to avoid that topic with her as she would not have felt confident and comfortable to converse with Demelza about it. This highlights how Elizabeth as a profile and character had so quickly been outdone and was diminished and ironically made to feel more lowly against Demelza.
Of course, the harsh irony of Elizabeth suggesting Demelza be brought out into society with the idea behind this that she would learn to be less gauche in due time, is mocking in retrospect. This is because that scenario did transpire as if the student being Demelza had become the teacher instead of Elizabeth. In fact this is just as Ross had observed generally of Demelza when he realised to his surprise while he was in the gambling room that it had been Demelza looking after Verity and not the other ways round. But also, far from being an embarrassment, the reversal of Elizabeth's prejudicial outlook against Demelza occurred and Demelza's praises were being sung by all including George who like Maria was one of the friends she probably thoughts Demelza would be seen as an embarrassment to, out in society.
A Call For Sympathy Of Elizabeth Made Pitiable Again
"The dancing has begun and you are not dancing. Elizabeth. It is not good enough, really it is not!"
Joan Chynoweth (Elizabeth’s mother) to Elizabeth at the Grand Assembly ball ‘Demelza' (Internal Book 2 Chpt 10)
Once again, akin to the astonishment and humiliation theme against Elizabeth, her profile for this event in the story was one where once again she was a pitiable figure. She presented more as a wall flower unenthused and unengaging enough to take to the dance floor. This was to the chagrin of her mother who Graham wrote was '.... a deeply disappointed woman too, for Elizabeth's marriage, of which she had hoped so much.......' but found it was not prospering. Though Elizabeth allowed herself to be entertained by George Warleggan he was used as a sounding board for Elizabeth to touch on the sadness of a failed marriage. When asked about whether Francis was good company now that he was more at home she answered "I have my house and my child." There was barely any interaction with Francis whose former mistress was present at the party and which sparked of gossip among her acquaintances about his past with her. Also Ross did not show her any interest or a thought either on her. As stated above, neither was there much engagement between Elizabeth and her friends who were scattered around at the ball. Elizabeth cut a sorry figure in comparison to Demelza.
Limited Sympathy With Disapproving Behaviour
Of course, it is instinctive to feel for Elizabeth's character regardless of Winston Graham's later narrative in 'The Angry Tide' that she had caused the first breach in her marriage through her obsession with Geoffrey Charles and how this supported Francis's personal thoughts in the first edition of the second book of her remoteness. However it is understandable that there should also be a limit to this sympathy of Elizabeth. This is when despite the pain of a failed marriage, Graham had narrated that it was Elizabeth's intention to rebuild her ascendancy with Demelza's husband. If successful then the obvious outcome would be that
the same pain Elizabeth felt in her failed marriage could by her intentions and behaviour, then be passed on to and experienced by another woman (Demelza). With this being purely for Elizabeth's self gratification it may indeed cancel out any sympathy mustered to start with in light of the sour feel of entitlement and thoughtlessness toward another woman. Of course knowing that Elizabeth did not just sit with that idea as a thought but particularly in the third book
'Jeremy Poldark' did take steps in her own way to achieve this goal with Ross, validates a limited sympathy for her.
Perhaps as an author that may have been disapproving of this not very nice character having and later on carrying out not very nice intentions, Winston Graham's narrative seemed to be laid down as a corrective. With this he continued to present Elizabeth as a pitiable figure while Demelza was quite the opposite. Again the contrast between the profiles of the two women lifts Demelza and lowers and diminished Elizabeth.
Ironically in this part of the story Winston Graham cast Elizabeth as the lesser profile that she had wished for Demelza and gave Demelza the higher profile she had wished for herself. Of course this is in the interests of the Ross and Demelza's love story. This is because though Ross was drunk, distressed and distracted over his grief over Jim Carter's death at the ball, the contrast and specifically
Demelza's success validates Ross's love and admiration of his wife which he came to feel more astutely once he was sober and having been wowed by the praise he heard of her by others. It served as a ringing endorsement by his high class community that
Demelza was accepted and that she not only seemed a worthy wife for him but that she was a particularly engaging and appealing one. All this as an astonishment was achieved on her very first foray into high society.
Beggar Girl to Lady- Demelza Continuing Rise Above Elizabeth Post Humorously
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There is no doubt that Demelza's first ball here was a highly prestigious one. It was actually a national thanksgiving celebration for the King's improved health and was the Grand Assembly and ball in Truro hosted by the Lieutenant of Cornwall. The experience was essentially an embellishment and reinforcement of Demelza's success at a local level with the Poldark family and friends. Then this was transposed at a higher level to the wider and grand society. There is an interesting link and interaction here by Elizabeth with the Ross and Demelza love story that adds to the layers that would lead to Elizabeth experiencing that familiar egg on face scenario and that extra sting in the tale for the narrative against her for this event. This is that it so happened that Winston Graham had chosen Elizabeth to be the first one to encourage Ross to bring Demelza out into society in the first place. She had done that at the Trenwith family Christmas party. .GIF)
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Of course when noting the frustrations here of Elizabeth that Demelza was treated as 'great lady' when Elizabeth thought she should play the smaller one, this post does cover a snapshot in time. However there is an ongoing theme of Winston Graham continuing the undermining of Elizabeth's character profile by way of comparison against the heroine both before and after her death. For instance, that Elizabeth would have always wanted to be a titled lady for reasons of status climbing (having thought her marriage to George brought her down), that she was told on her death bed in 'The Angry Tide' that she was due to be made so soon, but for Elizabeth to ultimately miss this opportunity of a title due to her premature death. Then for this to be compared against Demelza inadvertently becoming a titled lady in 'The Twisted Sword' and unlike Elizabeth having not really cared for it for herself except for Ross on his behalf, this can be seen as a posthumous taunt against Elizabeth. This is because Graham engineered another wicked twist of fate so that Elizabeth would lose out on something so important to her that he so breezily bestowed on Demelza. .GIF)
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Certainly as a Warleggan in the end Elizabeth’s widowed husband was able to reflect the outrage and upset over this for the Warleggan camp. However this still meant that having had the experience of just being treated as a 'great lady' of interest when Demelza continued to be received this way at society events, that she also ended up with that endorsement by way of the official title as well. Evidently Winston Graham would not have Demelza as the miner's daughter playing either a small or average lady and he sought to cover all bases with this when he had the opportunity of further books. This however means that when looking back on the profile of both women Demelza’s final position was that she was officially a 'greater lady' than Elizabeth who was not given the chance to equalise that, if only by title rather than spirit. 
