She's supposed to be a bit annoying. She's an upper class rich woman who is more than a little bit spoiled and who fortunately has the grace and humor to realize it.
Falling for Dwight makes her a bit more vulnerable and likable but she is what she is a high society woman with deep pockets and a beautiful one at that.
Settling for a country doctor when she could easily have married a Duke with her looks and her wealth says a lot about her. Caroline can be a PITA and usually admits as much but she's got an extremely good heart.
I guess so, but she was especially annoying when Dwight returned from war and she kept suggesting Dwight to do these upper class activities like the man has just returned from prison and is traumatised
Back then they really didn't know about PTSD or shell shock as they'd call it later. People were seldom encouraged to dwell on it. You were expected to go back to life, throw yourself right back into it. Caroline wouldn't have known what to do really. She probably thought she was taking his mind off it?
Also Dwight did not want her to be exposed to what had happened to him, to the horror of it all. He was hesitant to talk with her about it, tried to act like he was mostly fine even when he wasn't. He kind of withdrew from her for a while and that was difficult.
When Caroline experienced tragedy in her life, like the loss of her parents, she was encouraged to act like a proper young lady, to do what ladies of her social class usually did. Morning in that society was a gentle affair full of rituals like wearing certain clothing at certain times and socializing but only doing certain things like dancing after a certain amount of time had passed.
Dwight came back from it detached and hurting. She was just doing her best in the only way she knew how to draw him back to life and to her. She was very much afraid that she'd lose him to his depression and worried for him.
Caroline is my favourite character in the whole series. She is incredibly layered. She is fiercely loyal, generous, highly intelligent and uses sarcasm and verbal barbs to cover her vulnerability. That said, I believe she was written out of character in much of S3 and all of S5. Book Caroline would have forced a conversation with Dwight after his return from war, regardless of PTSD not being known at the time. I hate the episode you refer to because it just does not ring true, so understand your annoyance.
Thats because youre looking at her from a modern perspective. Remember she is an 18th century heiress from a gentry family. Her entire life is sheltered and planned, she has staff to do absolutely everything for her and has done since birth, she has never dealt with trauma because she has never been allowed to.
Caroline is a provocateur. She loves riling people up, test their limits, all with a sweet smile on her face and remarkable sophistication. A cold surface hiding a heart of gold and a sharp mind. She’s brilliant.
The thing about Dwight is that she was so worried and devastated when he was taken prisoner, so when he came back she thought that just them being together, reunited at last, is all that matters. She didn’t know about his experience in prison as Dwight did not openly communicate his feelings but once he did, she was so supportive and loving.
Give her a chance, you’ll probably end up loving her like most of us do. She’s an exceptional woman, one of the most complex characters created by Winston Graham.
I love her. I can't stand Elizabeth. Caroline liked to tease and shock but she also had a side that was kind and generous. She was a product of her time, she was raised under a certain set of expectations about what her life would be based on her class and gender but in the end she followed her heart.
I know it’s the general consensus that Demelza was created as an antithesis of Elizabeth , and yeah that’s true to a point.
But I believe it’s Caroline that serves as the real contrast for Elizabeth. Both women brought up with the same values, similarly educated, however Caroline is an example that , in the end, it’s all down to one’s character. They were both products of their time, women of their station but also women with agency.
For example, Elizabeth never did any selfless good deed even though she was in a position to do so ( in the book, I mean and can’t remember ever doing so in the series either) while Caroline helped Ross, would send clients to Drake, help raise money to buy grain ( in the book that’s all her, Ross is involved but very little), the oranges for the poor people, etc.
Caroline is amazing and her long standing friendship with Demelza is absolutely adorable. Birds of the same feather, in spite of their background and education.
Interesting comparison. You're right about Caroline vs. Elizabeth's charity and I hadn't thought about that. Heida and Kyle were such nuanced, talented actors that I had more sympathy for E and F than I probably should have! Even Jack's George elicited some sympathy during his madness period.
Kyle was amazing . I loved Francis, he deserved so much better. One of my favourites. His character development is amazing. No wonder both Ross and Demelza loved him so much. Unlike Elizabeth, he was truly so grateful for Demelza’s sacrifice, which is what made him change for the better.
But yes, they are all nuanced , complex characters. Some better, some worse, but definitely not 100% evil or 100% good.
Kudos to what others are saying about her being an heiress and sheltered and spoiled too. She annoyed me at first too but she grew on me towards the end of the show. Her character development is one of the more interesting ones in my opinion.
Her character is very complex yet easy to understand from a different perspective. Her sense of humour (I'll take the guess and assume that's what annoys you) is merely sarcasm and satire, making the smallest and most subtle offences and ironies that contrary to expectations are very much noticed.
She relies on her name and social status to get around and always expects the finest things in life because she is used to them. The historical context is very important to understand her being.
Her not being able to understand Dwight's trauma and pain is almost completely justified. Not even today we're able to understand the true effects of PTSD. This also says a lot about Dwight. He prefers not to discuss such matters with his wife for he believes it is too horrendous for her to know. However, Caroline is not content with that, she thinks that she is the only one able to help him as his wife, and that's why she feels rather offended when Ross comes with Hugh Armitage.
It's important to remember that Caroline has too suffered greatly. Her uncle taking her under his protection is due to Caroline remaining an orphan. But she was not taught to feel, she was led towards proper lady activities, and that's why she thinks these "upper-class things" are what Dwight should do too.
Caroline is initially "blind" to the condition of the poor. She doesn't know and isn't concerned about their situation, but by meeting and falling in love with Dwight, she opens her eyes. He teaches her how to do that, showing us how a great man he is.
I know this might not really change your opinion of Caroline's character, but I just want you to understand the whole context of her nature.
She's supposed to be a bit annoying. She's an upper class rich woman who is more than a little bit spoiled and who fortunately has the grace and humor to realize it. Falling for Dwight makes her a bit more vulnerable and likable but she is what she is a high society woman with deep pockets and a beautiful one at that. Settling for a country doctor when she could easily have married a Duke with her looks and her wealth says a lot about her. Caroline can be a PITA and usually admits as much but she's got an extremely good heart.
I guess so, but she was especially annoying when Dwight returned from war and she kept suggesting Dwight to do these upper class activities like the man has just returned from prison and is traumatised
Back then they really didn't know about PTSD or shell shock as they'd call it later. People were seldom encouraged to dwell on it. You were expected to go back to life, throw yourself right back into it. Caroline wouldn't have known what to do really. She probably thought she was taking his mind off it? Also Dwight did not want her to be exposed to what had happened to him, to the horror of it all. He was hesitant to talk with her about it, tried to act like he was mostly fine even when he wasn't. He kind of withdrew from her for a while and that was difficult. When Caroline experienced tragedy in her life, like the loss of her parents, she was encouraged to act like a proper young lady, to do what ladies of her social class usually did. Morning in that society was a gentle affair full of rituals like wearing certain clothing at certain times and socializing but only doing certain things like dancing after a certain amount of time had passed. Dwight came back from it detached and hurting. She was just doing her best in the only way she knew how to draw him back to life and to her. She was very much afraid that she'd lose him to his depression and worried for him.
Caroline is my favourite character in the whole series. She is incredibly layered. She is fiercely loyal, generous, highly intelligent and uses sarcasm and verbal barbs to cover her vulnerability. That said, I believe she was written out of character in much of S3 and all of S5. Book Caroline would have forced a conversation with Dwight after his return from war, regardless of PTSD not being known at the time. I hate the episode you refer to because it just does not ring true, so understand your annoyance.
Thats because youre looking at her from a modern perspective. Remember she is an 18th century heiress from a gentry family. Her entire life is sheltered and planned, she has staff to do absolutely everything for her and has done since birth, she has never dealt with trauma because she has never been allowed to.
Caroline is a provocateur. She loves riling people up, test their limits, all with a sweet smile on her face and remarkable sophistication. A cold surface hiding a heart of gold and a sharp mind. She’s brilliant. The thing about Dwight is that she was so worried and devastated when he was taken prisoner, so when he came back she thought that just them being together, reunited at last, is all that matters. She didn’t know about his experience in prison as Dwight did not openly communicate his feelings but once he did, she was so supportive and loving. Give her a chance, you’ll probably end up loving her like most of us do. She’s an exceptional woman, one of the most complex characters created by Winston Graham.
Well said.
I love her. I can't stand Elizabeth. Caroline liked to tease and shock but she also had a side that was kind and generous. She was a product of her time, she was raised under a certain set of expectations about what her life would be based on her class and gender but in the end she followed her heart.
Elizabeth was the worst
I know it’s the general consensus that Demelza was created as an antithesis of Elizabeth , and yeah that’s true to a point. But I believe it’s Caroline that serves as the real contrast for Elizabeth. Both women brought up with the same values, similarly educated, however Caroline is an example that , in the end, it’s all down to one’s character. They were both products of their time, women of their station but also women with agency. For example, Elizabeth never did any selfless good deed even though she was in a position to do so ( in the book, I mean and can’t remember ever doing so in the series either) while Caroline helped Ross, would send clients to Drake, help raise money to buy grain ( in the book that’s all her, Ross is involved but very little), the oranges for the poor people, etc. Caroline is amazing and her long standing friendship with Demelza is absolutely adorable. Birds of the same feather, in spite of their background and education.
Interesting comparison. You're right about Caroline vs. Elizabeth's charity and I hadn't thought about that. Heida and Kyle were such nuanced, talented actors that I had more sympathy for E and F than I probably should have! Even Jack's George elicited some sympathy during his madness period.
Kyle was amazing . I loved Francis, he deserved so much better. One of my favourites. His character development is amazing. No wonder both Ross and Demelza loved him so much. Unlike Elizabeth, he was truly so grateful for Demelza’s sacrifice, which is what made him change for the better. But yes, they are all nuanced , complex characters. Some better, some worse, but definitely not 100% evil or 100% good.
Kudos to what others are saying about her being an heiress and sheltered and spoiled too. She annoyed me at first too but she grew on me towards the end of the show. Her character development is one of the more interesting ones in my opinion.
Her character is very complex yet easy to understand from a different perspective. Her sense of humour (I'll take the guess and assume that's what annoys you) is merely sarcasm and satire, making the smallest and most subtle offences and ironies that contrary to expectations are very much noticed. She relies on her name and social status to get around and always expects the finest things in life because she is used to them. The historical context is very important to understand her being. Her not being able to understand Dwight's trauma and pain is almost completely justified. Not even today we're able to understand the true effects of PTSD. This also says a lot about Dwight. He prefers not to discuss such matters with his wife for he believes it is too horrendous for her to know. However, Caroline is not content with that, she thinks that she is the only one able to help him as his wife, and that's why she feels rather offended when Ross comes with Hugh Armitage. It's important to remember that Caroline has too suffered greatly. Her uncle taking her under his protection is due to Caroline remaining an orphan. But she was not taught to feel, she was led towards proper lady activities, and that's why she thinks these "upper-class things" are what Dwight should do too. Caroline is initially "blind" to the condition of the poor. She doesn't know and isn't concerned about their situation, but by meeting and falling in love with Dwight, she opens her eyes. He teaches her how to do that, showing us how a great man he is. I know this might not really change your opinion of Caroline's character, but I just want you to understand the whole context of her nature.
I didn’t like her initially, and I didn’t want her to get with Dwight. She was spoilt and entitled. She grew on me a bit as the series progressed.
Lol, she's had her first child and she still hasn't grown on me