Bilsing calls Mrs Scarsworth a doppelganger of Helen. Taking this
a step further, the following interpretation seems possible.
If Mrs Scarsworth represents Helen's conscience or subconscious,
then "My God! Is that how you take it!" becomes an exclamation of
self-disgust.
Wasn't there a discussion on this forum of how much of "Mary Postgate"
is a vision, or an encounter with a suppressed side of self? Well,
perhaps Helen's encounters with the large Lancashire woman and with
Mrs Scarsworth are visions.
Certainly, the descriptions of Helen's encounters with Mrs
Scarsworth are all consistent with them being encounters with
another side of herself.
If we go that far, we might attempt to match up other features
of Helen and Mrs Scarsworth. Mrs Scarsworth's execution
of commissions for other people corresponds with Helen's feeling
of doing the bidding of others.
Mrs Scarsworth refers to "Six years and four months before, and
two and three-quarters after". Is 6 yrs 4 mnths possible for the
interval between Michael's talk at age 10 about bastardry (it
would make him a Lieutenant at age 17 at most)? Is 2 yrs 9 mnths
possible for the interval between Michael's death and the visit?
I do not see how this helps us interpret Mrs Scarsworth's action:
"She lifted her joined hands almost to the level of her mouth and
brought them down sharply, still joined, to full arms' length below
her waist." It takes us to the question, what does it mean if it is
Helen doing it? (I don't even know if it is something significant
and symbolic, or not.)
Paul Hutchinson.
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