@eximperial replied to your post “I came across your Harlots posts recently and I’m digging them, that…”
I always felt that in order to get the truthful story, you needed to put together both of their pov of their relationship. I don’t doubt that Margaret would have died if Lydia hadn’t taken her in. HOWEVER, Lydia absolutely wrecked Margaret by pimping her out to men at the age of 10. Margaret has twisted it as kidnap in order to cope and get revenge. (1) (2) However, Lydia absolutely facilitated rape and absolutely should be blamed. The tragic thing in all of this is that Lydia thinks she did Margaret a service. It is strongly hinted at that Lydia had all of this done to her by her father, so she thinks she didn’t do anything wrong. And I don’t think anyone can convince her otherwise, which is really really sad. (3) It’s a blessing Margaret realized she was full of hate she needed to get rid of because it was destroying Lucy and Charlotte.
I disagree that Mags has twisted her history with Lydia into a story of kidnap; we know pretty clearly how Margaret wound up in Lydia’s house, from Margaret’s own mouth, and I see no evidence that it’s been distorted as a coping mechanism or as justification for revenge. Lydia may have doted on Margaret in some respects, but she neither “took her in” nor forcibly kidnapped her; she bought her. “My mother took me down St. Martin’s Lane. She’d spent every last farthing on her gin, the slut, and she was a bunter; no one’d go near her. She sold me to a bawd for a pair of shoes. I was ten. ... [Mrs. Quigley] dressed me warm, she gave me a full meal. She said if I pleased her gentlemen, I’d be her own sweet girl.” (1.01)
Blame is justifiably laid at Quigley’s door for how Margaret’s life has turned out, and how that’s trickled down to Charlotte and Lucy, but I don’t think Margaret has edited her memory of the circumstances. She knows she was sold to Lydia, and she knows of other girls whom Lydia did overtly kidnap through drugs / trickery / etc., and she hates Lydia for all of this, rightfully so.
But I do completely agree that Lydia legitimately believes that she’s done Margaret (and other girls, like Abigail Warren) a favor by forcing them into this business regardless of their age or will. It’s incredible how deeply she’s internalized this belief, and yeah, I think it stems from abuse at the hands of her father. “I thank him every day for the knowledge that he gave me. He taught me that love is strongest when it’s cruel. He gave me fortitude. I’ve given that legacy to all my girls. It’s the lesson I was teaching you.” (2.06)
Just dark and sad and disturbing all around. :/
