#ppcharacters

[ppartisanal]

[ppartisanal]

Confession d’un veau

Nénette et Boni, Claire Denis, 1996

costume design by Elisabeth Tavernier

[quaylinsims]

A Brief Update on the Baldwins and Emma

So we've seen how the story has progressed, but how have our characters grown?

For one, Emma is not a little girl anymore!

We've seen her grown up and learn the piano and chess. She became a teacher at the girls' school Mr. Baldwin sent her to. She still knows a lot more than her contemporaries, considering she grew up in a different century. At least her health and hygiene are better than a lot of people's! She's also a bit of a romantic, frequently fantasizing about being in love, which she had never had the opportunity to do in her past life. She worries about a future life of idle gossip and domesticity, quietly hoping she can become a writer.

What about everyone else? Well, Lizzy moved on to another family, since Joey -- ahem -- Joseph is no longer in need of a governess. Maggie is still with the family, though! And you can read more about the Baldwins below the cut!

Henry hasn't changed much. He's still the kind, generous, warm-hearted father Emma has wanted for over 30 years. He is getting a little gray, though. He has come to see Emma truly as a daughter and can't imagine life without her in his family. He wishes there were a way she could truly be a Baldwin, though he knows William is too serious and not gentle enough for her and that David is too aloof and carefree.

Rachel has upped her style game, if you ask me! I think it's the influence of Emma and her distaste for a lot of 1850s fashion and preference for more tailored looks. She volunteers for a couple charities and has even secretly been attending meetings on women's suffrage. Emma's open opinions must have sparked her own curiosities on current affairs!

William is as much like his father as he isn't. He is rather ambitious, desiring to grown the family fortune, but he isn't as generous and prefers to save money. He's highly intelligent and is always reading up on new research. And he's still as serious as ever, refusing to give anything but his all and demanding perfection of himself. His intense focus on studies and work, however, lead his loved ones to wonder if he will be able to soften enough to find love.

David is proof you cannot judge a book by its cover. His devil-may-care attitude is evident by his more youthful and frivolous style. But under the surface, he is far more intelligent than he appears. He keeps his true self rather hidden, though, and even his family is unaware of how he yearns for love and family. They don't know about his secret passion for creating art, either. He often acts indifferent, but deep down, he cares about an awful lot.

Last, but not least, we have Joseph. He is like the family's angel, always kind, always trying to find the good in every situation and person he meets. He'd rather rescue animals than hunt them, not that any of the family is fond of hunting. His compassion lets him see when others are hurting, and he often tries to comfort them. He wishes he were smarter so he could be a doctor, but he doesn't dwell on even his own shortcomings. He may be the only one who can tell when David is upset. Because of all this, his family cherishes him and often seeks to shield him from not only danger, but also hard decisions and upsetting conversations.

How will the upcoming war affect Emma and the Baldwins?

[quaylinsims]

Meet the Characters: Maggie Goodman

Maggie is the housekeeper in the Baldwin home.

Maggie Goodman was raised by her grandmother and taught to do housework and cook from a young age. She came to the Baldwin family by way of an advertisement at the post office when Mr. Henry was starting university.

A patient, kind soul, Maggie cleans up after three young boys and the rest of the house, mends all Baldwins' torn clothes, greets visitors, and cooks regular, timely meals. It's no wonder her name is Goodman; this woman is a saint! Her deft fingers are also excellent at styling hair, though Mrs. Baldwin does not wear many styles.

She can frequently be heard humming cheerful tunes as she does her chores, and she always has a smile on her face. Her favorite task is the cooking. If she has any ambition, it is to cook the finest foods for the Baldwin family and to nurture their bodies and souls with delicacies. In fact, their holiday parties are well known not just for the elegant decorations and music, but also for Maggie's grand meals.

Is this woman for real? She cleans up after the kids, deals with David's mischief, repairs their torn clothes, and still smiles? Will she be with the Baldwin family forever? Can she come to my family instead? Please?

[quaylinsims]

Meet the Characters: Joseph Baldwin

This is little Joey, the youngest of the Baldwin boys, as we first meet him. How cute!

Joseph, or Joey, is the youngest child of Henry and Rachel Baldwin. He spends most of his time with Lizzy Baden, the governess, though his mother is warmer and gentler. He can be quite shy, which makes him clingy. He prefers his mother's company over all others', but if she isn't around, he will remain attached to Lizzy, even in his father's presence. Though he does get along well with Henry and loves him, as far as anyone can tell; he doesn't talk much.

He seems to be an inquisitive child, and perhaps musical, but it's also hard to tell if that's Joey or his age.

When Emma first arrives at the Baldwin home, he is too shy to meet her. She thinks he's cute, though. Just look at those chunky cheeks and his little blond bowl hair! And the tiny shoes!

Who is Joey? Who will he be when he grows up? Will he be smart, funny, creative, mean, active? Will he ever warm up to Emma?

[quaylinsims]

Meet the Characters: David Baldwin

This is David Baldwin as we first meet him, a little snot. He is the second son of Henry and Rachel Baldwin.

David is an intelligent youngster, always excelling in his studies. But he has a bit of a mischievous side, which his older brother, William, knows all too well. He dotes on the baby of the family, young Joseph, and plays with him often. He likes reading to him.

When Emma first meets David, he is not kind to her. He makes fun of her and insults her. His irritation with her presence is only fueled by the fact that she keeps his harassments from the adults.

Why is he so mean to Emma? Is he jealous of his father's affection for her? Will he ever be nice? Or at least tolerable? Is his mischief just a phase? Please? [Sorry, that last bit was added by William.]

[quaylinsims]

Meet the Characters: William Baldwin

This is William Baldwin, the eldest son of Henry and Rachel Baldwin, as we first meet him.

William is a studious bookworm. He sees it as his duty as the eldest son to learn and be incredibly successful and carry on the family legacy. Sadly, this leaves little room for fun, and his serious nature has made him the target of many pranks by his younger brother, David.

He grows more annoyed by David as each day with an acorn in his shoe or a live frog in his bed passes. He has vowed to hire nannies and governesses when he is grown with a family, just in case he ends up with a child so mischievous. With David being such an annoyance, he frequently avoids interaction with the youngest Baldwin son, Joseph, too.

William is very logical and fairly rigid. He is courteous with Emma when they meet, but he stays in his room or his father's study most of the time, so she hardly gets a chance to know him.

Does he have a secret? Any hidden talents? Does he know a joke when he hears one? Will he ever tolerate his brother? Does he even know what Joseph looks like?

[quaylinsims]

Meet the Characters: Lizzy Baden

Lizzy Baden is the governess who watches over the three Baden boys.

Lizzy, born Elisabeth, is a German immigrant who came to this country at a young age. The immigration officials couldn't pronounce her last name, so they rudely gave her a new one based on where she came from (Baden was a region in southern Germany/northern Switzerland).

A bookworm and a perfectionist, she tutors the boys and demands the best. She is frequently surprised by David's high marks, considering his... attitude. In addition to tutoring, she also performs nanny-like duties and is the main caretaker for the youngest, though her demeanor can't exactly be called "warm."

Lizzy can be considered a bit of a snob. Though she herself was an immigrant, she was taken in by a wealthy family and often looks down on those who are struggling to make a new life in a new land. And she frequently suggests who the boys should and shouldn't interact with.

Is Lizzy heartless, or just super protective of the boys in her care? How does she do her own hair? Will she show sympathy for Emma, a girl who is also trying to make a new life with the generosity of a wealthy family?