This post is going to be a mess so be warned, but I’m writing this thing about Miranda because not only do I care about her immensely, I just need a place where to put all my bitterness. In any case I’m probably only able to address half of what I meant to, if even that so…
The chronology of both her and James’ character arcs are scrambled. It’s important to the storytelling, and especially when it comes to constructing the McGraw/Flint narrative. Besides it works really well. But if you would view it following it correct timeline, I think it’s easier to see just how complex and multidimensional she was to begin with.
In this order we see this sort of a double life Miranda leads back in London already. I would love to really know the backstory both to her individually and to her marriage with Thomas, that the writers would have envisioned*. But what holds more relevance here than the precise details of their marriage, is that their marriage is a happy one. For both of them. It is a relationship of considerable equality, and one that they have created on their terms, in their image. Even if they have to maintain a public image that conforms to the norms they are expected to adhere to.
It is that way both a love marriage, and a true marriage of the minds. Miranda is keenly aware of the fact that it’s the idealistic views of Thomas which have allowed her this extent of self-actualization, to become the woman she wants to be, and to live as she does. And at the same time how much his views differ from the rest of the ‘civilized world’. When James enters the picture, she realizes that he is the missing piece. To both her and Thomas.
Miranda: “Thomas, he sees only the principle. The right. It’s inspiring - it can be intoxicating. It’s why I love him. But you, you see the world as it is. You see its truths and how to navigate them, how to bend them to your will. It’s why I love you. Men like Thomas need men like you. To protect them from the World, and that is what I’m asking you to do. The danger is simply too great.”
Undesirably intelligent as she was, she knew the kind of risk that their life posed. And perhaps at times this concern was something she felt alone with, considering her words above as spoken to James. She knew that this life, a life they all believed to be right, was possible as long as they could keep up the appearances. So yes, in that case it was still fine if the neighbors were whispering about them, as long as weren’t whispering the wrong things.
And honestly I think James’ reply to her** is the moment Captain Flint starts to take form. Which to me connects back to what Miranda says about Thomas, how inspiring and intoxicating his beliefs are. The way they know they should be able to live. James takes in that truth, and as he does, the rebellion in him grows and with that also the reluctance to be cautioned by the risk it poses.
What breaks my heart is that I think that is also a part of how Miranda was left alone. James certainly saw the World more clearly than Thomas, but perhaps still not with the same clarity as she did. Or maybe it was his lack of experience, and he was just unaware of the extent of the scrutiny. But ultimately we arrive at the events in London. And as this is about Miranda… I think the extent of her loss is overlooked a lot.
She lost her husband, her identity, her home, her country…and in a way… also James.
She didn’t get to choose where she would go from there, and found herself in Nassau. Furthermore, I can’t really agree that the choices Miranda makes after arriving there are truly hers. At best she found them reasonable a first. The best possible option out of several bad ones, all leading to an equally unpredictable outcome.
But she didn’t get a war. She didn’t get to rebel and proclaim her grief, her loss, her rage. Instead she became confined in solitude. Living alone, without a community, on most days… without someone to talk to. In a prison of their own doing, every moment a reminder of that loss.
But that was as James would have it, even if out of love and worry. As a sad attempt to have some kind of control. He too, was afraid of losing her. Of what could happen to her when he would be away, which was mostly.
So she was to be Mrs Barlow. To some… a nice puritan lady who shared the Captain’s love of books. To others, someone so alien to the local community, the people would whisper about her being a witch, that the children would throw rocks at her.
And you can see the light die in Miranda’s eyes in conversation with Eleanor. Someone so unfamiliar with her, that the latter casually accuses her [Miranda] of betraying James. Then… “It’s certainly possible”, she replies to Eleanor’s question, inquiring whether she’s truly so unremarkable as to resist an actual description past her name. This is like the last nail in a coffin symbolizing her loss of self***. Knowing the reasons behind all this does not take away her sense of loss. How much it must hurt her.
Something else that to me is overlooked in all this is that when the scandal broke, it was her who was made the culprit. Despite her warnings and worry, it was her who “drove her husband mad with grief” and caused their exile. And irregardless of the truth I am sure that this fact burned her somewhere inside. Especially in moments when she felt James’ resentment the most. In moments like when he said that his only regret is listening to her, that he didn’t try to do something more when he felt he had the chance.
The reason she made her choices was with her, every minute of every day and therefore she was also unable to say that she regretted it. As much as it hurt her. She thought Tomas to be lost and would have done anything to not lose James as well. And she is paying the price for it until her last breath.
She deserved to pull that lever with her own two hands.
____________________
*Although there’s this one particular meta about it that I enjoy very much.
**”Anything that has ever been worth doing, has been worth doing in the face of a little danger.” (XIII)
***I agree with the notion of Miranda and Silver being mirrors in a way. And there is a theme of loss of self here too. Kind of like with Silver and Hands (which I wrote about some time ago), although it’s obviously different in this case.
