In Lady Audley’s secret, it is extremely important to look at word choice when examining any part of the text. Words are replaced, sometimes for aesthetics, but in the writing of Baddon, there appears to be something more significant about any word change. Take for example, the tombstone description on page 45. It reads, “Sacred to the memory of Helen, The Beloved Wife of George Talboys, Who departed this life, August 24th, 1857, aged 22, Deeply regretted by her sorrowing Husband” (45). There are two things that stand out in terms of word choice. The first is the use of the word ‘departed.’ Normally it would be common to use a word associated with death, of which departed is only loosely related. The word ‘departed’ has more of a temporary connotation than a word associated with death would have. This seems to suggest that maybe using the word departed has some ulterior motive in which Braddon is foreshadowing a different fate for Helen Talboys. Another important word choice to note is the use of the word ‘regretted’ to describe George’s sentiments on the matter of his wife’s death. A more common or likely word to be used here is ‘mourned,’ but Braddon could easily be hinting at some unrevealed part of George’s past, where he feels some sort of regret for something he did or could have done. Regret is the second word choice that seems to indicate that the reader does not know all the details of the past relationship between Helen and George.
2 thoughts on “Hidden Meanings”
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This passage makes me believe that Lady Audley could in fact be Helen Talboys. The word “departed” is very unusal, as the author said, however it also reminds me of how Lady Audley has a baby shoe in her jewelry case. The baby shoe is almost like a keepsake of a life she once had and the word “departed” would describe why she still had the shoe. The next word that is uncommon is the word “regretted” when referring to George. This is an unusual choice and expresses how George regretted not being back in time to see his wife before she died, which is shown on page 47 when he is described by “While the agitated young man walked up and down in a fever of regret and despair.”
I would also like to link this idea to the fact that the death of George Talboys’ wife is seen as a “selfish” act. The fact that he is “deeply regretted” by her death is almost as if he places blame on her for dying. Lady Audley reiterates this fact by saying, “How sad […] it seems almost cruel of Mrs. Talboys to die, and grieve her poor husband so much.” (88) What could this comment mean? Could it perhaps imply that her death was intentional? Or could it this just be another example of how women were viewed as insignificant and selfish during this time period?