Inez was clearly devastated to lose George, her husband of twelve years and the love of her life. Did Rita and her family do enough help her in those weeks after the sinking? Or do you think Inez was deliberately as emotionally hidden as she needed to be to conceal her true intentions?
During the time period of this book it was difficult to keep in touch with those far away. I was surprised by Inez’s decision to end her life. She was so close to her family, especially to Rita that I felt that she would recover from her heartbreak. I know that suicide is very difficult to predict or prevent.
I was surprised as well, but I think her family should have been paying more attention. As close as Rita was to Inez, I think she should have picked up clues as to her sister’s state of mind.
I felt only sincere empathy for the family. Inez kept herself closed off, deliberately and completely. No matter how “close” you are to a friend or family member, you cannot feel what they feel. I was surprised by the suicide, but I should not have been since the gun could be seen as foreshadowing.
The Jolivert sister were as close as two sisters who grew up in that era in those circumstances. Inez was always more closed than Rita it did not surprise me that she hadn’t realized she was suicidal.
It was actually a shock to me when it happened and I was so saddened by this turn of events I had to put the book down for a few days before I finished it.
Yes, it was sad that Inez decided to end her life after losing her husband. I also feel she did not feel that she had the supported she needed from her family.
I don’t think they knew how to help Inez. She hid her grief well and didn’t let anyone see how devastated she was. I think her family did what they could and what she would allow them to do.
I do not think they did enough. Rita announced her marriage . I am sure Inez was happy for her but it also made her think all the more of what she lost. While still with the family she was not interacting. The family should have realized this.
This was so tragic, Charles was her world and to lose him so suddenly was a true shock to Inez. Emotions play a great role in future life events. A broken heart is very hard to cope with. I think Rita thought Inez was “strong” and would get over the loss. Some people never do.
I think Inez did not want to reveal her needs to her family. That is one reason that she was adamant about going back to New York. George was her safe spot. I think if she had living children that she probably would have wanted to live. She was deeply grieved about her miscarriages and life without George was unbearable.
Inez seemed to feel things more deeply than other Jolivet family members. She was more alive to nature in and around her family home, more fragile. Her music transports her and those who hear her play almost outside of themselves. Rita is very close to her sister but I do not think she understood the depth of her sister’s grief. The gun they both had did tip off readers. Rita, however, did not see it as a threat to her sister. That being said, suicide mentality is often overlooked, even by professionals.
I think we need to realize that at that time it is likely that people were not as informed about mental health as we are today. Perhaps it is unrealistic to expect Inez’s family to have seen the signs that she was contemplating suicide.
I think that Inez hid her feelings from her family. I think it was just what she was used to doing. She had to hide her true feelings about moving to the city in the beginning of the book because Rita wanted to go. I don’t think anyone knew the extent of her grief over the miscarriages. When she lost George, it was just too much. I was not surprised by her suicide, just very sad. As much as she and Rita were close, it was always more about Rita.
Inez was in shock and I am not sure that she planned her suicide in advance.
She might have been acting in a way that would make her family think she was coping with George’s death so they would not watch her so carefully. During that time she made her decision. I wondered all through the book about the significance of the pistols.
The issue of having living children was the key. She lost both George and the babies. I really believe I could commit suicide under those circumstances.
I also think that losing George and having several miscarriages was the reason for Inez’s suicide. There was nothing to live for anymore. Did her sister do enough? probably not as she was so involved in her own career.
The suicide was a surprise for me, but I also understand how Inez did not always share her feelings so she was not getting as much support as she could have had.
It is difficult to know what anyone does feel, but I do wish Rita had been able to recognize that she was needed. There are often little signs but so often we are busy in our own life’s that we don’t take the time to really see what is going on.