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The Blue Castle

 The Blue Castle
type
TVTItem
 The Blue Castle
label
The Blue Castle
 The Blue Castle
page
TheBlueCastle
 The Blue Castle
comment
The Blue Castle, by L. M. Montgomery, is the story of Valancy Stirling, an apparently dull, mousy, insignificant little Old Maid trapped in small-town Northern Ontario, Canada.As the book opens, Valancy wakes up on her 29th birthday morning consumed with bitterness over what has actually been a wasted, downtrodden life, dominated by her overbearing mother and multitude of equally stiff-necked, relentlessly conventional relatives. Valancy's only escape is through her daydreams as the chatelaine of a beautiful blue castle in Spain, complete with handsome Prince Charming.When she finds out later on the same day she has a terminal form of heart disease and only a year left at best, she finally snaps at the prospect of dying before she has even had a chance to live. Instead she blossoms into a free-spirited Deadpan Snarker who doesn't hesitate to tell off her family to their faces (as she hasn't told them why—the better to avoid their even more smothering pity—they conclude she's lost her mind) and realises for the first time that she's actually quite pretty.Her world widens even further when she unexpectedly gets her chance to leave home altogether and have some real, meaningful adventures. In the course of which she makes friends with her fellow town pariahs: Roaring Abel Gay, the notorious town drunk; his sweet, sensitive daughter Cecily, an unmarried mother dying of tuberculosis; and Barney Snaith, a rumored criminal and confirmed hermit living in a backwoods island cottage—and soon to become Valancy's love interest...One of only two novels intended specifically for an adult audience that Montgomery ever wrote (the other is A Tangled Web (1931)) and consequently sadly underrated.
 The Blue Castle
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2023-05-04T04:13:55Z
 The Blue Castle
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2023-05-04T04:13:55Z
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Dropped link to Hypochondriac: Not a Feature - UNKNOWN
 The Blue Castle
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Dropped link to TheMakeover: Not a Feature - IGNORE
 The Blue Castle
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Hypochondriac
 The Blue Castle
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DBTropes
 The Blue Castle / int_126ce03c
type
I Was Quite a Looker
 The Blue Castle / int_126ce03c
comment
I Was Quite a Looker: Aunt Alberta. Also Roaring Abel, who was a real The Casanova in his youth.
 The Blue Castle / int_126ce03c
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 The Blue Castle / int_126ce03c
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The Blue Castle / int_126ce03c
 The Blue Castle / int_1434e55c
type
Amazingly Embarrassing Parents
 The Blue Castle / int_1434e55c
comment
Amazingly Embarrassing Parents: Doc Redfern, a loud, tacky patent medicine quack, is clearly this for Barney.
 The Blue Castle / int_1434e55c
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The Blue Castle / int_1434e55c
 The Blue Castle / int_1ea248b4
type
Neat Freak
 The Blue Castle / int_1ea248b4
comment
Neat Freak: Valancy, in spite of herself, due to her upbringing. Her mother takes it to an extreme.
 The Blue Castle / int_1ea248b4
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The Blue Castle / int_1ea248b4
 The Blue Castle / int_1f0f3d6f
type
Cute Kitten
 The Blue Castle / int_1f0f3d6f
comment
Cute Kitten: Barney's cats, Good Luck and Banjo.
 The Blue Castle / int_1f0f3d6f
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 The Blue Castle / int_1f0f3d6f
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The Blue Castle / int_1f0f3d6f
 The Blue Castle / int_20613a2a
type
Victorian Novel Disease
 The Blue Castle / int_20613a2a
comment
Victorian Novel Disease: Played tragically straight with Cecily.
 The Blue Castle / int_20613a2a
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 The Blue Castle / int_20613a2a
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The Blue Castle / int_20613a2a
 The Blue Castle / int_22a27b19
type
Alpha Bitch
 The Blue Castle / int_22a27b19
comment
Alpha Bitch: Valancy's cousin Olive, in both the family and at school when she and Valancy were children. Valancy remembers that the one time she had some beautiful heirloom dress buttons Olive didn't, Olive immediately got the adults to take them from her.
 The Blue Castle / int_22a27b19
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The Blue Castle / int_22a27b19
 The Blue Castle / int_269e82c1
type
Death of a Child
 The Blue Castle / int_269e82c1
comment
Death of a Child: Cissy's baby son dies in the story.
 The Blue Castle / int_269e82c1
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The Blue Castle / int_269e82c1
 The Blue Castle / int_2764d432
type
Bitch in Sheep's Clothing
 The Blue Castle / int_2764d432
comment
Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Cousin Olive, who only associates with friendless Valancy to make herself look charitable.
 The Blue Castle / int_2764d432
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The Blue Castle / int_2764d432
 The Blue Castle / int_2848e7d2
type
Oblivious to Love
 The Blue Castle / int_2848e7d2
comment
Oblivious to Love: Barney is oblivious to his true feelings towards Valancy, up to a point.
 The Blue Castle / int_2848e7d2
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The Blue Castle / int_2848e7d2
 The Blue Castle / int_28cd01ca
type
Disappeared Dad
 The Blue Castle / int_28cd01ca
comment
Disappeared Dad: Valancy's father died of pneumonia when she was a baby, possibly because of his neurotic wife's rule about not lighting fires before October 21st.
 The Blue Castle / int_28cd01ca
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 The Blue Castle / int_28cd01ca
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The Blue Castle / int_28cd01ca
 The Blue Castle / int_2f7e9080
type
Placebo Effect
 The Blue Castle / int_2f7e9080
comment
Placebo Effect: Dr Redfern's medicines work using this effect, according to Barney.
 The Blue Castle / int_2f7e9080
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The Blue Castle / int_2f7e9080
 The Blue Castle / int_30de7a51
type
Chivalrous Pervert
 The Blue Castle / int_30de7a51
comment
Chivalrous Pervert: Roaring Abel. He comments on Valancy's nice ankles (to the Stirling family, ankles are considered among the unmentionables) and Valancy is pleased by the compliment. More to the point, Valancy never feels frightened of him.
 The Blue Castle / int_30de7a51
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The Blue Castle / int_30de7a51
 The Blue Castle / int_34e15b76
type
Kindhearted Cat Lover
 The Blue Castle / int_34e15b76
comment
Kindhearted Cat Lover: Valancy. Her unsympathetic mother and Cousin Stickles, however, dislike cats.
 The Blue Castle / int_34e15b76
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The Blue Castle / int_34e15b76
 The Blue Castle / int_35e077
type
Fourth-Date Marriage
 The Blue Castle / int_35e077
comment
Fourth-Date Marriage: A slightly unusual case. Valancy proposes to Barney after a rather short acquaintance, not only because she's falling for him, but to have a place to live after Cissy's death. Barney, knowing about her heart disease, accepts her out of pity and because she's a good chum, but comes to fall in love with her later on.
 The Blue Castle / int_35e077
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The Blue Castle / int_35e077
 The Blue Castle / int_361a1d26
type
Anguished Declaration of Love
 The Blue Castle / int_361a1d26
comment
Anguished Declaration of Love: Barney gets in a good one at the end of the novel, as he's trying to convince Valancy to come back to him.
 The Blue Castle / int_361a1d26
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 The Blue Castle / int_361a1d26
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The Blue Castle / int_361a1d26
 The Blue Castle / int_377effa6
type
My Own Private "I Do"
 The Blue Castle / int_377effa6
comment
My Own Private "I Do": Barney and Valancy.
 The Blue Castle / int_377effa6
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The Blue Castle / int_377effa6
 The Blue Castle / int_38718ea8
type
Beautiful All Along
 The Blue Castle / int_38718ea8
comment
Beautiful All Along: Valancy, like many Montgomery heroines, is unconventional-looking, and only attractive in certain moments to certain people.
 The Blue Castle / int_38718ea8
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 The Blue Castle / int_38718ea8
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The Blue Castle / int_38718ea8
 The Blue Castle / int_38b33e8d
type
Love Epiphany
 The Blue Castle / int_38b33e8d
comment
Love Epiphany: Barney has one when Valancy's life is threatened. Valancy has hers when she and Barney run out of gas and are stranded in the woods (though it's obvious to the reader well before that).
 The Blue Castle / int_38b33e8d
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The Blue Castle / int_38b33e8d
 The Blue Castle / int_3929e0db
type
You Need to Get Laid
 The Blue Castle / int_3929e0db
comment
You Need to Get Laid: The Stirlings, not knowing about the heart disease, blame this trope for Valancy's rebellion: "Old maids are apt to fly off on a tangent like that. If she had been married when she should have been, none of this would have happened."
 The Blue Castle / int_3929e0db
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The Blue Castle / int_3929e0db
 The Blue Castle / int_3f7a958b
type
Secret Test of Character
 The Blue Castle / int_3f7a958b
comment
Secret Test of Character: All of Barney's seemingly random questions about money ("Would you be happier if you had a million dollars?") turn out to be his way of assuring himself that Valancy is not another Ethel Traverse and does, in fact, love him for himself.
 The Blue Castle / int_3f7a958b
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The Blue Castle / int_3f7a958b
 The Blue Castle / int_4160410d
type
Damsel in Distress
 The Blue Castle / int_4160410d
comment
Damsel in Distress: Valancy foolishly goes to a dance where some drunken men harass her. Fortunately, Barney arrives in time.
 The Blue Castle / int_4160410d
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The Blue Castle / int_4160410d
 The Blue Castle / int_42a055ac
type
Happy Place
 The Blue Castle / int_42a055ac
comment
Happy Place: The Blue Castle of Valancy's dreamland, which she has populated since she was a child with the companions and love she craved.
 The Blue Castle / int_42a055ac
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 The Blue Castle / int_42a055ac
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The Blue Castle / int_42a055ac
 The Blue Castle / int_4540f0b9
type
Mistaken for Dying
 The Blue Castle / int_4540f0b9
comment
Mistaken for Dying: Valancy's doctor, panicked by the news of his son's car accident, mixes up Valancy's letter with one to a dying old woman. She accepts the diagnosis because consulting another doctor would require telling her family (because she can't drive and Dr. Trent is the only one in walking distance) which would result in so much fuss and bother that Valancy's plans for a happy last year would be entirely spoiled.
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The Blue Castle / int_4540f0b9
 The Blue Castle / int_4623b3bb
type
Why Couldn't You Be Different?
 The Blue Castle / int_4623b3bb
comment
Why Couldn't You Be Different?: Valancy's mother constantly bemoans her shortcomings, without the least bit of insight into how much she's responsible for most of them.
 The Blue Castle / int_4623b3bb
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The Blue Castle / int_4623b3bb
 The Blue Castle / int_49d59be9
type
Scenery Porn
 The Blue Castle / int_49d59be9
comment
Scenery Porn: What else would you expect from L.M. Montgomery? Except this time it's set in Muskoka, Ontario, instead of Prince Edward Island.
 The Blue Castle / int_49d59be9
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 The Blue Castle / int_49d59be9
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The Blue Castle / int_49d59be9
 The Blue Castle / int_4a57732a
type
Friendless Background
 The Blue Castle / int_4a57732a
comment
Friendless Background: Valancy and Barney.
 The Blue Castle / int_4a57732a
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The Blue Castle / int_4a57732a
 The Blue Castle / int_4c8e8078
type
All of the Other Reindeer
 The Blue Castle / int_4c8e8078
comment
All of the Other Reindeer: Mousy, drab Valancy's entire life up to where the story begins.
 The Blue Castle / int_4c8e8078
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 The Blue Castle / int_4c8e8078
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The Blue Castle / int_4c8e8078
 The Blue Castle / int_5f97d951
type
The First Cut Is the Deepest
 The Blue Castle / int_5f97d951
comment
The First Cut Is the Deepest: Barney lost all faith in friendship and love after he learnt that his first love was only interested in his father's money. Of course, he had had to go through a lot before that incident, and it was the last straw.
 The Blue Castle / int_5f97d951
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The Blue Castle / int_5f97d951
 The Blue Castle / int_60547993
type
I Want My Beloved to Be Happy
 The Blue Castle / int_60547993
comment
I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: Cissy Gay refuses the proposal by her baby's father because she didn't want to trap him in a loveless marriage. Valancy also leaves Barney when she realises that she isn't dying, for the same reason.
 The Blue Castle / int_60547993
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 The Blue Castle / int_60547993
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The Blue Castle / int_60547993
 The Blue Castle / int_63389b0b
type
Kids Are Cruel
 The Blue Castle / int_63389b0b
comment
Kids Are Cruel: As experienced by Barney and Valancy.
 The Blue Castle / int_63389b0b
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 The Blue Castle / int_63389b0b
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The Blue Castle / int_63389b0b
 The Blue Castle / int_658f7193
type
Lack of Empathy
 The Blue Castle / int_658f7193
comment
Lack of Empathy: All the Stirlings, with the possible exception of Cousin Georgiana.
 The Blue Castle / int_658f7193
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 The Blue Castle / int_658f7193
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The Blue Castle / int_658f7193
 The Blue Castle / int_66dfe36a
type
Missing Mom
 The Blue Castle / int_66dfe36a
comment
Missing Mom: Barney's mother died when he was a baby, just like Valancy's father. Cissy's mother died young as well.
 The Blue Castle / int_66dfe36a
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1.0
 The Blue Castle / int_66dfe36a
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The Blue Castle / int_66dfe36a
 The Blue Castle / int_687c78ff
type
Railroad Tracks of Doom
 The Blue Castle / int_687c78ff
comment
Railroad Tracks of Doom: Valancy's shoe is caught in the tracks, leading to a dramatic rescue by Barney... and an epiphany for both of them re: her supposedly fatally weak heart.
 The Blue Castle / int_687c78ff
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 The Blue Castle / int_687c78ff
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The Blue Castle / int_687c78ff
 The Blue Castle / int_6b05b601
type
Jerkass Has a Point
 The Blue Castle / int_6b05b601
comment
Jerkass Has a Point: Olive's letter to her fiancé in the next-to-last chapter complains about all the attention Valancy gets from the family now. She also points out that the Stirlings abruptly switched to fawning on her because she married money, and Valancy knows it.
 The Blue Castle / int_6b05b601
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The Blue Castle / int_6b05b601
 The Blue Castle / int_6b2b3b59
type
The Reveal
 The Blue Castle / int_6b2b3b59
comment
The Reveal: Quite a lot of them are piled up on top of each other in a space of a few chapters: Valancy isn't really dying; the doctor sent her the wrong letter. Barney is the son of a millionaire Dr Redfern (whose products have been mentioned several times before). Barney's backstory is also partially revealed. Oh, and he's also John Foster, the author of nature books Valancy adores. In an earlier chapter, Cissy Gay reveals the details of her tragedy.
 The Blue Castle / int_6b2b3b59
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 The Blue Castle / int_6b2b3b59
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The Blue Castle / int_6b2b3b59
 The Blue Castle / int_6da1d9ae
type
Parental Marriage Veto
 The Blue Castle / int_6da1d9ae
comment
Parental Marriage Veto: Family disapproval led to Olive giving up her second romance. (Not, whatever those outside the family say, the way the Bad Boy was losing interest in her.)
 The Blue Castle / int_6da1d9ae
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The Blue Castle / int_6da1d9ae
 The Blue Castle / int_6e37c196
type
Once Done, Never Forgotten
 The Blue Castle / int_6e37c196
comment
Once Done, Never Forgotten: The Stirlings never let Valancy forget that she stole some raspberry jam when she was eight and lost one of her aunt's silver teaspoons.
 The Blue Castle / int_6e37c196
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The Blue Castle / int_6e37c196
 The Blue Castle / int_76df59f1
type
Thicker Than Water
 The Blue Castle / int_76df59f1
comment
Thicker Than Water: Cousin Stickles admonishes Valancy with this.
 The Blue Castle / int_76df59f1
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 The Blue Castle / int_76df59f1
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The Blue Castle / int_76df59f1
 The Blue Castle / int_7a0374eb
type
Impoverished Patrician
 The Blue Castle / int_7a0374eb
comment
Impoverished Patrician: Mrs. Frederick Stirling's branch of the family has fallen on hard times, and must live frugally—but the idea of Valancy going "below her station" to be a housekeeper to Roaring Abel is scandalous. Later, we learn that Barney's first fiancee also came from such a family.
 The Blue Castle / int_7a0374eb
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 The Blue Castle / int_7a0374eb
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The Blue Castle / int_7a0374eb
 The Blue Castle / int_7c9dcc1
type
THeUnfavorite
 The Blue Castle / int_7c9dcc1
comment
The Unfavorite: Valancy, which is made all the more remarkable by the fact that she's an only child. Mrs. Stirling has always been disappointed in Valancy for being female (she wanted a boy) and—in her straitlaced eyes at least—unattractive.
 The Blue Castle / int_7c9dcc1
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The Blue Castle / int_7c9dcc1
 The Blue Castle / int_7eebe99c
type
The Alcoholic
 The Blue Castle / int_7eebe99c
comment
The Alcoholic: Roaring Abel, who earned his nickname because of his habit of driving around town drunk, roaring bawdy songs and swear words. Sometimes played for laughs, as he has a different "stage" of behavior according to how drunk he is.
 The Blue Castle / int_7eebe99c
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 The Blue Castle / int_7eebe99c
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The Blue Castle / int_7eebe99c
 The Blue Castle / int_7efd2e30
type
Expository Hairstyle Change
 The Blue Castle / int_7efd2e30
comment
Expository Hairstyle Change: Shortly after Valancy decides to stop deferring to her family, she ditches her outdated pompadour for stylish low puffs. An even more drastic change comes later when Barney bobs her hair.
 The Blue Castle / int_7efd2e30
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 The Blue Castle / int_7efd2e30
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The Blue Castle / int_7efd2e30
 The Blue Castle / int_80523de9
type
Like You Were Dying
 The Blue Castle / int_80523de9
comment
Like You Were Dying
 The Blue Castle / int_80523de9
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 The Blue Castle / int_80523de9
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The Blue Castle / int_80523de9
 The Blue Castle / int_813afa05
type
Defiled Forever
 The Blue Castle / int_813afa05
comment
Defiled Forever: Subverted. The entire town sees Cecily as this, but Valancy refuses to buy into it, especially since Cecily is a sweet, shy girl who was previously well respected. Later when telling her story, Cecily admits that she didn't even know having sex would lead to pregnancy, and that she refused her boyfriend's dutiful proposal because she could tell he'd fallen out of love with her. She thought trapping him into a loveless marriage would be worse than dealing with the pregnancy by herself. Note that this book was written in the 1920s.
 The Blue Castle / int_813afa05
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 The Blue Castle / int_813afa05
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The Blue Castle / int_813afa05
 The Blue Castle / int_8414865
type
Aroused by Their Voice
 The Blue Castle / int_8414865
comment
Aroused by Their Voice: Barney's voice "might become caressing or wooing with little provocation".
 The Blue Castle / int_8414865
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1.0
 The Blue Castle / int_8414865
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The Blue Castle / int_8414865
 The Blue Castle / int_842426f3
type
Grande Dame
 The Blue Castle / int_842426f3
comment
Grande Dame: Mrs. Frederick Stirling, Aunt Wellington, Aunt Isabel, quite a few in the Stirling family.
 The Blue Castle / int_842426f3
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 The Blue Castle / int_842426f3
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The Blue Castle / int_842426f3
 The Blue Castle / int_859edb3a
type
Pygmalion Snap Back
 The Blue Castle / int_859edb3a
comment
Pygmalion Snapback: Oddly enough, after finding out that she isn't dying after all, Valancy's newfound confidence almost completely evaporates. She leaves Barney, goes back to her mother, and takes a lot of convincing to realize that he wants her back. It makes sense when you realize how downtrodden she's been all her life, and that her confidence was really due to a belief that her actions wouldn't have any serious consequences. The point is for her to learn that they do, and to be confident anyway.
 The Blue Castle / int_859edb3a
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 The Blue Castle / int_859edb3a
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The Blue Castle / int_859edb3a
 The Blue Castle / int_9245d989
type
Sinister Minister
 The Blue Castle / int_9245d989
comment
Sinister Minister: Dr. Stalling, but only in Valancy's eyes. Roaring Abel (and the reader) sees him as simply pompous, narrow-minded and rather stupid.
 The Blue Castle / int_9245d989
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 The Blue Castle / int_9245d989
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The Blue Castle / int_9245d989
 The Blue Castle / int_9335ac5d
type
Misunderstood Loner with a Heart of Gold
 The Blue Castle / int_9335ac5d
comment
Misunderstood Loner with a Heart of Gold: Barney, and this suits him just fine.
 The Blue Castle / int_9335ac5d
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Blue Castle / int_9335ac5d
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Blue Castle
hasFeature
The Blue Castle / int_9335ac5d
 The Blue Castle / int_935212c
type
Feminine Women Can Cook
 The Blue Castle / int_935212c
comment
Feminine Women Can Cook: Valancy offers her skills as a housekeeper and cook to Roaring Abel and Cissy; the fact that she's being useful to someone who needs her does a great deal for her self-esteem. Later on, she delights in making the Blue Castle a cozy little home and cooking for Barney.
 The Blue Castle / int_935212c
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Blue Castle / int_935212c
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Blue Castle
hasFeature
The Blue Castle / int_935212c
 The Blue Castle / int_9962fa8
type
Not with Them for the Money
 The Blue Castle / int_9962fa8
comment
Not with Them for the Money: Valancy in regards to Barney. Her family, not so much.
 The Blue Castle / int_9962fa8
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Blue Castle / int_9962fa8
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Blue Castle
hasFeature
The Blue Castle / int_9962fa8
 The Blue Castle / int_a23b07cd
type
Ordered Apology
 The Blue Castle / int_a23b07cd
comment
Ordered Apology: Valancy is forced to apologize to Olive when she had done nothing wrong.
 The Blue Castle / int_a23b07cd
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Blue Castle / int_a23b07cd
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Blue Castle
hasFeature
The Blue Castle / int_a23b07cd
 The Blue Castle / int_a3a7c41
type
Black Sheep
 The Blue Castle / int_a3a7c41
comment
Black Sheep: To the Stirlings, Valancy would certainly qualify, but Valancy is really more of a White Sheep to everyone else.
 The Blue Castle / int_a3a7c41
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1.0
 The Blue Castle / int_a3a7c41
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Blue Castle
hasFeature
The Blue Castle / int_a3a7c41
 The Blue Castle / int_a7016efe
type
Lonely Rich Kid
 The Blue Castle / int_a7016efe
comment
Lonely Rich Kid: Barney, also a frequent target of bullying.
 The Blue Castle / int_a7016efe
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Blue Castle / int_a7016efe
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Blue Castle
hasFeature
The Blue Castle / int_a7016efe
 The Blue Castle / int_a7ddc88e
type
The Cobbler's Children Have No Shoes
 The Blue Castle / int_a7ddc88e
comment
The Cobbler's Children Have No Shoes: Roaring Abel is a carpenter, but his own house is falling apart. Dr Redfern is another example: he sells treatments for hair loss and rheumatism, yet he suffers from both. They are implied to work solely on Placebo Effect, though.
 The Blue Castle / int_a7ddc88e
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Blue Castle / int_a7ddc88e
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1.0
 The Blue Castle
hasFeature
The Blue Castle / int_a7ddc88e
 The Blue Castle / int_a8cb81ef
type
Based on a Dream
 The Blue Castle / int_a8cb81ef
comment
Based on a Dream: In-Universe, Dr. Redfern dreamt up the formulae for his inventions.
 The Blue Castle / int_a8cb81ef
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Blue Castle / int_a8cb81ef
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Blue Castle
hasFeature
The Blue Castle / int_a8cb81ef
 The Blue Castle / int_ae3d6438
type
Deadpan Snarker
 The Blue Castle / int_ae3d6438
comment
Deadpan Snarker: Valancy blossoms into one after the news from the doctor, much to her family's dismay. Barney has his moments, too:
 The Blue Castle / int_ae3d6438
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Blue Castle / int_ae3d6438
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Blue Castle
hasFeature
The Blue Castle / int_ae3d6438
 The Blue Castle / int_af616e40
type
Accidental Misnaming
 The Blue Castle / int_af616e40
comment
Accidental Misnaming: Part of Valancy's rebellion is to refuse her family nickname, "Doss".
 The Blue Castle / int_af616e40
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Blue Castle / int_af616e40
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Blue Castle
hasFeature
The Blue Castle / int_af616e40
 The Blue Castle / int_b0a529cb
type
Extreme Doormat
 The Blue Castle / int_b0a529cb
comment
Extreme Doormat: Valancy at first. She decides to stop letting others push her around when she mistakenly diagnosed with angina pectoris.
 The Blue Castle / int_b0a529cb
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Blue Castle / int_b0a529cb
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Blue Castle
hasFeature
The Blue Castle / int_b0a529cb
 The Blue Castle / int_b43dfc8d
type
Your Days Are Numbered
 The Blue Castle / int_b43dfc8d
comment
Your Days Are Numbered: Interestingly played with Valancy, who actually finds the prospect much easier to bear than a long, dull life of spinsterdom and social pressure with her family. When the doctor reveals his mistake, as is traditional for this trope, Valancy is not happy to live out her life with Barney as one might expect. She's heartbroken, believing that Barney will accuse her of tricking him into marriage. It doesn't even occur to her that Barney might have grown to love her and want to keep her - not until the aforementioned Precision F-Strike, at least. Cissy is another example. She, too, is content to die - she feels she has nothing left to live for.
 The Blue Castle / int_b43dfc8d
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Blue Castle / int_b43dfc8d
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Blue Castle
hasFeature
The Blue Castle / int_b43dfc8d
 The Blue Castle / int_b707726f
type
Hypocritical Humor
 The Blue Castle / int_b707726f
comment
Hypocritical Humor: After the revelation that Barney is the son of a multimillionaire, Uncle Benjamin chides the other Stirlings for being so quick to judge him from baseless rumors when he was right there judging with the rest of them.
 The Blue Castle / int_b707726f
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Blue Castle / int_b707726f
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Blue Castle
hasFeature
The Blue Castle / int_b707726f
 The Blue Castle / int_b8bda98a
type
Men Are Better Than Women
 The Blue Castle / int_b8bda98a
comment
Men Are Better Than Women: When Valancy as a child is bullied by an older male cousin who later denied hurting her, the Stirling clan take his side because the family rule is that boys are trusted more than girls. Also, Valancy's mother was very disappointed that Valancy wasn't a boy.
 The Blue Castle / int_b8bda98a
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Blue Castle / int_b8bda98a
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Blue Castle
hasFeature
The Blue Castle / int_b8bda98a
 The Blue Castle / int_bc00493f
type
Precision F-Strike
 The Blue Castle / int_bc00493f
comment
Interestingly played with Valancy, who actually finds the prospect much easier to bear than a long, dull life of spinsterdom and social pressure with her family. When the doctor reveals his mistake, as is traditional for this trope, Valancy is not happy to live out her life with Barney as one might expect. She's heartbroken, believing that Barney will accuse her of tricking him into marriage. It doesn't even occur to her that Barney might have grown to love her and want to keep her - not until the aforementioned Precision F-Strike, at least.
 The Blue Castle / int_bc00493f
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Blue Castle / int_bc00493f
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1.0
 The Blue Castle
hasFeature
The Blue Castle / int_bc00493f
 The Blue Castle / int_bd406737
type
Anxiety Dreams
 The Blue Castle / int_bd406737
comment
Anxiety Dreams: After she learns that she "tricked" Barney into marrying her.
 The Blue Castle / int_bd406737
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Blue Castle / int_bd406737
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Blue Castle
hasFeature
The Blue Castle / int_bd406737
 The Blue Castle / int_c0594195
type
Through His Stomach
 The Blue Castle / int_c0594195
comment
Through His Stomach: Barney is much taken with her cooking.
 The Blue Castle / int_c0594195
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Blue Castle / int_c0594195
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Blue Castle
hasFeature
The Blue Castle / int_c0594195
 The Blue Castle / int_c0e5fc39
type
Celeb Crush
 The Blue Castle / int_c0e5fc39
comment
Celeb Crush: Valancy on her favorite writer, John Foster. Also known as Barney Snaith.
 The Blue Castle / int_c0e5fc39
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Blue Castle / int_c0e5fc39
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Blue Castle
hasFeature
The Blue Castle / int_c0e5fc39
 The Blue Castle / int_cb70651c
type
Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane
 The Blue Castle / int_cb70651c
comment
Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane: Her mother sulks after a quarrel, which means she does not discover the letter that said Valency was dying. Valancy regards it as providential.
 The Blue Castle / int_cb70651c
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Blue Castle / int_cb70651c
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Blue Castle
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The Blue Castle / int_cb70651c
 The Blue Castle / int_cd149b1e
type
Silent Treatment
 The Blue Castle / int_cd149b1e
comment
Silent Treatment: Valancy's mother's preferred method of punishment.
 The Blue Castle / int_cd149b1e
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Blue Castle / int_cd149b1e
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1.0
 The Blue Castle
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The Blue Castle / int_cd149b1e
 The Blue Castle / int_d03fc3f1
type
Good Shepherd
 The Blue Castle / int_d03fc3f1
comment
Good Shepherd: Mr. Towers, the kindly Free Methodist minister who officiates Valancy and Barney's wedding and prays for them later.
 The Blue Castle / int_d03fc3f1
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Blue Castle / int_d03fc3f1
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Blue Castle
hasFeature
The Blue Castle / int_d03fc3f1
 The Blue Castle / int_d08595d3
type
Broken Bird
 The Blue Castle / int_d08595d3
comment
Broken Bird: Oh, Cecily. First she winds up pregnant by a boy who only saw her as a summer fling, then the baby dies, and by the time of the novel she herself is dying.
 The Blue Castle / int_d08595d3
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Blue Castle / int_d08595d3
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Blue Castle
hasFeature
The Blue Castle / int_d08595d3
 The Blue Castle / int_d1e3ca2b
type
True Love is Exceptional
 The Blue Castle / int_d1e3ca2b
comment
True Love is Exceptional: Olive's romances have been variable.
 The Blue Castle / int_d1e3ca2b
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Blue Castle / int_d1e3ca2b
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Blue Castle
hasFeature
The Blue Castle / int_d1e3ca2b
 The Blue Castle / int_d429d0f6
type
Canada, Eh?
 The Blue Castle / int_d429d0f6
comment
Canada, Eh?: Barney's father talks like this.
 The Blue Castle / int_d429d0f6
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Blue Castle / int_d429d0f6
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Blue Castle
hasFeature
The Blue Castle / int_d429d0f6
 The Blue Castle / int_d6de6609
type
In Harmony with Nature
 The Blue Castle / int_d6de6609
comment
In Harmony with Nature: Barney, and eventually Valancy. In every Canadian season—yes, even winter—they find cause for delight and meditation out in the woods and wilds.
 The Blue Castle / int_d6de6609
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Blue Castle / int_d6de6609
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Blue Castle
hasFeature
The Blue Castle / int_d6de6609
 The Blue Castle / int_d848560f
type
Unusual Euphemism
 The Blue Castle / int_d848560f
comment
Unusual Euphemism: Valancy bursts out laughing when one of her aunts says a dog bit her "below the Catholic Church."
 The Blue Castle / int_d848560f
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Blue Castle / int_d848560f
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Blue Castle
hasFeature
The Blue Castle / int_d848560f
 The Blue Castle / int_db2f3581
type
All Girls Want Bad Boys
 The Blue Castle / int_db2f3581
comment
All Girls Want Bad Boys: Valancy is fascinated by Barney's outlaw status.
 The Blue Castle / int_db2f3581
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Blue Castle / int_db2f3581
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Blue Castle
hasFeature
The Blue Castle / int_db2f3581
 The Blue Castle / int_def5d614
type
Suddenly Suitable Suitor
 The Blue Castle / int_def5d614
comment
Suddenly Suitable Suitor: For the Stirlings, Barney instantly switches from a loathed outlaw reprobate to the perfect suitor for Valancy when they discover his real last name.
 The Blue Castle / int_def5d614
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Blue Castle / int_def5d614
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Blue Castle
hasFeature
The Blue Castle / int_def5d614
 The Blue Castle / int_e44da6cc
type
Makeup Is Evil
 The Blue Castle / int_e44da6cc
comment
Makeup Is Evil: Everyone knows Valancy is dull so thoroughly that a rumor that she wore rouge is not enough to sink her reputation, which it would have done for any other girl.
 The Blue Castle / int_e44da6cc
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Blue Castle / int_e44da6cc
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Blue Castle
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The Blue Castle / int_e44da6cc
 The Blue Castle / int_e8491efa
type
Don't Fear the Reaper
 The Blue Castle / int_e8491efa
comment
Don't Fear The Reaper: Valancy is not afraid to die, just angry that she's never really lived.
 The Blue Castle / int_e8491efa
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Blue Castle / int_e8491efa
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Blue Castle
hasFeature
The Blue Castle / int_e8491efa
 The Blue Castle / int_e90f8e37
type
Lady Looks Like a Dude
 The Blue Castle / int_e90f8e37
comment
Lady Looks Like a Dude: Valancy as a child is mistaken for a boy by Dr. Stalling who is furious that she is wearing a hat in church.
 The Blue Castle / int_e90f8e37
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Blue Castle / int_e90f8e37
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Blue Castle
hasFeature
The Blue Castle / int_e90f8e37
 The Blue Castle / int_f237981e
type
The Alleged Car
 The Blue Castle / int_f237981e
comment
The Alleged Car: Barney's Grey Slosson, "Lady Jane".
 The Blue Castle / int_f237981e
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Blue Castle / int_f237981e
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Blue Castle
hasFeature
The Blue Castle / int_f237981e
 The Blue Castle / int_f2877d9e
type
IncrediblyLamePun
 The Blue Castle / int_f2877d9e
comment
Incredibly Lame Pun: Uncle Benjamin just loves these.
 The Blue Castle / int_f2877d9e
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Blue Castle / int_f2877d9e
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Blue Castle
hasFeature
The Blue Castle / int_f2877d9e
 The Blue Castle / int_f46fb603
type
Pungeon Master
 The Blue Castle / int_f46fb603
comment
Pungeon Master: Uncle Benjamin, who often uses this trait to tease Valancy about her lack of a love life. Backfires spectacularly when he tries to use the same tactics to squash her new, free-speaking self:
 The Blue Castle / int_f46fb603
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Blue Castle / int_f46fb603
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Blue Castle
hasFeature
The Blue Castle / int_f46fb603
 The Blue Castle / int_f6b2bfb7
type
Gold Digger
 The Blue Castle / int_f6b2bfb7
comment
Gold Digger: Ethel Traverse, Barney's first love, whom he dumped after finding out she only wanted him for his father's money. This was the real cause of his leaving home to travel and settling in a tiny cottage in Ontario.
 The Blue Castle / int_f6b2bfb7
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Blue Castle / int_f6b2bfb7
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1.0
 The Blue Castle
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The Blue Castle / int_f6b2bfb7
 The Blue Castle / int_name
type
ItemName
 The Blue Castle / int_name
comment
 The Blue Castle / int_name
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 The Blue Castle / int_name
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 The Blue Castle
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The Blue Castle / int_name
 The Blue Castle / int_name
itemName
The Blue Castle

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 The Blue Castle
hasFeature
In Harmony with Nature / int_5b8e5056
 The Blue Castle
hasFeature
Makeup Is Evil / int_5b8e5056
 The Blue Castle
hasFeature
Misunderstood Loner with a Heart of Gold / int_5b8e5056
 The Blue Castle
hasFeature
Most Writers Are Writers / int_5b8e5056
 The Blue Castle
hasFeature
Suddenly Suitable Suitor / int_5b8e5056
 The Blue Castle
hasFeature
Young Adult Literature / int_5b8e5056