Question for Week Two: Sections IV – V: Pages 129 – 302

Throughout her life, Laura is considered a special, unusual person, more sensitive than most. How does Laura exploit the impression she makes on other people? Are her motives and intentions always as innocent as people assume? Iris says, "Laura's cruelties were accidental-- by-products of whatever lofty notions may have been going through her head" p. 301. How does the language Iris uses shed light on the complicated emotions Laura stirs up in her?

Iris makes several allusions to the fact that both she and Laura were well aware of how differently Rennie and others viewed them. Perhaps Laura felt Iris getting more and more exasperated with answering unending questions about the meaning of life and death and decided to shake things up by jumping into the river. On the other hand, maybe Laura really did believe it would somehow bring back her mother.

The sisters' interactions with Mr. Erskine also raise questions about Laura's ability to manipulate adults. Her literal interpretations of sarcasm, her indifference to being shaken and slapped and her accusations of molestation could be accurately remembered by Iris or simply Laura's way of regaining the freedom to dream and draw she enjoyed under her earlier tutors.

The most interesting example to me is Laura's dinner invitation. After learning that Mr. Royal Classic, Richard Griffen, the "sweatshop tycoon" is coming to dinner, Laura invites Alex Thomas as well. Iris admits that Laura did "feel a little contrite" but pointed out that uninviting him would be miles beyond mere rudeness. It is unclear whether Laura views Alex Thomas as a romantic interest, a potential religious convert or just a curious prop, but Iris is certainly determined to compete for his attention. As Laura continues seeing Alex and utlimately shelters him at Avilion, Iris remains uncertain about Laura's motives. When a fumbled encounter leaves Iris fleeing down the stairs buttoning her blouse and him laughing, Iris questions whether he had a similar relationship with Laura, but then dismisses it with just a shadow of doubt.

I see Laura as having a rather stunted maturity and, to me, she shows a lack of sensitivity . For example, the episode with photographer Elwood Murray-she asks this man for his help and he willing obliges by teaching her his craft. She repays him by stealing his supplies, which she feels doesn't matter, then simply stops going to visit him once she has stolen the negative she wanted. She feels no need to give him an excuse for why she doesn't want to see him anymore, there's just nothing else she can get from him. Just as strangely, Iris calls Laura's behavior towards Elwood "clumsy" rather than rude, and Rennie makes weak excuses to Elwood rather than forcing Laura to behave as an adult.
Laura's lack of respect towards others extends to her family, as she uses the tinting supplies to ruin the family photos.
I think Iris says Laura's cruelties are accidental because she is so used to making excuses for her little sister. Perhaps it's easier to say that Laura is a lofty thinker who isn't paying attention to behavior rather than admit that her sister is deliberately cruel.

Because Laura was so young when her mother died, everyone treats her with kid gloves. Iris must take care of her and she does a pretty good job of it. I think that Laura does abuse her position as the poor, sensitive girl and gets away with it. She seems to get whatever she wants up to and including hiding a possible murderer/arsonist. Iris helps her out of her difficult situations. Laura seems to get whatever she wants until Iris gets married. This is the first time that Laura doesn't get her way. Of course, Iris doesn't seem to get what she wants either, really. She continues her path toward self-sacrifice that every adult has set her on.
--BJ

Laura intentionally kept herself above the confines of proper behavior. Although it didn't seem to me by malicious intent, I do think that because nobody ever demanded she behave differently, and indeed expected her to act according to her "lofty notions," she never learned to operate in the real world. She seemed as if she truly did not understand why people behaved the way they did and valued things that she felt were unimportant or trivial. She most definitely did not consider the consequences of her behavior on anyone else, but again, nobody expected that of her and tried to shelter and protect her (imprison her?) instead.

I always reckoned Laura had some sort of birth defect (since it took her a long time to get born - perhaps she had a lack of oxygen at her birth?), or else autism or something of the sort. It is very common for autistic children to take everything literally, and it also very hard for them to conform to society and its ideals. Laura always refused to compromise, went overboard with everything she did, and was very whimsical. Indeed I think her cruelties were accidental, and that she was ruthless without intending to be so - she just wanted to achieve her goals and get things done, but never considered how this behaviour would affect others. It is maybe worth mentioning that the only person who did not put up with Laura's behaviour was Richard and that he tried to change her train of thought somewhat at first (after Laura had gone off to Sunnyside), but did not succeed in this because later on he would indulge her (by granting her to drop out of school, for instance), out of love, fear or lust, or else a combination. All the other characters seemed to take Laura's quirks and manners for granted, and did not bother to try and change anything about them; but then again, it is still a question if trying to change Laura for the better would have had any use.

To conclude this long post, I do think Laura was a cruel and a ruthless character, but not a malicious one. Most likely she was oblivious of the damage she caused.