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Mary Rose Step's avatar

On this read through, I'm struck by the nead to be judicious about what media you submerse yourself in. Just as Catherine is lead a stray by her gothic novels, at different points in my life I've become a worse person because of what I was consuming.

At one point, I was watching too much reality TV. Even though I knew everyone was ridiculous and over dramatic, I started behaving that way. What really drove it home for me was one evening where I picked a fight with my family, stormed off, opened my laptop, and saw that the show paused in the middle of a fight. I was instantly ashamed of myself and realized I had been influenced without even knowing it.

There was another time when I was reading too much news commentary and social media discussion. I got so anxious and it felt like all the problems of the world where on my shoulders. When I took a step back, not only did I feel so much better but also my perceptions of other people where way more kind. I saw them as people again, not categories.

All that to say, just as Catherine needs to read less Gothic novels, we can all benefit from accessing our media diet- am I "eating junk" or hearty meals?

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Elise Boratenski's avatar

I love Catherine and Henry as a couple. Often times, we need to be loved and admired before we are capable of loving in return. It’s as true in the spiritual order as it is in the natural order. I think they deserve each other because can offer one another something they each lack. Henry can steady Catherine and provide her with some grounding in the real world, Catherine can save Henry from being over cynical and jaded.

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