A question for the BEST and the most CREATIVE thinkers?

Question

In my story, there's a girl whose living with her upper-class family in 1799 England. Her parents are really strict, really religious, very conventional, and very wealthy. Her parents DELIBERATELY made her weak character-wise, so that their daughter might always rely on them. But then the girl meets an artist, a poor artist, who opens to her of a world of freedom and passion. So, I'm wondering what could be the reason why the girl wavers between choosing to run away with this artist or staying with her parents. I need a GOOD and COMPELLING reason....not jsut the easy way out of it being money against love. Any physcological reason that bonds her parents??

Answer 1

Fear of the unknown. If her parents have made her a weak and indecisive person,she would be very reluctant to leave what we now call "her comfort zone",it is basic human nature to gravitate to that which is familiar and secure....except for those wonderful,brave souls throughout history who chose the opposite path of daring and adventure. Your heroine would have to go through some life altering,possibly traumatic event to develop that kind of spirit since she has led a life of submissiveness.

Answer 2

The daughter would be afflicted with two major fears: Fear of Change plus Fear of the Unknown.

Don't forget she is living in 1799 - women were VERY put down and looked down on in those days. They were almost chattels of the men. She probably would have no or very few legal rights and would likely have no personal income at all - would become completely dependent on this man - emotionally, financially,socially - a POOR man - what kind of future could she have with this poor starving artist?

Despite being so abused by her parents, she possibly could have good common sense which might tell her to self-protect by staying with the 'devil she knows' rather than the 'devil she doesn't really know.

She is likely, however, a fear-based person due to the brain-washing & conditioning she has been abused with and for that reason alone probably COULD not venture out into the world without the comfort of the familiar - even though she knows what to expect from the familiar.

Sounds like a good story. Good luck with it.

Answer 3

Shift the story back a few years to 1792 or so. Then your starving artist might be a French emigre. Not only that, he would be a Catholic. Stir in a bit of political intrigue with the secret service and the French republicans creeping about, double agents, and all that stuff, and you'll have some fine old hokum.

Answer 4

Compliance v. rebellion. I think that the artist, himself is not really loved by her. she is most likely spoiled and used to creature comforts. She is playing around with being naughty and the artist is the toy. She probably believes she loves him. because she is young and inexperienced. Ultimately, she will not disobey daddy whom she often puts on a par with God. You have stated that she has a weak character, so she will not break away from her father. She also believes that her religious mother, who has played the proper subservient role as a religious woman, is the ideal to which she must live up. no way she is running away with the artist. There is no structure in his life and she is very ill at ease with that.

Answer 5

Well It might be that she is scared that even though she might love him that one day he just might not love her anymore and she knows that without a doubt her family will always be there for her. Even though her parents are rich doesnt mean that they dont show her love and they know how the world is and thats why they raised her like that. So the girl is scared of the freedom and passion even though it feels good she isnt used to and she doesnt want to leave her comfort zone for fear of what might happen.

Answer 6

I think you have your answer in what you've exposed. They raised to be weak of character and dependent upon them. Your character would be torn between love for her parents and love for her artist friend. It could become a central theme of your story. I also imagine the parents would see what's happening and attempt to reinforce their grip on their daughter. You could even make them a little psychotic. Also, if they constantly and purposefully mine her self-esteem, your heroin would be full of self-doubt. This could come back to haunt her at the worst moments, could create conflict with her lover. I'd work along those lines.

Answer 7

She overhears the neighbor, family lawyer, next door neighbor, whatever talking about how her parents are going to be affected by something they don't expect and could ruin their lives (especially monetary). They would think they had one over on her, and that because she was so weak she wouldn't leave them for her guy, but she would actually find a way to save them and be the stronger one in the end.

Answer 8

there is always a psylogical reason, ur just thinking too hard. Both my parents moved out of the house I live in and left me here lol, but for some reason I can't leave my home. It feels too secure. There is too much risk in leaving something ur comfortable with and choosing the unknown.

Answer 9

Within this love/hate relationship, the parents might have instilled a sense of family obligation within her.
Deep down, she knows what is going on and that it is wrong, yet she dares not leave because regardless of how much a set of jerks her parents are, they ARE still her parents and they need her help to watch over them as they grow older; which might be why the parents treat her like dirt to begin with. to keep her within a subservient position/mindset.

Answer 10

well how about an underlying but never actually stated very intense loving incestous love affair with Daddy that Mummy is clueless to? It's different and contoversial and if it anything you'd sell books just from the controversey. It worked for Bill O'Rielly didn't it can you say loofa??