The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie

[Ulrikke]

Has anyone read, and if so still remember, this novel by Muriel Spark?

It goes like this:

Miss Brodie was a teacher – but she didn't fit in – at the staid girls' school in the 1930s Edinburgh, Scotland. She had ideas. She taught with wit? and charm? She took a lover. She was Miss Jean Brodie, a woman unmistakably in her prime. And the 6 students she chose to be her crème de la crème were called the "Brodie set."

How she enjoys, exploits, and ultimately becomes the victim of her vaunted 'prime'...

[Celyn]

oh , yes, I was reading that again just recently.

Hehehe- "Little girls - I am in my prme".

Have you seen the film version with, I think, Geraldine McEwan>

[-Sigurd-]

Celyn...I think you are confusing the Geraldine McEwan tv version with the much better, in my opinion, Maggie Smith film version. As I remember , the McEwan version gave a somewhat 'distorted' view of the story.

Ulrikke - Yes I have read this book. I'm getting it out for another look just now...

[Celyn]

Oops, yes, I definitely meant Maggie Smith - well that was a bit of a prize typo!

[HollyElise]

Yes, i remember the Maggie Smith film version.

Ulrikke, how does the film compare to the novel?

[Ulrikke]

Celyn, did you read the book before watching the film or the other way around?

HollyElise, if you saw the movie prior to reading the book you will most likely think the film is superior. I read the book first and thought the movie was excellent but not 'loyal' to the book – e.g. it changed several things: the number of girls; the affairs are presented differently; Mary's death and its implication is a key scene in the film, not so in the book and etc… Maggie Smith is impressive as Miss Jean Brodie and the film is more dramatic; it is witty but not quite as dry as Spark's humor.

Now, back to the book:

There are some very funny and good passages… I'll start from the very beginning…

The way the girls wore their hats: "Being hatless was an offence and each one of the girls wore their hats with a 'definite difference.' "

It is the first hint that the "Brodie set" is distinct and its girls held a high sense of 'individuality.'

Did anyone pick up on that?

Please add your own favorite – Sigurd, I think you will like that…LOL – from the beginning if possible so we can enjoy and discuss the book thoroughly. There are proverbs, poems, historical facts, psychological situations, plots and priceless moments that expose us to the character of Miss Brodie…

[-Sigurd-]

Ulrikke - yes it should be very enjoyable to discuss this book - there are many memorable scenes that deserve comment. Those passages about the girls hats introduce us to the girls as 'set - apart' from the others at the school - we are told early on that they were as a group "famous" within the school. And yes the individual 'styles' of hat wearing indicates the girls individuality - and we quickly learn that each member of the group is "famous for" something - some unique attribute that they are noted as exemplifying or excelling in.

One of my favourite passages from the first few pages is where the girls discover who is the greatest Italian painter:

" '...and I must tell you about the Italian paintings I saw. Who is the greatest Italian painter?'

'Leonardo Da Vinci, Miss Brodie'

'That is incorrect. The answer is Giotto, he is my favourite.' "

This exchange says a great deal about Miss Brodies idea of "education". Her own fancies and predilections are to be taught to the children as FACT .It is arrogant and verging on 'brainwashing' . There is no discussion, no justification, Brodie expects her charges to simply 'absorb' her world view without question!