The Life of Lesbian Portrayed in Sarah Waters’ Novel Fingersmith

28 poetries with the same theme. This thesis discusses about Lesbianism which is derived from a novel by Sarah Waters.

4.1 The Life of Lesbian Portrayed in Sarah Waters’ Novel Fingersmith

The main character in Fingersmith, Susan Trinder is an example of lesbian. Female homosexual experienced by this character is not genetic but come from other factor. Susan Trinder who is called as Sue, experiences hard life among thieves that makes her a skilled thief. Due to her quick and skilled hand, she is called Fingersmith. Sue lives with her two brothers who are taken under her adopted mother. The bitter experience felt by Sue makes her strong in facing the reality. Since she is a kid, her mother has created her as money machine. She does everything to get money that makes Mrs. Sucksby likes her better than her brothers. In Fingersmithit can be found three point of views. The first part is Susan Trinder’s point of view. My name, in those days, was Susan Trinder. People called me Sue. I know the year I was born in, but for many years I did not know the date, and took my birthday at Christmas. I believe I am an orphan. My mother I know is dead. But I never saw her, she was nothing to me. Waters, 2002:3 The condition of the main character has been described by the author. It is described that she doesn’t know her born date. She chooses Christmas eve as her birthday as many people are happy at the moment. It is also known that her mother has died. She doesn’t wonder about her real parent. She doesn’t event care, as she considers Mrs. Sucksby as hers. In the early part, it is informed that Sue’s mother is dead by hanging herself. She is involved in a scandal with a London Nob, Lant Street, Borough. 29 At that time, there are no cops or judges, so death penalties will be given to those who make such a fatal fault. She leaves Sue with Mrs. Sucksby. This tragedy is told to Sue by Mrs. Sucksby when she is a teenager. For I knew she was a thief.—What a thief Mrs Sucksby would say. So bold And handsome? Was she, Mrs Sucksby? Was she fair? Fairer than you; but sharp, like you, about the face; and thin as paper. We put her upstairs. No-one knew she was here, save me and Mr Ibbs—for she was wanted, she said, by the police of four divisions, and if they had got her, shed swing. What was her lay? She said it was only prigging. I think it must have been worse. I know she was hard as a nut, for she had you and, I swear, she never murmured—never called out once. She only looked at you, and put a kiss on your little head; then she gave me six pounds for the keeping of you—all of it in sovereigns, and all of em good. She said she had one last job to do, that would make her fortune. She meant to come back for you, when her way was clear… Waters, 2002:8 Waters explains in her novel that Sue’s mother is a skilled thief and it is found in Sue. Sue’s mother kiss her before giving her to the baby caretaker signifies her love towards her daughter, but due to their economic background, she must leave Sue. Waters does not explain about Sue’s origin family. She doesn’t talk about Sue’s father at all. Ironically, it can be concluded that she is a kid from illegal relation. Sue may miss her real mother, but the hatred she keeps is even bigger since she assumes that her mother abandon her. So what makes her involved in homosexual love? It will be discussed in next sub chapters. 30 Some source state that the life of lesbian which portrayed in the novel Fingersmith might be generally different with people’s expectation Smhoop analysis :Fingersmith, 2005:14. In this novel, lesbian love story is started from the relationship of a maid with her master. From the statement above it can be concluded that lesbian love doesn’t consider social status and class. It is the opposite of the reality in the Victorian Age. In that era, a woman will only get married with a man with same class as her. A lady will only marry a gentleman. Generally, lesbian love is purer than a love between man and woman. As discussed in Chapter II, lesbianism can happen because of togetherness factor even though it is not the only factors. In this sub chapter, the writer tries to explain the first time the two women meet until they are in love. Sue works as Maud’s personal maid. Maud is a high class young lady who will inherit her family’s wealth after getting married. The first reason why Sue work in that house is the big salary and she wish to own much money. Those are changed after Sue meets Maud. Everything she needs are provided and prepared by Sue, such as removing her dress or pants and accompanying her wherever she goes. Since she is child, Maud is taken care and accompanied by nurses in Mental Asylum. It makes her become dependence with someone. She feels comfortable when there is someone beside her. Day by day, their togetherness makes them close and even closer as if they are siblings. Moreover, the feeling is changed from sisterhood to passionate love just like man to woman. They are afraid of losing each other. Secretly, Sue takes care of Maud, and so does Maud. Maud admires Sue’s caring towards her. Sue always treats her differently. Sue who combs her hair, changes her dresses off, accompanies her and makes her feel being loved. The more days the more she loves Sue, and so does Sue who 31 admires Maud’s beauty and body shape. Until one midnight, Maud gets nightmare. Sue whose room is beside Maud’s room hears Maud’s scream and directly comes to Maud. Being frightened, Maud begs sue to accompany her sleeping in that room. Sue follows what Maud says though she is afraid of Maud’s uncle that will be surely furious knowing that. As he assumes that a Maid is does not deserve to sleep in a room with her mistress. The changes of Maud’s behavior towards Sue make Sue keeps distant with her. Maud persuades her to talk and talk more often, ask her to dance together, lend Sue her beautiful dress. Until in one night, Sue asks her to touch her. Maud asks Sue to explain how a man touches a woman in their first wedding night. She wet her mouth. Do you think me good? she said. I wish you would tell me, she said, what it is a wife must do, on her wedding-night Then I felt her make herself steady. I think, she said, in a flat, unnatural voice, I think he will kiss me. Will he do that? Again, I felt her breath on my face. I felt the word, kiss. Again, I blushed. Will he? she said. Yes, miss. I felt her nod. On my cheek? she said. My mouth? On your mouth, I should say. On my mouth. Of course… She lifted her hands to her face: I saw at last, through the darkness, the whiteness of her gloves, heard the brushing of her fingers across her lips. The sound seemed greater than it ought to have done. The bed seemed closer and blacker than ever. I wished the rush-light had not burned out. I wished—I think it was the only time I ever did—that the clock would chime. There was only the 32 silence, with her breath in it. Only the darkness, and her pale hands. The world might have shrunk, or fallen away. Waters, 2002: 147 The weird thing is that Sue doesn’t refuse. She does it well. Biologically, it can be concluded that Maud and Sue take act as man and woman. Maud asks Sue to act as a man who loves her woman. Their passions are always seen from the way they look at each other and the way they laugh. The safest place to enjoy their closeness is the garden. It is a place where Maud is used to paint and look for any inspiration. That place is also out of sight of Maud’s uncle and chief of maids. Not only in the garden, they also express their passionate love in Maud’s room. My lips? she answered, in a tone of surprise. They are here. I found them, and kissed her. Dont be frightened, I said at once. Thats what I thought. So, I kissed her again. Then I touched her. I touched her face. I began at the meeting of our mouths—at the soft wet corners of our lips—then found her jaw, her cheek, her brow—I had touched her before, to wash and dress her; but never like this. So smooth she was So warm It was like I was calling the heat and shape of her out of the darkness—as if the darkness was turning solid and growing quick, under my hand. She began to shake. I supposed she was still afraid. Then I began to shake, too. Waters, 2002: 149 The happiness they feel makes Sue forget about herself and her first purpose of being a maid at the Briar. A few weeks later, a young artist, a man named Richard 33 Rivers proposes Maud to be his wife. Maud who doesn’t like him at all rejects the proposal. Richard Rivers doesn’t give up, he suggests Maud’s uncle, Christopher lily so his beautiful niece accepts him as husband. Considering River’s family background, Christopher Lily pushes Maud to accept Rivers’ proposal. Maud can do nothing but follows what her uncle asks her to. She accepts Rivers’ proposal that makes Sue broken heart. She feels hurt. If I had said, I love you, she would have said it back; and everything would have changed. But if I did that, shed find me out for the villain I was. I thought of telling her the truth; and trembled harder. I couldnt do it. She was too simple. She was too good. If there had only been some stain upon her, some speck of badness in her heart— But there was nothing. Only that crimson bruise. A single kiss had made it. How would she do, in the Borough? Waters,2002: 245 Maud has not told this thing to Sue yet. She is afraid of disappointing Sue. The passion of their flaming love has faded. Maud stays in morrow and doesn’t focus on reading novel to her uncle’s guests. Then, she plans to explain all the matters to Sue. She wants to tell Sue that it is not her will. A few days before her wedding, Maud comes to Sue and tells her that she will get married. Maud tells her that it is not her will and asks her to understand her position. Hearing that story, Sue feels that she is betrayed by her beloved one. She pretends to be happy in front of Maud. They smile but their minds are still working on what will happen next. Sue thinks her life should be back to her home which has almost been forgotten by her. She imagines that her mother will be disappointed knowing her returns without any pennies on her hand. As her early will is to get much money by working and stealing, Maud tries to tease her and entertain her. Then, in the bare night Maud gives a last impression to Sue, the one whom she loves. 34 Maud is more aggressive in making love as Sue consider herself as a servant and Maud as her Mistress. “But then she did this. She kept her fingers upon my head and pushed my mouth too hard against hers; and she seized my hand and took it, first to her bosom, then to where the blankets dipped, between her legs. There she rubbed with my fingers until they burned. The quick, sweet feeling her kiss had called up in me turned to something like horror, or fear. I pulled from her, and drew my hand away. Wont you do it? she said softly, reaching after me. Didnt you do it before, for the sake of this night? Cant you leave me to him now, with your kisses on my mouth, your touch upon me, there, to help me bear his the better?—Dont go She seized me again. You went, before. You said I dreamed you. Im not dreaming now. I wish I were God knows, God knows, I wish I were dreaming, and might wake up and be at Briar again Waters, 2002: 169 Both of them are tortured by the feeling of afraid of being separated. Along the night, they embrace each other as if the death angel would pick them up. After Maud getting married with Richard Rivers and leaving her uncle, Sue returns to London, to her adopted mother, Mrs. Suksby. A year later, an issue spreads out that the marriage of Maud doesn’t work. She is cheated by her husband. Rivers proposes Maud since he knows that Maud will inherit all the wealth of her family. He leaves Maud after taking all of Maud’s properties. A terrible thing happens on Rivers, he is dead caused killed by a baby day care in London. This accident makes Maud come back to Briar. Maud later finds out that her uncle has died, since she is still the heir of Lily’s family, she prefers to stay there with her maids. Hearing that Maud has returned to Briar, 35 Sue comes to meet her. Maud is very surprised seeing Sue, the one she loves and misses standing exactly in front of her. I looked at her, not understanding. I looked at the paper in her hand. Then my heart missed its beat. You are writing books, like his I said. She nodded, not speaking. Her face was grave. I dont know how my face seemed. I think it was burning. Books, like that I said. I cant believe it. Of all the ways I thought Id find you— And then, to find you here, all on your own in this great house— Waters, 2002: 527 Actually, the meaning of Sue’s question is why that she is not remarried and build a new family. Maud who understands it honestly admit that she is in waiting for someone. Maud is waiting for Sue. I am not alone, she said. I have told you: I have William Inker and his wife to care for me. To find you here, all on your own, writing books like that— Again, she looked almost proud. Why shouldnt I? she said. I did not know. It just dont seem right, I said. A girl, like you— Waters, 2002:520 Sue behaves flatly. Her expression tells Maud that she is really disappointed with Maud. She hates Maud. Hate you I said. When I have fifty proper reasons for hating you, already; and only— Only love you, I wanted to say. I didnt say it, though. What can I tell you? If she could still be proud, then so, for now, could I… I didnt need 36 to say it, anyway: she could read the words in my face. Her colour changed, her gaze grew clearer. Waters, 2002:582 The citation above shows that Sue still loves Maud. Though disappointed and hatred covers her heart. She loves Maud. Her affection is pure to her. For a while they just keep silent, looking at one another. A few minutes later they hugged and kissed, releasing all the longing feeling. Maud Lily and Susan Trinder tell the maids that they are lovers. They believe that their love will be last forever. And they decide to live in Briar, live escorting one each other till the death come picked them up.

4.2 The Factors Caused The CharacterBecome a Lesbians Portrayed in