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Dr. John Christow

(Contains spoilers!)

go_leafs_nation 21 Jan 10 at 1:13 p.m. GMT

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I remember that, on the old site, there was a big debate on the character of Dr. John Christow, the victim in The Hollow. Some considered him a very unlikeable victim who got what he deserved; others sympathised with him. This is one of the most interesting AC victims to discuss.

When you think about it, there are no clear-drawn lines when it comes to characters in The Hollow. Gerda is not as innocent and stupid as everyone assumes; Veronica Cray is not entirely vicious and spiteful; John isn't sure whether he's in love with Gerda, Veronica, or Henrietta. Think about it- this is a man who, breaking off from the spiteful Veronica, turns to Gerda, Veronica's complete opposite. I don't think he was entirely in love with her, although she was madly in love with him. His marriage didn't bring him the happiness he expected, and when he fell in love with Henrietta, he discovered that the qualities he hated in Gerda he desperately wished Henrietta would have. Dr. John was a sympathetic person, to me at least, a man who was torn between three women, puzzled, confused, and uncertain which of them he was really in love with.

And think of his poor daughter. The last time he ever saw her, he wasn't really even paying attention when she was 'telling his forture'. And her last memory of her dad would be him saying her mother would murder someone with the car, driving from London.

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Christopher_Wren 15 Mar 10 at 7:38 p.m. GMT

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I agree with Bundle. I do think is a pretty well written a character, and I certainly don't think, that he deserved to be killed, but I can't say, that I found him very likeable. My sympathy was mostly with Gerda and Henrietta.

Bundle_ 21 Jan 10 at 3:09 p.m. GMT

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I remember the topic! It was in the For the Very Knowledgeable thread! I don't remember if I commented on it though.

But my opinion is that I don't think John Christow deserved to be bumped off by Gerda or anyone for that matter. No person deserves that no matter how nasty, or rude, or unfaithful they are.

However, I did not like his character. It was evident, though, that he wasn't intentionally trying to hurt Gerda's, Henrietta's, or even Veronica's feelings, but when he found out (more or less) that had hurt them it didn't really seem to faze him all that much because, in my opinion, he was selfish as well as being confused, and in his quest to find what he really wanted out of life he was sacrificing the feelings of 3 "people" in the process.

So while I did feel sorry for him for ending up the way he did, I didn't have as much sympathy for him as I would say Ms. Sainsbury Seale in 12BMS.