Quick Plot Progression

I agree completely with Madison in that the plot of Radcliffe’s novel starts with action from page one. Though Radcliffe utilizes descriptions of her characters in the beginning of the novel, as Jane mentioned, with the lengthy description of La Motte and shorter description of Adeline, the action of the novel is more predominant. While in Sense and Sensibility, we had to wait almost an entire volume to have the relationship status of Willoughby and Marianne resolved and discover why Colonel Brandon actually suddenly departed, we had to wait only 35 pages from the start of the novel to hear Adeline’s background story. This quick paced style kept me engaged in the story as it proceeds swiftly, but does take out some of the suspense that Radcliffe could have build up even more, much as Austen did. Also, in some scenes this quick advancement of the plot left me feeling disjointed as it seemed to progress a little too fast. For example at the end of chapter three after Adeline’s past is disclosed to Madame La Motte, this revelation is described to have “strengthened the tye of mutual friendship” (44) and led to an increase in affections. However in the very start of the next chapter, Madame La Motte’s suspicion and jealousy of Adeline is introduced and she is described as becoming less kind to her. I, like Madison, am unsure whether I would have rather had Radcliffe build more suspense and slow down the plot to avoid these overly quick progressions, or if this constant action made the read more interesting and enjoyable.