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lateromantic's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Incest, Suicide, Terminal illness, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Classism
xcota's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
i have to say, the infamous father-daughter incest really overshadows the genuinely quite fascinating exploration of depression and suicidality here. definitely a beautiful text, however if you are in a bad headspace i would caution against reading this because woah is it depressing as hell.
"in truth i am in love with death; no maiden ever took more pleasure in the contemplation of her bridal attire than i in fancying my limbs already enwrapt in their shroud: is it not my marriage dress?"
"in truth i am in love with death; no maiden ever took more pleasure in the contemplation of her bridal attire than i in fancying my limbs already enwrapt in their shroud: is it not my marriage dress?"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Death of parent
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Incest
Minor: Suicide attempt and Classism
12546darcy7890's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
Minor: Incest
papaverhoeas's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
careinthelibrary's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Incest
lectrixnoctis's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"Matilda" is a book by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley that examines the life of Matilda, a woman separated from society due to her strange upbringing. Matilda's mother dies directly after childbirth, leaving her father destroyed. He hands on the parental responsibility to Matilda's aunt and leaves. Sixteen years later, the father returns exclusively to confess his eternal incestuous love for her daughter and then commits suicide by drowning.
After the demise of her aunt and father, Matilda drops into a cycle of loneliness, unhappiness, and suicidal tendencies. Drowning in a severe depression, she simulates her death and completely removes herself from society, choosing to live in utter sequestration with just her one maid as a business. Tormented with the same fate as her father, she plans to commit suicide. Matilda enrols the help of her close friend, a poet, and asks him to make her demise as romantic as likely by drinking poison together.
Involuntary to kill himself, the poet tries to detract Matilda from killing herself to no avail. He attempts to help her find meaning in life, but she dies after consumption. There is a longing that Matilda reunited with her father in the hereafter and returned his incestuous passion.
"Matilda" is a novella packed with melodrama and controversial issues buried for a century because of its unfettered probe of incestuous affection and suicidal endeavour. After Matilda's father acknowledges his sexual emotions to her, it is implied that Matilda began to grow those same feelings for his father too. His premature death thoroughly devastates her as she feels like everyone who adored her has left her. All she can do is find harmony in dying, where she wishes to reunite with her father and lover.
Okay, this short novella is literary gold. I enjoyed every second of it, and I would highly recommend it; however, I do think you should check out the trigger warnings before grabbing it since there are some complex topics to deal with. If you are really into Gothic and Victorian literature, this will be one of your favourites. It filled my heart with warmth.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Incest, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent