As I have been recouperating from my recent gallbladder surgery, I have been watching various DVDs rented from my local library. Among them was the "vintage" BBC version of Honore de Balzac's novel "Cousin Bette" featuring Helen Mirren. I had forgotten all about Balzac, let alone Cousin Bette and what it was about. After watching the series today and this evening, all I can say is "WOW!"
Lust greed and revenge. That's what Cousin Bette is all about. Big time. Cousin Bette is this old maid who lives by herself in a small dump somewhere in Paris. The time frame is the mid 1800's. She has a female cousin whom she was raised with; it is this cousin and her extended family that is the target of Bette's pent up resentements, bitterness, and rage. As the story progresses, the phrase "when will we ever learn" kept coming to mind. Everyone in the story has something or another which represents a major flaw in their character. Kind of like that Twilight Zone episode with the nasty masks. Bette's cousin's husband is a serial philanderer, as one example. Bette uses this to her full advantage in working to ruin him and his family over the course of time. Bette's cousin, on the other hand, is in la-la land with a capital "L". Sadly, after a short time, it becomes clear that everyone in this story is also all about money in one way or another. Except for Bette. She is not "just" about money; she's also about ruining the lives of those who "hurt" her. What a gal. Met her several times in my life already. When will we ever learn?
In the end, Bette even manages to maintain the facade of selfless giving in the eyes of those family members who have survived her. The cousin Bette has sought to specifically ruin so thoroughly speaks glowingly of Bette's virtues as if Bette were a candidate for sainthood. When Bette's cousin is herself dying, she finally issues her first (and last) reproach in life to her husband, who is half out the door anyway with his latest conquest.
All of this Cousin Bette stuff got me thinking almost too much. When will we ever learn? Probably never. But at least I'm going to keep saying what I see no matter what. That has to count for something...or I at least hope it does...
