Margaret's Makeover

8 Pages 1933 Words

, Margaret begins to discuss symphony and other works of culture. As she does so, Leonard becomes envious of her knowledge. He cannot, however, involve himself because of his lack of knowledge on the subject. Even though Leonard does not respond back, Margaret continues. By doing this, she makes it apparent that she is independent from other’s responses or reactions. She does not require the approval of others, nor does she necessarily look for it. In addition to this, one can see that Margaret was very independent thinking when it is noted that Margaret “wished that he (Leonard) was not so anxious to hand a lady downstairs, or to carry a lady’s programme for her[...]”(Howards End 29). Margaret felt that she did not need a man for those things. She could handle herself. It was a one-sided relationship in which Margaret was independent of Leonard, but Leonard needed Margaret to reach his goal of intellectuality.
As was mentioned previously, Margaret’s relationship with Leonard is distanced shortly thereafter as she discovers Leonard’s wife, Jacky, has had an affair with Margaret’s then fiancé.(Howards End 166) This reveals that although Margaret was somewhat disappointed when Leonard was frightened off following their first meeting, she was still independent of him. (Howards End 32) In contrast, though, as Margaret was demonstrating an independence from Leonard, she be...