#which feels like a reflection of the kindly patronizing aspect of how margaret spoke about her - particularly at first

[vickyvicarious]

Bessy feels a lot more honest and unfiltered than Margaret is used to, both in general and specifically with regards to her views on religion. And I think her obvious genuine feeling (and the condition of her illness) makes it hard for her to be dismissive of her exactly (I mean - she does do that, sort of, but in a clearly uncomfortable way which suggests she herself can't just ignore it as nothing), but it's still kind of hard to know how to react to, maybe? Like, before that Father in Heaven line, Bessy is raging against her doubt and the injustice that she has suffered, and which clearly has led her to think and feel very deeply about her faith and what she believes. Margaret hasn't had these experiences. And Bessy means so well and it's hard to just write off her pain, her death, and her interpretation of religion. But they aren't the kinds of things Margaret has had to consider or heard spoken about so openly and emotionally, and it's difficult for her.

I find it interesting in chapter 13 how Margaret - whose faith, barring one lapse, is strong - is still uncomfortable with how Bessy speaks about her faith and particularly about Heaven. Her responses are very simple compared with Bessy's passion ("we have a Father in Heaven") and as soon as she can, she changes the subject altogether ("I would rather hear something about what you used to do when you were well").

Partly it's that she's uncomfortable with discussion of Bessy's death, but there's also a contrast between Bessy's open, passionate, literalist belief and Margaret's much quieter faith. I get the impression that Margaret isn't used to people speaking like Bessy does.