Pat of Silver Bush and Mistress
Pat are the two novels that make up the "Pat series" by Montgomery. Patricia
Gardiner, the heroine, is highly sensitive to her environment. She
loves her home and the people around her, and it hurts her to see her world
change. It becomes evident from Pat's character, so different from Anne and Emily,
that Montgomery's real life struggles were surfacing in the desperation
in Pat's character.
“ She was now, at nearly seven,
so old and wise that she knew the Hill of the Mist would never be moved.
It would always be there, go where she would, return when she might.
This was comforting in a world which Pat was already beginning to suspect
was full of a terrible thing called change…and another terrible thing
which she was not yet old enough to know was disillusionment.”
- L. M. Montgomery, Pat of Silver Bush II,1
As she grows up, she chooses
her home over marriage, over change, and she begins to question her choices.
Personal Comments:
The Pat books (Pat of Silver Bush and Mistress Pat) are my favorite
series by L. M. Montgomery. It is unfortunate that so many stop when they're
through with Anne and never get a taste for the story of Pat Gardiner.
In some ways, Pat is the most sad and realistic in my mind. She's desperately
afraid of things changing. She can't handle people leaving her and moving away.
The thought of people marrying and moving on, people growing up and the whole "out
with the old, in with the new" attitude frighten her. Yet, Pat is the
heroine who loves the most deeply and sincerely. She loves things and people
to the extent that she hurts herself and is in a way paralyzed and chained
to her home Silver Bush, which embodies her security.
Most of all, Pat is an utterly
loyal and true friend. And so are her friends, Jingle and Bets.
Along
with Barney of the Blue Castle, Jingle is one
of the most appealingly sincere male characters
"'Is McGinty the name
of your dog?' asked Pat..
'Yes. He’s the only friend I've got in the world,' said Jingle.
'Except me,' said Pat.
Jingle suddenly smiled. Even in the moonlight she saw that he had a nice
smile."
- Pat of Silver Bush X,2
His devotion to his mother and his heartbreak at meeting her in person make
Jingle both very human and give the reader sympathy for him in more aspects
than just his desired romance. He doesn't lose hope for himself or for
Pat and he never lets the reader down. In many ways, he is the hero of
the two novels, and Pat is stagnant. He develops, is scarred and fights
to succeed and win her love, while she clings to her home. The contrast
between the two, and Jingle's understated love, understanding and support of
Pat, create a romance you cannot help but root for whole-heartedly.
Though each chapter of Pat of Silver Bush and Mistress Pat represents
a change or trauma to Pat's settled world, there is no way for her life to
remain the same. Of Montgomery's series, this one is the most troubling,
and often most human. If you want the usual brand of LMM cheer, I don't
recommend it. It's beautiful in its own right, but steeped in sadness.
External Related Links (will open in new windows):
The
1st Pat of Silver Bush Page and Encyclopedia (a great resource
for information on Pat)
Last Updated 03.28.04
© An L.M. Montgomery Resource Page and TickledOrange.com
Pat Word Search
Recipes
LMM Cover Gallery
Quizzes and Fun Stuff:
Which LMM Heroine are You?
Which LMM Hero Are You?
E-Texts
You can now read the Pat series online
