The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie (79-137)

SUMMARY

Now the six girls are in senior school and aren't "taught" by Miss. Jean Brodie and they are split up among the four schools. They are expected to have school spirit so when Eunice wanted to become a cheerleader Miss. Brodie vetoed the idea and there was nothing any of the girls could do. Mr. Lowther, the music teacher, had lost his housekeeper and needed help taking care of himself and his house so many teachers went to help him out but Miss. Brodie did not like what the where doing to him so she decided to take it upon herself to help him. Now the girls met at Mr. Lowther's house every saturday for tea and to catch up with school but especially on Mr. Lloyd, the art teacher, and Miss. Brodie's lover while in her prime.

The girls would occasionally sit for Mr. Lloyd so he could paint them until when they were twelve and thirteen, he painted Rose the most. Miss. Brodie wanted to take advantage of that and have Rose start an affair with him because she liked the idea of them being together and for Rose to love a man that she loved. However, what Sandy didn't tell her was that she and Mr. Lloyd already shared a kiss. At the time Miss. Brodie was doing this, Miss. Mackay, the head mistress, was still trying to force her into retirement and was trying to get Mr. Lowther to help. He eventually became married to another teacher at school making him no use to Miss. Mackay or Miss. Brodie.

With the girls getting older, they began to develop their own desires. Jenny left to become an actress but Miss. Brodie told her she would never be like Faye Compton or Sybil Thorndike. Monica was caught up in math and anger, Eunice wanted to be a cheerleader, Mary was not around as much, Rose had a reputation for sex and Sandy, by the time she graduated, had been having a year long affair with Mr. Lloyd. Also, by the time Sandy left school she felt no reason to keep protecting Jean Brodie so when Miss. Mackay asked more questions to help force Miss. Brodie into retirement she told her that her personal life won't give any grounds for retirement but her politics would. Miss. Mackay took her advice and she did not return to teaching in 1940.

QUOTE

"It's only possible to betray where loyalty is due" (Spark, 136).

REACTION

Sandy said this years after Miss. Brodie was forced into retirement and years after she had died as well. It clears up the novella because the quote answered my main question as to why Sandy would tell information about Miss. Brodie that would incriminate her. She had no respect for Miss. Brodie because of the teaching style, if you could call it that, and even at a young age Sandy would always question whatever Miss. Brodie was telling her and that's the reason Miss. Brodie selected her to be a part of her set, because she had intellect. Its ironic that the reason Sandy stood out to Miss. Brodie was the one thing that brought down her prime.