tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703080158487459516.post4115603713369967168..comments2023-12-30T02:55:25.744-08:00Comments on Rebecca Gratz & 19th-Century America: Rachel's RomanceSusan Sklaroffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518778240284747439noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703080158487459516.post-60442585533985263852010-05-04T19:32:25.171-07:002010-05-04T19:32:25.171-07:00Yes, Rachel did fall in love with Sol, but only af...Yes, Rachel did fall in love with Sol, but only after several years of making fun of him with Rebecca and Sally. Although she knew about Rebecca's reservations, Rachel also knew that Rebecca had always had Rachel's happiness at heart. The problem was Sally whose dislike of Sol and inability to keep her feelings to herself would make life a misery for Rachel and Sol if she could not be convinced to acquiesce to the marriage.<br /><br />Underneath this very personal aversion to Sol, Sally may have harbored some resentment against her youngest sister marrying before her. Unlike Rachel who had made many conquests and Rebecca, who had recently turned down the marriage proposals of Samuel Ewing and M. L. Moses, there is no hint in the letters that Sally ever had a beau, much less a proposal.Susan Sklaroffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16518778240284747439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703080158487459516.post-65829100150921598352010-05-04T15:18:49.537-07:002010-05-04T15:18:49.537-07:00So it seems to me, from the wording in general, th...So it seems to me, from the wording in general, that in fact Rachel really did fall in love with Sol. Maybe she was nervous about Rebecca's reaction since Rebecca had refused the hand of Sol's brother (am I getting this all correct?!!!) Maybe Rachel was nervous about Rebecca's/Sally's reaction because, ...was it a bit looked down on that the youngest would get married before an older sister? Perhaps she felt she needed permission for getting married before an older sister?<br />Surely Rebecca should be content that Rachel was finding happiness in a respectable Jewish family...<br />And in the end we know that Rachel fulfilled all duties expected, although her health was impaired it seems.<br />What a cliff-hanger!StimmeDesHerzenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15084934926989805342noreply@blogger.com