What I found most interesting about the discussion today was Margaret’s role throughout the novel as an intermediary. Because Margaret is surrounded by mostly ineffectual people she is often running interference between two characters, delivering unsavory news usually. The reason this interests me is because it exemplifies how Margaret wields power through ways that are considered traditionally feminine. Taking charge and getting things done are read as masculine traits and Margaret does this with delivering the moving news to her mother, keeping secrets for her mother, and delivering death news. However, the spreading of information (chatting, gossiping, so forth) are “feminine” pastimes and so is the comfort necessary after the giving/sometimes receiving of information. Margaret uses the status of being a woman intelligently to wield power creatively which is what I feel makes her an interesting heroine.