I adore this book. Perhaps more than The Woman in White which is a tale of crime and mystery, something Armadale is not, despite initial appearances. Here, I focus on the main female character.
What began as a complex tale of friendship and revenge turned out as quite the love story. It moved me.
For all her conniving, her devilish mind and revengeful streak, Lydia Gwilt's character transformation took my breath away and was splendidly executed. I felt every part of her psychological journey; it was real, and it spoke volumes for Collins' understanding of the contradictions in the tormented female mind.
The end both saddened and satisfied - Lydia achieving to redeem herself through it. Despite forgiving her, the two main male characters were found lacking in the end, especially Midwinter for his lack of introspection. One is left feeling that Lydia loved him more than he ever did.
I can't help wonder whether Lydia would have at all carried out her designs had she found Midwinter more responsive in love, less preoccupied with his writing and if he had ceased brooding obsessively over his friend's safety. By the same token, would Lydia have perceived herself lacking in Midwinter's eyes, would she have felt as sensitively about his behaviour if she had not been plagued by the knowledge of her past deeds and doubted her own morality.
The question of the self-fulfilling prophecy is vivid here. That is the tragedy.
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