#or Edinburgh mob violence and was less interested in the psychology of Mummy's Little Fanatic on the first reading)

[the-busy-ghost]

Am re-reading Hogg's Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner and I know it's not a new or original thought but it's just striking to me again how young George (younger) and his brother Robert must have been during the tennis match and Black Bull mob scenes.

If the 'famous session' refers to the 1703 session of parliament (or even if it refers to the previous year's sitting which Queensberry also oversaw), and if old Dalcastle married in 1687 (or later), then at most George could have been 16 and his brother 15, and it's probable that both boys are younger.

I don't remember too many of the details from the first time I read this book so will have to finish it before I make any further judgement. However I don't think it detracts from Robert's culpability or nastiness in any way to take into account his probable age in the earlier portion of the narrative. I think makes for a more interesting reading when forcibly reminded that he's a young teenager. Even taking into account different social mores and expectations placed on children in both the period in which the novel is set, and the early 19th century when it was written, it seems to me that that's an element that will still have particular significance for readers in the 21st century, regardless of one's personal experience with extreme forms of Presbyterianism.

#I mean it's probably been said before I haven't read much analysis of the novel in a while- or at least not of the psychology aspect #But I do feel that the image you first get in your head is that Robert is at least in his late teens and early 20s #at the time of the tennis match nonsense- I.e. a grown up demonic genius albeit with a chip on his shoulder #I'd say he's probably about 14? #Idk if anybody else remembers being 14 but oh boy does that make sense #I mean he's still a very unpleasant teenage boy don't get me wrong but nonetheless #In our day and age even grown adults are regularly affected by all kinds of brainrot and conspiracy theory stuff #We live in the internet age but I'm not entirely sure that there aren't comparisons to be drawn #Between unpleasant child Robert - called a wonderful boy by his parents; convinced he is Elect #highly book smart but deeply aware that there is something wrong about his family #Being tempted continually by visions of the Devil and raised in an age of constant civil and religious debate and strife #Where every side is utterly convinced of the complete moral validity and right of their own particular views #And some kid today coming out with all sorts of absolute nonsense as a result of being exposed to internet brainrot #Be it fascism or misogyny or even political views that I agree with but can become dogma and conspiracy theory in the wrong hands #In particular Robert's been raised in a very dogmatic household but also told exceptions will be made for him because he's special #Also something something late 17th century print culture boom and propaganda wars vs 21st century internet etc is this anything #I'm not necessarily saying this is a story for our times all I'm saying is there are timeless qualities in it #(Obviously that's what makes it a classic it's just I tend to notice more the portrayals of ill-made marriage #or Edinburgh mob violence and was less interested in the psychology of Mummy's Little Fanatic on the first reading) #Possibly the early part of the novel accidentally gives the impression that Robert is slightly older #because of throwaway lines like George mistaking him for a student of divinity #Even if Robert had been attending the university though that doesn't track #Based on what I remember of early 16th century norms and what little I know of late 18th century stuff #It would be perfectly normal for university students in Scotland in this period to start around the age of 14 #Some went even earlier- I definitely remember coming across lads who matriculated at the age of 12 or 13 or younger #Idk maybe I was the only one who had that particular image of him as a young adult in my head #Maybe I was the only one who was too stupid to work this out earlier and it affected my reading #But still if there's one thing I'm taking away from this re-read it's going to be 'Dear god that is a 13/14/15 year old boy' #That being said don't want to overdo it; as a former teenage girl I used to hate when reading the Crucible and people were all #Oh that's just OBVIOUSLY what all teenage girls are like so not trying to compartmentalise boys; but at the same time o.O