I think that everyone can agree that Gilbert was in the wrong for what he did concerning Winnie. Though he never asked her to marry him, there was an expectation there. I don’t think he fully grasped the seriousness of the situation though.

#renewannewithane

Which is fair considering he didn’t have experience in these matters. Bash warned him what the implications of meeting her parents were but he wasn’t even thinking about marriage as this point. Winnie couldn’t come alone, so she brought her parents.

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It’s important to also understand that he and Winnie are from very different social classes. What her parents or she may expect is different to what he thinks is expected of him. He thinks that her dad is just a nice guy who is going to help him with school.

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So when he gives him permission to propose he’s shocked. I don’t think he ever talked to Winnie about marriage. He realizes that he would only be marrying her for the Sorbonne and doesn’t propose. He’s stunned when Winnie talks about apartments and ministers.

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I know it’s the 19th century but I think it would have still been necessary to talk to your future husband about all this. It’s obvious he had no idea how much they had planned. Winnie jumped the gun before anything was set in stone.

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She flees to Paris because of the gossip but we don’t know what she ultimately tells everyone. There was no impropriety involved so her reputation isn’t ruined. All of their outings were in public or with her parents. Sometimes it just doesn’t work out.

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I don’t think she loved him. She talks of being humiliated (which is fair) and then insulted that he won’t even settle for her (which is like Winnie, girl, no) but not once does she say “I love you.” They liked each other but not loved.

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All in all I don’t think this will affect her in the long run. Like Gilbert said, it would have been worst had he let it go on longer. They don’t run in the same circles so there are no mutual acquaintances. She could marry someone in Paris and never return.

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If anything, Anne is the one in danger of gossip.

So tl;dr, Gilbert messed up but it’s not as life ruinous as it seems. There was no broken engagement, just dashed hopes and maybe next time don’t tell everyone you’re getting married before the proposal.

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