MovieChat Forums > The English Patient (1996) Discussion > Madox: 'Youll never come to Dorset'

Madox: 'Youll never come to Dorset'

posted 12 years ago by Rob4001
7 replies | jump to latest

Can someone help me with this one, it seemed a very out of place line?

I presume he was referring to the fact that Almasy had become disinterested with others because of the affair and that he had began to neglect his friend. Perhaps also it was referring to the fact he would never leave the desert.

Either way, it seems a very provocative thing to say when leaving an old friend and kinda out of sync with the rest of the dialog.

Any ideas? Is it something that didn't translate well to the film? (i haven't read the book)

[–] drjude518 11 years ago

I read the book and a stunner it was but I don't remember that particular bit.
I believe Madox knew Almasy to be a solitary guy who would never leave the desert; unlikely to partake of normal social discourse being the insular type of person he was.
I believe that accusation rang very true in Almasy's case. It bothered me that Almasy was so insular as not to give his dear friend even that little bit of comfort; the possibility that they would meet again after the war. But he was extremely true to himself, Almasy was. To Madox's disappointment.

I intend to live forever. So far so good.

[–] Rob4001 10 years ago

Bump!

Anyone else have any ideas?

[–] KayDrama 10 years ago

i'm confused as well, but not by the line itself because I considered it a throw away and paid no attention to it until I saw your post here. Now, I'm really interested because - when Fiennes is shown handing over the maps to the Germans, someone has hung a piece of cardboard across a cave opening that says "Welcome to Dorset" (I think). Fiennes rips it down. That made me curious and your post has now made it moreso, like what was the import of Dorset?

[–] Rob4001 10 years ago

just checked that. it says 'see you in dorset'.

[–] rrb 10 years ago

The remark shows how well Madox knows Almasy: he's a loner, prefering his isolation; a man who'd never try to reconnect want someone he knew in another place and time. Madox makes the observation wistfully - he knows he'll never see Almasy again.

[–] jingizu_z 7 years ago

Agreed. Madox invited Almasy to Dorsett (his home in England) but knew he would never go there and visit, no matter what happened.

[–] beatpoet84 10 years ago

I always felt Madox knew that "the good old days" of their desert expeditions were over and that the members would all go their separate ways.