MovieChat Forums > Hornblower: Duty (2003) Discussion > MARIA'S FATE

MARIA'S FATE

posted 17 years ago by Livana_Faolan
13 replies | jump to latest

I have a question. I'm not familiar with the novels, and anything I know about them comes from discussions about them. So I have a question: According to the novels, what was Maria's fate?

[–] prozac_4all 17 years ago

LOLOLOLOL sad but true. BUT Hornblower never loved her. He cared about her and felt bad that she died but he didn't love her. He falls way in love with Lady Barbra. but both are married. Sooooo they can't be together. BUT then Maria dies and Lady Barbra's husband dies in the war and her and Hornblower finally get to be together! Oookkkkk now ask me what happen's to Bush......sniff sniff. Prozzie reaching for a tissue to wipe away the tears.....he dies too! He gets killed in action!

Could never say anything in thirty words or less~~~~Little Conversation by Concert Blonde!

[–] Livana_Faolan 17 years ago

ACK!!! I SO didn't want to know that. Bush is my favorite character, after Horatio.

Now I'm thankful they ended the movies with Maria's announcement that Horatio was going to be a father. A nice, happy ending. :o)

[–] prozac_4all 17 years ago

It does take place over many many years sooo. Bush would be around for awhile. Gosh I can't remember how long Maria was around for?????? I should look it up. Seems like they were married for some length of time. AND I know Bush die later than her. I go look it up for ya!

Could never say anything in thirty words or less~~~~Little Conversation by Concert Blonde!

[–] gfrazier-4 17 years ago

Chocobear, you should read the novels. Maria's fate is revealed in Flying Colors. While Hornblower was never "in love" with Maria, like he was with Lady Barbara, it's obvious he was fond of her, but pitied her at the same time, which was part of his motivation for marrying her.

[–] rcsawyer-1 16 years ago

I couldn't agree more. I read the series as a child, re-read it some years ago and will probably re-read it if I ever finish the Aubrey-Maturin series.

The 1951 Gregory Peck movie starts out with the Lydia heading for Central America in 1807 and actually covers 3 of the novels. When Hornblower returns from Central america, Maria has died, I think while giving birth.

But didn't the last A&E movie, Duty, end in 1803 with Maria pregnant?

[–] mlabot 16 years ago

Maria gave birth to a daughter and son who both died of smallpox at the end of
"Hornblower and the Atropos". She died during "Flying Colours" after giving birth of her son Richard who was taken care by Lady Barbara during Horatio's captivity in France.

Mario P. Labot
Edison, NJ
"You shall NOT pass' - Gandalf the Grey

[–] danhanegan 14 years ago

The thing is, Forester did not write the whole series in chronological order. Hornblower meets Barbara in the first book he wrote, Beat to Quarters (aka The Happy Return). Barbara figures heavily in those early books, while Maria is hardly mentioned at all. Maria is only fleshed out when Forester decided to write prequels to Beat to Quarters. Knowing full well she would be killed off later, he paints her odd relationship with Hornblower as not quite love.

It is really annoying that the Maria story arc had just got started when A&E cancelled the series.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] mlabot 14 years ago

It is really annoying that the Maria story arc had just got started when A&E cancelled the series.

I was looking forward to Hornblower taking command of the Lydia but alas. Kind of irks me that Sharpe(Sharpe's Challenge/Sharpe's Peril)was brought back and that Hornblower was not.

Mario P. Labot
Edison, NJ
"You shall NOT pass" - Gandalf the Grey

[–] randommovies2002 14 years ago

Different production companies, and different funding sources. I don't disagree with the sentiment, though! Oh, how I would love to see Ioan in the Lady Barbara scenes!

[–] Tom444 13 years ago

or the Marie scenes drawn from "Flying Colours" and "Lord Hornblower" !

[–] Jenn25 13 years ago

Who plays Lady Barbra? Is she in any of the movies?

[–] max-silver 13 years ago

Virginia Mayo played her in the 1950 movie.

They did not reach Beat to Quarters in this series.