zolazona says > He would have explained himself in person or by letter before leaving to California. Regardless, if he thought she shouldn't lose her fortune for HER sake, he should have told her this. Remember, he KNEW she would be sitting there waiting for him all night.
Anyone who has ever had to break up with someone knows, if you want to make it stick, you have to make a clean unambiguous break. It’s like pulling off a bandage; it may sting but you have to just do it quickly and decisively. Morris couldn’t tell her what he was going to do in person because she would have begged, pleaded, and cried. He would have consoled her then he’d have to do basically what he did anyway – disappear without a word.
Going to California was a good way to put distance between them. Running into each other every now and then would not have worked. Besides, we all know Catherine would have been persistent in her pursuit of him. It does seem cruel to leave her waiting there that night but it was the most effective way.
He let years go by and it seems that the random meeting up of the (silly) aunt was the only nudge to see Catherine again.
Morris said he returned from California to see Catherine. He’d have done it sooner but he didn’t have money for the return trip. Even with time and distance between them, he realized he hadn’t gotten over her. I doubt the meeting with aunt Lavinia was random; either he contacted her or she reached out to him once she knew he was back.
Lavinia wanted to them to be together, even when she thought Morris might be after her money. She had orchestrated their entire relationship; first introducing them then running interference for them when needed. Lavinia thought Catherine would be happy because that’s what she wanted and, having been married, she knew there were no perfect relationships.
And when he sees her? He doesn't notice that she is not the shy retiring woman he had met before. Was he that obtuse?)
First, Morris never saw Catherine in a negative way the way others had; as they say, love is blind. He knew she was shy but she had already started to change; especially when she was with him. At that point, being standoffish and reluctant was to be expected. He knew how things had ended between them and it had been a long time since they’d seen each other. Naturally, she would have been upset.
Like he said he didn’t say he loved her because he thought she wouldn’t believe him. He was trying to win her back but he expected it would be difficult and was ready to give it some time. When he told Lavinia Catherine now had more dignity, he was acknowledging the change in her. Unlike before, she wasn’t throwing herself at him; willing to do anything to hold a man. It may have made him love her that much more. Also, the fact he was finally there with her again, holding her in his arms mattered more to him than any hesitation she may have felt.
Don't be so quick to put down the movie. I think it comes together perfectly. Wyler (the director and/or the screenwriters) were careful to make sure all aspects of the movie worked for all the possible scenarios. That’s quite an accomplishment. It's just too bad some viewers couldn't appreciate it.
The BIGGEST reason is that Catherine didn't believe he loved her. If you think she was merely "poisoned" by the cynicism of her father, then you have to face that you as well didn't believe in Catherine.
Wrong! This is the biggest indication that he did love her – he let her go. Even though he wanted to hear her say she’d defy her father for him, Morris did tell her father that they could not marry without his consent because it would make them all unhappy. He was right. Had she run off with him Catherine could have come to resent and blame him; especially for not being there when her father died. It would likely have driven a wedge between them so he made the ultimate sacrifice to leave her for her own sake.
If you believe he was after money his actions don’t make any sense. She was ready and willing to marry him. She already had ten thousand a year coming to her; that wouldn’t change. Morris had nothing and leaving her meant he’d continue to have nothing. A true gold-digger will go for whatever he can get before he’d ever choose to go completely without. He could have also stayed in touch after he left to try to get on her father’s good side but he didn’t do that. It’s not like he had some other wealthy woman waiting in the wings. Who knows if or when he’d get that close to a true thing like that again?
And forget the romance...Push ahead 2-3 years later if they had married. She'd be embroidering even more and he'd be traveling/adventuring, etc. while continuing to try and "find himself". Once the honeymoon was over, what would they have talked about?
Morris was the only person Catherine was able to talk to even in her shy period. In that regard he was good for her. Just having spent a few days with him she matured. She was able to stand up to her father and express what she wanted in a very matter of fact way. She was all set to elope which she would never have done before. She was excited about life for a change; she was becoming a new person. He did that or, rather, his influence on her did that for her.
They would have had their lives to talk about. Their past, their future, and whatever they were doing in the present. They would have gone to shows and to parties; they would have taken trips and met with friends and family for dinners and vacations. They would have even had children of their own. Morris might have made connections that led to him getting a job. There's always current history too - whatever was going on in the world at the time could have been a topic for discussion. Don’t forget, Catherine was a well-educated woman and Morris was an intelligent well-traveled man. She always had the capability to do a lot of things; she just lacked the confidence to follow through and, of course, love often brings out the best in people; surely you know that. They wouldn’t have had to talk all the time; she was eager to do that too.
By the way, I've defended Morris on these points but his is only one of many possible perspectives from which to interpret the movie. I could just as easily have defended an alternate view as well. That's the brilliance of the movie. All I can say is watch it again with that in mind and hopefully you’ll see what I’m saying is true.
Seeing things through Morris view, one is left thinking that Catherine's bitterness and lack of confidence caused her to blow the only and best chance she had at love and happiness. Ultimately, it’s a sad story however you look at it.
Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]
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