[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by AngelFae

Normally, I would agree with you but after I posted that I found a link on FB about Felowes and Froggatt defending the episode. Ms. Froggatt went into detail about why she played it the way she did and the research she did about women of the time going through such things and what it would cost them to tell anyone. I have to say, I was spot on. I'm terrible with posting links, but I'll find it and try so you can see for yourself! =)

News: Reactions to Downton Abbey Season 4 Episode 2 | 2. Episode 2 | Season 4 | Downton Abbey | Programs | Masterpiece | PBS

Anyone who's studied their social history and gender roles knows of the plight of women when they were victims of sex crimes and what happened to a victim of sexual battery or rape, etc. back then, but just because that dynamic was in play in society, it was not any woman's sole reason for keeping the violence toward her quiet. Women being complex creatures back then and now, they were multi-dimensional and very often - especially in those days - put their loved ones and particularly their husbands' and childrens' well-being before their own self-interests. But imagine the motivation of a woman whose husband has already been sentenced to death for killing - just think of how strongly she would be motivated to keep him from ever facing death a second time!

Any woman whose husband had been through the rigors of being wrongly accused of murder once, gone through a horrible first degree murder trial as she sat and listened and watched her husband sitting there in the dock charged with murder, had watched his face as he was sentenced to death once and had to see him live with the stress and horror of facing dying at the end of a rope as the public watched, would go a far piece to avoid her man EVER having to face the death sentence of hanging again and her reputation or her future or place in society would be the last thing on her mind compared to what her husband would be facing. The last thing.

She would do just about anything - including killing the rapist herself - to keep her husband from EVER going to his death for a second charge of murder, however justified it might be should he kill the scum. I disagree with whatever blog or review you read. I think Anna's motive for keeping the rape quiet is she is absolutely terrified Bates will hang this time for sure if he gets charged and found guilty of murder again. He won't get off a second time and Anna knows that.

The writer or person who wrote she script or whoever directed the episode may have had different motives in their mind as they wrote and directed but each fan of any dramatic work is able to interpret any character's motives for any action as they see fit and what they personally think makes the most sense to a human being in any given situation. And putting myself in that poor woman, Anna's place, I would be far more concerned about my husband's likelihood of living another year over my reputation should he kill my rapist - and I think Anna was, too. It fits her nature more to me. I think she's terrified for Bates - I know I would be if he were my husband and had barely escaped hanging on the gallows once!