Summary
From the somber, unyielding confines of an austere Amish existence, Barnabetta Dreary emerges, a figure initially defined by relentless toil and filial subjugation under the stern gaze of her father, Barnaby, and the indifference of her two brothers. Her life, a monotonous cycle of drudgery, undergoes a seismic shift with the unexpected arrival of Juliet Miller, known colloquially as Erstwhile Susan. This enigmatic newcomer, a woman of independent means and an unyielding spirit, weds Barnaby, yet retains full autonomy over her considerable fortune. Her profound empathy for Barnabetta, coupled with her strategic financial leverage, compels the recalcitrant Dreary men to alleviate Barnabetta's crushing burdens. The true catalyst for Barnabetta's metamorphosis arrives when Susan, with audacious foresight, proposes sending the girl to school—a notion that precipitates a stroke in the tradition-bound Barnaby. Liberated from her domestic prison, Barnabetta blossoms at a prestigious prep school. Here, her nascent charm and intellect captivate both Doctor Barrett, the institution's president, and State Senator Jordan, a powerful trustee. This burgeoning admiration incites the bitter jealousy of Jordan's sister, whose affections are fixed on Barrett. When this envious sister attempts to sabotage Barnabetta's post-graduation aspirations within the school, Barnabetta, demonstrating newfound political acumen, throws her support behind Senator Jordan's gubernatorial campaign. Her astute assistance proves instrumental in his victory. In a poignant, almost confrontational act of self-acceptance and social commentary, Barnabetta then deliberately exposes Jordan to the crude, unrefined table manners of her still-unreformed family, a stark reminder of her origins. Yet, transcending these class distinctions, she accepts Jordan's proposal of marriage, symbolizing her complete integration into a world far removed from her beginnings. Concurrently, Erstwhile Susan's steadfast influence culminates in the successful reformation of Barnaby and his sons, completing a narrative arc of profound personal and familial transformation.
Synopsis
Barnabetta Dreary's grim life of slaving for her Amish father Barnaby and her two brothers, is surprisingly changed when Barnaby marries Juliet Miller. Known as Erstwhile Susan, she becomes fond of Barnabetta, and because she retains control of her fortune, induces the other Drearys to relieve Barnabetta of some of her drudgery. After Barnaby has a stroke brought on when Susan proposes sending Barnabetta to school, she goes to a prep school where the president, Doctor Barrett, and a trustee, State Senator Jordan, both fall for her newly acquired charm, to the dismay of Jordan's sister who loves Barrett. When the sister interferes with Barnabetta's plan to work in the school after graduation, Barnabetta helps Jordan win his campaign for governor, and after exposing him to her family's crude table manners, Barnabetta accepts Jordan's marriage proposal, while Susan succeeds in reforming Barnaby and his sons.
Review Excerpt
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The Unseen Revolution: 'Erstwhile Susan' and the Quiet Roar of Liberation
There are films that merely tell a story, and then there are those that etch themselves onto the cultural consciousness, speaking volumes beyond their frames. 'Erstwhile Susan' (1919), a silent film directed by the visionary Kathryn Stuart, is undeniably in the latter category. It's not just a period piece; it's a profound meditation on liberation, social mobility, and the indomitable spirit of a woman breaking f..."
