First Impressions of Sophie

People seem to be very judgemental in those days. Or is that us now, lifting out impressions on people from people out of diaries and letters? It’s probably true we are these days less judgemental and more self-involved. Not necessarily a good thing.

These days we do give impressions of people. We still critizise them, but more than before we search for the positive assets, rather than the negative. Well, not me, obviously. I’m always searching for the negatives. One negative characteristic of Sophie is, she’s very judgemental.

Her first meeting with her future husband is quite intersting. She doesn’t know him yet and things he’s charming. She even has a great time spending with him and his brother. Later she’ll also dislikes his brother.

What is a little disturbing to me is that she seems to like things I like and she seems to dislike the things I dislike in people. We might have some things in common, but even more sets us apart.

I should be careful not to reveal too much. I still want to put it all together in one post to analyze why her three sons died so young.

Reflecting on the book “Wiwill”

Yesterday I finished reading the book about prince Willem IV, Alexander’s older brother.

To me it seems the prince’s governor, De Casembroot, really didn’t like the Queen, Sophie from Württemberg, King Willem III’s first wife, and gave a very coloured impression of her. The other way around is true too; the Queen didn’t like him much either, which might have influenced her behaviour towards De Casembroot. The book is not a very good basis to build a judgement on. Yet, I don’t like her much.

According to other sources, like the book about the Queen, to her friends she was a warm, intelligent, developed and sharp person. She might well have been, but it’s also known she found it easy to dislike people or thought them beneath her. She would behave according to her opinion on someone; not necessarily pleasant and all the above.

Another thing that bothers me a bit is how’s written about Alexander. Yes, he was somewhat nervous and sickly, but there was a person there. An interesting person, even. Unfortunately, the book “Wiwill” talks only about the period in which De Casembroot was with Willem/Wiwill. That means, since Alexander is eleven years younger than Willem, there’s not much to say about him yet. It was a bit disappointing, but I could have expected that.

The only standard, in no way different view to others, is the view on the King. As is well known, the King was unpredictable, mean and unreasonable, but could also be jovial, generous and friendly. He even managed a few times to say something wise. Most of the time, however, he was the ogre we all know and love.

There were things said about Maurits, but it was so little and so insignificant, I can’t even remember it. The poor child never got a fair chance to make an impression on his own instead of being compared to his brothers who did live to be grownups.


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