Why do Decca and Nancy blame Diana for Unity's actions in Germany? Do you think it's fair?

Decca and Nancy blame Diana for Unity's actions in Germany. Why do you think this is? Do you think it's fair?

The family didn't have much respect for Unity, did not think she had any prospects, whereas Diana was the beauty, the influencer, the leader. Although Unity had a room plastered with posters of Hitler they didn't think it meant anything. Because Diana became involved with Mosley and the fascist movement and brought her family to rallies it was easy to blame Diana. Diana did manipulate Unity for her own purposes, however Unity did pretty "well" on her own.

While Diana did use Unity for her own selfish purposes in Germany, she was not totally to blame for Unity’s actions. Unity’s commitment to fascism and specifically, Hitler was well underway before Diana got involved in Germany. If anything, I believe Unity’s treatment by her whole family early in life lead her to search for somewhere she could belong and fee special - a group where she would be appreciated and respected. (In today’s world she might have joined a cult with a charismatic leader.) The only action, rather inaction, Diana should have felt responsibility for was not intervening when she knew Unity was fragile and might commit suicide. While she might not have prevented the attempt, Diana didn’t try to do anything…and that was inexcusable.

They blamed Nancy because Nancy totally used Unity. Unity was a bit of an outsider in the family. When Nancy began to favor her, Unity jumped right in. Nancy was finally finding favor and had a purpose in life. However, Unity already had Nazi inclinations. Unity gained a sense of power in Germany, although she was being used.

Diana manipulated Unity for her and Mosleys benefit- create contacts and support from the 3rdReich to enhance its support to facism in Great Britain

I think Diana is clearly seen as the "alpha female" of the family, stronger, most assured and definitely more attractive. Interestingly, Unity came into her own in Germany but it was not positive growth.

Decca and Nancy blame Diana because they see her as the one who initialized Unity beliefs but actually Unity had found her purpose in life under the Fascists especially because she thought Hitler favored her in particular.

There are a number of reasons Decca and Nancy blame Diana. They see Diana as influencing and then using an innocent Unity. They also blame her for not recognizing Unity’s deteriorating mental health and I would agree that she bears some responsibility for not protecting her sibling. What they fail to understand is Unity’s commitment to the cause that began when she was a child. Early in the book, she embraces what she feels to be her “destiny.” Destiny connected Diana to Mosley and destiny calls her to Germany.

Diana manipulated Unity for her own selfish motives. Yes, Unity grew into her own person with her own beliefs. It was Diana that influenced her in the beginning. Big sisters have extraordinary power over little sisters at times. Also, Diana could see the impact the fascination Unity had on Hitler beginning to grow in a disturbing way, but she needed Unity’s relationship to continue since Unity was living in Germany full time and Diana was having to come and go. Diana was a user and practically washed her hands of Unity when she was no longer useful to Diana’s needs.

Unity was fairly weak minded and easily influenced. She idol worshiped Diana her whole life, so wanted to emulate her in all things. Diana took advantage of this and used Unity, rightfully so.

Unity was responsible for her own actions and adventures in Germany - after all, she was an adult, and she grew into her own person (unfortunately, a Nazi) during this time. However, Diana could have influenced her and chose not to, or at least she used Unity’s actions and contacts for her own purpose. Unity was particularly liked or respected by her family and seemed to be constantly striving for approval. Maybe if she’d had more from her family, she wouldn’t have been so drawn to Hiler and his movement.

The others looked up to Diana. She was the oldest, married and on her own. They felt she had a perfect life. When she left her husband to follow Mosley, they began to question their view of her. They felt that if she stayed out of it. Unity would not have gotten as far as she did. I believe Unity would have found a way. I often wondered how Hitler got so many people to follow. Now, when I see his affect on the girls, I realize what a powerful personality he must have had.

I don't think it was fair. Clearly Unity was the driver in getting close to Hitler (pretty deliberate and calculating about it, too). She's the one who remained while Diana went back and forth. The implication is that Diana had some sway over her sister, but I think it was pretty limited. Unity had a level of acceptance and influence that she hadn't experienced before, and it was intoxicating. I can't see her giving that up easily.

I agree with the writers herre, but I think they whole family was a little to blame. Unity felt like an outsider in her own family. They did not embrace her for who she was, instead, looking at what she was lacking. But in British society at that time, women were looked at as commodities, what could they bring to a marriage. And the family didn't have much to offer to a prospective husband and Unity didn't measure up to her other sisters.

Diana was the “queen bee,” never questioning herself or how she affected others. She did use Unity to further her obsession with Mosley. Unity fit the mold for being influenced by Hitler. She was lonely, looking for someplace to belong and feel special. And she found it.

In a way Nancy and Decca continued to belittle Verity by thinking she was not capable of making up her own mind. They were treating her the way the whole family always had done.

No one person is totally responsible for the actions of another. However Diana did manipulate Unity and use her for her own and Mosley's benefit. Diana was aware of Unity's total allegiance to Hitler, and of Unity's mental state. She could have warned any member of the family of Unity's threat to kill herself when there was still time for them to take action.

I have to agree with Reene's assessment. Diana had given tacit approval to Unity the entire time Unity was in Germany. Diana's frequent & lengthy stays gave her insight into Unity's actions & her mental/emotional status. The fact that she had seen firsthand Unity's meltdown in front of Hitler, heard Unity state that she would contemplate suicide, and yet return home solo with very little effort to get Unity to leave with her was completely callous on Diana's part. By withholding this info from her family once home, it is no surprise that Decca, Nancy and the rest of the family felt ambushed by the sudden changes for Unity. Once the utter hopelessness of Unity's situation became known, I believe it was only natural for Decca & Nancy to direct their anger & frustration toward Diana, the one sister who might have had some influence over Unity. I also believe that they can't fathom someone would NOT have done anything to try to protect Unity.

I've been thinking about this and actually Unity's fascination with fascism started way before Diana's flirtation and affair with Mosely. I do think Diana took advantage of Unity's connections with Hitler and the Nazi government for Mosely's gain, however.

I think they felt that it was Diana's duty to watch out over Unity while she was in Germany. Unity was a difficult person so it seemed that most of the family was glad to have someone else watching over her. I don't think they realized the extent of Unity's independence until it was too late. Once it was realized that Diana was aware of Unity's actions and status they felt Diana had betrayed them all.