Noted, svetabel, and thanks.
In line with the reminder above, i'll try to not rehash the same things....
Of course I did not say that MT was a bad person, but her advice could be sometimes very trying and confusing. For example, she advise Antoinette to think of herself as French (she was from her father's side), but never forget she was Austrian. How can one do that without making a mess of things ? She tried to be ruler and mother at the same time, I do sympathize with her dilemma, but that kind of advice was not very helpful to say the least (even though in her heart, she did believe she loved her children).
Then please don't make general statements blaming Maria Theresa for Maria Carolina's tears, tantrums and mistakes.
The Dukes of Lorraine and Alsace considered themselves German, not French. Hence, Franz Stephan, despite having a Bourbon-Orleans for a mother, was considered German. Marie Antoinette and her siblings considered themselves German. I think MT's advice to MA about becoming French must not to be taking too literally -- tie it up with MT's advice to do so much good to the French people and it becomes much clearer.
I guess discernment then played a big role regarding MT's advice.
I think MC wanted love, but never really got it (except from her sister Antoinette).
It's an interesting premise but since she treated people badly, how can she be loved?
In her bid to win her mother's approval, she did not sympathize with Amalia, but agree that she was a "bad girl".
She continued to disapprove of Amalia long after Maria Theresa died. In fact, she "allied" herself with Mimi on this. Not only Amalia but also disparaged her nephew and niece in Parma.
Yes I agree that she only reflect upon herself when she suffered misfortune. However for some people it is the only way they learn.
I never stated that MC learned to reflect. In fact, I've been trying to find that in her. Until the very end, she was scheming. She never learned.
It is interesting to time when the relationship between Ferdinand & Maria Carolina turned sour. I guess once the sex started to go, her hold on her husband started to lessen. In fact I think in the last years, he made love to her out of habit than love or respect. He gradually began to have mistresses and the last being his favorite, whom he married after the death of Maria Carolina.
Ferdinand of Naples always had other girls -- whether casual bedmates (peasant girls) and later on, mistresses. There is no evidence (other than Joseph's claims that Ferdinand was "in love" with MC) that Ferdinand was very taken with MC. His criticisms of MC to his father was a way of "exonerating" himself and placing the blame on her; still they had a ring of truth in them. It turned sour early on, if his letters to his father were an indication.