Anybody here a Jane Austen fan?

by Bonnie_Clyde 29 Replies latest jw friends

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  Bonnie_Clyde

  Hi Jeff

  I almost got tossed out of a 400 level English lit class for describing her books as boring junk about stupid self absorbed people who spent all their time talking about how awful it was to be better than everybody else. I was told that that was the point of her books. My response was OK, I read fifty pages and I got it. Let's read something else.

  My son feels the same way about her novels. He pointed out that nobody seems to have a job or knows what physical work is. He described them as the idle rich who sit around gossiping. Their idea of being poor was only having two servants. I don't care--I really like her novels. I believe Jane Austen was a bit of a feminist. Her stories touched on the plight of women who had little control over their destinies. They could own no property, could not inherit any property, and had to depend upon the generosity of men to have any stature. They were often forced into loveless marriages in order to enjoy any security in life. The heroines in the Jane Austen's novels were about women who used their brains and stood up against the norms of society.
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  sweetstuff

  I love anything Jane Austin, including S and S, and P and P, sigh, makes you long for the good old days, lol.
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  John Doe

  Sense and Senisbility was ok--nothing to write home about. I haven't watched any of the movies.
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  betterdaze

  Compare and Contrast: Mr. Collins Arrival
  
  http://www.tinypineapple.com/archives/2008/07/compare_and_contrast_mr_collins_arrival.html
  
  ~Sue
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  hillary_step

  Bonnie-Clyde,

  As a poster wrote:

  When I was much younger, I read her books over and over - never grew bored.

  Read her books. I watched the movies, and had I seen only those I would agree that they are rather shallow, but her writing is just superb and needs to be experienced. There are dimensions and depths that transcend her contemporary age and that were entirely lost in the films of her books.

  As an aside, I have yet to 'see' a classic novel that can be 'felt'. They have all been a shadow of the reality. I was especially dissapointed with the celluloid abortions that passed as E.M.Forster's adaptations.

  HS
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  JWdaughter

  I love her writing, it is considered classic because she does these characters that are so human and so flawed(even the main characters that are the "heroes".) Yeah, their life is idle, but their characters could be put in any book today-and have been!
  
  Turn of the remotes, read the books. I like being inside the head of the characters, not just watching the external person.
  
  P&P is great, and Mansfield Park is not my favorite. Persuasion-love it.
  
  I love all the movies too, but I discovered her books just a couple of years ago and really don't think I watched the movies until I had read the books.
  
  The Jane Austen Book Club was kind of fun, too. It actually got me to reading the last couple of stragglers before I read it-just so I would have a clue.
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  cathyk

  Bonnie_Clyde observes:

  My son feels the same way about her novels. He pointed out that nobody seems to have a job or knows what physical work is. He described them as the idle rich who sit around gossiping. Their idea of being poor was only having two servants.

  Ah, but it all depends on what you mean by "work". The characters in Jane Austen's books are mostly (with notable exceptions) members of the middle class whose income comes from farming. While Mr. Bennett isn't tilling the soil himself, he's managing the farm, which is just as much of a job as sitting in an office and telling other employees what they need to do. Do it well, and there are profits to spread around. Do it badly ... well, you WANT to be good at it, if you like to eat.

  It's ironic he should make the observation, because several of the characters come in for scorn from pretentious upper-middle types because they have relatives "in trade" (i. e., they "work" for a living). Elizabeth Bennett's uncle, the lawyer who lives in Cheapside, is laughed at by Bingley's sisters. Her Aunt Phillips is the wife of a tradesman as well. Fanny's brother and Anne Elliott's Captain Wentworth are in the Royal Navy -- tell me THAT'S not work! Not to mention the getting-shot-at part.

  As for servants, tell him that he has some. We just call them the washer, dryer, and microwave. A household of more than two people needed help with all the chores that today only take a few minutes because of modern appliances. As he noted, even the poor employed servants. It was a necessity, not a luxury. Of course, one could debate how many servants a household needed before it became ridiculous.

  Hilary_step writes:

  Read her books. I watched the movies, and had I seen only those I would agree that they are rather shallow, but her writing is just superb and needs to be experienced. There are dimensions and depths that transcend her contemporary age and that were entirely lost in the films of her books.

  Hear, hear. The movies range from wonderful (the Colin Firth P & P) to the abysmal (Sorry, but I despised the Keira Knightley version of P & P: Darcy's shirt hanging open! Donald Sutherland as MR. BENNETT?! I ask you!).

  But J. A.'s writing always shines:

  Silly things do cease to be silly if they are done by sensible people in an impudent way. Jane Austen, Emma

  For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbours, and laugh at them in our turn? Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, 1811

  We met Dr. Hall in such deep mourning that either his mother, his wife, or himself must be dead. Jane Austen (Letters)

  In all the important preparations of the mind she was complete: being prepared for matrimony by an hatred of home, restraint, and tranquillity; by the misery of disappointed affection, and contempt of the man she was to marry. Jane Austen (1775 - 1817), Mansfield Park

  Cathy

  oldlighthousebooks.blogspot.com
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  Quandry

  My son feels the same way about her novels. He pointed out that nobody seems to have a job or knows what physical work is. He described them as the idle rich who sit around gossiping. Their idea of being poor was only having two servants.

  But that is the point....these are period pieces...at that time a woman had it particularly rough....could not just go out and find a job....and society was extremely class concious....much was made of appearances, honor of family name, etc.

  I find them fascinating...a look into the lives of people living in a particular time period.

  I love history....
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  Bonnie_Clyde

  I like all your comments. How do you join a Jane Austen book club?

  I have a question that I hope someone can answer before this thread runs out.

  In Sense and Sensibility - Mr. Ferris' mother disherited him when she found out that he was engaged to Lucy. When Lucy finds out that he's disherited, she dumps him and marries the other brother. Why didn't the mother now disinherit him? Must be something I'm missing....
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  cathyk

  Why was the older brother not disinherited when he married Lucy? Because she was a scheming, selfish, conniving little .. well, you know:

  The whole of Lucy's behaviour in the affair, and the prosperity which crowned it, therefore, may be held forth as a most encouraging instance of what an earnest, an unceasing attention to self-interest, however its progress may be apparently obstructed, will do in securing every advantage of fortune, with no other sacrifice than that of time and conscience. When Robert first sought her acquaintance, and privately visited her in Bartlett's Buildings, it was only with the view imputed to him by his brother. He merely meant to persuade her to give up the engagement; and as there could be nothing to overcome but the affection of both, he naturally expected that one or two interviews would settle the matter. In that point, however, and that only, he erred;--for though Lucy soon gave him hopes that his eloquence would convince her in TIME, another visit, another conversation, was always wanted to produce this conviction. Some doubts always lingered in her mind when they parted, which could only be removed by another half hour's discourse with himself. His attendance was by this means secured, and the rest followed in course. Instead of talking of Edward, they came gradually to talk only of Robert,--a subject on which he had always more to say than on any other, and in which she soon betrayed an interest even equal to his own; and in short, it became speedily evident to both, that he had entirely supplanted his brother. He was proud of his conquest, proud of tricking Edward, and very proud of marrying privately without his mother's consent. What immediately followed is known. They passed some months in great happiness at Dawlish; for she had many relations and old acquaintances to cut--and he drew several plans for magnificent cottages;-- and from thence returning to town, procured the forgiveness of Mrs. Ferrars, by the simple expedient of asking it, which, at Lucy's instigation, was adopted. The forgiveness, at first, indeed, as was reasonable, comprehended only Robert; and Lucy, who had owed his mother no duty and therefore could have transgressed none, still remained some weeks longer unpardoned. But perseverance in humility of conduct and messages, in self-condemnation for Robert's offence, and gratitude for the unkindness she was treated with, procured her in time the haughty notice which overcame her by its graciousness, and led soon afterwards, by rapid degrees, to the highest state of affection and influence. Lucy became as necessary to Mrs. Ferrars, as either Robert or Fanny; and while Edward was never cordially forgiven for having once intended to marry her, and Elinor, though superior to her in fortune and birth, was spoken of as an intruder, SHE was in every thing considered, and always openly acknowledged, to be a favourite child. They settled in town, received very liberal assistance from Mrs. Ferrars, were on the best terms imaginable with the Dashwoods; and setting aside the jealousies and ill-will continually subsisting between Fanny and Lucy, in which their husbands of course took a part, as well as the frequent domestic disagreements between Robert and Lucy themselves, nothing could exceed the harmony in which they all lived together.

  Maybe Edward and Robert's mother just recognized a kindred soul.

  Cathy

  oldlighthousebooks.blogspot.com