[JA] I don't get it.
Here are a collection of summaries of Austen's novels.
Pride and Prejudice: a spirited young woman copes with the suit of a snobbish gentleman as well as the romantic entanglements of her sisters.
Well, given that she doesn't figure out for half the novel that the gentleman's suit even exists, I can't help feeling there's something wrong with that picture.
Emma: Emma Woodhouse imagines that she dominates those around her in the small town of Highbury, but her inept matchmaking creates problems for herself and others.
Is it just me, or is Emma really unpopular these days?
Sense and Sensibility: two sisters, one practical and conventional, and the other emotional and sentimental, find that only through compromise of their mutual differences can they get along.
I think they get along just fine -- and when does Elinor compromise her values? Personally, I also think Elinor is much less conventional than she appears, though it's mostly internalised snark.
Northanger Abbey: six weeks of shopping, taking tea with the most fashionable ladies and dancing with the most handsome gentlemen is what awaits young Catherine Morland when she makes her entree into the leisure society of Bath. But, oh, the thrill of an unexpected invitation from the mysterious Tilney family to stay at their home -- a veritable abbey.
Because Mrs Thorpe is obviously one of Bath's most fashionable ladies. And 'almost handsome' Henry Tilney seems to have been transformed into some drop-dead gorgeous mysterious sort. Like ... er, I don't know. Like someone he's not. Poor NA; I'm starting to feel that it's the ugly, misunderstood stepchild of the JA oeuvre.
Mansfield Park: Mansfield Park is the study of three families -- the Bertrams, the Crawfords, and the Prices -- with the isolated figure of the heroine, Fanny Price, at its center. Fanny's quiet passivity, her steadfast loyalty and love for the son of the family who regard her as the poor relation, and who have taken her under their roof, are not appreciated until they are tried against the brilliant and witty Mary and Henry Crawford, the unfortunate consequences of whose influence are felt by everyone.
I rather disagree. I don't think the Prices, as a family, are anywhere near that important. I also don't think Fanny's qualities are appreciated because they're 'tried' against Mary and Henry. And, of all the Bertrams' faults, thinking the poor relation is a poor relation is not paramount among them. IMHO.
Persuasion: Austen's last novel is the crowning achievement of her matchless career. Her heroine, Anne Elliot, a woman of integrity, breeding and great depth of emotion, stands in stark contrast to the brutality and hypocrisy of Regency England.
Poor Captain Wentworth deserves not even a mention. And, you know, I like Persuasion and all, I enjoy reading it, think Captain Wentworth by far and away the most dashingly attractive of the Austen men, love Anne and laugh at the Elliots, but I'm a bit tired of the 'beautiful autumnal crowning glory blah blah' of it all. Structurally, I think MP, Emma, and P&P are all very much superior. Of course, they don't have its peculiar charm, but they don't have Mrs Smiths showing up at the twelfth hour either.
Looking back at them all ... ow. My brain hurts.
Pride and Prejudice: a spirited young woman copes with the suit of a snobbish gentleman as well as the romantic entanglements of her sisters.
Well, given that she doesn't figure out for half the novel that the gentleman's suit even exists, I can't help feeling there's something wrong with that picture.
Emma: Emma Woodhouse imagines that she dominates those around her in the small town of Highbury, but her inept matchmaking creates problems for herself and others.
Is it just me, or is Emma really unpopular these days?
Sense and Sensibility: two sisters, one practical and conventional, and the other emotional and sentimental, find that only through compromise of their mutual differences can they get along.
I think they get along just fine -- and when does Elinor compromise her values? Personally, I also think Elinor is much less conventional than she appears, though it's mostly internalised snark.
Northanger Abbey: six weeks of shopping, taking tea with the most fashionable ladies and dancing with the most handsome gentlemen is what awaits young Catherine Morland when she makes her entree into the leisure society of Bath. But, oh, the thrill of an unexpected invitation from the mysterious Tilney family to stay at their home -- a veritable abbey.
Because Mrs Thorpe is obviously one of Bath's most fashionable ladies. And 'almost handsome' Henry Tilney seems to have been transformed into some drop-dead gorgeous mysterious sort. Like ... er, I don't know. Like someone he's not. Poor NA; I'm starting to feel that it's the ugly, misunderstood stepchild of the JA oeuvre.
Mansfield Park: Mansfield Park is the study of three families -- the Bertrams, the Crawfords, and the Prices -- with the isolated figure of the heroine, Fanny Price, at its center. Fanny's quiet passivity, her steadfast loyalty and love for the son of the family who regard her as the poor relation, and who have taken her under their roof, are not appreciated until they are tried against the brilliant and witty Mary and Henry Crawford, the unfortunate consequences of whose influence are felt by everyone.
I rather disagree. I don't think the Prices, as a family, are anywhere near that important. I also don't think Fanny's qualities are appreciated because they're 'tried' against Mary and Henry. And, of all the Bertrams' faults, thinking the poor relation is a poor relation is not paramount among them. IMHO.
Persuasion: Austen's last novel is the crowning achievement of her matchless career. Her heroine, Anne Elliot, a woman of integrity, breeding and great depth of emotion, stands in stark contrast to the brutality and hypocrisy of Regency England.
Poor Captain Wentworth deserves not even a mention. And, you know, I like Persuasion and all, I enjoy reading it, think Captain Wentworth by far and away the most dashingly attractive of the Austen men, love Anne and laugh at the Elliots, but I'm a bit tired of the 'beautiful autumnal crowning glory blah blah' of it all. Structurally, I think MP, Emma, and P&P are all very much superior. Of course, they don't have its peculiar charm, but they don't have Mrs Smiths showing up at the twelfth hour either.
Looking back at them all ... ow. My brain hurts.