Heroine Addict
Livejournal did something odd, so I'm posting this again. Luckily, I am a genius and saved the whole thing. Still. Grrr.
from austenicons
First off, an update on recent events from real life.
Some people have questioned my personal identification with and need to defend various literary heroines. Well, I would now like to defend my defense. Look, this is basically what it is: We identify with fictional characters, in the end, because they contain elements of what we are or what we would wish to be. Or both. You think, "Wow, I wish she was my friend, because she'd really get me." And who is there to say you nay? She might. Elizabeth Bennet is my friend because she is, in many ways, what I want to be. She always knows what to say, and while she isn't the prettiest girl at the ball, she more than makes up for it in other ways. Fanny Price is more what I am, and I am not ashamed to say that. I feel an intense need to defend Fanny because if she is not a heroine, then neither am I. Where does that leave me? She is quiet and shy and timid and cautious. But, when it really matters, she stands up for herself. And that has to mean something. Jane Eyre is a little of each. She is a dreamer like I am, and she is artistic. She is both passionate and shy. She presents both sides of the coin. She cares for herself. She is no bird, and no net ensnares her. I admire her. You see, they are what I am and what I want to be. And that means I have to defend them, because in defending them I'm defending myself. They become present to me through my identification with them, and that means that I feel like, if I understand them while others can't, I have to speak for them. And for people who are like them. For myself.
In that spirit, here is a "Which Jane Austen Heroine/Character Are You Most Like?" Quiz.
I was not much surprised, and often pleased, when these were my top ten:
1. Fanny Price from Mansfield Park
2. Anne Elliot from Persuasion
3. Elinor Dashwood from Sense and Sensibility
4. Mr. Bingley/ Jane Bennet from Pride and Prejudice
5. Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice
6. Jane Fairfax from Emma
7. Marianne Dashwood from Sense and Sensibility
8. Mr. Knightley from Emma
9. Captain Wentworth from Persuasion
10. Catherine Morland from Northanger Abbey
I was not at all surprised that Fanny was my number one, but I was really glad that Anne was second, because I like to think I'm a little more like Anne than Fanny actually. Elinor seemed a little odd, but that I have both Elinor and Marianne both in top ten reflects a nice balance, I think. I was really pleased to have Elizabeth in my top five. I was a little surprised that Catherine Morland was not higher on the list.
And in speaking of Austen heroes, here is another quiz to figure out which guy from Mansfield Park, Persuasion, or Northanger Abbey you'd be best with. At first I got Edmund "Needs a Slap Upside the Head" Bertram, Lord High Mayor of Wankerville, but after re-evaluating my answers, I ended up with Captain Wentworth. I am more than happy to be paired with Captain Wentworth, the man who writes the most romantic letter ever. "You pierce my soul." Siiigh, swoon.
And finally, here are some icons.
The Office:
Sigh. Please tell me they will at least be friends again sometime soon.
Jane Eyre 2006:
I know, there's no Toby this time. I'm sorry. I'm slowly making my way through all of the screencaps I have. Also, I have started work on a recap/review of the miniseries.
ITV's upcoming Northanger Abbey:
"No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy would have supposed her born to be a heroine."
Text from the second one is from the novel.
ITV's upcoming Persuasion:
"She was only Anne" is text from the novel. Lyme Regis is the seaside town they visit. The text for those is inspired by the novel line, "One does not love a place the less for having suffered in it, unless it has been all suffering, nothing but suffering-- which was by no means the case at Lyme." That's from memory, so punctuation at least is probably wrong.
from austenicons
First off, an update on recent events from real life.
Some people have questioned my personal identification with and need to defend various literary heroines. Well, I would now like to defend my defense. Look, this is basically what it is: We identify with fictional characters, in the end, because they contain elements of what we are or what we would wish to be. Or both. You think, "Wow, I wish she was my friend, because she'd really get me." And who is there to say you nay? She might. Elizabeth Bennet is my friend because she is, in many ways, what I want to be. She always knows what to say, and while she isn't the prettiest girl at the ball, she more than makes up for it in other ways. Fanny Price is more what I am, and I am not ashamed to say that. I feel an intense need to defend Fanny because if she is not a heroine, then neither am I. Where does that leave me? She is quiet and shy and timid and cautious. But, when it really matters, she stands up for herself. And that has to mean something. Jane Eyre is a little of each. She is a dreamer like I am, and she is artistic. She is both passionate and shy. She presents both sides of the coin. She cares for herself. She is no bird, and no net ensnares her. I admire her. You see, they are what I am and what I want to be. And that means I have to defend them, because in defending them I'm defending myself. They become present to me through my identification with them, and that means that I feel like, if I understand them while others can't, I have to speak for them. And for people who are like them. For myself.
In that spirit, here is a "Which Jane Austen Heroine/Character Are You Most Like?" Quiz.
I was not much surprised, and often pleased, when these were my top ten:
1. Fanny Price from Mansfield Park
2. Anne Elliot from Persuasion
3. Elinor Dashwood from Sense and Sensibility
4. Mr. Bingley/ Jane Bennet from Pride and Prejudice
5. Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice
6. Jane Fairfax from Emma
7. Marianne Dashwood from Sense and Sensibility
8. Mr. Knightley from Emma
9. Captain Wentworth from Persuasion
10. Catherine Morland from Northanger Abbey
I was not at all surprised that Fanny was my number one, but I was really glad that Anne was second, because I like to think I'm a little more like Anne than Fanny actually. Elinor seemed a little odd, but that I have both Elinor and Marianne both in top ten reflects a nice balance, I think. I was really pleased to have Elizabeth in my top five. I was a little surprised that Catherine Morland was not higher on the list.
And in speaking of Austen heroes, here is another quiz to figure out which guy from Mansfield Park, Persuasion, or Northanger Abbey you'd be best with. At first I got Edmund "Needs a Slap Upside the Head" Bertram, Lord High Mayor of Wankerville, but after re-evaluating my answers, I ended up with Captain Wentworth. I am more than happy to be paired with Captain Wentworth, the man who writes the most romantic letter ever. "You pierce my soul." Siiigh, swoon.
And finally, here are some icons.
The Office:
Sigh. Please tell me they will at least be friends again sometime soon.
Jane Eyre 2006:
I know, there's no Toby this time. I'm sorry. I'm slowly making my way through all of the screencaps I have. Also, I have started work on a recap/review of the miniseries.
ITV's upcoming Northanger Abbey:
"No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy would have supposed her born to be a heroine."
Text from the second one is from the novel.
ITV's upcoming Persuasion:
"She was only Anne" is text from the novel. Lyme Regis is the seaside town they visit. The text for those is inspired by the novel line, "One does not love a place the less for having suffered in it, unless it has been all suffering, nothing but suffering-- which was by no means the case at Lyme." That's from memory, so punctuation at least is probably wrong.