They saved the best for last!
The Complete Jane Austen is almost complete. It's sad in a way, but the new Sense and Sensibility on PBS is just wonderful. Not that the Emma Thompson/Alan Rickman/Hugh Grant/Kate Winslet version is anything to sneeze at. That's one of my favorite films of all time, chick-flick label notwithstanding. There are about 5 movies that I can watch over and over without getting bored, and that is one of them.
Pride and Prejudice is supposed to be everyone's favorite Austen novel. And I can't deny the wonderfulicity of the story and characters in that one, but somehow Sense and Sensibility just appeals to me more. I think it's the characters. In P&P, Mr Darcy is supposed to be the perfect man, but there's something untouchable about him. He's kind of like a movie star in that way, so I can't completely relate to Elizabeth Bennet's situation.
Sense and Sensibility, on the other hand, is almost American in a sense. The Dashwoods having to adjust to living within their recently downgraded means reminds me of us. Us as in the American people overspending and living large when we can't afford it. The Elinor Dashwoods are poo-pooed for their sensibility and frugality, yet the big spenders are loosing their homes right now. And will we learn from it? No. We'll weather the storm and then go back to racking up debt just as before.
So there's that.
Then there's the contrast of Elinor's calm and accepting manner to Marianne's dreams and certainty that there is a perfect man out there. Elinor deals with things as they come. Okay, Dads dead, the son from the first marriage and his wife are taking the house, so we have to find someplace new to live. No complaints. She figures out what must be done and does it. Marianne, on the other hand is all emotion and sensibility. She's of nature. She stands in the rain.
I think I love these women because I see them both in myself. I have Elinor's practicality in some things, then again, some things directly attack my emotions. If I could set aside the sense and be all sensibility, I'd do it in a moment, but it's not practical to be Marianne. There's the rub.
And as appealing as the Miss Dashwoods are, we can't truly discuss anything Austen without talking about the men.
The men.
THE MEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Willoughby. "Come into my parlor", said the spider to the fly...Ah...how we must be wary of the Willoughbys of the world. The flashy, smooth talkers who take us for a ride. We want so much to believe what they say, but the flash is covering a lack of substance. Lies and more lies, but oh, how we want to believe! Marianne is so taken in because he seems to meet all of her requirements, but in reality, he's a rake. The type that gives men in general a bad name. Today, we call them musicians, or wanna-be musicians. Bummer.
Edward Ferras. Dan Stevens, the actor in the PBS version, is adorable, just as is Hugh Grant in the same role. Stevens, however, doesn't really go for the confused stutter that makes Grant's character so endearing. He's so gorgeous I'll forgive him that though. Edward is the guy you just want to fold up and keep in your pocket. He's sooooo perfect. Any guy that walks in and immediately entertains the kid is a keeper. I was out the other night with someone who pointed out a tiny little girl to me. I about proposed to him right there. I hadn't even noticed her, but he did and remarked how cute she was. HEY! I AM a girl after all!!!!! These things are important! They go to character! Now, don't get me wrong on this. Liking kids and acting like a kid are two very different things. Nobody wants an immature adult, but on the other hand, someone like
scaryblackdeath, my very own bro, claims to despise the sound of children singing. Then again, he's with a girl who hates the Muppets, so they're messed up together. :-) But back to Edward. When I was watching this last night, I thought of that book a few years ago He's Just Not that Into You. Edward is throwing out all the classic confusion signals. He spends hours with Elinor, is well regarded by her family, but won't go any further. Someone reading the Not Into You book would write him off as a waste of time and wonder what she did wrong. He's the guy you want to shake and just shout, TALK TO ME!!!!! AM I WASTING MY TIME OR NOT!!!! Sadly, in Austinian fashion, Edward is suffering from the: my-mother/sister/aunt-won't-approve-and-I-need-their-approval complex. Does he say this? No. Not for a while anyway, but naturally, he will because most Austen men get it together eventually.
Then we have Colonel Brandon. Yes, my Colonel Brandon. The best of all the Austen men. (Emma's Knightley is up on my list also, but his attraction to Emma perplexes me). Colonel Brandon is older, quiet and the perfect gentleman. Not a fake gentleman like Willoughby. Not in your face. He's solid and true. The man has had his share of knocks in life but you can't say he has what we would call "baggage." The Brandon/Willoughby strife is reminiscent of Darcy and Wickham in P&P. Brandon and Darcy both quietly handle the problems and don't cause a fuss. You've gotta love that. Not looking for accolades, but silently helping...sigh....who does that in real life? Hoping no one would notice he solved the problem. Now, it's been a long time since I read the book but I think Brandon has either a limp from a battle wound, or gout, or something...maybe
goldenmoonrosewill remember. Maybe it's time to read the book again. Marianne just doesn't see her perfect man looking her in the eye. He lacks the passion and fire of Willoughby, but that passion and fire is not real anyway. Eventually she sees it. And he's still there. They're perfect for each other.
So. I'm sad that next week will be the last part of this wonderful Sense and Sensibility. I'm glad that the festival of Austen works was so stellar. Thanks PBS!
Pride and Prejudice is supposed to be everyone's favorite Austen novel. And I can't deny the wonderfulicity of the story and characters in that one, but somehow Sense and Sensibility just appeals to me more. I think it's the characters. In P&P, Mr Darcy is supposed to be the perfect man, but there's something untouchable about him. He's kind of like a movie star in that way, so I can't completely relate to Elizabeth Bennet's situation.
Sense and Sensibility, on the other hand, is almost American in a sense. The Dashwoods having to adjust to living within their recently downgraded means reminds me of us. Us as in the American people overspending and living large when we can't afford it. The Elinor Dashwoods are poo-pooed for their sensibility and frugality, yet the big spenders are loosing their homes right now. And will we learn from it? No. We'll weather the storm and then go back to racking up debt just as before.
So there's that.
Then there's the contrast of Elinor's calm and accepting manner to Marianne's dreams and certainty that there is a perfect man out there. Elinor deals with things as they come. Okay, Dads dead, the son from the first marriage and his wife are taking the house, so we have to find someplace new to live. No complaints. She figures out what must be done and does it. Marianne, on the other hand is all emotion and sensibility. She's of nature. She stands in the rain.
I think I love these women because I see them both in myself. I have Elinor's practicality in some things, then again, some things directly attack my emotions. If I could set aside the sense and be all sensibility, I'd do it in a moment, but it's not practical to be Marianne. There's the rub.
And as appealing as the Miss Dashwoods are, we can't truly discuss anything Austen without talking about the men.
The men.
THE MEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Willoughby. "Come into my parlor", said the spider to the fly...Ah...how we must be wary of the Willoughbys of the world. The flashy, smooth talkers who take us for a ride. We want so much to believe what they say, but the flash is covering a lack of substance. Lies and more lies, but oh, how we want to believe! Marianne is so taken in because he seems to meet all of her requirements, but in reality, he's a rake. The type that gives men in general a bad name. Today, we call them musicians, or wanna-be musicians. Bummer.
Edward Ferras. Dan Stevens, the actor in the PBS version, is adorable, just as is Hugh Grant in the same role. Stevens, however, doesn't really go for the confused stutter that makes Grant's character so endearing. He's so gorgeous I'll forgive him that though. Edward is the guy you just want to fold up and keep in your pocket. He's sooooo perfect. Any guy that walks in and immediately entertains the kid is a keeper. I was out the other night with someone who pointed out a tiny little girl to me. I about proposed to him right there. I hadn't even noticed her, but he did and remarked how cute she was. HEY! I AM a girl after all!!!!! These things are important! They go to character! Now, don't get me wrong on this. Liking kids and acting like a kid are two very different things. Nobody wants an immature adult, but on the other hand, someone like
scaryblackdeath, my very own bro, claims to despise the sound of children singing. Then again, he's with a girl who hates the Muppets, so they're messed up together. :-) But back to Edward. When I was watching this last night, I thought of that book a few years ago He's Just Not that Into You. Edward is throwing out all the classic confusion signals. He spends hours with Elinor, is well regarded by her family, but won't go any further. Someone reading the Not Into You book would write him off as a waste of time and wonder what she did wrong. He's the guy you want to shake and just shout, TALK TO ME!!!!! AM I WASTING MY TIME OR NOT!!!! Sadly, in Austinian fashion, Edward is suffering from the: my-mother/sister/aunt-won't-approve-and-I-need-their-approval complex. Does he say this? No. Not for a while anyway, but naturally, he will because most Austen men get it together eventually.
Then we have Colonel Brandon. Yes, my Colonel Brandon. The best of all the Austen men. (Emma's Knightley is up on my list also, but his attraction to Emma perplexes me). Colonel Brandon is older, quiet and the perfect gentleman. Not a fake gentleman like Willoughby. Not in your face. He's solid and true. The man has had his share of knocks in life but you can't say he has what we would call "baggage." The Brandon/Willoughby strife is reminiscent of Darcy and Wickham in P&P. Brandon and Darcy both quietly handle the problems and don't cause a fuss. You've gotta love that. Not looking for accolades, but silently helping...sigh....who does that in real life? Hoping no one would notice he solved the problem. Now, it's been a long time since I read the book but I think Brandon has either a limp from a battle wound, or gout, or something...maybe
goldenmoonrosewill remember. Maybe it's time to read the book again. Marianne just doesn't see her perfect man looking her in the eye. He lacks the passion and fire of Willoughby, but that passion and fire is not real anyway. Eventually she sees it. And he's still there. They're perfect for each other.
So. I'm sad that next week will be the last part of this wonderful Sense and Sensibility. I'm glad that the festival of Austen works was so stellar. Thanks PBS!