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Post #2
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Sense and Sesibility, for sure and I'm not just saying that to be different; I really do enjoy it more. I do love them both, but I love the characters in S&S and somehow it's more realisitic for me.
I like that it explores things that weren't talked about in those days, specifically Willoughby's behavior as a cad. The only other character like him is Henry Crawford (Mansfield Park) and even he didn't get anyone knocked up.
Another thing I love about the Jane Austen novels is how for the most part, by the end of the novels, every character has gotten his or her validation. In this case, when Elinor let Willoughby "explain" himself and how he really did/does love Marianne. You're not left hating him, but actually feeling sorry for him, and no longer feeling sorry for Marianne, but that she's really better off even though she suffered heartbreak.
I imagine that Elinor's machurity for her age (19) was not uncommon in those times, especially once losing a parent, which wouldn't have been uncommon either considering medical understanding was limited so people weren't living as long. I imagine that Marianne's lack of machurity was probably accurate as well considering Elinor was taking care of everything and trying to preserve the others' peace of mind by not sharing her own troubles, of money and love.
That dynamic is something people today can relate to- with all the divorcing parents, abusive parents, single parents, oldest children often feel, or simply without thinking do, suffer the brunt of the emotional, and sometimes physical, blows in order to shield the younger siblings from trauma and enable the younger kids to retain youth since they themselves have already lost it.
It's also a story for sisters, though, because it's not ALL tragic- Elinor and Marianne are best friends, but they still argue just like any other siblings. They are so close in age and they are the only two people in the world experiencing what they are experiencing together and they have a bond because of that. They are so different that they compliment each other- one plays piano and they other draws, so they are both artisitic, but in different ways.
Also, even though I think Edward Ferrars needs to man-up a bit, I am so happy for Elinor in the end that she gets her heart's desire. Another Austen trademark- every character gets his or her just desserts!
I like that it explores things that weren't talked about in those days, specifically Willoughby's behavior as a cad. The only other character like him is Henry Crawford (Mansfield Park) and even he didn't get anyone knocked up.
Another thing I love about the Jane Austen novels is how for the most part, by the end of the novels, every character has gotten his or her validation. In this case, when Elinor let Willoughby "explain" himself and how he really did/does love Marianne. You're not left hating him, but actually feeling sorry for him, and no longer feeling sorry for Marianne, but that she's really better off even though she suffered heartbreak.
I imagine that Elinor's machurity for her age (19) was not uncommon in those times, especially once losing a parent, which wouldn't have been uncommon either considering medical understanding was limited so people weren't living as long. I imagine that Marianne's lack of machurity was probably accurate as well considering Elinor was taking care of everything and trying to preserve the others' peace of mind by not sharing her own troubles, of money and love.
That dynamic is something people today can relate to- with all the divorcing parents, abusive parents, single parents, oldest children often feel, or simply without thinking do, suffer the brunt of the emotional, and sometimes physical, blows in order to shield the younger siblings from trauma and enable the younger kids to retain youth since they themselves have already lost it.
It's also a story for sisters, though, because it's not ALL tragic- Elinor and Marianne are best friends, but they still argue just like any other siblings. They are so close in age and they are the only two people in the world experiencing what they are experiencing together and they have a bond because of that. They are so different that they compliment each other- one plays piano and they other draws, so they are both artisitic, but in different ways.
Also, even though I think Edward Ferrars needs to man-up a bit, I am so happy for Elinor in the end that she gets her heart's desire. Another Austen trademark- every character gets his or her just desserts!
Post #3
1 reply
Also- I posted a discussion topic on the Jane Austen author page if anyone wants to check it out. It wasn't about a specific book so I just did it for the author, but anyway, if in the light blue menu where you can click on "home," "my reads"... click on "Authors" - then scroll down and there are discussions about authors. It's called, "Favorite Sacrifices (big or small) in Austen Novels."
Post #5
1 reply
wow, i'm trying to find your J.A topic as soon as I can!!!!<3
it's very hard to choose one of these wonderful,unforgettable novels..but,yes,maybe S&S is a little bit better..not for a particular reason, just because I was more involved in this one..
my edition is wonderful: it seems a book from the XIX century, so that, when I read it, I got the sensation to travel through times..and the plot is a little more romantic,maybe..although I identify myself in Lizzy..
definitly, I think one of the best things in reading J.A' classics, is that you can hardly choose a favourite one,because they're all so feminine, romantic and involving, that according to your mood you've often to change your idea...;-p
it's very hard to choose one of these wonderful,unforgettable novels..but,yes,maybe S&S is a little bit better..not for a particular reason, just because I was more involved in this one..
my edition is wonderful: it seems a book from the XIX century, so that, when I read it, I got the sensation to travel through times..and the plot is a little more romantic,maybe..although I identify myself in Lizzy..
definitly, I think one of the best things in reading J.A' classics, is that you can hardly choose a favourite one,because they're all so feminine, romantic and involving, that according to your mood you've often to change your idea...;-p
Post #6
1 reply
You couldn't be more right: there is definitely an Austen novel for every woman. I hope you don't mind my saying, but I think it says a lot about Jane Austen's writing that you are such a huge fan when English isn't even your first language: that's how universal these stories are!
Post #7
1 reply
Pride and Prejudice all the way¡¡¡I mean S n'S are pretty but have a lot of sadness and it's a pity in all the pages..
Post #8
1 reply
I agree P&P all the way. Edward Ferrars is a coward and a sneak. He could have told everyone that he was engaged to Lucy Steel but he hid it for years. And then when he fell in love someone else he didn't tell Lucy and broke it off amiably, he let her find out for herself and play mind games with Elinor. Elinor could have done much better than him.
I never felt sorry for Willoughby. If he hadn't been so hung up on money he could have gotten the girl of his dreams but he put money before love.
The one I felt sorry for was Colonel Brandon. He was in the prime of his life and everyone around him thought him old. (He was 35 three years younger than Mr. Knightley). He loved Marianne who I didn't think deserved him at all. He did everything that Edward and Willoughby didn't and the only one with the sense to thank him was Elinor.
None of the characters in it were really good people. They were all using each other for their own ends. And unlike other Jane Austen novels were the bad guys (The Eltons in Emma, the Wickhams in P&P, the sister and father in Persuasion) got their comeupence, Lucy got the rich brother Robert and the mother liked them most of all. She almost ruined Edward and Elinor's relationship and got away with it. Willoughby got off scott free with no public shaming like he should have. And Marianne was merely content with her life with Colonel Brandon.
P&P on the other hand, Fitzwilliam Darcy while admittedly made some mistakes he owned up to them and sought to correct them as soon as he could. He was honest in all his dealings except one. And he regretted it. Elizabeth was a strong woman, that once got all the facts straight was able to truly love.
Wickham like Willoughby was a cad but he didn't get anything of what he truly wanted. Mr. Darcy ruined, Elizabeth as his wife, and lots of money to waste away gambling. Instead he was ruined, he got the silliest Bennet girl to wife, Lydia, and very little money to live on. And thus the villain was routed.
Jane was a sweet tempered girl who thought well everyone and not a disparaging word came out of her mouth. Mr. Bingley was charming and good looking. Everything that a girl of that time could possibly wish for.
All in all the story of P&P was better written, the characters with more redeeming qualities, and a couple at its base better suited to one another than S&S.
Oh and one other thing that P&P has over S&S, I've never heard Edward Ferrars called sexy. And yet that is the one word that I have people describe Fitzwilliam Darcy called all the time.
I never felt sorry for Willoughby. If he hadn't been so hung up on money he could have gotten the girl of his dreams but he put money before love.
The one I felt sorry for was Colonel Brandon. He was in the prime of his life and everyone around him thought him old. (He was 35 three years younger than Mr. Knightley). He loved Marianne who I didn't think deserved him at all. He did everything that Edward and Willoughby didn't and the only one with the sense to thank him was Elinor.
None of the characters in it were really good people. They were all using each other for their own ends. And unlike other Jane Austen novels were the bad guys (The Eltons in Emma, the Wickhams in P&P, the sister and father in Persuasion) got their comeupence, Lucy got the rich brother Robert and the mother liked them most of all. She almost ruined Edward and Elinor's relationship and got away with it. Willoughby got off scott free with no public shaming like he should have. And Marianne was merely content with her life with Colonel Brandon.
P&P on the other hand, Fitzwilliam Darcy while admittedly made some mistakes he owned up to them and sought to correct them as soon as he could. He was honest in all his dealings except one. And he regretted it. Elizabeth was a strong woman, that once got all the facts straight was able to truly love.
Wickham like Willoughby was a cad but he didn't get anything of what he truly wanted. Mr. Darcy ruined, Elizabeth as his wife, and lots of money to waste away gambling. Instead he was ruined, he got the silliest Bennet girl to wife, Lydia, and very little money to live on. And thus the villain was routed.
Jane was a sweet tempered girl who thought well everyone and not a disparaging word came out of her mouth. Mr. Bingley was charming and good looking. Everything that a girl of that time could possibly wish for.
All in all the story of P&P was better written, the characters with more redeeming qualities, and a couple at its base better suited to one another than S&S.
Oh and one other thing that P&P has over S&S, I've never heard Edward Ferrars called sexy. And yet that is the one word that I have people describe Fitzwilliam Darcy called all the time.
Post #9
1 reply
Laurel, how could I mind your words? :-)
reading is my first hobby.. my mother was the one who put in my hands my first J.A 's novel.. and now that she often goes in the U.K I enjoy this Author even more!! It's like being closer to her world, because she loves England and the whole U.K..
but I enjoy literature from all the countries, as I'm an Italian girl, and our beloved culture teachs us to be open-minded and to appreciate traditions and literature from all over the world..even in languages more or less different from ours..
reading is my first hobby.. my mother was the one who put in my hands my first J.A 's novel.. and now that she often goes in the U.K I enjoy this Author even more!! It's like being closer to her world, because she loves England and the whole U.K..
but I enjoy literature from all the countries, as I'm an Italian girl, and our beloved culture teachs us to be open-minded and to appreciate traditions and literature from all over the world..even in languages more or less different from ours..
Post #10
1 reply
The only Italian I know (and it's probably wrong): Iyo no capisco Italiano. "I do not understand Italian," is that right?
I would love to go on one of those Jane Austen literary tours of England- it'd be so fascinating to see the places she lived and worked, and the places she wrote about, or at least the places the places she wrote about are based on.
How fun to go to Bath and to Lyme... "Now take me to the Cobb, and show me the steps from which Louisa Musgrove fell," Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson (August 6, 1809-October 6, 1892).
I would love to go on one of those Jane Austen literary tours of England- it'd be so fascinating to see the places she lived and worked, and the places she wrote about, or at least the places the places she wrote about are based on.
How fun to go to Bath and to Lyme... "Now take me to the Cobb, and show me the steps from which Louisa Musgrove fell," Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson (August 6, 1809-October 6, 1892).
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