I loved this article. I’ve always been fond of the movie with Emma Thompson and I loved how this article used quotes from the book to explain not only the characters but also the complexities of the time. I liked this deep level of analysis, it was insightful and I enjoyed reading it.
This is wonderful, I hadn't picked up that Edward actually lies about the ring before - that's an interesting moral transgression.
Austen also seems to validate telling 'polite lies' with Marianne. At what point does a lie become morally acceptable? Edward is pushing the boundaries here, he could just have avoided the question entirely and changed the subject but chooses to tell an obvious lie.
The other thing is the name of the horse, Queen Mab, from Romeo and Juliet. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Mab. This is another hidden clue that Things Are Not Going To End Well. But I've taken up too much of your time already....thank you...
Something that occurred to me regarding the 1995 film. There’s lots of comment about Emma Thompson being nearly twice the age of Elinor in the novel… much less about the fact that Alan Rickman was 49 when the film appeared. I think this is why I’m always surprised on reading the book to realise that Brandon was only 35. I know that might still seem old to a 17-year old Marianne but he does seem remarkably middle-aged to me as a 21st-century reader.
Emma Thompson was a bit long in the tooth & didn’t want to star in the film. However, Kate Winslet at the time was about 19 years of age so pretty much perfect to play Marianne.
People didn’t live as long so I suppose 35 could be considered middle aged.
On my English degree, I took a module on Romanticism and it included "Sense and Sensibility" and "Northanger Abbey". They're such excellent counterpoints to the cult of sensibility. All those people who took Wordsworth, Byron et al at face value and went around performatively feeling everything. Is it all that far removed from people who post videos of themselves in tears on social media?
Absolutely! I feel people have completely missed the point of Jane Austen. She really talks about this split between the two states of being. She's leaning much closer to sense & all the silly gothic melodrama to be found elsewhere - the Brontes really went in hard on this nonsense - might be fun, but it's no way to live.
There's so much inverted snobbery against Jane Austen by those looking for some gritty working class experience as the only thing worth discussing.
And yes, the performative over-emotionalism - very exhausting.
Yes, I agree. It's so interesting that Charlotte Brontë had never read any Austen, until she started to find fame. She wasn't a fan, of course. But they were both coming out of the same movement - Austen saying, "this is a bit over the top", and the Brontës (Charlotte and Emily at least - Anne was more like Austen) saying, "we want MELODRAMA!"
The piece you picked from Edward, where he says he prefers a snug farm to a ruined cottage (direct reference to Wordsworth with the ruined cottage!) is like the bit in "Wuthering Heights" where Catherine 2 and Linton talk about their ideals. Linton wants somewhere calm but Catherine 2 wants wildness.
Ooo, I didn't realise Edward's comment was a Wordsworth reference. It really encapsulates the heart of what Austen is saying - being comfortable & happy is worth more than raging torrents of feeling.
I think people underestimate the insecurity Austen felt through her life, that cheap lodgings, the cruel snobbery of others and very little money to live on became a difficult reality to bear. If you've lived through that it's normal to want somewhere calm, safe with a decent 'competence' as it were.
I loved Wuthering Heights as a teenager but as an adult found it to be ridiculous!
I've never read Anne Bronte so there's one for the TBR pile.
I really enjoy your wrap-ups. Just started S&S as I am doing the same as you: rereading all of them because we are going to Bath in April. That chapter where Fanny talks John Dashwood out of giving his sisters money is so brilliant. She is gaslighting him out of it step by step.
I do wonder what close reading this one will be like. This is somehow the one I never can remember.
Thoroughly enjoyed this, Annette. I've just read the chapter with Willoughby's grand entrance--it's almost laughably overblown romantic. I love it! I like that you draw attention to Marianne's crimsoned face. She doesn't know what to do with herself! It's definitely interesting noticing the characters that didn't make the Ang Lee adaptation, but yes Lady Middleton wasn't exactly missed. I do like the observation of her taking her child along to Barton Cottage as something for everyone to talk about/to. I've totally done that! 😂 Look forward to the next one.
Ah, Willoughby. This is where I'll always prefer Jane Austen to the Brontes. She's undercuts sentimentality with the reality of the situation. He's just too good to be true. And I'm never sure if Austen approves of Lady Middleton or not.
I loved this article. I’ve always been fond of the movie with Emma Thompson and I loved how this article used quotes from the book to explain not only the characters but also the complexities of the time. I liked this deep level of analysis, it was insightful and I enjoyed reading it.
Thank you for your lovely comments Kashaf.
With these articles I want to give a deeper analysis of what Austen's books are about.
This is wonderful, I hadn't picked up that Edward actually lies about the ring before - that's an interesting moral transgression.
Austen also seems to validate telling 'polite lies' with Marianne. At what point does a lie become morally acceptable? Edward is pushing the boundaries here, he could just have avoided the question entirely and changed the subject but chooses to tell an obvious lie.
The other thing is the name of the horse, Queen Mab, from Romeo and Juliet. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Mab. This is another hidden clue that Things Are Not Going To End Well. But I've taken up too much of your time already....thank you...
Not at all. It's really lovely to have someone engage with Jane Austen with an opinion and a deeper understanding.
She does validate telling polite lies which are acceptable because she's trying to protect Marianne.
It's interesting. Everyone lies, big and small lies. It has to be morally on a case by case basis I think.
I hadn't thought of the Queen Mab allusion. Thank you!
A very clear and brillant article on Jane Austen's Sense & Sensibility. Can't wait to read the two next parts :-)
Thank you so much À Chacun.
Just posted up part 2. Enjoy!
Something that occurred to me regarding the 1995 film. There’s lots of comment about Emma Thompson being nearly twice the age of Elinor in the novel… much less about the fact that Alan Rickman was 49 when the film appeared. I think this is why I’m always surprised on reading the book to realise that Brandon was only 35. I know that might still seem old to a 17-year old Marianne but he does seem remarkably middle-aged to me as a 21st-century reader.
Emma Thompson was a bit long in the tooth & didn’t want to star in the film. However, Kate Winslet at the time was about 19 years of age so pretty much perfect to play Marianne.
People didn’t live as long so I suppose 35 could be considered middle aged.
On my English degree, I took a module on Romanticism and it included "Sense and Sensibility" and "Northanger Abbey". They're such excellent counterpoints to the cult of sensibility. All those people who took Wordsworth, Byron et al at face value and went around performatively feeling everything. Is it all that far removed from people who post videos of themselves in tears on social media?
Absolutely! I feel people have completely missed the point of Jane Austen. She really talks about this split between the two states of being. She's leaning much closer to sense & all the silly gothic melodrama to be found elsewhere - the Brontes really went in hard on this nonsense - might be fun, but it's no way to live.
There's so much inverted snobbery against Jane Austen by those looking for some gritty working class experience as the only thing worth discussing.
And yes, the performative over-emotionalism - very exhausting.
Yes, I agree. It's so interesting that Charlotte Brontë had never read any Austen, until she started to find fame. She wasn't a fan, of course. But they were both coming out of the same movement - Austen saying, "this is a bit over the top", and the Brontës (Charlotte and Emily at least - Anne was more like Austen) saying, "we want MELODRAMA!"
The piece you picked from Edward, where he says he prefers a snug farm to a ruined cottage (direct reference to Wordsworth with the ruined cottage!) is like the bit in "Wuthering Heights" where Catherine 2 and Linton talk about their ideals. Linton wants somewhere calm but Catherine 2 wants wildness.
Ooo, I didn't realise Edward's comment was a Wordsworth reference. It really encapsulates the heart of what Austen is saying - being comfortable & happy is worth more than raging torrents of feeling.
I think people underestimate the insecurity Austen felt through her life, that cheap lodgings, the cruel snobbery of others and very little money to live on became a difficult reality to bear. If you've lived through that it's normal to want somewhere calm, safe with a decent 'competence' as it were.
I loved Wuthering Heights as a teenager but as an adult found it to be ridiculous!
I've never read Anne Bronte so there's one for the TBR pile.
Oh you must read Anne Brontë. She’s my favourite. Very down to earth compared with her sisters.
I really enjoy your wrap-ups. Just started S&S as I am doing the same as you: rereading all of them because we are going to Bath in April. That chapter where Fanny talks John Dashwood out of giving his sisters money is so brilliant. She is gaslighting him out of it step by step.
I do wonder what close reading this one will be like. This is somehow the one I never can remember.
So glad you're enjoying them. Yeah, it's unbelieveable how she comes up with so many reasons for him to be mean!
Thoroughly enjoyed this, Annette. I've just read the chapter with Willoughby's grand entrance--it's almost laughably overblown romantic. I love it! I like that you draw attention to Marianne's crimsoned face. She doesn't know what to do with herself! It's definitely interesting noticing the characters that didn't make the Ang Lee adaptation, but yes Lady Middleton wasn't exactly missed. I do like the observation of her taking her child along to Barton Cottage as something for everyone to talk about/to. I've totally done that! 😂 Look forward to the next one.
Ah, Willoughby. This is where I'll always prefer Jane Austen to the Brontes. She's undercuts sentimentality with the reality of the situation. He's just too good to be true. And I'm never sure if Austen approves of Lady Middleton or not.