Jane Austen Quote of the Week - Week Five
This week my quote of choice is from my favourite Austen novel, Emma. (And of course it gives me an excuse to post a picture of the gorgeous Knightley, which cannot be a bad thing...)
Towards the end of chapter nine, Emma is chatting with her father, and she comments:
"One half of the world cannot understand the pleasures of the other."
(Emma, Penguin Edition 1996, p. 64)
This line 'gets me' every time. I love it! I always stop, and re-read it several times - taking me out of the novel for a moment, certainly, but it's too rich not too. I don't think any explanation will do this justice - but how well Jane knew human nature, and how succinctly she expressed it! It is so true that, "one half of the world cannot understand the pleasures of the other", and I suppose this is partly where our uniqueness, misunderstandings and beauty lie. Love it.
Pic: Mark Strong as Mr Knightley in A&E's Emma from: Jim's Blog
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10 comments:
(Think Ang Lee's Mrs. Jennings) Too true!
And oohhh! I have to admit that Mark Strong IS a gorgeous, Mr. Knightley, though MY Knightley is Jeremy Northam. Sigh...
My dear Michelle, Great minds and all that....I prefer Mark Strong also as Mr. Knightley. Thanks for posting that quote, I love it too.
Linda the Librarian
If I loved it less …indeed, no explanation needed.
I do understand your pleasures (Mark Strong), though I am the other half of the world: Icha’s world (once again) in which my pleasure-Mr. Knightley is Jeremy Northam.
Ooohh! Thank you Mariana! I thought I was the only one in JaneTom planet that love Jeremy Northam's Knightley! Not that I want to wage war with dearest Michelle and Linda of course - ahem! It's really a personal preference, my dear... sigh...
I must say I side with Icha and Mariana in the Jeromy Northam's Knightly- matter.
So I'm trying to write the funeral for Mary in my fanfic. Any tips? Not really good at the whole religious thingies...
/hugs and kisses from Maria in Sweden
You know dear? For eulogy etc, best contact Linda the Librarian, for she's the best for these things. I will forward her your comment and ask her to drop you comments here.
Maria, The Lefroys were Church of England and would have followed the Book of Common Prayer for the service. I googled and found this one:
The Book of Common Prayer
which is close to the date of Mary's death. It contains the ceremony and also instructions for the participants. On the right side of that page use the search block to insert burial and that will give you a clickable page number with the burial info on it.
On Page 377 and 378 of the "Memoir of Chief Justice Lefroy" there is a touching mention of her death. Maybe Icha could send you a copy of those pages. Or let me see if I can send them. That is all the info I have at the moment.
Linda the Librarian
oh, Linda! You are a star! My brain is not working properly at the moment, due to some persistent nausea. *I blame peanut*
/Maria
I like both adaptations and love the two Mr Knightleys, but Jeremy Northam's would always be my best Mr Knightley! My fav. scene is also his dance with Emma!
LOL! But Michelle dear, that's a very healthy attitude for you. I think that's how we should see any Austen adaptation; a treat for each 'school' to enjoy. Emma gives us Northam and Strong (and Palthrow and Beckinsale), PP gives us Ehle/Firth and Knightley/Macfayden, etc.
But I declare that Northam's look on Emma while they were dancing was so lovely. And the way he took Harriet's hand to dance, swoon...
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