Jane Austen Quote of the Week – Week 49

This time, I found something that Elinor Dashwood said about selfishness. It is taken from Sense & Sensibility Chapter 47, when Elinor and Marianne were talking about Marianne’s past with Willoughby. I first have to say that I took these quotes from the Wikipedia site, for I don’t have the book with me, so I hope that the quotes are faithful to the book.

QUOTES BEGIN

Marianne's lips quivered, and she repeated the word "Selfish?" in a tone that implied--"do you really think him selfish?"

"The whole of his behaviour," replied Elinor, "from the beginning to the end of the affair, has been grounded on selfishness. It was selfishness which first made him sport with your affections; which afterwards, when his own were engaged, made him delay the confession of it, and which finally carried him from Barton. His own enjoyment, or his own ease, was, in every particular, his ruling principle."

"It is very true. MY happiness never was his object."

"At present," continued Elinor, "he regrets what he has done. And why does he regret it?--Because he finds it has not answered towards himself. It has not made him happy. His circumstances are now unembarrassed--he suffers from no evil of that kind; and he thinks only that he has married a woman of a less amiable temper than yourself. But does it follow that had he married you, he would have been happy?--The inconveniences would have been different. He would then have suffered under the pecuniary distresses which, because they are removed, he now reckons as nothing. He would have had a wife of whose temper he could make no complaint, but he would have been always necessitous--always poor; and probably would soon have learned to rank the innumerable comforts of a clear estate and good income as of far more importance, even to domestic happiness, than the mere temper of a wife."

QUOTES END

What can I say? Elinor – or Jane, rather – was right. Willoughby was selfish, for his regrets for not marrying Marriane came later after he found out how terrible was to live with a rich Ms. Grey that he loved not. So, it was all about his gain, not Marianne’s. So different from – sigh, swoon – Colonel Brandon, who truly cared for Marianne’s wellbeing.

Anyway, to link this quote with Jane Austen and Tom Lefroy, many people think that Willoughby was mostly taken from Tom Lefroy’s story. I disagree. I think Tom Lefroy did not marry Ms. Mary Paul out of selfishness; he did that to save his family. Lots of posts from this blog already indicated so, notably Tom’s relationship with his little brother Anthony Lefroy (father of Thomas Edward Preston Lefroy, to whom the old Tom Lefroy later confessed his deep feelings towards Jane Austen). See also JA/TL timeline to have a better idea of why I disagree that Willoughby was 100% Tom Lefroy.

So, yes, I think Jane Austen did tap into Tom Lefroy’s story to spin it into Willoughby, but she also took other parts of Tom and infused it to Edward Ferrars, who was rather helpless in his prior engagement to Lucy Steele.

Pic: John Willoughby and Marianne Dashwood from Sense & Sensibility 2008, taken from Boston.com

Jane Austen Quote - Week 48 by Linda

This week we shall endeavor to discern what Jane Austen really thought about ‘novels’ as described in Northanger Abbey.

In chapter 1 she tells how Catherine preferred other pursuits

“…. to books — or at least books of information — for, provided that nothing like useful knowledge could be gained from them, provided they were all story and no reflection, she had never any objection to books at all.”

If we take the opposite view, that we should prefer, or that novels should be, ‘books of information’ with useful knowledge and reflection, we now have a description of what to look for in novels.

With that in mind, let’s continue from last week’s paragraph in Chapter 5 which should be read in its entirety, from which we shall distill only a few gems.

Jane is lamenting the fact, through Catherine’s ‘voice’, that other novelists write very degrading thoughts about novels. However, Jane goes on to say:

And while the abilities of the nine–hundredth abridger of the History of England, or of the man who collects and publishes in a volume some dozen lines of Milton, Pope, and Prior, with a paper from the Spectator, and a chapter from Sterne, are eulogized by a thousand pens — there seems almost a general wish of decrying the capacity and undervaluing the labour of the novelist, and of slighting the performances which have only genius, wit, and taste to recommend them.

Though I was a bit familiar with the others, I had to do a search to find out who Prior was. Now here is the key to ‘novels’ – they must “have only genius, wit, and taste to recommend them”. And that, my friends, is what Jane put in hers.

In addition, Jane says this:

“It is only Cecilia, or Camilla, or Belinda”; or, in short, only some work in which the greatest powers of the mind are displayed, in which the most thorough knowledge of human nature, the happiest delineation of its varieties, the liveliest effusions of wit and humour, are conveyed to the world in the best–chosen language.

That is Jane’s description of those novels. Then she sarcastically says about the periodical, “The Spectator”:

the substance of its papers so often consisting in the statement of improbable circumstances, unnatural characters, and topics of conversation which no longer concern anyone living; and their language, too, frequently so coarse as to give no very favourable idea of the age that could endure it.

I say ‘sarcastically’ because the opposite is true. It does have probable circumstances, natural characters, timeless topics of conversation and pertinent language.

Now, let’s put all that together and here is what we have. A novel should be books of information with useful knowledge and reflection, with only genius, wit, and taste to recommend them, in which the greatest powers of the mind are displayed, the most thorough knowledge of human nature, the happiest delineation of its varieties, the liveliest effusions of wit and humour, are to be conveyed to the world in the best–chosen language, and with probable circumstances, natural characters, timeless topics of conversation and pertinent language.

In my opinion, Jane followed her own advice, and I think that just about covers it!

Linda the Librarian

Pic: a very gorgeous art of Catherine Morland by Palnk from Deviantart.com

Jane Austen Quote - Week 47 by Linda

From Northanger Abbey we have a two part definition/explanation/description of ‘friendship’.

First in Chapter 4:

‘Friendship is certainly the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love.’

Next in Chapter 5:

The progress of the friendship between Catherine and Isabella was quick as its beginning had been warm, and they passed so rapidly through every gradation of increasing tenderness that there was shortly no fresh proof of it to be given to their friends or themselves. They called each other by their Christian name, were always arm in arm when they walked, pinned up each other’s train for the dance, and were not to be divided in the set; and if a rainy morning deprived them of other enjoyments, they were still resolute in meeting in defiance of wet and dirt, and shut themselves up, to read novels together.

Such has been the friendship that has blossomed between the managers and contributors in this Becoming Jane blog. However, our ‘disappointed love’ was in the Jane Austen/Tom Lefroy affair. Of course, we called ourselves by our Christian names. We have exchanged personal confidences and pictures so we know each other as intimately as can be done via the internet. Also, even though we are separated by many miles and busy lives we do read novels together, as well as the biographies of Jane Austen and Tom Lefroy, of course. I might add that this friendship includes our readers who have posted their comments and shared their writings. I am continually amazed that such friendships can be made world wide!

To quote Icha from a previous ‘quote of the week’ HERE:

'But, just to recall the friendships we have shared in this blog, some of them getting to sisterhood level even…'

Strangely, by coincidence, I must remark on the happenstance of choosing ‘friendship’ this particular week because I chose Northanger Abbey at random and noticed my previous highlighting of the above quotes. Those quotes captured my attention because the inspiration only came to mind a couple of weeks ago that I have two ‘particular’ friends who needed to be most gratefully ‘Thanked’. The occasion to do so occurred last weekend when I flew to New Jersey to attend the wedding of my best friend’s son. While there, I made a heartfelt presentation of my gratitude to my dearest friend and her husband for their care and concern through the past 43 years for myself in the times of my troubles. Needless to say, there were tears and hugs. Next weekend I will have the opportunity to express the same gratitude to my dearest sister and brother-in-law for their care and love, in spite of the fact that when we were growing up she was the most aggravating ‘little sister’. Just as Catherine’s friendship grew, so did ours as we became adults.

Let us make this week “Thank a Friend” week to show your own gratitude. Which brings to mind, I have a few other friends who should be remembered with a “Thank You”! We are grateful for all our ‘friends’!

Next week I will continue with the rest of the ‘Friendship Paragraph’ which discusses “Novels”!

Linda the Librarian

Pic: A classic Northanger Abbey picture from this site

Jane Austen Quote of the Week 46

I realised today, when looking at my bookshelf, that Sense & Sensibility is my least-read Austen. In moves to fix that, I've decided to quote from it this week. :)

I think that I would have been good friends with Elinor - I am good friends with Elinor. She inspires me, I think.

From Sense & Sensibilty Chapter 21, as the Dashwoods visit with Mrs Jennings:

Marianne was silent; it was impossible for her to say what she did not feel, however trivial the occasion; and upon Elinor therefore the whole task of telling lies when politeness required it, always fell.

I love this portrayal of the two sisters, and I sympathise with Elinor for being landed with the unlucky lot! I recognise in this passage elements of myself, my mum, and my younger sister. They - while not being like Marianne (just as I am not like Elinor - more Mrs Jennings!) - are unable to express anything they consider not true to themselves, which is something that I admire. Whereas I seem to have landed the Elinor lot ... And paradoxial as it seems - I do not consider Elinor to be hypocritical, perhaps diplomatic in that she doesn't cause a row/draw attention to something that all things measured, is trivial? On her own principles she stands, we know that. Ah, different personalities, don't you love them?

(And I'll probably never learn not to write my blog post late at night - sorry for any confusion of post - am sure I'll be back tomorrow to clarify)

I have another S&S quote (re: Elinor) but I think I will save it for next time.

Have a great week!

Pic: Emma Thompson as Elinor from: janeausten.co.uk

Jane Austen Quote - Week 45

This week's quote is taken from Persuasion Volume II Chapter XI (Oxford edition, 2004, p. 196), Captain Wentworth’s words to Anne Elliot:

‘…You were single. It was possible that you might retain the feelings of the past, as I did; and one encouragement happened to be mine. I could never doubt that you would be loved and sought by others, but I knew to a certainty that you had refused one man at least, of better pretensions than myself: and I could not help often saying, Was this for me?’

Ahem. Sorry that I go back to Persuasion again… I promise that I will get another Austen book for my turn next month. But ah…Captain Wentworth’s trepidation is so recognizable here… who would not tremble when one is faced with hope again? For with hope, comes fear… fear of being rejected and hurt again… that the scar that is not yet healed properly will gush open again. But I am sure that Wentworth (or Jane Austen herself) also thought that…that if he/she didn’t seize the opportunity and have another try, he/she would regret it for the rest of his/her life.

So, there you go. ‘Was this for me?’…and Carpe Diem. Wentworth wrote the famous letter, and saw Anne Elliot flying (or running across Bath) over to him. Sigh…

Coming back to Jane Austen and Tom Lefroy… I am certain that Jane had a bit of Tom-moment when she wrote it. I just wish… I just wish things would be different… but it never was, was it not?

Pic: A very lovely photograph of (supposedly) Captain Wentworth’s letter to Anne Elliot (written and photographed by Sodabug), from Flickr.com

Marvel's take on Pride & Prejudice!

Well, thanks to Michelle, who has spotted this one earlier and who understands my fascination towards comic world, here's Pride & Prejudice by Marvel Comics! You know Marvel, don't you dear friends?

Oh well... most definitely NOT Jane Austen. Marvel usually dwells on Spiderman, X-Men, Fantastic Four, Thor, the Hulk... Iron Man... you got the idea... all superhero stuffs. So, it's a surprise for me that they chose to adapt one of Jane Austen's most famous novels, Pride & Prejudice. But rest assure, dear friends, it seems that the author, two-time Rita Award-Winner Nancy Butler and acclaimed artist Hugo Petrus are taking care of PP seriously. Here's what Ms. Butler says about her project:

"I've tried to keep the flavor and sly humor of the story, and modernized the language only for better understanding," explains Butler. "Wherever space allowed, I've used Jane Austen's own words. This is your grandmother's PRIDE & PREJUDICE, and your mother's and your own."

Ah well... methink it's a refreshing take... though I honestly think that the art is too modern for Jane Austen. I can see Mary Jane Parker (Spiderman Peter Parker's wife) as Lizzy Bennet due to her hair colour etc. I wouldn't mind if the art is toned down a bit to make it more Georgian style. Not the hair style or clothes, I think Hugo Petrus got it right... the pen strokes. Too... too bold for a Georgian era. Still, a lovely comic, I might say...

Click here for the 5 pages sneak peek of PP#1 by Marvel Comics.

Pic: Part of the cover to Pride & Prejudice #1 by Marvel Comics

Anne Hathaway is nominated for Academy Award's Best Actress!

I have to apologise for this post for I created bias by not displaying proper Oscar news about James McAvoy's Atonement Oscar achievements last year (didn't mean to... was just too busy with life... and still now...). I should've done or suggested a post about JMA last year, but just didn't think of it. Now I think we should post any exciting news about James MacAvoy and Anne Hathaway as the main actor and actress for Becoming Jane (plus other supporting casts).

Anyway, I also have to apologise for the belated news, for surely many of you have been following Oscar news this year... I just didn't realise that four of five nominees in this year's Oscar is my favourite actresses. This is the complete list of Oscar 2009 nominees for Best Actress in alphabetical order:

Anne Hathaway - 'Rachel Getting Married'
Angelina Jolie - 'Changeling'
Melissa Leo - 'Frozen River'
Meryl Streep - 'Doubt'
Kate Winslet - 'The Reader'

I don't have an opinion about Ms. Leo, but that's more attributed to my lack of knowledge of her. But the other actresses are my fave (particularly Anne, Meryl Streep and Kate Winslet), and I'm so proud of Anne for her achievement! What a great girl she is!

So, I don't care if Annie doesn't win this year's Oscar, which will be announced tomorrow... she's still my fave actress. I wouldn't mind seeing Meryl or Kate winning either...

See this for the complete profile of 'Rachel Getting Married'.

Pic: Anne Hathaway as Kym from Wikipedia's 'Rachel Getting Married'

'Lost in Austen' series will be adapted into movie

Thanks a lot Mariana for the news, here's a very exciting news for 'Lost in Austen' fans like myself (my apologies to the ladies who dislike the ITV series, hehehe...). LIA will be made into a movie.

From Broadcast Now:

Sam Mendes to exec Lost in Austen movie

ITV's Jane Austen time-travel drama Lost in Austen is to be turned into a movie, with Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes as an executive producer.

Indie Mammoth Screen will develop the movie version with Revolutionary Road producer Neal Street Productions for Sony Pictures, the studio behind the Spider-Man franchise and more recently the James Bond film Quantum of Solace.

The original four-part series, starring Jemima Rooper and Gemma Arterton, aired on ITV1 in September last year, drawing a mainly ABC1 audience of around 4 million per episode.

The show's original writer, Guy Andrews, is currently working on the movie script.

He will also act as executive producer alongside Mammoth Screen's Damien Timmer and Michele Buck, and Neal Street Productions' Mendes and Pippa Harris.

There are no casting details as yet for the movie adaptation, although Mendes' wife Kate Winslet could be a contender.

Winslet won a Bafta and was nominated for an Oscar for her portrayal of the lovestruck Marianne Dashwood in Ang Lee's big screen adaptation of Austen's Sense and Sensibility in 1995.

Pic: Jemima Rooper (Amanda Price) in 'Lost in Austen'

Quote of the Week 44 by Linda

I thought I might do something a bit different this week by collecting a group of tidbits of wisdom from “Emma”. Jane Austen's words are still true today as they were then. People have not really changed in all those passing years. We still say, believe and do the same things. I believe the quotes are self explanatory.

Chapter 9:

"And then their uncle comes in, and tosses them up to the ceiling in a very frightful way!"

"But they like it, papa; there is nothing they like so much. It is such enjoyment to them, that if their uncle did not lay down the rule of their taking turns, which ever began would never give way to the other."

Chapter 11:

There are people, who the more you do for them, the less they will do for themselves.

Chapter 32:

Miss Hawkins perhaps wanted a home, and thought this the best offer she was likely to have."

Chapter 46:

So unlike what a man should be! None of that upright integrity, that strict adherence to truth and principle, that disdain of trick and littleness, which a man should display in every transaction of his life."

And two from Chapter 49:

A man would always wish to give a woman a better home than the one he takes her from; and he who can do it, where there is no doubt of her regard, must, I think, be the happiest of mortals.

-------------

What did she say? Just what she ought, of course. A lady always does.

END OF QUOTES


We do thank you, Miss Jane Austen, for giving us so many wise words. And Thank You all for your concern during the last few weeks of our illness. We are all recovered and feeling much better now.

Hugs,
Linda the Librarian

Pic 1: Kate Beckinsale as Emma from: Strangegirl

Pic 2: Kate Beckinsale & Mark Strong as Emma & Knightley from: Strangegirl

Quote of the Week 43 - Valentine Edition - by Rachel

As its Valentines Day today I prepared my quote before I departed on my travels to reflect this special day. I hope that you are all celebrating in style.....single or attached!

My quote is taken from Persuasion (Chapter 23), in which Anne and Captain Harville's discuss the male versus the female heart. Captain Wentworth overhears Anne's dialogue, which leads to the famous love letter (quoted earlier on the blog) and the rest is history! I know that we have used many Persuasion quotes lately but they are all so fantastic and etch in our brains with permanent marker due to their brilliant construction and delivery, and of course their connotations. Calling Jane a special lady is an understatement.

" 'Oh!' cried Anne eagerly, 'I hope I do justice to all that is felt by you, and by those who resemble you. God forbid that I should undervalue the warm and faithful feelings of any of my fellow-creatures! I should deserve utter contempt if I dared to suppose that true attachment and constancy were known only by woman. No, I believe you capable of everything great and good in your married lives. I believe you equal to every important exertion, and to every domestic forbearance, so long as--if I may be allowed the expression--so long as you have an object. I mean while the woman you love lives, and lives for you. All the privilege I claim for my own sex (it is not a very enviable one you need not covet it), is that of loving longest, when existence or when hope is gone.' "

"She could not immediately have uttered another sentence; her heart was too full, her breath too much oppressed."

But I particularly love the lines :

"I mean while the woman you love lives, and lives for you. All the privilege I claim for my own sex (it is not a very enviable one you need not covet it), is that of loving longest, when existence or when hope is gone." "She could not immediately have uttered another sentence; her heart was too full, her breath too much oppressed."

I feel that this statement is so so representative of the love between Jane and Tom, I am so completely sure of it. "Her heart was too full"- As Jane was writing this, I KNOW that she was referring to her own feelings and memories.

I have chosen pictures from the 2007 tv version of Persuasion as I like Sally Hawkin's Anne and Rupert Penry- Jones' Wentworth. I know that the other ladies on this site may disagree but that allows a greater variety in pictures!

Happy Valentines Day!!

Pic 1: Sally Hawkins Anne + Rupert Penry-Jones' Wentworth from visitbath
Pic 2: Anne Hathaway + James McAvoy in: abc

Jane Austen Quote of the Week 42

I really uhmmed and ahhed over my quote this month - it is so hard to pick just one out of Jane's wealth of wisdom and all-around awesomeness. But this week my quote is from Mansfield Park, and I've chosen it just because I love it. ;)

The quote is from chapter 42. Fanny Price has been shipped back to Portsmouth, and is deep in coversation with the persistant Henry Crawford, who is pressing/flattering Fanny up a storm:


(Henry) '... Shall I go? Do you advise it?'

'I advise! - you know very well what is right.'

'Yes. When you give me your opinion, I always know what is right. Your judgment is my rule of right.'

'Oh, no! - do not say so. We have all a better guide in ourselves, if we would attend to it, than any other person can be. Good bye ...'

Mansfield Park, Chapter 24


Ah Fanny, what a beautiful brush-off.

But isn't it a fantastic and thought-provoking statement? I am always struck by Jane's frequent comments regarding personal conscience / responsibility for ones self, etc (although now pressed I can't think of a handful of the bat), but my choice this week was partly inspired by Linda's earlier quote from Pride & Prejudice: 'That is a question which I hardly know how to answer. We all love to instruct, though we can teach only what is not worth knowing.'

I think what the character's are saying here in P&P relate back to Fanny's statement - that there are some things we need to decide in our hearts, for ourselves - that no one can make that choice for us, or instruct us what to do (life choices, moral choices, etc) - the conscience must guide - does this make sense? (It has been a ridiculous day ...)

Anyway - they are ideas I like to think about. Thank you Jane!

Have a great week, friends. :)


Pic: Fanny & Henry in Mansfield Park 1999 (yes, this pic is contrary to what the quote is getting at, but how hard to find Fanny & Henry pics online!) from: Jim and Ellen

Jane Austen Quote – Week 41 (by Linda)

My quote this week is from Persuasion, Chapter 24:



QUOTE

Who can be in doubt of what followed? When any two young people take it into their heads to marry, they are pretty sure by perseverance to carry their point, be they ever so poor, or ever so imprudent, or ever so little likely to be necessary to each other's ultimate comfort. This may be bad morality to conclude with, but I believe it to be truth; and if such parties succeed, how should a Captain Wentworth and an Anne Elliot, with the advantage of maturity of mind, consciousness of right, and one independent fortune between them, fail of bearing down every opposition? They might, in fact, have borne down a great deal more than they met with, for there was little to distress them beyond the want of graciousness and warmth. Sir Walter made no objection, and Elizabeth did nothing worse than look cold and unconcerned. Captain Wentworth, with five-and-twenty thousand pounds, and as high in his profession as merit and activity could place him, was no longer nobody. He was now esteemed quite worthy to address the daughter of a foolish, spendthrift baronet, who had not had principle or sense enough to maintain himself in the situation in which Providence had placed him, and who could give his daughter at present but a small part of the share of ten thousand pounds which must be hers hereafter.

END OF QUOTE

Pardon me for sounding ‘preachy’ to the younger generation, but today, Jan. 30, is my 68th birthday, and what a horrible day it was. Four sick people in the house to nurse and me just getting over a siege myself and feeling rather poorly. We decided to postpone my celebration till everyone was feeling better and the ice storms had melted so visitors could travel.

My quote was brought on by the wedding plans of my dear friend’s son. I thought what Jane had to say was true and appropriate. She gives us, in the nicest way, what we shouldn’t do, and then gives us an example of how it should be done via Anne and Wentworth. I only wish I had seen this quote some 39 years ago. She has included so many truths that we really have to pay attention to catch them. So ends today’s sermonette.

Linda the Librarian

Pic: Anne Elliot (Amanda Root) and Captain Wentworth (Ciaran Hinds) in Persuasion 1995, from The Independent UK

Later manuscripts of Jane Austen

I just received a notification from Amazon.com about this very expensive but also very interesting book about the later manuscripts of Jane Austen. The hardcover book is appropriately titled Later Manuscripts (The Cambridge Edition of the Works of Jane Austen), edited by Janet Todd and Linda Bree, and we can see the table of contents here. It combines the three unfinished novels of Jane Austen (Lady Susan, The Watsons and Sanditon), with opinions on Mansfield Park and Emma. We also have extra poems and charades in the 872 pages book.

Anyone interested? I might just wait 1-2 years for the decently priced second hand version, $ 126 is too much for a student...

Pic: Cover to Later Manuscripts from Amazon.com

Quote of the Week – Week 40

Thank God that those other Jane ladies here are eloquent in exploring other JA books, lest I fear that dearest readers will be bored with my chosen quote, for it is, again, taken from Persuasion. I can’t help it, the book just holds my heart so gently yet persistently nowadays that all I did to find a quote was just randomly opened a page, and there you go: the quote of the week. From Volume II Chapter XI (Oxford edition, 2004, p. 194) after Anne Elliot received that letter from Captain Wentworth, and they both wandered along the streets of Bath just to rekindle their old feelings:

QUOTE

There they returned again into the past, more exquisitely happy, perhaps, in their re-union, than when it had been first projected; more tender, more tried, more fixed in a knowledge of each other’s character, truth, and attachment; more equal to act, more justified in acting. And there, as they slowly paced the gradual ascent, heedless of every group around them, seeing neither sauntering politicians, bustling house-keepers, flirting girls, nor nursery-maids and children, they could indulge in those retrospections and acknowledgments, and especially in those explanations of what had directly preceded the present moment, which were so poignant and so ceaseless in interest.

END OF QUOTE

I find this passage very interesting, for these feelings can only be experienced by those who had loved and lost before, who completely understand the meaning of growing up alone, letting go all the pain without giving into hatred or feeling sorry for themselves. It’s like… they grow up without each other’s presence, even without any hope that their love will be returned, and yet they survived and emerged as better beings. And when they met again, they found the same souls that they were attracted to, and also much more, for their separate learning processes had taught them so much.

Jane, you’re a wonderful woman, you know that my lady? I wonder if she was thinking of Tom Lefroy when she wrote this passage... and having a 'what-if' moment. Nevertheless, a strong woman she remained!

Pic: Captain Wentworth (Rupert Penry-Jones) and Anne Elliot (Sally Hawkins) from Clerkenwellfilms

Quote of the Week- Week 39

This week I have chosen a quote from Chapter 1 of the beautiful Northanger Abbey.

Catherine has just been introduced to us and it takes us through her transformation into an intrigued and excited 17 year old.

Catherine is one character within Jane's work which I have always taken a particular fondness. I feel that sometimes she is forever in the shadow of characters such as; Elizabeth Bennet, Emma Woodhouse, Anne Elliot.

Mr. Allen, who owned the chief of the propertyabout Fullerton, the village in Wiltshire where theMorlands lived, was ordered to Bath for the benefit of agouty constitution--and his lady, a good-humoured woman,fond of Miss Morland, and probably aware that if adventures will not befall a young lady in her own village,she must seek them abroad, invited her to go with them. Mr. and Mrs. Morland were all compliance, and Catherineall happiness.

This line is particularly poignant to me as in three weeks I am going away for nearly 6 weeks to do some volunteer work abroad again. It is my calling at this time in my life. I adore Jane's insight into the world and other people, considering she rarely travelled.

Pic 1: Masterpiece Images- Catherine Morland - Played by Felicity Jones

Quote of the Week by Linda - Week 38

While viewing my VHS of Pride and Prejudice with Elizabeth Garvie and David Rintoul recently, Lizzie said something so interesting that I had to look it up to make sure it was really in the book. Sure enough, it was there. The meaning of that one sentence is puzzling and I am hoping someone can shed some light on it.

In Chapter 54 Lizzie and Jane are having a sisterly chat – about men, what else? The men in question are Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy, of course, and their recent get together at the Bennet home. Here is the quote:

QUOTE

"It has been a very agreeable day," said Miss Bennet to Elizabeth. "The party seemed so well selected, so suitable one with the other. I hope we may often meet again."

Elizabeth smiled.

"Lizzy, you must not do so. You must not suspect me. It mortifies me. I assure you that I have now learnt to enjoy his conversation as an agreeable and sensible young man, without having a wish beyond it. I am perfectly satisfied, from what his manners now are, that he never had any design of engaging my affection. It is only that he is blessed with greater sweetness of address, and a stronger desire of generally pleasing, than any other man.

"You are very cruel," said her sister; "you will not let me smile, and are provoking me to it every moment."

"How hard it is in some cases to be believed!"

"And how impossible in others!"

"But why should you wish to persuade me that I feel more than I acknowledge?"

"That is a question which I hardly know how to answer. We all love to instruct, though we can teach only what is not worth knowing. Forgive me; and if you persist in indifference, do not make me your confidante."

END OF QUOTE

My problem is with the sentence in bold. I can understand the first part “We all love to instruct”, but what is Jane’s meaning in the second part of the sentence, “though we can teach only what is not worth knowing.” Just what is she trying to tell us? Is she saying we teach nonsense? Surely she doesn’t mean it, or does she? There must be an easy answer, but it eludes me. Thoughts anyone?

Linda the Librarian

Pic 1: Elizabeth Garvie in Pride & Prejudice from: kayedacus

Pic 2: Jennifer Ehle in Pride & Prejudice from: Jennifer Ehle Blogspot

Pic 3: Keira Knightley in Pride & Prejudice from: photobucket

Jane Austen Quote of the Week - Week 37

Dear friends - Happy New Year!!

I am excited to post the first quote of the new year and it's taken from one of Jane's letters, dated 24 December 1798, to Cassandra.

"You deserve a longer letter than this; but it is my unhappy fate seldom to treat people so well as they deserve."

And I must be a little tongue in cheek but far more in earnest and admit that I see myself in Jane's words - I do treat the friends closest to me (and usually only the people closest to me - isn't life weird) not half as well as they deserve ... So when I found this quote, it pulled me up short - for I have just 'bombed out' on my Team Jane friends shockingly for the past month or so - and I have a very guilty conscience right now! But her words have stirred up a new resolution for 2009 ...

I know now that I'm waffling, but she did it again. Jane caught me out with so much applicable truth. I love her. And I love you all! I hope the new year is very kind to you all, and that you enjoy the rest of the holiday season. I shall go and work on some NY resolutions which are less foolhardy than jumping off bridges and riding motorbikes ... the latter being the last to complete for this year. Yes!

Pic: Jane Austen by Jane Odiwe from: Jane Odiwe Blogspot

Jane Austen Quote of the Week – Week 36

This week, the last weekend of 2008, I’d like to pick something from my favourite book ‘Persuasion’ about the inner strength of a woman. No, I’m not talking of Anne Elliot, though she was one mighty woman of her own. This quote is about her friend, Mrs. Smith, who used to be a rather wealthy woman but by the time of Anne’s visit to her humble quarters in Bath, she had become an ill woman of barely any means to live on. As we all know, Jane was very sick when she wrote the last chapters of ‘Persuasion’, and I think she channelled her strength through her descriptions of Mrs. Smith. Yes, I do think that Mrs. Smith resembles Jane Austen in her later days.

Persuasion Volume II Chapter 5:

QUOTE

Anne found in Mrs. Smith the good sense and agreeable manners which she almost ventured to depend on, and a disposition to converse and be cheerful beyond her expectation. Neither the dissipations of the past – and she had lived very much in the world, nor the restrictions of the present; neither sickness nor sorrow seemed to have closed her heart or ruined her spirit.

In the course of a second visit she talked with great openness, and Anne’s astonishment increased. She could scarcely imagine a more cheerless situation in itself than Mrs. Smith’s. She had been very fond of her husband, – she had buried him. She had been used to affluence, – it was gone. She had no child to connect her with life and happiness again, no relations to assist in the arrangement of perplexed affairs, no health to make all the rest supportable./…/Yet, in spite of all this, Anne had reason to believe that [Mrs. Smith] had moments only of languor and depression, to hours of occupation and enjoyment. How could it be? – She watched – observed – reflected – and finally determined that this was not a case of fortitude or of resignation only. – A submissive spirit might be patient, a strong understanding would supply resolution, but here was something more; here was that elasticity of mind, that disposition to be comforted, that power of turning readily from evil to good, and of finding employment which carried her out of herself, which was from Nature alone. It was the choicest gift of Heaven; and Anne viewed her friend as one of those instances in which, by a merciful appointment, it seems designed to counter-balance almost every other want.

END OF QUOTE

Now tell me my dearest friends, if Jane Austen was not talking of herself now? As if she said that ‘Although my body is terminally ill now, I am not resigning to despair. Not ever.’

I consider myself very lucky now. Now and then I had to remind myself to take it easy, lest my body will suffer, and will definitely launch a protest that will force me for a bed rest (my Boxing Day was spent in the bed, due to a sudden attack of gastritis, my fault really…). But, just to recall the friendships we have shared in this blog, some of them getting to sisterhood level even… I remind myself that I can make the best of my life. Jane Austen could do that; and though I will never be a great authoress like her, I want to give the best of me as well.


On that note, have a Merry Xmas (once more) and Happy New Year. May 2009 be kind to us, more peaceful and loving, and may our spirits be strengthened to give the best of us to this world.

With lots of love,
Icha

Pic 1. The Wordsworth Classics variant of Persuasion cover, from the Old Grey Pony
Pic 2. A beautiful Xmas and New Year card from our dearest Mariana

CHRISTMAS WISHES

I just wanted to wish everyone a very merry christmas from us here at the Becoming Jane Fansite.

Enjoy your time with your loved ones and cherish every moment.

Thank you for taking the time to support our blog.

Love to all.

Pic: wikipedia portrait of Jane

Jane Austen Quote of the Week- Week 35

I was endeavouring to do a christmas quote for this week. I thought that Mansfield Park was the obvious choice for this decision.

This quote is not particularly related to christmas or its festivities (it simply references it!) but I think it is wonderful prose and a real gem from our Jane; particularly the line "Varnish and gilding hide many stains".

It is taken from a letter written from Miss Crawford to Fanny;

Vol III, Chapter XIV (Penguin Edition)

"from what I hear, poor Mr. Bertram has a bad chance of ultimate recovery. I thought little of his illness at first. I looked upon him as the sort of person to be made a fuss with, and to make a fuss himself in any trifling disorder, and was chiefly concerned for those who had to nurse him; but now it is confidently asserted that he is really in a decline, that the symptoms are most alarming, and that part of the family, at least, are aware of it. If it be so, I am sure you must be included in that part, that discerning part, and therefore entreat you to let me know how far I have been rightly informed. I need not say how rejoiced I shall be to hear there has been any mistake, but the report is so prevalent that I confess I cannot help trembling. To have such a fine young man cut off in the flower of his days is most melancholy. Poor Sir Thomas will feel it dreadfully. I really am quite agitated on the subject. Fanny, Fanny, I see you smile and look cunning, but, upon my honour, I never bribed a physician in my life. Poor young man! If he is to die, there will be _two_ poor young men less in the world; and with a fearless face and bold voice would I say to any one, that wealth and consequence could fall into no hands more deserving of them. It was a foolish precipitation last Christmas, but the evil of a few days may be blotted out in part. Varnish and gilding hide many stains. It will be but the loss of the Esquire after his name. With real affection, Fanny, like mine, more might be overlooked. Write to me by return of post, judge of my anxiety, and do not trifle with it. Tell me the real truth, as you have it from the fountainhead. And now, do not trouble yourself to be ashamed of either my feelings or your own. Believe me, they are not only natural, they are philanthropic and virtuous."

Pic: Mansfield Park TV Listings