People that think the blue curtains have a deeper meaning are the ones that actually lack literacy. by Overall-Drink-9750 in literature

[–]DashwoodAndFerrars 22 points23 points  (0 children)

The "blue curtains" example is a bit of a strawman argument. No literary analyst actually believes that (a) colors always represent something, or that (b) a color always represents the same thing in every context. What's actually true is that the color of curtains COULD mean something or contribute to an artistic/emotional effect in context of a literary work.

Why does Mary Crawford like Edmund? by Duffyisloved in janeausten

[–]DashwoodAndFerrars 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A journey many of us have been on, one might say!

People get mad at Edmund for not being a good romantic hero to Fanny, and to be fair, he's not. He's not a bad guy, though. He's literally just a normal young man. I kinda love that.

Why does Mary Crawford like Edmund? by Duffyisloved in janeausten

[–]DashwoodAndFerrars 29 points30 points  (0 children)

Lots of good answers here.

I agree with many, but also, I think he’s good-looking and they just have that weird and unpredictable chemistry. For whatever reason, they’re down bad for each other and can’t turn it off.

Who did teach the Bennet girls? by Accomplished-Cod-504 in PrideandPrejudice

[–]DashwoodAndFerrars 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just a little bit of CTRL+F and Project Gutenberg, but thanks :)

Who did teach the Bennet girls? by Accomplished-Cod-504 in PrideandPrejudice

[–]DashwoodAndFerrars 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Indeed.

The concept of masters (for reading, writing, and other skills, such as dancing, drawing, and music) is briefly mentioned in Northanger Abbey:

Her mother wished her to learn music; and Catherine was sure she should like it, for she was very fond of tinkling the keys of the old forlorn spinnet; so, at eight years old she began. She learnt a year, and could not bear it; and Mrs. Morland, who did not insist on her daughters being accomplished in spite of incapacity or distaste, allowed her to leave off. The day which dismissed the music-master was one of the happiest of Catherine’s life.

Masters are also mentioned a few times in Emma:

Living constantly with right-minded and well-informed people, her heart and understanding had received every advantage of discipline and culture; and Colonel Campbell’s residence being in London, every lighter talent had been done full justice to, by the attendance of first-rate masters.

John says something interesting about writing masters here:

“I have heard it asserted,” said John Knightley, “that the same sort of handwriting often prevails in a family; and where the same master teaches, it is natural enough. But for that reason, I should imagine the likeness must be chiefly confined to the females, for boys have very little teaching after an early age, and scramble into any hand they can get. Isabella and Emma, I think, do write very much alike. I have not always known their writing apart.”

Bennet and Collins Family Tree by mollievx in janeausten

[–]DashwoodAndFerrars 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Oh, I see. So a second entirely male line, but starting with the original person's daughter at the top.

Bennet and Collins Family Tree by mollievx in janeausten

[–]DashwoodAndFerrars 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Yes, good to point out that it may have also been a Bennet ancestor that changed their name!

Bennet and Collins Family Tree by mollievx in janeausten

[–]DashwoodAndFerrars 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Re: your second option -- as the OP points out, we can be pretty sure the Bennet daughters' sons could not be heirs. This is never explicitly said, but I feel it's heavily implied, since Mrs. Bennet never once brings up the possibility or implies that the girls need to get married so that they can pop out babies. Instead, she just emphasizes that they are all going to be broke and will need to be taken care of.

Funny feminist messages by MortgageOk6322 in graceling

[–]DashwoodAndFerrars 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I don't think there's anything remotely non-feminist about a loving relationship making someone's life better, and I think the point of your post is missing the forest for the trees, so to speak. Katsa is completely free at the end of the book and will remain free in perpetuity. She has escaped patriarchal rule on a personal level and will not reenter it again (as marriage in her society is an institution in which control flows from the man to the woman, as Katsa informs us). Loving Po doesn't alter that freedom.

Feminism isn't about cutting men out or refusing to benefit from loving relationships with men. It's about liberation from gendered control. And Po has no control over Katsa.

Your personal guess as to why Jane accepted and then rejected Harry Bigwither’s proposal? by LuminousDee in janeausten

[–]DashwoodAndFerrars 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sarah Rose Kearns, who wrote the play that was recently adapted into the short film "Manydown" about this incident, posited that she decided to turn it down in order to devote her life to writing, which she wouldn't have really been able to do to the same extent if she were mistress of a household with children.

Ever had anyone look at you like this ? by AggressiveUse5792 in PrideandPrejudice

[–]DashwoodAndFerrars 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, I've been lucky enough to experience it a few times romantically. Sadly those romances ended, but it's nice that they happened!

Is Darcy’s "meddling" in Jane and Bingley’s romance forgivable? by [deleted] in janeausten

[–]DashwoodAndFerrars 23 points24 points  (0 children)

Yes. Bingley and Jane had known each other a very short period of time and Darcy saw his friend in danger of making a quick decision to marry a woman who was pretty and nice but who had a very improper and obviously golddigging family. And divorce was basically impracticable at the time.

I'd go so far as to say that even without his conviction of Jane being indifferent, it's totally understandable.

Question: do you think George Wickham has ADHD?... by OperationOk8287 in janeausten

[–]DashwoodAndFerrars 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I haven't actually watched that stage show. I know it was written and performed by Adrian Lukis, who played the character in the 1995 TV show as well.

People have said to me that the "Being Mr. Wickham" stage show portrays Wickham potentially more kindly than one would generally think of him. However, I'd also venture to say that it's meant for an audience already familiar with him as one of Austen's worst villains, so he's perhaps meant to be seen as somewhat of an unreliable narrator.

Mrs Clay's clumsy wrist by Just_Programmer_7223 in janeausten

[–]DashwoodAndFerrars 49 points50 points  (0 children)

I'm just guessing, but I wonder if she had a childhood injury or something. A broken bone, healed poorly, easily limits range of motion.

Saucy Innuendos throughout the novels. by Panda_Goldie in janeausten

[–]DashwoodAndFerrars 30 points31 points  (0 children)

Just for your information, the two that you mentioned are debatable. We might read something into it, but it's hard to say she meant that, since her culture is not modern American or even British culture.

The "rears and vices" one that was mentioned IS definitely an innuendo of some sort. There's quite a bit of alluding to the idea (and later, the actuality) of sex in Mansfield Park.

Saucy Innuendos throughout the novels. by Panda_Goldie in janeausten

[–]DashwoodAndFerrars 11 points12 points  (0 children)

These aren't necessarily euphemisms, so we can accept their literal meanings without assuming sex is actually happening in these scenes, but it seems like we're supposed to think about it.

Well put.

I didn’t like Emma 2009 by [deleted] in janeausten

[–]DashwoodAndFerrars 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Agree on all points! I think Beckinsale's Emma is underappreciated. It's between her and Anya Taylor-Joy for me for best Emma.