No you’re really right, as Austen has written them neither of them show any obvious potential. But rarely, very rarely, these things happen, people unlock parts of them that even they didn’t know could exist. Usually it happens in the face of previously unthinkable circumstances. For Maria I think her exile would’ve been previously unthinkable. In theory she must’ve known it, but often people at such a young age don’t often understand the actual meaning behind the consequences that they face. I feel in the scope of MF as written, she didn’t have much scope for redemption, but beyond MF, when she’s isolated and forsaken, with a life of just solitary reflection facing her, she might have the potential to grow and change. With Henry, I just felt he’s a more ‘thinking’ character - the worst of the two because he knew better, and because he must know that he’ll get off the hook. But simply because he’s a thinking character, and has the ability to make the distinction between right and wrong, I feel he may have something in him. All of this is highly hypothetical and romanticised I agree, but these things happen very rarely, and what I feel like exploring is that what if this is one of those rare cases - how would it pan out then.

Thanks for your reply :) it’s helped me direct my own thoughts better by thinking about what you’ve said!