So this is my first post that has to do with books and literature, anyone who wants to please chime in!!
So I've been reading a lot of Jane Austen recently, and in the first three books that I have read (Emma, Pride and Prejudice, and Mansfield Park) I have noticed that the men she portrays in a positive light have always been shy and reserved (Mr. Knightly, Mr. Darcy, Edmund Bertram) but they are portrayed as being full of character and morals. While the more outgoing men (Frank Churchill, Mr. Wickham, Tom Bertram, and Mr. Crawford) are seen as shallow and lacking in propriety. Why do you think she does this? Is this a true characterization (i don't think so)? But then why does she make it? I haven't read any of her other books yet, so if any of the men in those books display a different stereotype, I'd love to talk about that. I'm wondering if it has to do with the reserved nature of the British versus the outgoing nature of the Americans that makes this distinction so apparent. Anyways, I'd love to hear what you guys think!
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9 comments:
That's interesting, Karyn. I'll think about it.
Great quote by the way. One of my favorites in the whole movie. :-)
Well, I've only read Pride and Prejudice, but Mr. Bingley was certainly not withdrawn and he was still portrayed in a positive light. Just a thought...
Awesome, I love Lit. Analysis. Unfortunately, I haven't read Pride and Prejudice , or any other books by Jane Austen. I'm going to soon though. (British Lit. is next year so I haven't studied it either)
As for a brief guess as to why she thought shy/reserved was 'better' than outgoing -- Austen wrote during the Romantic period and was not a Romantic writer. She wasn't an extreme practicalist either. Maybe she did this because she wanted moderation from Romantic writing (emotions rule) and so the outgoing men served as Romanticism's representative...or another possiblity is an event in her own life. On December 2, Harris Bigg-Wither, a "big and awkward" rich man, proposed to Austen. She accepted but the next day promptly canceled her agreement. All of her novels (at least the ones you're talking about) are published far after this date; the earliest (I think) is 1811. Maybe this situation affected her works? lol, IDK
Why do you think she did it?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Austen#Novels
http://www.bigg-wither.com/content/view/34/2
Good point, Sam. But her main "love interests" are still shy and reserved. Perhaps she did this as a literary device to keep the direction of the book from being revealed. For instance, it was quite clear from the beginning that Mr. Bingly and Jane loved each other, but because of Mr. Darcy's shyness, his emotions were kept secret. This also happens in Emma and Mansfield Park. So that could be part of it, but then why would such a good author use the same device over and over?
What were considered traits of a "gentleman" in Austen's time?
Hi, I'm not sure where to post this so I'm just putting it here. Wow, Karyn, I watched the new movie. Cool. It really goes along with the song. Haha, your parents are really good actors (at least compared to mine). :) I like some of your views, mine are always static. Maybe I'll send you one of mine sometime
yeah, I'd love to see your films. And thanks for the encouragement. Sorry that I haven't been on here more often these last few weeks (i hate starting a conversation and then not contributing to it). I'm hoping to get back into the blog in a few more days.
So to answer Madison's question, the traits of gentlemen:
1. Ought to obey the rules of etiquette (and there were many, most of the humor and basically all of the insults in Austen's books come from breaches in etiquette)
2. Ought to be chivilrous to ladies, prefer them always, etc.
3. Ought to be generally educated and be able to have a conversation on many topics
4. Needs to have money and own an estate
5. Ought to have good connections
This is a much abbreviated list, but it's a start. As far as I know, personality is not necessarily associated with being a gentleman, though British gentry as a generalization were more reserved than we are here in America.
I think that the way Austen chooses her "leading men" has more to do with her personal view and less to do with the influence of society. Sam's point of Mr. Bingley helps to show this, since he was considered a gentleman by the other characters in the book, and yet the book is mainly about Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy.
If you read Northanger Abbey (my personal favorite of Jane Austen's books) her hero Henry Tilney is very outgoing and chipper.
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