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January 14, 2008
Quote and Note: Jane Austen
Perhaps this will become a little series, or perhaps not, but while reading Persuasion by Jane Austen I was struck by her keen eye for understanding human nature, which the movies convey somewhat but not nearly well enough. So, here is the first quote and a bit of a note.
"When the evening was over, Anne could not but be amused at the idea of her coming to Lyme, to preach patience and resignation to a young man whom she had never seen before; nor could she help fearing, on more serious reflection, that, like many other great moralists and preachers, she had been eloquent on a point in which her own conduct would ill bear examination."
Jane Austen did seem to posess a healthy scepticism of individuals who are moral busybodies and killjoys, which the movies portray quite well, and, yet, I get the sense that she is not cynical about the Christian faith in a modern way at all. I think she does really believe that it is a useful thing to learn of "patience and resignation" in response to a Providence that seems to be frowning for the time being. And, still, the final line of this quote is so true. Is it not?
Lit and Library Stuff | By jackdas | 3:15 PM
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Comments
Jacob and I watched it last night! I've not read the book; I really should!
Austen's work seems to be critical of characters caught up in portraying an IMAGE of morality above acting morally. Often they are so obsessed with propriety that they are cold and unloving to those around them. I've noticed that she often uses a morally "good" but self-deprecating heroine to confront those caught up in appearing more holy or proper than they are. Oh how I love her heroines!
Posted by: Heidi Vincent at January 14, 2008 4:02 PM
Oh, Heidi, are you watching the PBS series? I am curious to see that one, but you really should watch the BBC version from 1996 (I think) as well, as it is excellent. It is tied for my favorite Jane Austen movie, bar none. Alas, I am afraid if you have seen this version, and really like it, before seeing the other version. You may find it wanting, which would be a pity, since it is brilliant. Austen's heroine's are, indeed, brilliant, and her heroes, I might add, though we do not get to see nearly so much of their interior landscape.
Posted by: Neil E. Das at January 14, 2008 4:26 PM
P.S. Your comments about how she relates her heroines morally are spot on, I think.
Posted by: Neil E. Das at January 14, 2008 4:29 PM
Ahhh yeah, it WAS the PBS series version. I really should see the 1996 BBC version.
Posted by: Heidi Vincent at January 15, 2008 9:42 AM
