tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523012080492654376.post442744074797559876..comments2024-03-16T22:49:15.757-05:00Comments on Elegance of Fashion: Reader Question #1: Jane Austen and ProposalsMiss Elizabeth Bennethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02019249086339232260noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523012080492654376.post-2095325280237983112012-07-29T07:18:16.710-05:002012-07-29T07:18:16.710-05:00"So, when Elizabeth went walking with Mr. Dar..."So, when Elizabeth went walking with Mr. Darcy, she didn't think that he would renew his proposal to her."<br /><br />I'm not so sure - Mr Darcy arriving at Longbourn with Mr Bingley after their return to Netherfield but before the latter's proposal to Jane was a very powerful declaration of his intentions towards Elizabeth and Bingley's subsequent proposal was confirmation of them. All that remained was for Elizabeth to communicate her feelings back to Mr Darcy and Elizabeth persuaded Lady Catherine to be the messenger.<br /><br />As to who directed Lady Catherine to Longbourn, I think it was Charlotte who engineered it. She would have had reports of the above from her relatives and she was clear about helping marriages along. Something she would not do for Jane because she was not close enough, but which she would do for Elizabeth. As for her chosen messenger to Lady Catherine, that is obvious. When Elizabeth leaves the Hunsford Parsonage, Mr Collins expounds that "My dear Charlotte and I have but one mind and one way of thinking", and I am inclined to believe it all Charlotte's.<br /><br />As for the actual proposal, I have seen comments elsewhere that suggest that some people do miss it - the subsequent discussion with Jane seems to surprise them.blowbackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11661397569876675986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523012080492654376.post-50064822606878537612012-06-30T20:58:48.123-05:002012-06-30T20:58:48.123-05:00Ugh, I had written a comment to this, but then Blo...Ugh, I had written a comment to this, but then Blogger messed up on me. :( Here goes again...<br /><br />I had never thought of that before, but it seems quite true that proposals were necessary in the other three novels! How clever you are, my dear Miss Eliza. ;-) Although proposals may not be necessary... I do wish they were included. ;) Especially Mansfield. Now, it IS necessary to have a proposal scene for Edmund Bertram at the end, instead of just hurrying it along, to make me like him as much as the other heroes. <br />And I think another reason she didn't include one in Northanger is because that was a satire... I never thought of S&S as a satire, though.Melodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05676306236172688321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523012080492654376.post-50486672896452645252012-06-26T18:02:52.823-05:002012-06-26T18:02:52.823-05:00Great Question, Miss Dashwood! I'll get to wor...Great Question, Miss Dashwood! I'll get to work on that post!Miss Elizabeth Bennethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02019249086339232260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523012080492654376.post-29600845322788000822012-06-26T17:11:39.978-05:002012-06-26T17:11:39.978-05:00What a great post! I'd never thought of it tha...What a great post! I'd never thought of it that way before, but it makes perfect sense that P&P, Persuasion and Emma needed confirmation of the hero's love for the heroine. Whereas, S&S and NA had already established that. Great insight there! *happy sigh* I love delving in-depth into Jane Austen...<br /><br />Okay, now I have a question. Do you believe Willoughby in S&S is a sympathetic character or an out-and-out scoundrel? I've heard both sides, and I'm curious to hear your opinion (and forgive me if you've already addressed this on your blog before)!Miss Dashwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15821653607968651548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523012080492654376.post-38083218672351847992012-06-26T15:48:40.552-05:002012-06-26T15:48:40.552-05:00Thank you, Tasha!Thank you, Tasha!Miss Elizabeth Bennethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02019249086339232260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523012080492654376.post-40667089661464847912012-06-26T12:14:22.986-05:002012-06-26T12:14:22.986-05:00Very interesting post! I agree with your opinion ...Very interesting post! I agree with your opinion on why Jane Austen left out proposal scenes in some of her novels.<br /><br />And, I tagged you! I don't know if you do tags, but here's the link:)<br />http://natashamarieh.blogspot.com/2012/06/tagged-7-random-things.html<br /><br />Have a lovely day!<br />~Tasha~Tashahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05803389006953062232noreply@blogger.com