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Defending Mr. John Knightley (as is my wont)   Written by Delories (2/23/2011 6:23 a.m.) in consequence of the missive, Augusta, Frank, Knightley, penned by Tom P2
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Although Isabella, as has been pointed out elsewhere this GR, tends to revert to some fussy ways when she's at Hartfield, in commiseration with her father, the omniscient narrator (ON) tells us in no uncertain terms that she's a very happy and fulfilled woman (chapt. 17):


"Mr. Woodhouse having, as usual, tried to persuade his daughter to stay behind with all her children, was obliged to see the whole party set off, and return to his lamentations over the destiny of poor Isabella; -- which poor Isabella, passing her life with those she doated on, full of their merits, blind to their faults, and always innocently busy, might have been a model of right feminine happiness."

In other words, only Mr. Woodhouse calls her "poor Isabella" -- the use of the term above is the ON using indirect reported speech, aping Mr. W's style of talking, but then telling us that contrary to his beliefs, Isabella is perfectly content with her lot in life, indeed a "model" of a cedrtain kind of contentment. And that lot in life obviously includes her relationship with Mr. John K., and the resulting progeny.


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