Beg to differ.

Quick Index Board Index Home FAQ Site Map

View thread | Previous message | Next message

Beg to differ. Written by Rachel G (5/2/2008 7:47 p.m.) in consequence of the missive, Why Not Mr. Knightley?, penned by Antoinette

I would not call Mr Knightley a snob. As the owner of Donwell Abbey he is at the top of the Highbury social heap, yet he has great respect and friendship for Robert Martin, who as a working farmer is not his equal in terms of social rank. If he were a snob he would not want to associate with such a person.

When he refers to Harriet's illegitimacy and ignorance I don't see him as sneering. I think he is stating facts. He thinks his friend would benefit by marrying a woman who has had more useful education and is better informed than Harriet.

Harriet's illegitimacy is a concern because, as I understand it, marriage was seen not just as an alliance between two individuals, but between two families. Marrying someone from a "good" family would bring material benefits in terms of useful social connections and influence. This could give favoured access to business or political opportunities, or assist in finding suitable occupations or promotion for family members. Robert Martin would forgo such advantages if he were to marry Harriet, who has no family at all.

Previous message | Next message | Board index

How childish! MarianneR (4/29/2008 4:18 p.m.)

Midsummer Madness Tarn (4/30/2008 12:49 a.m.)
Childish yes - also pretentious? Rachel G (4/29/2008 7:07 p.m.)
- If there was a fashion for it JulieW (4/30/2008 6:00 a.m.)
- The cool restraint of Mr Knightley MarianneR (4/30/2008 3:24 a.m.)
  - Agreed Laraine (5/1/2008 8:17 a.m.)
  - Absolutely! ;-) (nfm) Moni (4/30/2008 3:55 p.m.)
  - Wonderful moment! (nfm) Nicki (4/30/2008 3:48 p.m.)
  - Absolutely! Rae (4/30/2008 2:50 p.m.)
    - Exactly the right word for him! ;-) (nfm) Moni (4/30/2008 8:12 p.m.)
- It also makes me a tad queasy Nancy Ann (4/29/2008 9:12 p.m.)
  - Agreed, nan duval (4/30/2008 7:21 a.m.)
    - Emma & Augusta mirror one another. Rachel G (4/30/2008 10:08 a.m.)
      - Absolutely agree   Tarn (5/1/2008 2:02 a.m.)
        
        Caricature, Conscience & Social Status.   Rachel G (5/1/2008 2:49 p.m.)
        
        Why Not Mr. Knightley?   Antoinette (5/2/2008 5:22 p.m.)
        
        Mr. Knightley is not much of a snob   Robbin (5/2/2008 8:07 p.m.)
        
        Not At All   Antoinette (5/3/2008 3:54 p.m.)
        
        Your assertion was Mr. Knightley is a snob   Robbin (5/5/2008 12:48 a.m.)
        
        Harriet   BarbaraB (5/7/2008 12:07 a.m.)
        
        Beg to differ.   Rachel G (5/2/2008 7:47 p.m.)
        
        Emma Woodhouse - Fighter for Equality   Antoinette (5/3/2008 4:16 p.m.)
        
        Hmm...   Rachel G (5/3/2008 6:37 p.m.)
        
        I agree! (;D) nfm   Robbin (5/4/2008 1:12 a.m.)
        
        Jinx! Well said! (;D) nfm   Robbin (5/2/2008 8:10 p.m.)
        
        I could imagine   MarianneR (5/2/2008 3:45 a.m.)
        
        Well said, and her sister...   Moni (5/1/2008 5:28 p.m.)
        
        Well said. (;D) nfm   Robbin (5/1/2008 12:49 p.m.)
      - Extremes   Antoinette (4/30/2008 12:40 p.m.)
        
        Spiteful   Rachel G (4/30/2008 1:05 p.m.)
        
        The People of Highbury   Antoinette (5/2/2008 5:29 p.m.)
        
        A less fashionable seaside resort?   Graciela (5/4/2008 10:12 p.m.)
        
        Fashion was the root cause of the joke   JulieW (5/6/2008 5:50 p.m.)
        
        Good reading, JulieW...   Moni (5/6/2008 9:14 p.m.)
        
        Snobs, networking & less worthy females.   Rachel G (5/3/2008 5:59 a.m.)
        
        Another example for you   JulieW (5/3/2008 7:38 a.m.)
        
        The Coles' invitation to Emma   nan duval (5/3/2008 7:49 p.m.)
        
        Thanks for making this practice clearer. (;D) nfm   Robbin (5/3/2008 12:16 p.m.)
        
        Thanks for this, Julie W. nfm   Rachel G (5/3/2008 8:29 a.m.)
        
        Throwing stones at Emma   Robbin (5/3/2008 2:37 a.m.)
        
        Not What I Said   Antoinette (5/3/2008 4:30 p.m.)
        
        I agree - well said! nfm   Rachel G (5/3/2008 6:03 a.m.)
        
        Emma and Mrs E parallels   Dorothy A (4/30/2008 5:27 p.m.)
        
        IMO Emma is in more danger...   Moni (5/5/2008 4:35 a.m.)
    - Suckling JulieW (4/30/2008 7:37 a.m.)
      - May be wildly off, but...   Rae (5/2/2008 6:50 a.m.)
        
        Who is Nelson? Sir Nelson? -nfm   Elbè (5/2/2008 4:37 p.m.)
        
        Horatio   JulieW (5/2/2008 4:41 p.m.)
        
        Thanks JulieW! - love learning new things ;) -nfm   Elbè (5/3/2008 2:58 a.m.)
        
        Ah!   JulieW (5/2/2008 7:58 a.m.)
      - Names in Emma   MarianneR (5/1/2008 8:15 a.m.)
        
        IMHO Jane Austen played with names   JulieW (5/1/2008 8:28 a.m.)
        
        Agree---here's another   BarbaraB (5/3/2008 2:14 p.m.)
        
        Gypsies and hawking   Elbè (5/3/2008 4:05 p.m.)
        
        Maple Groves, of course! Never thought of it! (nfm)   MarianneR (5/1/2008 2:14 p.m.)
        
        Fascinating, JulieW;-)...totally agree (nfm)   Moni (5/1/2008 12:17 p.m.)
      - Thanks, Julie W nan duval (4/30/2008 7:07 p.m.)
Childish nan duval (4/29/2008 6:41 p.m.)
- She hasnt a clue about donkeys...... JulieW (4/29/2008 7:08 p.m.)
  - I often wonder about that Antoinette (4/30/2008 12:56 a.m.)
    - They were not taxed JulieW (4/30/2008 5:16 a.m.)
  - Ha! I love it! Nancy Ann (4/29/2008 9:06 p.m.)
  - Wonderful! Rachel G (4/29/2008 7:16 p.m.)

Groupread is maintained by Myretta with WebBBS 3.21.

View thread | Previous message | Next message Board index

- Jane Austen | Republic of Pemberley -

Quick Index

Home

Site Map

JAInfo