"Tom Jones" & "The Monk"

Quick Index Board Index Home FAQ Site Map

View thread | Previous message | Next message

"Tom Jones" & "The Monk" Written by Rachel G (3/2/2009 6:48 p.m.) in consequence of the missive, JA's novel apologetic and the Thorpes, penned by TimLee

We are given further insight into the character of John Thorpe by the novels he selects as "tolerably decent".

"Tom Jones" by Henry Fielding (first published 1748), is a frequently bawdy tale which involves children conceived out of wedlock, a variety of extra-marital shenanigans including inadvertent incest, and an attempted rape.

"The Monk" by Matthew Lewis (first published 1796), is a lurid tale featuring lust, demonic pacts, rape, incest and torture. It was attacked by critics as an obscene publication, and had to be toned down before the second edition was published.

"Tom Jones" was very widely read, and "The Monk" was one of the most popular novels of it's period!

The narrator does not comment on Thorpe's preferred reading, but leaves us to draw our own conclusions. At the very least it is clear that Thorpe is not a man of refined tastes, and I think we are also being alerted to a certain coarseness in his thinking. Perhaps such a man is not the ideal acquaintance for a nicely brought up, naive young girl of seventeen.

Previous message | Next message | Board index

JA's novel apologetic and the Thorpes TimLee (3/2/2009 11:46 a.m.)

Great post Amymarie (3/2/2009 12:04 p.m.)
How much of this do we know right now, though? Lynn (3/2/2009 12:07 p.m.)
- I tried to be careful ... TimLee (3/2/2009 12:16 p.m.)
  - Thanks! Lynn (3/2/2009 4:12 p.m.)
    - You know the great thing about the word bloviator? TimLee (3/2/2009 4:25 p.m.)
      - It makes me wonder about James... Lynn (3/2/2009 5:42 p.m.)
        
        It makes James's character more real, I think TimLee (3/2/2009 5:59 p.m.)
      - New word for me. Elbè (3/3/2009 8:23 a.m.)
Would Thorpe's bigotry have been as much a... Adrian (3/2/2009 2:39 p.m.)
- Good insights, going to a deeper level TimLee (3/2/2009 3:07 p.m.)
- Is it really bigotry? Lynn (3/2/2009 4:17 p.m.)
  - But later he says Patty Patricia (3/2/2009 4:29 p.m.)
    - True, sorry. Forgot that bit! nfm Lynn (3/2/2009 5:41 p.m.)
- Why couldn't it have been simply silliness? gianni (3/3/2009 9:59 p.m.)
"Tom Jones" & "The Monk" Rachel G (3/2/2009 6:48 p.m.)
- Thanks for the description of these books! Diane N. (3/4/2009 10:11 p.m.)
  - Actually, if Catherine had not read *Camilla* and... Adrian (3/5/2009 11:45 a.m.)
    - I don't know about "The Monk", but I believe... Line (3/5/2009 2:04 p.m.)
      - JA's reading   Emmeline (3/5/2009 5:39 p.m.)
        
        Thanks, Emmeline!   Line (3/6/2009 9:59 a.m.)
        
        The future good (ch10)... and Rasselas... and harmless pleasure   Tom P2 (3/10/2009 9:06 p.m.)
Ulp! Are you on chapter 5 already? Line (3/2/2009 9:23 p.m.)
- Bloviate definition TimLee (3/2/2009 9:40 p.m.)
Novels, Heroines & Catherine Robbin (3/3/2009 1:16 a.m.)
- And, at the same time, CarolTS (3/3/2009 3:28 a.m.)
- 'affected indifference' Emmeline (3/3/2009 5:11 p.m.)
  - Oh dear! Robbin (3/3/2009 6:39 p.m.)
    - Yes, very true. Emmeline (3/4/2009 6:55 a.m.)
    - Are these Catherine's feelings Patty Patricia (3/4/2009 12:34 p.m.)
      - I believe the quote is in the narrator’s voice. Robbin (3/4/2009 1:00 p.m.)
        
        Yes that was my question - thanks (nfm) Patty Patricia (3/4/2009 3:55 p.m.)
Would Catherine catch the meaning of Thorpe's taste? Delories (3/5/2009 11:25 a.m.)
- It's JA's opinion of such people ,,, TimLee (3/5/2009 1:38 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