If Charlotte had married a sensible man...

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If Charlotte had married a sensible man... Written by Connie (4/27/2010 10:45 a.m.) in consequence of the missive, Charlotte, Spinsterhood and Society (Long), penned by BarbaraB

even if she was not "in love with" him, I agree she would not get the censure she does by marrying Mr. Collins. With Mr. Collins, she can only be marrying for security. With a sensible man, we could at least hope she had affection for him or would grow to love him through their daily life together. We could have a hope of her really being happy, instead of just being saved from possible poverty and the other ills attending unmarried women.

I think JA was realistic in her outlook. As you saw in her letters, she tried to find the balance among romantic love, sensible companionship, and financial security. Charlotte misses 2 of the 3 elements. We will have to see how Lizzy fairs.

Austen knows what an "old maid" has to suffer--although she was quite young when she first wrote P&P. I think she had the rare ability of being able to criticize (and laugh at) her characters' and real people's shortcomings, at the same time as having compassion for them. We really see this in her portrayal of Miss Bates. Charlotte is a complex character, and her situation is complex as well. JA did not idealize either marriage of convenience or "spinsterhood."

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Charlotte, Spinsterhood and Society (Long) BarbaraB (4/27/2010 3:51 a.m.)

21 st century points of view Benedicte (4/29/2010 5:27 p.m.)
- An ideal that JA wanted to promote Line (4/30/2010 9:20 a.m.)
  - Absolutely agree. JA was not Marianne Dashwood. Connie (4/30/2010 3:46 p.m.)
emergence of *marriage* Lini (4/27/2010 1:14 p.m.)
- Very good points! nfm AnnetteJ (4/27/2010 2:46 p.m.)
If Charlotte had married a sensible man... Connie (4/27/2010 10:45 a.m.)
- Although few in Austen's books ever seem to long for AnnetteJ (4/27/2010 11:11 a.m.)
  - Charlotte will be a great mom! Heather Leigh (4/27/2010 4:13 p.m.)
    - Charlotte and Children Bridget D (5/1/2010 7:08 a.m.)
      - mothers in Austen Heather Leigh (5/3/2010 6:49 p.m.)
Very good analysis. As I posted below, in Emma we have AnnetteJ (4/27/2010 8:18 a.m.)
- Ideals vs Comfort Aaron (4/27/2010 1:55 p.m.)
  - without feeling [] blind, partial, prejudiced, absurd Stephanie (4/27/2010 4:19 p.m.)
    - But again... Line (4/27/2010 9:26 p.m.)
      - Don't they pave roads and buy schools computers? :) nfm Stephanie (4/27/2010 11:47 p.m.)
        
        True! :-) (nfm) Line (4/28/2010 9:07 a.m.)
      - That reminds of what Lizzy says   Connie (4/27/2010 10:42 p.m.)
        
        Dangerous Liaison   Robbin (4/28/2010 10:49 p.m.)
        
        LOL: I Say Eeeek too but...   BarbaraB (4/30/2010 2:47 p.m.)
        
        An early reference   Aaron (4/29/2010 1:36 a.m.)
        
        And yet, we are unmoved ...   gianni (4/29/2010 9:40 p.m.)
        
        Life as a Nun   Aaron (4/30/2010 3:21 a.m.)
        
        I can (and do) doubt that Mr Collins loves   kathleen (elder) (4/30/2010 6:21 a.m.)
        
        Agree that...   BarbaraB (4/30/2010 4:59 p.m.)
        
        mr and Mrs Collins   Bridget D (5/1/2010 7:15 a.m.)
        
        He's not physically repulsive   Graciela (5/1/2010 10:42 a.m.)
        
        Mr Collins   Bridget D (5/2/2010 1:20 a.m.)
        
        I agree   Line (5/1/2010 10:59 a.m.)
        
        Charlotte is Wrongheaded   Robbin (4/29/2010 12:32 p.m.)
        
        Yes, that is Charlotte's view   Connie (4/29/2010 12:07 p.m.)
        
        And if she learns that his flaws are worse than   kathleen (elder) (4/29/2010 6:02 a.m.)
        
        Can Someone Tell Me   Aaron (4/29/2010 1:04 p.m.)
        
        Chapter 22   kathleen (elder) (4/29/2010 1:28 p.m.)
        
        Dear katheeln(elder) and those who also...(long)   Silvia A (4/29/2010 5:27 p.m.)
        
        Deceit & Improving Mr. Collins   Robbin (5/1/2010 11:27 p.m.)
        
        About "not deceiving or hurting anyone".....   Silvia A (5/2/2010 10:40 a.m.)
        
        Sense, lies & Insensibility   Robbin (5/2/2010 5:31 p.m.)
        
        And, if "not deceiving or hurting anyone" ...   gianni (5/2/2010 1:28 p.m.)
        
        Deceit: Charlotte vs Darcy   Connie (5/3/2010 10:51 a.m.)
        
        Twice recently Charlotte has been accused of...   Adrian (5/3/2010 12:32 p.m.)
        
        Mr. Collins's toadying, rationally softened   Connie (5/3/2010 3:53 p.m.)
        
        Exactly   Line (5/3/2010 4:58 p.m.)
        
        charlotte   Bridget D (5/3/2010 1:11 p.m.)
        
        Self-interest is not toadying   Adrian (5/3/2010 8:22 p.m.)
        
        toadying   Bridget D (5/4/2010 7:14 a.m.)
        
        Deceiving Mr Collins   Bridget D (5/3/2010 2:49 a.m.)
        
        "Lies" that Darcy did not use in his proposal! nfm   Stephanie (5/2/2010 6:45 p.m.)
        
        And Darcy was so successful? (nfm)   Adrian (5/2/2010 6:58 p.m.)
        
        she was at first sorry for the pain he was to receive   Stephanie (5/3/2010 3:44 p.m.)
        
        Are you then justifying what Charlotte did...   Adrian (5/3/2010 8:32 p.m.)
        
        Thank you Silvia.   Reeba (4/30/2010 9:32 a.m.)
        
        Are you sure that Elizabeth was the only   kathleen (elder) (4/30/2010 9:58 a.m.)
        
        Nothing is sure,   Reeba (4/30/2010 1:40 p.m.)
        
        I agree that there may be some other   kathleen (elder) (4/30/2010 1:58 p.m.)
        
        But all those...   Reeba (4/30/2010 2:39 p.m.)
        
        PS   Reeba (4/30/2010 2:42 p.m.)
        
        Exactly!   kathleen (elder) (4/30/2010 6:55 p.m.)
        
        Mrs Bennet produced Lizzy ;-) nfm   Reeba (4/30/2010 7:14 p.m.)
        
        And Mary & Kitty & Lydia nfm   kathleen (elder) (4/30/2010 9:02 p.m.)
        
        Your post is very well written :-)   kathleen (elder) (4/29/2010 9:19 p.m.)
    - the lottery vs Mr. Collins Aaron (4/27/2010 4:34 p.m.)
      - So glad that in the 21st century we have choices not available AnnetteJ (4/28/2010 8:05 a.m.)

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