Where has the week gone? Between an out-of-town conference and being sick, with the quick pace of life passing me by, I have been unable to keep up with the group read! I hope what I am writing hasn't already been discussed, but I did read the intro's to all the other discussions and I think I am safe. If not, please ignore this post!

In my observations of chapters 5-7, I have been deeply struck by Anne's convictions of having propriety no matter the cost. Unfortunately, the cost is much for her.

In chp5 regarding all of the arrangments of going to Bath, Anne gets snubbed by Elizabeth - no big surprise. Mrs. Clay is found to be a better companion than Anne, and Anne is sent to Uppercross Cottage. Imagine if Anne had a fit and demanded that her PLACE and significance were higher than Mrs. Clay's (sound familiar?) and that she should accompany Elizabeth to Bath, force her opinion into where they would live, ect, how that would turn out? She would be behaving much like her family does on a regular basis, and her family would probably like her all the more for it. But she doesn't because it isn't proper to throw a fit, force her way into things, force her way into making people think she is important. I think she knows she is important, at least to herself, was once in her mom's eyes and is now with LR, but she must stand firm on something and that is her self-respect that she wants to do the right thing. We are also introduced to Mary and see this entire conversation between them which I think is pathetic. Mary starts and finishes blaming Anne and everyone else of inconviencing her for not attending to her in the time she needed it. Now I know this was no trouble for Anne, she was quite used to all her family's ridiculousness. But this phrase caught my eye, "A little farther perseverance in patience, and forced cheerfulness on Anne's side, produced nearly a cure on Mary's." Forced cheerfullness, I would have put that in bold if I could figure out how this program would allow me to! Anywho, this provides me with the obvious idea that Anne does not enjoy this behaviour of her sister's (who would), but endures it because it gives her something to do. " To be claimed as a good, though in an improper style, is at least better than being rejected as no good at all; and Anne, glad to be thought of some use, glad to have any thing marked out as a duty, and certainly not sorry to have the scene of it in the country, and her own dear country, readily agreed to stay.." with Mary. Anne could have very easily come to Mary and behaved in any manner of ways to embarrass Mary, belittle Mary, disregard Mary, or outshine Mary, and could have done it easily, but she does what is right by placating Mary's manipulative ways, gets her in a good mood, to everyone's benefit. Very self-sacrificing of Anne, anywhere in this conversation I would have had to hit the self-distruct button!

Chp6 really pained me as I read the intro - never noticing this before - that although Anne was happy to be useful there at Uppercross, she knew that her current agonies would be treated with such indifference by those around her. They gave no thought to the fact that Anne's family had to leave thier home, but where so concerned about going to Bath and being in good situation when they get there! Happily oblivious to Anne's pain, and she knew that this was what she was to face. But deeper still was this paragraph in regards to Anne's piano playing,

{ "She played a great deal better than either of the Miss Musgroves; but having no voice, no knowledge of the harp, and no fond parents to sit by and fancy themselves delighted, her performance was little thought of, only out of civility, or to refresh the others, as she was well aware. She knew that when she played she was giving pleasure only to herself; but this was no new sensation. Excepting one short period of her life, she had never, since the age of fourteen, never since the loss of her dear mother, known the happiness of being listened to, or encouraged by any just appreciation or real taste. In music she had been always used to feel alone in the world; and Mr. and Mrs. Musgrove's fond partiality for their own daughters' performance, and total indifference to any other person's, gave her much more pleasure for their sakes, than mortification for her own."} Had Anne declared to everyone that SHE was the superior piano player amongst all of them, boasted about how well and quick she played, she might have gathered everyone's attention towards herself for a little while, but it would not have been right, and she would not have been able to respect herself. She self-sacrificingly laid aside her pride and did not demand the honor that was due her. High, strong principles indeed.

I could go on and on, but this post is getting long so I shall say this - the price she pays keeps her unknown and humble, keeps her lowly in significance in the eyes of others, and I beleive she unconsciously allows herself to beleive it, without realizing it. She has enough gumption in her to object with rationality to Elizabeth regarding the influence Mrs. Clay could have on Sir Elliot and attempt to put her on her gaurd, but she has allowed herself to become melancholy, most likely doesn't care for her outward appearance as she had at one time, as one could read into by this paragraph in chp 7, "Captain Wentworth is not very gallant by you, Anne, though he was so attentive to me. Henrietta asked him what he thought of you, when they went away, and he said, "You were so altered he should not have known you again." She has grown in wisdom and strong opinion and standards for herself and has paid a price for it.