Why marry Mary?

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Why marry Mary? Written by Lia (10/1/2005 10:11 p.m.) in consequence of the missive, Why Charles is presented positively, penned by Kim in AK

Kim raises an excellent point about Charles' value as a contrast to CW.

But now over the last day or so, I've started to wonder, why did he marry Mary? (Apologies if this has been covered somewhere, I don't see it.)

He does not seem to be a man of deep passion, certainly wasn't heart-broken over Anne's refusal, but nevertheless it's a bit odd for him to have turned from one sister to the other, although we don't know the interval so I can't accuse him of pulling a Mr. Collins, turning from Elizabeth to Charlotte in a matter of days.

What, I wonder, did Charles see in Mary? He doesn't seem to be a social climber; I don't see the "Elliot connection" as being a huge factor. Was it that Charles just didn't get out all that much, and there were few women of appropriate class for him to choose from? Was it just time to get married, she was there, and would do as well as anyone?

Did he not notice her silliness previously? Was it not evident when they met in company (hard to believe)? He seems to tolerate her so well, perhaps her behavior didn't bother him.

And in circling back to Anne, even though Anne's virtues are obvious to us, I wonder what he saw in her. I don't see him as passionately in love, and I don't think any of us could see Anne with someone like Charles who did not passionately love her!

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Parenting skills (or lack thereof) Barbara (9/26/2005 5:17 p.m.)

Great Thread, Great Discussion, Thanks (NFM) BarbaraB (9/29/2005 6:08 p.m.)
In defence of Charles Tracy W (9/26/2005 9:30 p.m.)
- Love your analysis of Charles! nfm Kalyn (9/27/2005 3:09 p.m.)
- Invisibility and the double standard... helena6 (9/27/2005 9:55 a.m.)
  - Agree on double standard - blame them both equally! ;-) (nfm) Line (9/28/2005 8:26 p.m.)
  - Sense of Urgency to meet CFW JoAnn Elizabeth (9/28/2005 9:33 a.m.)
    - Not in this part of the reading Barbara (9/28/2005 12:32 p.m.)
- Those invisible servants, again Delories (9/27/2005 4:19 a.m.)
  - The nursery maid debate KateL (9/27/2005 9:21 a.m.)
    - Why do we think little Charles in only three years old? Kalyn (9/27/2005 4:19 p.m.)
      - His parents were married less than four years Barbara (9/27/2005 6:28 p.m.)
        
        Thank you! nfm Kalyn (9/27/2005 9:20 p.m.)
- Anne's assessment? Barbara (9/26/2005 10:13 p.m.)
  - We may have to disagree Tracy W (9/27/2005 2:24 a.m.)
childrearing Regency style Margaret H (9/26/2005 6:04 p.m.)
- Actually, the Musgroves sound very modern to me! Annette J. (9/26/2005 6:23 p.m.)
  - Role Model for Physical Activity Pennie (9/30/2005 7:32 a.m.)
    - Yes! And now they give children podometers Kalyn (9/30/2005 4:52 p.m.)
  - It does when... Barbara (9/26/2005 6:37 p.m.)
    - Charles, his children, the times, and JA's language Kalyn (9/27/2005 3:40 p.m.)
      - JA and Mr. Bingley James S. (9/30/2005 11:14 a.m.)
      - Oh no!   Barbara (9/27/2005 6:24 p.m.)
        
        The truth from disagreeable or ridiculous characters   Line (9/28/2005 8:13 p.m.)
        
        Anne does not equal JA,   Jenny Allan (9/30/2005 7:46 p.m.)
        
        Oh, I don't think JA meant...   Line (10/1/2005 3:54 p.m.)
        
        Alterior Motives   Jenny Allan (10/3/2005 11:39 a.m.)
        
        sorry about Poole, but still feel JA's language supports CM   Kalyn (9/27/2005 9:50 p.m.)
        
        Reading and Charles Musgrove   helena6 (9/29/2005 4:57 p.m.)
        
        Bingley and Darcy and libraries   Kalyn (9/30/2005 4:24 p.m.)
        
        Let's not stray too far afield   Cheryl (9/30/2005 4:50 p.m.)
        
        sorry--it was in my earlier posts in this thread! nfm   Kalyn (9/30/2005 4:55 p.m.)
        
        Why Charles is presented positively   Kim in AK (9/29/2005 7:08 p.m.)
        
        Why marry Mary?   Lia (10/1/2005 10:11 p.m.)
        
        I think switching from one sister to another...   Line (10/2/2005 8:53 p.m.)
        
        Not to mention Mr. Collins, absurd as he is, switching from   Kalyn (10/3/2005 4:11 p.m.)
        
        We do know the interval   Barbara (10/2/2005 12:19 a.m.)
        
        Great points! nfm   Kalyn (9/30/2005 4:25 p.m.)
        
        I agree - Charles is no Mr. Collins   Line (9/29/2005 7:57 p.m.)
        
        Good Analyzation (NFM)   BarbaraB (9/29/2005 7:52 p.m.)
        
        He probably is typical   Barbara (9/28/2005 12:25 p.m.)
        
        John Dashwood lol - something for the shoppe?   Kalyn (9/28/2005 4:06 p.m.)
    - I wonder though if this was a major concern of people in Annette J. (9/26/2005 7:24 p.m.)
      - The point is...   Barbara (9/26/2005 8:15 p.m.)
        
        As Margaret 7 pointed out below, we don't really   Annette J. (9/27/2005 8:41 a.m.)
        
        Is he around all of the time?   Barbara (9/27/2005 10:15 a.m.)
        
        What I mean by "at home"   Margaret 7 (9/27/2005 6:24 p.m.)
        
        I agree. nfm   Kalyn (9/27/2005 9:55 p.m.)
        
        Sensible fellow?   Barbara (9/27/2005 6:41 p.m.)
        
        I don't think that Charles is all that much different   Annette J. (9/28/2005 4:47 a.m.)
        
        I agree--he's no hero (nfm)   Barbara (9/28/2005 12:36 p.m.)
        
        Too true! ;o) -nfm-   Maisy (9/26/2005 8:32 p.m.)
      - In JA's own family...   Maisy (9/26/2005 8:04 p.m.)
        
        Charles is unlike a modern father (long)   Margaret 7 (9/26/2005 10:20 p.m.)
        
        We live in a society that is so focused on children that   Annette J. (9/27/2005 5:20 a.m.)
        
        That's a good point, and easy to miss...   Delories (9/27/2005 4:23 a.m.)

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