Lady Russell and Mrs. Clay

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Lady Russell and Mrs. Clay Written by Adele W (10/3/2011 10:22 p.m.)

I happened to notice in Chapter 2 how very strongly Lady Russell disapproves of Mrs. Clay:

"Lady Russell, who thought it a friendship quite out of place..."

"From situation, Mrs. Clay was, in Lady Russell's estimate, a very unequal, and in her character she believed a very DANGEROUS companion..." (Caps added.)

The use of the word "dangerous" in describing Lady Russell's estimation of Mrs. Clay's character strikes me as an interesting case of foreshadowing. We know that Lady Russell is a woman who "had prejudices on the side of ancestry," (2) which would account for her viewing Mrs. Clay as unequal; but to view her as dangerous to Elizabeth makes me feel like Lady Russell sees more of Mrs. Clay's true personality than we may at first realize. Is Lady Russell more astute than I usually give her credit for?

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Lady Russell and Mrs. Clay Adele W (10/3/2011 10:22 p.m.)

Yes, I think so. Lady Russell... Nancy Louise (10/4/2011 10:04 a.m.)
- There is a charm in flattery Robbin (10/4/2011 2:32 p.m.)
- poor Mrs. Clay may be staying here in perfect safety Stephanie (10/4/2011 11:52 a.m.)
  - Mrs.Clay's safety Adele W (10/4/2011 12:03 p.m.)
    - I never took it so, but maybe. nfm Stephanie (10/4/2011 5:22 p.m.)
    - Mrs. Clay is safe Robbin (10/4/2011 2:58 p.m.)
    - That is what I thought, too. nfm Nancy Louise (10/4/2011 1:46 p.m.)
- Clumsy wrist? Cheryl (10/4/2011 10:36 a.m.)
  - I always took it to mean slightly malformed Jean B (10/5/2011 12:02 p.m.)
    - clumsy wrist Stephanie (10/5/2011 12:55 p.m.)
      - I googled it too and found...   Adele W (10/5/2011 1:07 p.m.)
        
        Johnson's   BarbaraB (10/5/2011 2:33 p.m.)
        
        Makes sense   Robbin (10/5/2011 4:16 p.m.)
  - hardly any personal defect Stephanie (10/4/2011 12:05 p.m.)
  - Perhaps Mrs. Clay had poor handwriting? nfm Nancy Louise (10/4/2011 11:34 a.m.)
  - The whole "indignant" response/conversation was dismiss Nancy Louise (10/4/2011 11:31 a.m.)
Mrs. Clay´s personality Sonia K (10/4/2011 9:51 a.m.)
- Novel text Cheryl (10/4/2011 10:28 a.m.)
Could dangerous mean the flattery? kathleen (elder) (10/4/2011 4:41 a.m.)
- The danger in Mrs. Clay Kathryn Ann (10/7/2011 1:16 a.m.)
  - Second fiddle. Rachel G (10/7/2011 5:20 a.m.)
    - Snap Rachel G :) nfm Deborah Julia (10/7/2011 9:10 a.m.)
  - Danger to Elizabeth Deborah Julia (10/7/2011 5:06 a.m.)

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