Jane Austen flip-flopping on Mrs. Smith? I think not.

Quick Index Board Index Home FAQ Site Map

View thread | Previous message | Next message

Jane Austen flip-flopping on Mrs. Smith? I think not. Written by Cathy Allen (10/26/2011 5:23 p.m.) in consequence of the missive, Time to stir the pot on the ambivalence of Mrs Smith..., penned by jeffrey

I read Dr. Shapard's annotation on this point which has you wondering, and I disagree with him. The way I feel about it is that Jane Austen wrote this novel, and she could make her characters be whatever she wanted them to be, period. Am I ALWAYS consistent? Certainly not. Are you ALWAYS consistent? I don't know the answer to that, but I don't know anyone, personally, who is. I am human, and I like to think that I'm pretty consistent (being "constant" is a value to me), but occasionally I change my mind, or I simply go crazy, or whatever. In my opinion, no one can say what is "out of character" ore "inconsistent" for characters in a novel except the author (and, of course, there are good and bad authors in this regard!). I simply dismissed Dr. Shapard's annotation as wrong; makes me happy! :-)

Regarding Jane Austen's Mrs. Smith, I think she is pretty much desperate, and is grabbing at straws; as much as she likes Anne, she needs help, she sees a chance, and she is determined to take it. She is overwhelmingly relieved by Anne's attitude so that she can tell her the truth about Mr. Elliot. It works for me.

Previous message | Next message | Board index

Time to stir the pot on the ambivalence of Mrs Smith... jeffrey (10/26/2011 4:15 p.m.)

Mrs. Smith's reticence Kathryn Ann (10/28/2011 10:58 a.m.)
- Good point about the enormity of the coincidence. Amytat (10/29/2011 2:58 a.m.)
- Mrs S and Anne Bridget D (10/28/2011 12:53 p.m.)
A mixture of motives Ramya (10/27/2011 9:24 a.m.)
- Mrs Smith and Mr E Bridget D (10/27/2011 12:06 p.m.)
  - I am not inclined to be so severe on Mrs. Smith Ramya (10/27/2011 3:12 p.m.)
    - Mrs Smith and Anne Bridget D (10/29/2011 12:15 a.m.)
- Well said! Good analogy with Col. Brandon. nfm Rachel G (10/27/2011 10:03 a.m.)
I find her believable Amytat (10/26/2011 7:49 p.m.)
- Mrs Smith Bridget D (10/27/2011 1:13 a.m.)
Another previous thread, and Anne's inscrutability Tom P2 (10/26/2011 6:45 p.m.)
- Previous threads Cheryl (10/26/2011 7:11 p.m.)
Jane Austen flip-flopping on Mrs. Smith? I think not. Cathy Allen (10/26/2011 5:23 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