But the 14 years before that?

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But the 14 years before that? Written by Barbara (9/16/2006 11:30 a.m.) in consequence of the missive, Partly his wife's fault?, penned by Kim E

I have no objection to blaming everything on Fanny ;-), but I think we cannot ignore the fact that John married her at age 21, and had been a stepson to the second Mrs. Dashwood for at least 14 years prior to that.

I think it's odd that when she was his only maternal figure (as far as we are told) in his life from the age of seven (and that he therefore can probably barely remember his real mother, if at all), through all of his teen years and until he came of age that they were not able to establish a closer bond. Certainly Fanny could and would have weakened whatever there was there, but does it not seem as though there was not a lot there to begin with?

The direction that question leads me in is this: did Mr. Dashwood (the girls' and John's father) obviously and pointedly favour his second family? We know his first wife was very wealthy, but maybe he married her mainly for money. It certainly seems that the second marriage was made for love and romance--I can't imagine Mrs. Dashwood would have made any other sort of match, and we know she had barely any money of her own and no social rank to speak of.

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John and his step-mother Barbara (9/15/2006 11:58 p.m.)

John Dashwood grew up lonely IMO. Reeba (9/16/2006 4:03 p.m.)
- I agree about her likely remoteness from John Tom P2 (9/17/2006 8:06 a.m.)
  - Or else smothered him? Tina T (9/17/2006 10:07 a.m.)
    - Or,there is a possibilty that JulieW (9/17/2006 11:15 a.m.)
      - Would a boy go away to school at 7 or 8? -nfm Mary Ellen (9/17/2006 11:28 p.m.)
        
        "One's heart aches for a dejected mind of eight years old&qu JulieW (9/18/2006 9:24 a.m.)
Now that you point it out… Robbin (9/16/2006 3:32 p.m.)
This situation intrigues me... Moni (9/16/2006 12:59 p.m.)
- Think like a father-in-law Tracy W (9/17/2006 1:27 a.m.)
  - But what was his income? Tina T (9/17/2006 2:50 a.m.)
    - We are told in chapter 1 Tracy W (9/17/2006 5:02 p.m.)
      - Not a half share Barbara (9/17/2006 5:21 p.m.)
    - That's the impression I gather too,Tina JulieW (9/17/2006 8:35 a.m.)
      - So in the matter of...   Moni (9/17/2006 10:37 a.m.)
        
        I think he did have a choice,Moni   JulieW (9/17/2006 10:51 a.m.)
        
        I see. Thanks Julie;-) (nfm)   Moni (9/17/2006 11:12 a.m.)
But what about the *legal inheritor*. I'm confused. Reeba (9/16/2006 9:10 a.m.)
- "Strict settlement" Maisy (9/16/2006 12:09 p.m.)
  - CH 1 says .... Reeba (9/16/2006 12:21 p.m.)
    - Let me explain........;-) JulieW (9/17/2006 8:16 a.m.)
      - A Big Help, Indeed but...   BarbaraB (9/17/2006 9:42 a.m.)
        
        I'm sure he could have been more generous   JulieW (9/17/2006 10:45 a.m.)
        
        Thanks, Julie :) nfm   BarbaraB (9/17/2006 11:09 p.m.)
      - Yes, it does. Thank you Julie :) nfm Reeba (9/17/2006 9:29 a.m.)
        
        My pleasure! nfm. JulieW (9/17/2006 9:36 a.m.)
    - May be similar to the present situation Barbara (9/16/2006 1:40 p.m.)
      - This explanation... Reeba (9/16/2006 1:47 p.m.)
Mr. Dashwood's faith in John Yvonne (9/16/2006 3:00 a.m.)
- I'm sure that Anne L (9/17/2006 11:49 a.m.)
- On Mrs Dashwood and John's relationship. Mandy N (9/16/2006 7:13 a.m.)
  - "Your father thought only of them." Maisy (9/17/2006 9:39 a.m.)
  - Partly his wife's fault? Kim E (9/16/2006 8:40 a.m.)
    - But the 14 years before that? Barbara (9/16/2006 11:30 a.m.)
      - I think you hit the nail on the head... Elizabeth Sycamore (9/16/2006 2:19 p.m.)
    - True, and I would add that... Julianne E. (9/16/2006 9:33 a.m.)
      - I disagree; John was a waffler Mary Ellen (9/18/2006 8:20 p.m.)
        
        Yes, a mighty pig… Robbin (9/19/2006 12:44 a.m.)
      - Yes and it says... Moni (9/16/2006 1:09 p.m.)
      - John and Fanny and Goneril and Regan Barbara (9/16/2006 11:57 a.m.)
        
        Thank you - had not thought of this parallel (nfm) Tracy W (9/17/2006 1:33 a.m.)
      - Maybe John took after his grandfather, who was...   Reeba (9/16/2006 9:52 a.m.)
        
        Not his grandfather   Barbara (9/16/2006 10:19 a.m.)
        
        The Uncle   BarbaraB (9/16/2006 12:18 p.m.)
        
        Protecting Norland   Maisy (9/16/2006 12:36 p.m.)
        
        A reasonable answer...   BarbaraB (9/16/2006 1:20 p.m.)
        
        I still think a larger amount settled...   Reeba (9/17/2006 3:56 a.m.)
        
        It does seem very unfair, doesn't it? -nfm   Maisy (9/16/2006 3:30 p.m.)
        
        I'm sure JA considered it unfair.   Mandy N (9/16/2006 4:26 p.m.)
        
        In addition   Pennie (9/17/2006 11:02 p.m.)
        
        Not per annum!   Barbara (9/16/2006 4:46 p.m.)
        
        Well,   Mandy N (9/17/2006 1:25 a.m.)
        
        Chawton   Frances R (9/17/2006 2:11 a.m.)

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