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Talent & Taste Again :D
Written by Robbin
(9/19/2006 11:54 p.m.)
in consequence of the missive, More on taste--or the lack thereof, penned by Barbara
I read total want “of talent” to mean Sir John and Lady Middleton are untalented, have no other resources to occupy themselves other than what is described—his as a sportsman, congenial host and hers as a mother, cold but elegant hostess. I take total want “of taste” to mean neither of them desires to pursue any other resource, activity, pleasure. Their employments are confined but that is how they like them. So in the end “total want of talent and taste” means they have little resources with which to occupy themselves but they are happily satisfied with what they have. In Chapter 7 it is noted that Lady Middleton gave up music immediately upon her marriage—when she no longer needed to attract a husband. Music to her was a throw away resource, useless because neither she nor her husband enjoy it—neither her in making it nor he in listening to it. Evidence for this is when Marianne plays the pianoforte in Chapter 7, neither Sir John nor Lady Middleton pay attention but continue in their chosen pursuits. Sir John continues very loudly in his role as congenital host and Lady Middleton tries to maintain an elegant listening personal as a good hostess but is not paying attention at all because she asks Marianne to play a song she has already played. I think “unconnected with such as society produced, within a very narrow compass” means Sir John and LM are not influenced to improve themselves by the few talented resourceful individuals found within their small society and I think their behavior during Marianne’s requested recital is proof of that. I think the fact that the narrator announces the Middleton’s virtues and faults renders it a true description whereas if Marianne had said it I think the reader would have to question if Marianne by her sensibilities is being fair in her judgment of them. A question arises for me at this point: Are we supposed to think there is something lacking in Sir John & LM for not wishing to improve themselves, not pursuing more creative and intellectually enlightening pursuits? I am not quite sure we are supposed to feel this particular lack although it makes them a bit boring because despite Sir John’s general uncouthness and LM’s general coldness they seem to me, so far at least, happily matched. Even though they have opposite characters they compliment each other. Example: Sir John likes to party and receives great enjoyment from having happy active people around him; LM does not enjoy this hustle and bustle I suspect but receives pleasure from laying a good table and setting up elegant entertainments, basically impressing her guests with her hospitality. ;D
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