Col. Brandon's Offer

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Col. Brandon's Offer Written by BarbaraB (10/21/2006 10:04 p.m.)

Earlier in the GR in 'A Tale of Two Elizas' (10/10/06) we began a discussion about whether or not "Brandon's lost love Eliza may be redundant, and that the one sad and ruined Eliza would suffice to amke the lpoint that Willoughby was unworthy of Marianne." Different reasons were given as to why the first Eliza was necessary. I feel that Brandon's offer of a living to Edward after being booted out by his mother, is another reason why the first Eliza story is necessary.

Col. Brandon: "I have heard," said he, with great compassion, "of the injustice your frined Mr. Ferrars has suffered from his family;... The cruelty, the impolitic cruelty,"---he replied, with great feeling---"of dividing, or attempting to divide, two young people long attached to each other, is terrible---Mrs. Ferrars does not know what she may be doing---what she may drive her son to...."

More than anything I think the Colonel's empathy, having suffered a similar fate himself, is what prompts him to make this offer out of the blue to Edward. Even though he has never met Edward, he feels, as a friend himself of Elilnor's he is able to help another friend of hers avoid the quandry he found himself in when he was a young man. The first Eliza story is the source of too many plot points as well as essential to the characterization of the Col. to have been omitted in my opinion.

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Col. Brandon's Offer BarbaraB (10/21/2006 10:04 p.m.)

Question James S. (10/22/2006 5:02 p.m.)
- Politic cruelty Louise H (10/23/2006 1:30 p.m.)
- That was the..way she wrote. Reeba (10/22/2006 5:39 p.m.)
  - Oxymorons BarbaraB (10/22/2006 6:53 p.m.)
    - oops :-/ Reeba (10/23/2006 3:51 a.m.)
An honourable intention... Mandy N (10/22/2006 7:40 a.m.)
- I thought that he told Elinor deliberately Pennie (10/26/2006 3:34 a.m.)
  - Mrs Jennings & Elinor at cross-purposes. Mandy N (10/26/2006 5:53 a.m.)
    - Why does Col. Brandon make such a point... Maisy (10/26/2006 8:28 a.m.)
It's just S&S2 where Colonel Brandon has never met Edward Tom P2 (10/22/2006 1:51 a.m.)
- Aah, Yes.... BarbaraB (10/22/2006 9:55 a.m.)

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