John is worse than Fanny IMHO

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John is worse than Fanny IMHO Written by Anselm (9/7/2009 9:51 a.m.) in consequence of the missive, Exaggerations & contradictions, penned by kathleen (elder)

I wonder if any of the neighbours around Norland know how little John Dashwood did for the Dashwood ladies? Would his respectability suffer at all if they did?

That last sentence is surely a huge subject on its own! All I can say is that John D obviously thought it wouldn't: ...he finally resolved, that it would be...highly indecorous for him to do more than he wound up doing.

Wouldn't it be interesting to follow through the rest of the book to see if John makes good, even once, on the pathetic final version of his "promise"? I'm opening the betting at 73:4 against. It only makes it worse that, within an hour of Sir John Middleton leaving his Dashwoods tenants at Barton cottage, he's sent them a present of fruit and vegetables, shortly followed by another one of game (Ch.6). Kinda makes your heart bleed for John D's "conscientious vexation" at being robbed of the chance of doing even one thing for his stepfamily, doesn't it?

I think John is actually worse than Fanny. From her first appearance in the novel (and for goodness knows how long before that) she's a slimeball, with no pretensions to being anything else. It seems to be part of her nature, although that's another topic. John, however, makes a sincere determination to do the right thing in Ch.1, but for whatever reason winds up doing the wrong thing, his actions thereby resulting in an outright lie to his dying father - all of which he justifies with an insufferable sanctimoniousness. Doesn't the person who pretends to be good while being bad add hypocrisy to all their other sins?

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Is Ch.2 for real? Anselm (9/6/2009 1:51 p.m.)

At auction in Chapter 2 (long--sorry!) Ivonne (9/7/2009 2:01 p.m.)
- I always thought the foot wasn't hers to put down. Anselm (9/9/2009 4:54 a.m.)
  - Missing something...? Rachel G (9/9/2009 8:37 a.m.)
    - Yes, but... Anselm (9/9/2009 11:42 a.m.)
      - Addictive cycle of self indulgence and pride   Karen G (9/9/2009 1:59 p.m.)
        
        Good analysis!   Rachel G (9/9/2009 3:01 p.m.)
        
        A tongue-in-cheek response   Anselm (9/10/2009 11:06 a.m.)
        
        Watch closely...   Rachel G (9/10/2009 2:28 p.m.)
- Subtle Manipulation? Caroline (9/7/2009 10:43 p.m.)
  - thanks, everyone, for the helpful input! (nfm) Ivonne (9/8/2009 6:21 p.m.)
- Fanny the wheedler: how methodical and assertive is she really? Tom P2 (9/7/2009 8:24 p.m.)
- Delicious Chapter 2 RobinJ (9/7/2009 7:15 p.m.)
- Domestic Tranquility Robbin (9/7/2009 5:55 p.m.)
  - I am guilty of this Gina Marie (9/9/2009 7:19 a.m.)
- Helpful analysis Suzanne K (9/7/2009 5:45 p.m.)
Something I noticed in Chapter 2... Melissa K. (9/7/2009 12:07 p.m.)
Fanny amazes me; I thought I was queen of the rationalizers! Cathy Allen (9/6/2009 11:03 p.m.)
- Exaggerations & contradictions kathleen (elder) (9/7/2009 7:31 a.m.)
  - John is worse than Fanny IMHO Anselm (9/7/2009 9:51 a.m.)
    - John's promise Carol J. (9/7/2009 11:40 a.m.)
      - But did it prompt him to act? Barb JA (9/7/2009 12:09 p.m.)
        
        True BarbaraB (9/7/2009 12:58 p.m.)
    - Hear, hear! Barb JA (9/7/2009 10:49 a.m.)
      - Awesome comparison! CarolTS (9/7/2009 1:30 p.m.)
However it came about . . . Mary Anne (9/6/2009 5:51 p.m.)
John's change of heart Carol J. (9/6/2009 4:54 p.m.)
- And the truth was told when Mrs Dashwood was about to leave... janelt (9/7/2009 11:31 p.m.)
  - The Promise BarbaraB (9/8/2009 11:24 a.m.)
    - Given John Dashwood's nan duval (9/8/2009 8:41 p.m.)
      - ROFL!!! (NFM) janelt (9/8/2009 9:48 p.m.)
      - That's a good one too! nfm BarbaraB (9/8/2009 9:26 p.m.)
- I agree Nina RG (9/7/2009 8:02 a.m.)
John's sensibility and Fanny's sense... janelt (9/6/2009 4:06 p.m.)

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