Posted by Laraine on August 28, 1997 at 11:49:57:
In reply to are you a linguist, grammarian, or mathematician? posted by greg on August 27, 1997 at 23:25:34
] i'm an imaginist like emma, so that makes re-reading these last few chapters even more of a treat!(ref. book 3, ch. 3 = chapter 39) :-) examples: the first time i read emma i skipped over the miss bates soliloqies 'cause i didn't think i could take much more of her, but they are brilliant! ja gets ruthless in her characterizations here: miss bates' ramble #1 in book 3, ch. 2, when she enters the crown, and ramble #2 later in the same chapter!
] then comes the riotous assault by the gipsies and the even more riotous description of its aftermath on harriet and the rest of highbury!
] any other thoughts on these chapters? even a mathematician should have something to say here!
________
Greg, you remind me of Lewis Carroll's line about ambition, distraction, uglification, and derision! :-)
I adore the Miss Bates ball monologues. I've always credited--well, who could not credit it?--as the first real piece of stream of consciousness writing.--Faulkner thought he was doing something new, when all along Austen was there more than a century before!--Every thing so good!--It's brilliant!---Must not compliment, I know--that would be rude--but upon my word, Jane Austen never did a better absurd character!--Do you not think so?--You are a judge.--My dear sir, you are too obliging.--Upon my word...
(The ball is my favorite scene in the whole novel. I did a fan fiction piece on it.)
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