Agreement about ambiguity (EMMA BOARD message #1818)

Agreement about ambiguity

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Posted by Laraine on September 03, 1997 at 10:00:05:

In response to Re: My opinion, for what it's worth, written by greg on September 02, 1997 at 22:10:55

1011p>] i see said the blind man! thanks for shedding some fresh light on this laraine, it sounds very convincing. and you don't think his "favourite" could refer to emma, or that ja is leaving it open to speculation?
] btw, read your "knights in black satin". BRILLIANT, imho! speaking as a man(who also has little use for dancing), i'm amazed at how you've so perfectly captured knightley's psyche, as surely as emma(unconsciously) "captured" him. i now picture LARAINE at miss taylor's wedding holding the "world" on a string!

________

How sweet you are! I'm glad you liked "my Mr. Knightley"--thanks so much!

I agree that there's an ambiguity in Austen's phrasing in using "favourite" and an ambiguity about Knightley's alarm--for whom is he feeling all this concern? But I also think it's a slight ambiguity--I think JA wanted the reader to read the statement as being about Jane, but she also wanted the alert reader to catch the ambiguities--her hints, however subtle, help create all the tension, suspense, and ultimate appreciation for the rightness of the novel's matches.

:-)

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