Yep, coarse and plebeian, or rather more exotic than elegant
Posted by Traci P on October 07, 1997 at 21:08:10:
In response to Coarse? Plebeian?!, written by Kali on October 07, 1997 at 16:35:23
] One of us must be in some alternative universe. Polly Walker - at least in Emma2 - was far from tan - or coarse, for that matter! I, too, and a rather pale person, and she didn't strike me as any darker or leatherier than me. SHe is, however, perhaps a bit more robust than one would expect on the health issue. But bear in mind that Jane is not a tiny wilting flower, as Emma1 would lead us to believe. SHe's tall and of a normal, healthy weight. Perhpas it is more her lack of an "open temperament" which leads us to believe that she's so weak and reclusive as to be practically biolumiescent! ;-)
Actually I'm basing that opinion on traditional English and American beauty standards. Polly Walker is not what I would consider pale (maybe I'm just so pale as to consider everyone darker than me "tan," but I can't imagine anyone considering Polly Walker pale). Up until this century, pale was beautiful (I would've been considered the height of elegant beauty...200 years ago...hehehe)because only the wealthy and well bred could sit inside and protect their complexions, so pale was what I thought to be what Emma referred to as Jane's "elegant" complexion. I don't consider tan complexions coarse or plebeian, but until Coco Chanel made tans popular, tanned or even moderately olive skinned was definitely not considered an elegant look. I think at best that would have been referred to as "exotic". I didn't think Polly Walker looked "weatherbeaten" but I didn't think she fit the pale standard of "elegant" beauty either. I do admit that I think there is something to be said for matching Jane Fairfax's restrained personality with restrained beauty, and that is why I preferred Olivia Williams as Jane Fairfax. I thought she looked exactly as I thought Jane would look from Emma's descriptions :)
Traci
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