Posted by Susan on June 04, 1997 at 22:01:20:
In reply to Emma = Caroline Bingley [P&P]? posted by Kathy F. on June 03, 1997 at 20:16:36
] Few people will dispute the fact that Mr. Knightley and Darcy are "two peas in a pod,"
Here's one! This has been discussed before, so I won't go into detail, but I feel they are actually quite different.
] neither is very likeable--Jane Austen said that herself about Emma (at least at first), and who likes Ms. Bingley--except her relatives?--and that is perhaps a hope, rather than an accepted fact. We are given little insight into Ms. Bingley's thoughts and character, but I'm beginning to think that if we had, we would see Emma. Their main differences are in situation--for instance, Emma lived at home with her father, and Ms. Bingley had many acquaintances; Emma was virtually an only child, Ms. Bingley was not. Other than those types of things, the only other differences that I can see are that Emma was an acknowledged wit, and that she was less accomplished than Ms. Bingley.
Some very good points here! I believe that Emma was basically a good person who did some not-so-smart things, whereas Carolyn's motives and feelings are less wholesome. Splitting hairs, maybe?
] And with that, I must leave for a few days into that barren wilderness known as visiting relatives who have no access to the internet. :-(
Oh sure, just stir us all up and then take your leave! :-)
Susan (who just returned from a similar vast wasteland)