Posted by kathleen (elder) on September 17, 1997 at 15:05:21:
In reply to Elope posted by Ann on September 17, 1997 at 12:26:43
] ] Even if he slept w/ Maria, why elope w/ her? seducers don't do that-it would be to encumbering and stop further fun, besides being socially ruinous.
] ________
] From what I gather from the use of the word "elope" in JA, it only seems to mean: running away together. I don't see that that would ruin the fun at all. If Rushworth knew what had happened, then Maria could not have stayed with him anyway. Better to run off with your lover, than to be ejected from your house.
________
Exactly -- eloping did not necessarily mean getting married.
As for the social consequences, Henry lost Fanny as soon as his affair with Maria became public knowledge, so running away with Maria didn't change that. As far as other social consequences, JA tells us that the public punishment of disgrace was not as heavy on the man as on the woman -- I think that Henry would (eventually, anyway) be able to regain some of his position in society and live to flirt again.
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