Not at All
Posted by Cassia on November 12, 1997 at 16:38:38:
In response to Ms. Price, written by Tilde on November 11, 1997 at 03:52:10
]
Perhaps the gulf between Fanny-bashers and Fanny-lovers is, that Fanny-bashers read JA as contemporary novels, whereas Fanny-lovers read them more like historical documents?
Not at all. I see Fanny in her proper setting.
]
The only result you would get from sending ms. Price to summer-camp or the like, Cassia, is to see her mending all the torn clothes and soothing the wounds of the rest of the people there, as well as baking those special cookies that cook doesn't find any time to do.
She could also learn to show optimism and enthusiam. I am not a complete Fanny-basher, I see her merits but feel she doen't take advantage of them. For instance, part of the reason Aunt Norris is so horrible to her is the fact that Fanny capitulates and nearly particpates in the abuse. Bullies must be stoop-up to whether in the 19th or 20 centuries. Yes, I can see her taking care of the wounded but I can also see her gaining confidence is her ablities. Most of all, I can see her getting away from the Bertram family and gaining a place where she feels neither below nor above (she's alomost snobbish to her family) the company she keeps.
Yes, of course they do and did. The world has always been a bit cruel to gentle creatures which is why most of them learn not to wear their hearts on their sleeves to be trampled willy-nilly. People are always kinder to those who have strength unless they are infants, most likely people will remain so.
] So, no Cassia. I am not going to contribute to your scheme of transforming 19th c. Fanny into 20th c. ms Price, perfection is still perfection, and transforming her so that she migth meet 20th c. ideals will not make her more loveable or disagreeable, quite the contrary in fact.
Sorry we cannot have your support for our appeal.
You do realise that it was all a joke, right? It is my rather long winded way of saying: I don't want to talk about Fanny for a while. She tends to dominate every Austen gathering I've ever been to, much to the neglect of JA's other characters.
Posting followups to old messages is disabled; instead go to the main index and post a new message which mentions this one.
