Posted by AnneM on June 03, 1997 at 21:03:56:
In reply to Re: The Short List & Donna posted by Ann on May 30, 1997 at 16:06:38
] In her own house with her own children, she would have power, which is something she is completely lacking growing up at Mansfield.
________
While I'm sure none of us has felt as powerless as Fanny, I have been in work situations, where I thought I was between a rock and a hard place. It left me powerless to act as I really wanted to. In one situation I simply quit, and not wanting to "burn bridges" shook the jerk's hand and lied about why I was leaving!!! I never felt good about myself for not telling the truth, but I now find he his dying of cancer. Now I think I did the right thing. (Nothing would have changed if I had said anything.)
Having said that: Even if Fanny had stood up to aunt Norris nothing would have changed. In fact she might have been shipped back home. So standing up would have served no purpose. (Children were seen and not heard) The best part of the novel for me is when she shows her backbone and does not marry Crawford. But isn't that a modern view?
Which brings me to this: Are these characters drawn to expose what was wretched in society?
Miss Austen accepted an offer from a wealthy man, only to turn him down the next morning...I wonder if her suitor resembled Mr Rushworth?
So what do you think?
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