First, the question : Assorted quotes and a question for Kate (longish)
Posted by MB on December 29, 1997 at 15:10:24:
First, the question :
The Reading Schedule states "Dec 28 : Chapters 1-10" and then Jan 4 we start with Chapter 13. Are we to include Chapters 11 and 12 now or later? BTW, thanks for giving me an excuse to re-read NA!
Some quotes (and possible discussion starters?) :
from Chapman's intro to the Oxford edition - "The Morning Chronicle for 19 and 20 Decmeber 1817 announces the publication of Northanger Abbey, a Romance; and Persuasion, a Novel" Interesting distinction, no?
from Chapter 2 - regarding Catherine's sister : "Sally, or rather Sarah (for what young lady of common gentility will reach the age of sixteen without altering her name as far as she can?)" Times haven't changed much, have they?
- regarding Mrs. Allen : "Mrs. Allen was one of that numerous class of females, whose society can raise no tother emotion than surprise at there being any men in the world who could like them well enough to marry them"
from Chapter 3 - Henry's witty comments on journal-writing (lots of stuff here!)
- Henry - "Thank you; for now we shall soon be acquainted, as I am authorized to tease you on this subject whenever we meet, and nothing in the world advances intimacy so much"
from Chapter 5 - Henry's witty comments on novels
from Chapter 6 - Isabella's proclivity to exaggerate : "The following conversation...is given as a specimen of their very warm attachment, and of the delicacy, discretion, originality of thought, and literary taste which marked the reasonableness of that attachment...(Isabella's quotes)'I have been waiting for you at least this age'...'Oh, these ten ages at least!'...'I have an hundred things to say to you'...'that would have thrown me into agonies!'...'the prettiest hat you can imagine'...'I quite longed for it'...etc.
from Chapter 7 - on Catherine's lack of perception (her true "flaw", I think) : "...which might have informed Catherine, had she been more expert in the development of other people's feelings, and less simply engrossed by her own..."
- John Thorpe as an early used car salesman (read Henry Churchyard's hilarious "proof" of this on the JA page)
from Chapter 8 - I love this quote about Catherine : "guided only by what was simple and probable". A good or a bad thing?
from Chapter 10 - "It would be mortifying to the feelings of many ladies, could they be made to understand how little the heart of man is affected by what is costly or new in their attire; how little it is biassed by the texture of their muslin, and how unsusceptible of peculiar tenderness towards the spotted, the sprigged, the mull or the jackonet. Woman is fine for her own satisfaction alone. No man will admire her the more, no woman will like her the better for it. Neatness and fashion are enough for the former, and a something of shabbiness or impropriety will be most endearing to the latter." JA's lost treatise, Mars and Venus in the Ballroom?
- marriage vs. dancing
overall observations - Is Henry an early portrait of, say, Mr. Bennet? Less cynical and more involved, certainly, but is this what Mr. Bennet was like before he was jaded? And would he have continued more like Henry had he married better?
- Catherine seems to have the most sensible, loving, and responsible parents of all the heroines in Austen
Chime in!
Michele
:-)
P.S. If you are still awakw after all of this and want to respond to parts of it, please remeber to snip any unnecessary parts. Thanks! Lessens my guilt for being so long-winded in the first place...;-)
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