Paltrow should take archery lessons from you...


REPLIES - POST REPLY - THE LIBRARY - FAQ - HOME - Q

Posted by Greg on January 02, 1998 at 12:15:29:


In response to Why Henry is so different, written by MB on January 02, 1998 at 10:50:11

...JA needs to have at least one character in every novel who will (for the most part) be representative of her values, opinions, intelligence, and wit. In other novels, she uses her heroines : Elizabeth, Elinor, Fanny, Anne, Emma? (I actually think that Emma represents JA's wit and Mr. Knightley represents everything else).

] Now, as much as I like Catherine, and as much as I think she and her family represent JA's values, I don't think that she can be said to represent JA's wit or intelligence. JA needed Catherine to be a certain way for the sake of the parodic (word?) elements of NA. So, JA used her hero to represent her in this novel.

] It strikes me that the characters who are usually the most "instructive" - Elizabeth, Elinor, Mr. Knightley, Henry Tilney - are also the ones who fit in with my idea of JA's own character.

] Michele
]




Since, IMHO, I think you've shot one right thru the bulls-eye in your post. I think I can see Jeremy Northam's mouth falling open and his eyes popping out right now! Henry is the real hero, of course. I was refraining from clogging up this thread with my thoughts, but with the latest posts I can't help adding my 9 shillings: Henry can also be seen in 1990's terms as a man who's in touch with his "feminine" side. He's really interested in muslins, and why not, indeed? As a "comfort" to his sister, he'll be an understanding husband. And he's a smooth talker who also just happens to be a pretty decent guy. So how did he end up with a sweetheart like Catherine? Aren't the nice guys supposed to wind up stuck with Isabellas?





REPLIES:




Posting followups to old messages is disabled; instead go to the main index and post a new message which mentions this one.


- Republic of Pemberley -
Home | Q | Jane Info