Nay! The importance of being "artless"...


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Posted by Greg on January 04, 1998 at 22:37:03:


In response to The importance of being ignorant, written by Carolyn B on January 04, 1998 at 18:11:14

Henry doesn't seem to mind being adored...

]


] Or having a young protege to instruct....

] Consider the lines in Ch 14:

] "A woman especially, if she have the misfortune of knowing anything, should conceal it as well as she can."
] and

] "Catherine did not know her own advantages - did not know that a good-looking girl with an affectionate heart and a very ignorant mind, cannot fail of attracting a clever young man...."

] Is he like Knightley working to shape Emma into the woman he will marry?



Guess I wouldn't mind being adored either! I was struck by these chapters in the same way as I was reading them today. But setting aside my own personal preference for sharp-witted women, I think Catherine's greatest attraction for Henry was her obvious honesty - her innocence rather than ignorance. One gets the feeling that was a rare quality in that society(think of all the Isabellas and Lucy Steeles on the prowl). Of course, none of these qualities are even noticed by we men if the girl doesn't possess some physical attractions. Yes, the male ego must be fed, but I think Henry will be just as happy to be shaped by Catherine's influence as vice-versa.





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