Well, you know...what we were talking about
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Posted by Margie on January 13, 1998 at 11:10:53:
In response to An interpretation needed (long), written by Linda on January 12, 1998 at 16:48:44
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] Unless I misunderstood, the General is broadly hinting here of a match between C and H. Since she is the only one who does not understand, then H must. But how does he feel about his father's machinations? Does H know that C has no fortune? Is he in love with her now?
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I've never been able to sort out what Henry's feelings are at this point. He must know by now that dad expects him to marry C. I don't see any sign that he is resisting his father's intentions. (He might be feeling happy that his father isn't pushing someone like Caroline Bingley on him.)
But I have no feeling for whether or not he's in love with her. I never thought about whether he knows that Catherine has no fortune. I bet Eleanor knows by this point, because C. is so artless. I imagine that whenever C. talked about home she said something revealing.
] Later, after the letter announcing the broken engagement, in his description, is Henry saying that he plans to ask for Catherine's hand? or just being very sarcastic?
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My interpretation of that scene has always been that H. was just being sarcastic about Isabella. At least, I think that on a conscious level that is all that is going on with him. I think Eleanor sees that his sarcastic description of Is., is a true description of C. Then I thinks E. uses it as an opportunity to point out that C. has those virtues, and to say that she would like to have C. as a sister-in-law. There was some other discussion of this point a few months ago, and other people thought that H. was consciously describing C., but I should let them present their own opinions.
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