Lucy as Emma?

Posted by Carolyn B on February 26, 1998 at 20:34:31:

In response to More favorites, written by Laraine on February 26, 1998 at 12:03:18

] I've underlined what I think is a line of genius in a brilliant paragraph. What I think is incredible is how that brief statement mirrors so much of my reading/life experience.

]

It is obvious enough for the reader to conclude, `She loves young Emerson.' A reader in Lucy's place would not find it obvious. Life is easy to chronicle, but bewildering to practice, and we welcome `nerves' or any other shibboleth that will cloak our personal desire. She loved Cecil; George made her nervous; will the reader explain to her that the phrases should have been reversed?

I started out (as did others here) thinking of Lucy as Catherine Morland from Northanger Abbey, wanting someone to tell her what was good art, whether the Emersons were the right sort of people, etc. But by the end, she is more like Emma, muddling through relationships and not realizing that she is in love with George!

REPLIES:

• Nice analogy! Laraine 10:25:47 2/27/98 (0)

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