I shall not attempt to deny...

Posted by Barbara on March 24, 1998 at 01:18:14:

In response to brandon...., written by Kate on March 23, 1998 at 06:58:33

] ] I don't agree with this, but I have been wondering how much of my good opinion of the happiness of the Brandon marriage is owed to Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman! ;-) I'm trying to remember what I thought of Brandon before he was Rickman in my mind, and I can't remember, I finished the book just days before I saw the movie.

]

] I KNOW the movie made me see Brandon in a new light. I never found him particularly attractive in the book, and I think it is probably the point at which Emma T took most license in order to make the outcome more desirable to her audience (and Colonel Brandon for that matter...;-) )

I shall not attempt to deny that Alan Rickman's portrayal of Colonel Brandon very favourably influenced my opinion of that character!!

But, in all honesty, I read the book quite some time before seeing the movie, and did not at all have a negative impression of Brandon or their marriage from the book. Brandon is a non-entity for much of the book. The lines that say that Marianne's whole heart, in time, became as devoted to Brandon as ever it had been to Willoughby tell the whole story right there. She grew to love him, and they were happy together. How can this be regarded as "sinking" into a marriage with him?

The negative feelings could come, I suppose, from JA writing that there was no irresistable passion there and that Marianne was Brandon's reward for having conducted himself properly. I have always thought that by this, JA was poking fun at the whole idea of what will make a happy marriage. Is a happy marriage to be expected from "falling sacrifice to an irresisable passion" or is it more likely to be found with a man who is known to be good and honourable and genuinely attached to the lady (even when the going gets rough)?

I disagree with Tomalin--just MHO!

REPLIES:

• Well stated Marie Bernadette 13:18:53 3/24/98 (0)
• The ending Cheryl 11:39:32 3/24/98 (5)
  • The logical conclusion Cyndie 19:15:27 3/24/98 (4)
    • conclusions and fashions.. Kate 19:25:48 3/24/98 (3)
      • Brandon Cyndie 21:25:30 3/24/98 (2)
        • the ending... Kate 22:21:31 3/24/98 (1)
          • A thought Helen 13:48:06 3/30/98 (0)

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