Posted by kathleen (elder) on July 07, 1997 at 20:19:19:
In reply to Re: Edmund & Fanny posted by Luisa on July 07, 1997 at 18:15:15
Indeed, Fanny is not like the other heroines -- in fact, I find they are all very different from one another, so it's not surprising that we have each have different favorites. My favorite will always be Elizabeth Bennet -- P&P was my first JA book, and EB was the most perfect heroine in the world to me. The other novels were harder for me to like, in part because none of the other heroines was Elizabeth -- but once I forgave them that fault, I found that I could like them and enjoy their stories. ;-)
When I read the novels, I still want to tell Fanny to toughen up, Marianne to grow up, and Elinor to lighten up, but I like them all because they all have an awareness of themselves (i.e., they are reflective, and they try to do what is right, ultimately). I agree that Fanny & Edmund seem too old too soon (as does Elinor, for that matter), but I have known people like that. And, as for being wet blankets, I don't really think so -- the play was inappropriate, not because it was fun but because of the subject matter and dialogue. Other forms of fun were not frowned upon -- music, dancing, reading plays, card games, etc.
Sympathetic to the Crawfords, I too start out liking them. But, as much as I want to, I cannot continue liking them. Henry, especially, upsets me with his attitude as God's gift to young women. And, Mary seems to be too shallow, or something. In the end, while MP is not a sparkling book, I find I like it and feel the ending is the right one.
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