Oh, I see.
Posted by Golda on May 15, 1998 at 15:57:33:
In response to MP, written by gkb on May 14, 1998 at 21:42:15
] No one is going to convince me that Fanny is a wuss. No one is going to be convinced by me that she is morally courageous. People have different opinions on the matter--so different that, like religion and politics, I am astonished that the very topic has not been banned.
]
I thank you all for your feedback, and now feel free to express some of my opinions.
I just finished re-reading MP because I was in an Austen-novel mood after recently re-reading and discussing Persuasion on that board. There is much to say about MP and, IMNSHO, this novel deserves discussion just as much as the four that have their own Board. Clearly, this story is not written in the same mood as some of the the other JA novels, but I think such differences speak well of an author. We would probably be bored if all the JA novels were alike.
gkb-- I don't think Fanny is a wuss. She is extremely ethical and moral, and I personally value ethics above all other attributes in a person. I live my life always attempting to do the right thing. But, Fanny is, unfortunately, somewhat without a spine. All her family but Edmund treated her ill, with little respect, and no regard through most of the story. She was a poor relation who was sensible of her situation. How could she speak her mind in such a setting? So she doesn't. Because so many of us apply what we would do today, we forget that these options were not as easily available to Fanny. And I think we'd all agree she has the finest qualities of any character in the book. As I read the novel, I silently talk to Fanny, telling her that she should tell Aunt Norris to go !#*&@% herself, or tell Aunt Bertram to get a life. But if she did, then she wouldn't be Fanny, and the story wouldn't be the same.
I also agree on your thoughts of conversation. The RoP is an oasis that we visit to share a mutual love of JA, and perhaps, avoid some of the other less pleasant aspects of our daily lives. Why bother to get into a hassle over anything? I refer to that cliche, oft quoted by mother: "If you can't say something nice, don't say it at all." Those persons who don't think well of MP or NA should share their thoughts kindly, or move on.
And yes, Linden, most of us probably cannot relate to Fanny in the same way that we may relate to Lizzie Bennett, or even like to fancy ourselves to be Lizzie, or Emma, or any of the other heroines. As I write this, I even think that Anne Elliot is not so dissimilar to Fanny Price (and I love the Persuasion novel). She is ill-treated and under valued by her family too, and she bears it in silence, although she is well-regarded by other society.
So thank you all for your comments. Perhaps we can do this again?
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