Choosing to do right...
Posted by Lea on May 17, 1998 at 16:38:29:
In response to Lea, Laraine,, written by Bonny on May 15, 1998 at 05:18:05
] Let's see if I get your point. What you would like to know if that the Crawfords are potentially "good intelligent interesting" and moral people, that they would actually be so had they been educated differently and that they are attracted to Fanny and Edmund because the latters realise (possess and put into action in real life) the qualities M and H can admire, and thought couldn't exist in people..
] To sum it up, I agree that Mary and Henry have the potential to become "moral" people and that that is one of the reasons they are attracted to Edmund and Henry, but I think that the blame for not realizing such qualities lies with them, and it is not the result of their education.
Bonny,
Sorry I haven't responded to your questions before now. Constanza gave such a well thoughtout response, I don't really have much to add.
I agree with Constanza that Henry and Mary were not ruined by their lack of a proper education, but by their own choices.
We all have the potential/freedom to do the right things (Mary and HC included), but we must make conscious choices. I believe in individual responsibility. One ofthe major problems with our society is that many will not take responsibility for their wrong actions, but we must.
I think Mary and Henry both see qualities in Edmund and Fanny that they admire, but as Constanza said so well "but I think that the blame for not realizing such qualities lies with them, and it is not the result of their education."
I will add that I agree with Jane that the standard of right and wrong behavior is God's word. I'm not ashamed to say that and neither was Jane, but I believe this is what makes MP her most controversial book. I really have avoided discussing MP in part because I cannot fully defend it without appealing to God's word.
If a reader doesn't agree that the Bible is the ultimate standard of right and wrong, they will probably see Edmund and Fanny as judgmental, no matter how eloquently I defend them.
--Lea :-)
- Moral standards Eril 11:44:40 5/22/98
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- I like Jane's books for the same reasons... Lea 21:54:13 5/22/98
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- I like Jane's books for the same reasons... Lea 21:54:13 5/22/98
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