Elizabeth Bennet's fine eyes
Posted by DonnaJ on May 27, 1998 at 18:27:06:
In response to JA and beauty, written by Silja on May 27, 1998 at 13:29:43
] Maybe there are more readers of JA out there who wonder like me why JA stresses the point in all of her novels that the heroine is NOT the most beautiful girl around.
Hi Silja. Your enthusiasm is contagious! IMHO JA wished to define the heroine's character first and foremost. As evidenced in P&P, Lizzie is described by her father as having "something more of quickness than her sisters" who are "silly and ignorant like other girls". We see here that JA is not describing Lizzie as the most breathtaking beauty on the planet, but in a more real and concrete way as a women with personality and opinions. (Maybe even a little headstrong?) Mr. Darcy ponders Lizzie's features:"But no sooner had he made it clear to himself and his friends that she had hardly a good feature in her face, than he began to find it was rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of her dark eyes". To really see Lizzie we must take into account her intelligence, independence, and "easy playfulness" and that really is the whole package, isn't it??
By the way, I'm new here and I think your right, this is a great place!!
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