unfinished...
Posted by Bonny on June 02, 1998 at 08:09:38:
In response to link to "the Mystery" and commment..., written by Kate on May 30, 1998 at 07:59:45
] ] Since the read of the juvenilia is so timely, in that it coincides with my own foray into the minor works, I ws wondering if anyone would care to discuss this little pice with me. I want particularly to analyze why it is funny, which I believe involves JA playing with genre or at least the generic conventions that in drama the audience will conveniently "overhear" something of interest, which expectation is frustrated by JA in every scene of "the mystery." Is there anyone with more particular knowledge of what JA is sending up here in the way of 18th century drama, debates etc who could help me out? I'm comparing to "The School for Scandal ", at the moment, which involves lots of "overhearing".
]
] I have put a link to the text of "the Mystery" if anyone wants to look at it. It's only about a page long.
] Bonny, on the linked site it is described as "unfinished", though it is not in my book version. Do you think it is unfinished? Is all to be revealed in the second act? It does rather leave one hanging!!
]
In my book "Volume the First" from the Jane Austen Library it's described as an "unfinished comedy" and JA, in a dedication to her father says that tho' unfinished it is as complete a mystery as any of it's kind (italics in text). I made an assumption from this that it's unfinished-ness was part of the joke Jane was having with this play/skit, but wondered what was the "kind" or genre she was referring to... in other words am I in on the joke with my assumption, or is there some special knowledge required of the genre she's sending up to get it? I tend to think that part of the joke, "the mystery" is the info or secret we're being excluded from when characters whisper, or conclude conversations just as the curtain rises etc. Let me know if you think Im off the mark here. Perhaps JA did get bored during this particular piece and leave it unfinished, and the joke to her father is about the standards of other mystery dramas?
"Unfinished" - deliberate or not?
- "Mystery": unfinished The Mysterious H.C. 08:26:50 6/02/98
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- Thanks Mysterious H.C. :-)nfm Bonny 05:18:27 6/04/98
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- Thanks Mysterious H.C. :-)nfm Bonny 05:18:27 6/04/98
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