Grave Doubts
Posted by The Mysterious H.C. on June 06, 1998 at 22:12:18:
In response to salter-duke@taunet.net.au, written by Linden on June 06, 1998 at 20:59:32
Since when is standing up for one's integrity, personal autonomy, and right to make one's own major life decisions necessarily "romanticism"???
Unless you can show that Jane Austen was in sympathy with, or specifically greatly influenced by, the literature or philosophy of romanticism (which I don't think you can do), then I don't really think you have much right to consider her part of romanticism, and that you would be misleading your students to present this as a simple factual uncontroversial proposition.
Elizabeth specifically asserts her right to refuse Mr. Collin's proposal on the grounds of her being a "rational creature", not a "romantic individualist", and Jane Austen made fun of those romantic individualists who went around saying such things as this to their parents:
"My Father, seduced by the false glare of Fortune and the Deluding Pomp of Title, insisted on my giving my hand to Lady Dorothea. ``No, never,'' exclaimed I. ``Lady Dorothea is lovely and Engaging; I prefer no woman to her; but know, Sir, that I scorn to marry her in compliance with your Wishes. No! Never shall it be said that I obliged my Father.''" We all admired the noble Manliness of his reply.
- --Love and Freindship
Don't take my word for it, look at what Prof. Landow of Brown University has to say.
By the way, I would call Catherine Morland "Gothic", and Marianne Dashwood "Sentimental" and "Picturesque" -- things which may or may not be quite the same as "Romanticism".
P.S. You might also want to look at Sir Edward Denham of Sanditon to get another idea of Jane Austen's views on the Romantic movement (in addition to the quotes included in my previous posting).
- In response (longish) Linden 23:18:19 6/06/98
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- Further quibbles and cavils... The Mysterious H.C. 22:46:45 6/07/98
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- Further quibbles and cavils... The Mysterious H.C. 22:46:45 6/07/98
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