Suffering and relief from suffering
Posted by gkb on June 18, 1998 at 12:21:30:
In response to Sir T and Austen admitting he was wrong(Long!), written by Bonny on June 17, 1998 at 21:15:52
] "but if your heart can acquit you of ingratitude" - for me that constitutes emotional blackmail.
Yes, but it is not worse than "I blush for your feelings as a brother" when he is admonishing Tom for being a wastrel. It was too hard for Fanny because she is not as hardened as TOm, but how could Sir T. know she was so tender? Ignorant cruelty is less culpable than deliberate, even though the pain is the same. cf. Anne Elliot and Mary's passing on Wentworth's "altered" remark.
] -"Sir Thomas, poor Sir Thomas, a parent, and conscious of errors in his own conduct as a parent, was the longest to suffer"(anyone else think that this is ironic tone or should we take it on face value?).
I have always taken this as straightforward--that Sir T. basic goodness was reached at last when he had to suffer as TOm had to suffer. Those two are so similar, aren't they?
] what do you all make of "To be relieved from her(Mrs Norris) therefore, was so great a felicity, that had she not left bitter remembrances behind her there might have been danger of his learning almost to approve the evil (Maria's "entanglement") which produced such a good". Interpreted in this light, Sir T. is suggested to be as hypocritical as ever, but the irony may be doubling back on itself in a way I'm not getting. just a reflection on the obnoxiousness of Mrs N.?(in context I guess thats more likely) Help me out?
This is, in my view, a breakout of Austen's humor even on a very solemn subject. She was able to produce a type of "gallows humor" and, I believe, here Sir Thomas is less hypocritical than ever. It seems a realistic assessment to me that if Mrs. Norris "was everywhere tormenting" after Maria lapse, that she got even worse than before and was a thorny evil indeed. It would be a major relief to be rid of her--and a deliciously ironic punishment for Maria to have her.
- Yes...and...but... Bonny 08:32:54 6/19/98
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- Crime and Crewelty gkb 17:00:29 6/19/98
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- Cruelty in subjecting you to ramblings& possible kernel of truth? Bonny 07:45:19 6/22/98
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- Fifth Impressions gkb 11:44:51 6/22/98
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- Woww! Who needs sunglasses now? ;-) nfm Constanza 12:25:28 6/22/98
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- You are very kind! gkb 17:57:59 6/22/98
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- great advantages Bonny 08:47:12 6/26/98
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- Thank you Bonny but then Constanza 12:53:42 7/03/98
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- Your remarks are too kind, Bonny! nfm :-) Lea 14:57:46 6/26/98
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- And a generous, interested listener is an "Anne"! gkb 10:27:35 6/26/98
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- Thank you Bonny but then Constanza 12:53:42 7/03/98
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- great advantages Bonny 08:47:12 6/26/98
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- You are very kind! gkb 17:57:59 6/22/98
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- Woww! Who needs sunglasses now? ;-) nfm Constanza 12:25:28 6/22/98
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- Fifth Impressions gkb 11:44:51 6/22/98
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- I meant to say.... gkb 12:42:13 6/20/98
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- Oh, gkb! LOL! (nfm) Bonny 21:33:23 6/20/98
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- Oh, gkb! LOL! (nfm) Bonny 21:33:23 6/20/98
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- Cruelty in subjecting you to ramblings& possible kernel of truth? Bonny 07:45:19 6/22/98
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- Crime and Crewelty gkb 17:00:29 6/19/98
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