Emotional intelligence
Posted by Linden on July 20, 1998 at 03:33:02:
Has anyone come across the idea of emotional intelligence? In other words, making sensible decisions about love, dislike, compassion, and all the rest.
IMHO, Jane Austen was not only very emotionally intelligent herself (but then, any decent writer is), but also valued it in others. She doesn't use the phrase, of course, but this is what she seems to mean when she gives us Lizzy in P&P deciding to try not to fall for Wickham because it would be imprudent, and then loving Darcy from "gratitude and esteem."
Elinor in S&S is another example: deliberately contrasted with Marianne, but nevertheless still capapble of very strong feelings.
Many of the bores are completely lacking in emotional intelligence: Mr Woodhouse interprets everyone else's feelings solely in terms of what suits him, without an idea that, for example, Mrs Weston (poor Miss Taylor that was) is blissfully happy.
JA is not so blind as to see it as the only quality: there are characters (mostly the rakes like Henry Crawford) who are highly emotionally intelligent, but nevertheless villains.
JA appears to think it can be learned: when Lizzy berates Darcy for his "selfish disdain for the feelings of others" he goes off and reforms.
Thoughts, anyone?
- Reference: "Emotional Intelligence" by Daniel Goleman Linden 23:36:44 7/20/98
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