Yea
Posted by Bonny on August 03, 1998 at 05:26:20:
In response to Personal charms, written by gkb on August 01, 1998 at 20:13:20
] ] I can think of a scene where the authorial voice does shift to Male Gaze perspective though:in S&S, where we get perhaps JA's most minute description of her protagonists appearance filtered through Willoughby's eyes, perhaps to signal that W. is not quite the gentleman? Willoughby's orbs are most pleasantly stimulated by the visual input as he processes the forms of Marianne & Elinor. "Luscious babe" is not too far from his thoughts.
] Is this the passage in Chapter 10 that begins "Of their personal charms he had not required a second interview to be convinced." and goes on to describe their beauty? Well, bust my buttons! (don't got no bodice) I never realized that could be read as if from Willoughby's viewpoint. I always took it to be authorial omniscience. Thanks to you and your professor for enhancing my understanding of JA. RoP is SO much fun!!!
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Correct, this is the passage. Of course its not necessarily "definitely" from Willoughby's view. Sometimes it's so hard to pick when Austen shifts from a characters consciousness to omniescent narrator, and it could be the latter. But points for the former
-the passage begins & ends w/ Willoughby's views. (I think this can be read as Willoughby's view anyway -"it was only necessary to mention any favourite amusement to engage her to talk")
-It's so partial to Marianne, really dwells on her appearance, after dismissing Elinor in one sentence. It's willoughby, not every man who has this preference as edward Ferrars can attest.
-Austen herself doesn't usually dwell on one persons appearance for this long.
It is interesting to note then this sentence "in her eyes, which were very dark, there was a life a spirit, an eagerness which could hardly be seen without delight." If from "everyone's" point of view, this describes Ma.s natural vitality, something in Marianne that everyone appreciates. If from Willoughby's?
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