Posted by Marsha on September 02, 1997 at 00:56:19:
In reply to Henry.....I Can't Not Like Him posted by Nora on August 26, 1997 at 18:02:28
] I know this is sick....but I think it's because Jane Austen had it done so quickly,...but I can't not like Henry. I found myself hating Fanny for making him wait. I know you all think that he is weak and feeble, and I would agree with you only if I read the first half of MP. Jane Austen did say that he truely and completely loved her. I know he didn't really wait very long before he went off on cheating with Maria, but that whole thing didn't really stick with me. If JA had gone into it more I think I would feel the same way, but I was hoping right until the very last page that he would say to Fanny,...that Maria threw herself at him and promised she would kill herself if he didn't take her a way. Maybe that would be a good idea for someone in the guild to write about. I still dislike Edmund (maybe it's the whole marrying your first cousin that upsets me).
________
I finally found someone that agrees with me!!
I like Henry Crawford and Mary, and I really dislike Edmund.
I think Edmund is spineless, and Henry with all his faults is never that. Plus I never bought the story of his running off w/ Maria, it seemed too contrived to me-like JA wanted to get rid of him.
Plus, he is shown throughout the book in love w/Fanny, while Edmund is busy making sheep's eyes at Mary, and we never do get to see his change of heart, so what I remember is Henry's feelings, not Edward's. And I read somewhere that even JA's brother expected Fanny to end up w/ Henry, so I guess I'm in good company.
Guess that makes me a Crawfordite!!
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