Posted by Caroline on July 07, 1997 at 22:48:46:
In reply to Lydia so tanned! posted by Katariina on July 07, 1997 at 08:30:44
] I was wondering in P&P2 when it's summer, Lydia is actually very tanned. Wasn't it considered unbecoming etc. in those days?
Austen-L did a discussion on beauty about two months ago and the point came up that the georgian /regency idea of beauty seems to be "a picture of health." A suntanned Lydia would certainly suggest robust and active health, don't you think? To me, Miss Bingley's comment on Elizabeth being "coarse and brown" is saying that she is unladylike(for being out in the sun) rather than strictly unbeautiful.So you could say that a suntanned Lydia would be considered healthy, active and unladylike. Does that fit in with her character?
Of course, Rita is quite right. I am sure Julia Sawalha was chosen for the part of Lydia because of her abilities and general appearance, and the shade of her complexion was a minor consideration!
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