Mrs Lefroy = Lady Russell?
Posted by Caroline on August 19, 1998 at 22:08:28:
In response to Thomas Langlois Lefroy--Persuaded not to Marry Jane Austen?, written by Carl Goss on August 18, 1998 at 23:03:50
It's strange, but Mrs Lefroy seems to get blamed for both bringing them together and separating them, doesn't she? And of course, neither of them had a penny to fly with, either. She did of course say that for Tom she did 'not care sixpence', but somehow I do not quite believe her. Do you?
I think Persuasion is possibly the most apt parallel here, isn't it? Anne/Capt W separated by Lady Russell and Sir Walter:Lady R's reasoning that they had no financial expectation, therefore they were doomed to a life of misery, and Sir Walter unable to countenance the daughter of a Baronet allying her self with a common sailor. There's even the Benwick/Fanny relationship paralleling that of Cassandra and Tom Fowle -engaged but waiting for financial stability, then one of them dies before thay can marry.
I don't think it comes up anywhere else, though. Lady C doesn't manage to split up Darcy and Lizzy, after all, and there's no question of lack of money there!
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