Posted by kathleen (elder) on August 21, 1997 at 14:44:39:
In reply to Re: Pity for Elinor posted by Arnessa on August 21, 1997 at 14:07:11
You must tell us your opinion on a 3-constable day, then!
Seriously, I know many Elinors and a few Mariannes. Being an Elinor myself makes it difficult sometimes to interact with these Mariannes; I do not lack emotion, but sometimes I do not want others to know how deeply I feel. Of course, not all emotions are concealed -- just those that I think should be controlled for the time being. (My "Marianne" friends occasionally seem to be more overwhelmed by my pain than I am.)
I have always assumed that Elinor resembled her father just as Marianne resembles Mrs Dashwood. Elinor had a tendency to control her expression of emotion, and she learned to conceal even more in order to protect herself and her family. Not all of her emotions are concealed -- she makes her love for her family obvious, and her frustration with her sister, and her anger with Willoughby. What she mostly controls is the expression of her feelings for Edward and her pain when those feelings seem doomed.
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