Sorry, Bob
Posted by Bonny on January 11, 1998 at 00:18:35:
In response to Do sensible people go outdoors (in England)?, written by Bob on January 05, 1998 at 17:55:27
] The ironic aside in S&S was about picnics - how counter to sense it is to make oneself uncomfortable in order to "enjoy" a meal.
] I have just been reading Emma again (JA is a constant source for my wife and I reading aloud to each other) and came across almost exactly the same thing again:
] John Knightley: "... here we are, setting forward to spend five dull hours in another man's house, ... in dismal weather, to return probably in worse; - four horses and four servants taken out for nothing but to convey five idle, shivering creatures into colder rooms and worse company than they might have had at home." p. 113 in the OUP Illustrated
Apologies Bob. I see how off track I was in inverting the point, for my own Marianne-esque purposes (thoughts coloured by my sensibilities when I thought I was displaying my sense), of a post which I professed to admire. Bear with me, I'm new here, but am completely sold on the concept.
I see what you meant, about *sense* and visiting/picnics/dinners. A week ago I enjoyed that same Emma passage, and reflected on the character of J.Knightley, who I like immensely. I had thought however, that his sense, in this case, was supposed to show a slightly selfish sort of sense, a blunt display of it, untempered by consideration for the feelings of others. I liked that Emma could honour it as stemming from the "right" reasons of domestic attachment, feelings which are also strong in her. I am rambling, but what I meant to say was that others of the party looked forward to and enjoyed the Randalls dinner, and that J.K. was mostly concerned with his own comfort, and his own ideas of comfort, and could not sacrifice those feelings for the comfort of those he loved, or forsee any pleasure in being with friends if this involved any discomfort to himself.
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