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Eliza and the duel


 Posted by Barbara on May 15, 1998 at 19:58:07:


In response to 2 Queries about Brandon, Willoughby, and Eliza, written by Tamee on May 15, 1998 at 12:54:13


Back to the Sense and Sensibility board ] First: When did Willoughby know of Eliza's relation to Col. Brandon?  I know it is strongly implied in the book that he had no notion until after Brandon challenged him, but could he have entirely failed to make the connection which seemed reasonably well-known at Barton at least?
I think we are not meant to believe that he really knew who she was until after the damage was already done. He would have been a very great fool indeed to do what he did had he known her connections.
But I also think that it says something about his total lack of regard for Eliza as a person that he didn't know who she was. She meant so little to him, and she had no place at all in the future he envisioned for himself that he didn't even bother to find out who she was connected to before sleeping with her.
 ] Second: About the Duel.  In the book Col. Brandon tells Elinor that "we met by appointment, he to defend, I to punish his conduct.  We returned unwounded, and the meeting, therefore, never got abroad."  I know that not all duels had to end in one being killed, and I know about the idea of fighting until first blood is drawn, but how could a duel end with both being unwounded.  An apology?  Pistols missing?  A different choice of weapons?  Could someone enlighten me?
 
I think it was acceptable to shoot into the air and it was called "deloping" or something like that.

 





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