Posted by Cassandra on September 02, 1997 at 15:59:06:
In reply to Willoughby and Marianne? posted by Rita on August 25, 1997 at 15:56:53
] I am quite confused by this relationship, i had no problem believing that Wickham was a jerk but found Willoughby was a little more complex.
] It seemed as if he did love Marianne. I find it difficult to believe that the relationship was not real. Can anybody help?
Yes-I have a blindness for Will-shoot me! He fascinates me. On one level-he is another charm boy like a Wickham or Mr. Elliot. If there is any pattern in JA is that the heroine is always tempted by the slick, smooth operator(SADE), before finding happiness with the perfect loyal, constant man. Still, I agree with you. Will is more Complex, multidimensional.
Lynne and I had a similar conversation a while back regarding one of my favorite scenes in S&S-the confession scene to Elinor-all of those exclamation points! ("Marianne looking like an angel!") This scene works beautifully. Like Elinor, I find myself swept away by Will's vitality(interestingly not so much what he says, but the way he says it. True actor. It is a testament to JA's genius that Will's vitality, allure is palatable.
So, Do you believe Willoughby? For the duration of that scene, the high emotions-I do. I feel like Elinor -for a moment she wishes he were a widower and could marry Marianne. Personally, Willoughby deeply loved Marianne as much as he could ever love anyone. But, it is a selfish love. In the beginning, he is intrigued with making her fall in love with him. And then, when he is married-what does he live in dread of? Brandon marrying Marianne: "but she will be gained by someone else. And if that someone should be the very he whom of all others I could least bear--"
Contrast that with the Colonel who refuses to divulge what he knows about Willoughby for Marianne's sake: the he may endeeavour to adore her speech.
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