Willoughby
Posted by BarbaraB on August 18, 1998 at 17:03:22:
In response to Do you think that JA was a little in love with Willoughby herself?, written by Barbara on August 18, 1998 at 15:21:46
] Do you think that JA could have written such a character as Willoughby (and a character who can inspire endless debate!) without being a little in love with him herself? Her contempt for characters she does NOT like is always evident...
Barbara, this is an interesting question. My first contact with S&S was through ET's version. I found Willoughby very likable and thought him a great match for Marianne. It was disappointing when he was unveiled as a villain and I agreed with Mrs. Jennings when she said she hoped Willoughby's wife plagued his heart out or something to that effect. So imagine my further disappointment when I read of his outcome. I felt JA let him off too easily: "He lived to exert, and frequently enjoy himself. His wife was not always out of humour, nor his home always uncomfortable, etc." Though she did have him regret his conduct and his loss of Marianne, she allowed him to get past it and have a decent life. While I can't say this made JA a little in love with him, I must say she liked him well enough, despite what he'd done, to let him off the hook. I would have liked a dour, nagging wife for him.
Posting followups to old messages is disabled; instead go to the main index and post a new message which mentions this one.
