Reserve
Posted by Hil on September 10, 1997 at 17:46:28:
In response to Sense and Sensibility: a tract for the times!, written by Helen on September 09, 1997 at 06:39:30
] Someone wrote a letter to the Independent (British upmarket newspaper) yesterday saying exactly that we should try to balance the need to express emotion and the need to show restraint, and that Sense and Sensibility was an appropriate book for the moment. I think that achieving a balance between the two is hard, but worth the effort.
Do you think S&S suggests balance between the two, or is that a modern interpretation? Most times I read it, I think JA favours Elinor's reserve, almost exclusively.
] the biggest communication difficulties arise between different English-speaking nationalities: we expect the French, etc. to have different emotional responses, but the English reserve, American exuberance, Australian forthrightness are a lot more surprising because we all speak the same language.
Thats interesting its so marked. I guess it also underlines the idea that there is no one really 'correct' emotional response, either, maybe only a range of 'appropriate' ones. It does interest me that the English reserve is so attractive to some exhuberant Americans. Is it an unease with some of the over-the-top aspects their own culture? Not that I don't find it attractive sometimes myself.
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