Wit, humor, meaning in S&S
Posted by Cassandra on September 15, 1997 at 14:39:43:
In response to On re-reading S&S, written by Lynne on September 15, 1997 at 00:58:51
JA's genius is brilliantly displayed in S&S. I hate how its joys are sometimes overlooked, comparing it to JA's later, better developed creations. Anne's road to self-knowledge and a second chance at love; Emma's awakening from delusions; and Lizzy and Darcy's almost fairtyale like romance.
In S&S, JA gave us three of her greatest comic characters-the Palmers and Mrs Jennings-who "had only two daughters, both of whom she had lived to see respectably married, and she had now therefore nothing to do but to marry all the rest of the world." Great line.
In S&S, JA also gave us the wonderful relationship between the two sisters and how they come to understand one another. The sisters conflict, I think, takes precedence to the romantic complications, Marianne;s loss of innocence, differing greatly from JA;s other works. Marianne describes the essence of their relationship so beautifully, again JA's genius: "WE are alike in being different. And thus our situations are the same."
And of course, the Willoughby confession scene-dramatic, intense. For me this scene works on two levels. On one hand, we, like ELinor, find ourselves(well-at least me) responding to Will's magnetism almost despite ourselves. The character of Willoughby stands above the other charm boys with his complexity. However you see him: Tragic hero, blackguard, coward. WE know more about him than Wickham or Mr. Elliot.
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