Why not? (Long Post)
Posted by Rachel on November 02, 1997 at 14:49:57:
In response to Perhaps thirty-five and seventeen....., written by Carl W. Goss on November 02, 1997 at 03:45:27
] How could a man of his sense want to marry one so
] obviously immature and unaware of the ways of the world. What is the real attraction? They are so far apart in age. Could a marriage like that really work? Is Col Brandon simply blinded by the attractions of youth and beauty? And what does Marianne in the end seek by this marriage? Brings to mind the marriage between Diana and the Prince of Wales today. They seemed nearly as far apart in age as did Col Brandon and Marianne. The late Princess seemed nearly as immature in her youth as does Marianne in the early portions of S&S.
] Seems to me such a marriage cannot work, in most cases.
Carl, I think that it was maybe her innocense that was her greatest attraction. The fact that she knew nothing of the world, and was unspoiled. He was older, had seen the world, and was disgusted by it. Marianne has no regard for connections or wealth like most of the women of his day. She was probably refreshing to him, and so he sought to have her.
I don't know from personal experience, but I don't think that age has that great of an effect on the success of a marriage. I am of the school that age is more or less a number, because there are people who are born with maturity, and people who never obtain it.
I, however, do not see the charms of the Colonel and have never understood how she married him, because I don't think she loved him. But I would refer you to the other ladies who have posted, because they seem to be on-key here (that he was rich, pliable, bending . . .)
I don't think that this particular marriage was a success, but I see no barrier for these marriages not to succeed.
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