Greetings to the Bulletin Board:
I just found this message board, and this is my first post. I am female. I am delighted to discover the existence of this board, and other Jane Austen resources.
Opinion question: does anyone have any opinions about the identity of JA's mysterious admirer at Sidmouth? I've read some theories lately, as well as some sources that say there's no way to determine the young man's identity.
Jeanne Stapleton
I only know what I have read in the biographies and my guess is that you already know about those. I will repeat those citations in the off chance that you may have missed one. (I will use the abreviations for references that I established on the references web page.) Her nephew "Edward" was Jane's first biographer; however, his biography did not appear until 1871 (Jane died in 1817). He devotes only a single paragraph to the story you mention [Memoir, Chapter II] and identifies the source of the story as Jane's sister Cassandra. Edward's grandson updated the biography in 1913 and devoted an entire chapter [Life, Chapter VI] to "romance" and he devoted a great deal of space to this story in that chapter. He identifies the source of the new information as Edward's sister Caroline who wrote down her recollections of the history, as first told by Cassandra, shortly after her brother had published his biography. [Life] is definitely the best source of speculations about Jane Austen's loves. The story is also mentioned in Chapter 17 of [LeFaye-89] and it may be mentioned in other places in that most modern update (1989) as well. I hope that others can post something more useful for you. In any case, please come back and tell us what you learn; in fact, it would be interesting to read what you know to this point.
You asked for an opinion and I always have too many of those. The point is that Jane Austen clearly knew what it meant to be in love and we all search for that love in her life. The Sidmouth story never caught my imagination (I don't know why); rather, I prefer to read between the lines of Persuasion. I have expressed that idea in full in my discussion of that novel and its filmed versions. Apparently, Rudyard Kipling was of the same opinion; see his Jane's Marriage.
Actually, I tried to argue that Jane Austen is Darcy and Elizabeth. The conversation you refer to, eventually degenerates a bit and Darcy will later accuse Elizabeth of deliberately misunderstanding him. In fact, the exchange you refer to is a wonderful example of that very charge. The scene begins with Darcy entering a room in which the Bingley family was playing cards while Elizabeth sat alone reading. The Bingley party was teasing Elizabeth because she seemed to prefer reading to card playing. Then Miss Bingley made some pointed comments about the need for the proper airs and other affectations in order for a woman to be considered accomplished. That was too much for Darcy and so he said what he said as much as an admonishment to Miss Bingley as in defense of Elizabeth. I say "in defense of Elizabeth" because he explained that he also required that a women be well read in order to be considered "accomplished". Sadly, he chose the unfortunate wording that you point to and Elizabeth's proverbial dog made the leap upon Darcy's proverbial biscuit. Her prejudice was the sole guide of her thoughts and actions. (You know, I think that an unfortunate choice of words often does lead to false impressions, don't you?) Poor Darcy, the real target of his comments was probably too obtuse to catch his meaning (probably took joy in seeing Elizabeth at Darcy's throat) while the very person he wanted to defend would not take the time to properly understand what was happening. We might wonder why Darcy did not then make an effort to make his meaning clear to everyone; however, the irresistible Jane Austen logic made that impossible because Darcy was a guest in the Bingley home. If anything, he had already said too much. Yes, I believe that Jane Austen would agree with Darcy; in fact, she does make the same points with the Miss Bingleys of this world by writing this chapter.
Upon further reflection, may I suggest an appropriate motto for your new site?
"I do not write for such dull elves
As have not a great
deal of ingenuity themselves"
My best regards to yourself and your spouse.
How refreshing to find a man who is unafraid of reading "women's" literature - and then boldly going out on a limb and proclaiming them to be what I already consider them, "people's" literature. I feel much the same way about "children's" literature. Why should "children" be the only readers to enjoy flights of fancy and imagination, adventure and romance of a "wholesome" nature, i.e. without excessive and/or gratuitous sex, violence, and examples of man's baser natures?
Which brings me to another observation for comment. ...you made a remark about Jane Austen's unmarried state and possible unhappy love affair having a relationship to her ability to write so well and so feelingly about love and relationships, as well as wondering how many unknown geniuses have there been among happily-married women. This same comment could be made about two of my other favorite authors, Lucy Maud Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables, et al) and Louisa May Alcott. LMM had an extremely unhappy marriage, yet was able to portray beautifully wonderful love relationships and marriages in her books, along with well-delineated (and fallible!) male and female characters, both primary and secondary. My knowledge of LMA is a little more sketchy, but I believe she also had an unhappy private life and similarly portrayed well-rounded relationships. Every time I read either of their works, I am left with a resolve to improve my behavior and to seek the society of like-minded people with similarly high ideals of proper conduct and behavior toward others. (Not always easy to do in our society, which often seems to celebrate elevation of the lower motivations of human nature. I realize this makes me sound somewhat of a prig, but I assure you, I am not!)
I also share your views on Olivier's portrayal of Darcy in P&P. I felt the same way of his depiction of Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights - what a simpering fop he was! I much prefer both Timothy Dalton's and Ralph Fiennes' portrayals. (Although the version of WH in which Timothy Dalton appeared was not a good adaption of the story, IMHO.) And yes, Colin Firth was my ideal of a Mr. Darcy (loved the swimming scene at Pemberly!). I will also grant that Jennifer Ehle was Elizabeth, but I was not as impressed by Susannah Harker as Jane. ... Her acting, however, was quite good. I'm not sure who I would have preferred in the part - so maybe I'd just better let well enough alone.
I read alot, but with four kids I don't get alot of free time, although teaching them at home has given me the opportunity of rereading certain books from an adult perspective. I especially enjoyed "The Idylls of the King", and C.S. Lewis's Narnia series.
You might add to your "What some men said about Jane Austen" - Rudyard Kipling's story "The Janeites" and a poem called (I think) "Jane in Heaven". I've always been touched that when Ruddy dropped his pose of extra-manly man - it was for Jane.
Thank you for that. I haven't seen the reference but C.S. Lewis mentioned it in his essay as "Kipling's worst story" which is hardly specific enough. Your citations were sufficient to allow me to find the quotations and they are now posted in Brass, Winter Thunder, and a Polar Bear. Your first citation is listed as "epigraph to the 'Janeites'". The second citation turned out to be "Jane's Marriage" and is listed under that title.
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