I am on page 136. When I have time, I want to discuss the middle of page 135 where he stops, Anne blushes, and then he clears his throat and continues.
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I am on page 136. When I have time, I want to discuss the middle of page 135 where he stops, Anne blushes, and then he clears his throat and continues.
I've gone back to the top of 115 on human nature and I need to add some thoughts. While, yes, Mrs Smith seems to be referring to people who are sick, it doesn't change the fact that people who are not sick still act the same way. Look at the news! There is little positive in the news. That's why I'm no longer au fait with the news. I have come to ask myself this question regarding the news: ''So what? And just how is this information truly useful to me?'' There is little useful information. Tell me how my taxes will be impacted, what is the construction that will affect mobility around the city, what accidents are slowing the morning commute and how should I avoid them? for example. Other than that, build me up!
Mrs. Smith is a perfect model in my eyes of seeing beyond current circumstances and capturing life in a way that suits her. She is happy despite the poor hand that she has been dealt. I had a battalion commander say to me before we crossed the border into Iraq, ''In the course of this fight you may be dealt a 2 and a 3. Play those cards hard because it may be all you'll get for a while''. Now that's a HUGE nugget in the waters of life!! Mrs. Smith plays her 2 and 3 hard.
I encourage all to rise up in the clouded moments of life, view the destination--the objective--and get their bearings.
There is One True North and there is a star in the sky that will guide you if you look at it and follow it.
I understand your position on the careless or hasty comment. You are referring to that which hurts a person. I do not think telling it like it is is what she is referring to. I think it's saying what you think or behaving in a way where the reactions of others are unanticipated rather than calculated. A harsh, intentional comment is as calculated as the precise, perfect wording of a compliment.
No, I think that she is referring to comments like Mr. Bingley as he speaks with Jane when they first meet, ''I CAN read!'' as he stumbles to ensure she gets that he is not illiterate. Contrast this with Mr. Collins rehearsed compliments. Mr. Darcy, while polished and capable in his wording drops the front in emotional moments with Elizabeth Bennet. We are sympathetic to Bingley and Darcy. We laugh at Collins.
The place is quiet. I think I will watch Pride and Prejudice....
I'm told that as people Age it is important to keep their mind busy and active to prevent the effects of declining cognitve sKills.
I loOk around me and I see people working crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles and Sudoku puzzles. I guess it's a great way to work the mind!
But as I age, I find that the analysis and discussion of classics is also a tremendous tool to keep the mind active. Not to mention, when I walk away from this book to another, I will have more in my mind to compare to things that happen in my life and to other books. Nothing puzzling about that!
Now to reread 135 and the blushing!
Anne states that Benwick and Louisa both come from good principles and good tempers. But that is all that Wentworth will give them stating, ''but there I think ends the resemblance.'' He goes on to speak of all things that would contribute to their happiness and comfort in life, even ''... more than perhaps--''
And here is where we conjecture. I think that he, in that moment, was comparing himself to Benwick and felt like he was unable to offer the same measure of happiness. He feels some rejection and Anne feels a twinge also. That would explain her blushing and downcast eyes and his stumbling over his words in an awkward moment.
A second idea I had was that he could be referring to Benwick being happier with Louisa than he was with his first wife who died, I think, less than a year before. After he cleared his throat he went on to suggest that Benwick's attachment to his wife could never merit a recovery of the heart. ''He ought not--he does not.''
Your thoughts? A girl's perspective please?
Oh, and get ready for a delicious paragraph at the bottom of 137!! WEE!!
First, I agree with what you said about the hasty and careless comments! That is precisely what I meant, and I guess I didn't explain it clearly. I did not thing she was referring in any way to hurtful comments, just that you are more apt to trust people like a Bingley or Darcy, and not a Collins. Good examples!
Here is what I interpreted on page 135:
Wentworth is talking about Louisa's parents and that they are "in favour of their (Benwick's and Louisa's) happiness; more than perhaps-" I think he was going to say they were more in favor of Benwick and Louisa than he and Louisa. Then, I think he recalls, as Anne is recalling at the same time, that Anne's family was not in favour of Wentworth's union with Anne. I'm really not sure, but that was the impression I got, and I felt the emotion of embarrassment for Wentworth also, as I read it, like Anne did.
Looking forward to page 137!
I can see that about Louisa's parents. Would you also take a closer look at the next paragraph where Wentworth speaks of Benwick's dead wife and tell me if you see anything in there?...
Yes, he talks about the relationship with Benwick and his wife and it being a true love, the kind a man would never get over. It makes Anne very happy to hear him talk that way.
But I've lost some respect for him. Why didn't he notice Anne to begin with when he returned? He treated her normally and Louisa captured his attention. Now it seems that since Louisa is marrying Benwick, he turns to Anne, and seems more interested in her because other men are interested in her. That bugs me.
He is embarrassed and uncomfortable and is unsure of where he stands. Having been rejected once before he is cautious in showing interest because he doesn't want to be crushed again. Louisa is second best and if he goes the rest of his life without knowing Anne's real feelings then he is not the wiser and can live without ever having to know he missed his second chance. There is safety there but no reward. No risk, no reward. That is the value Louisa adds to his life.
There is also the smugness of ''look what you missed out on!'' That is stupid, but seems to fall in line with human nature.
I think that in a deep and real love that exists between a man and woman who are not in a position to act on it there will always be pain, especially if each is involved with another person.
And it just compounds it if each are not in love with the person they are with. They must suffer together and separately, each imagining the other is less in love or less committed than maybe they really are.....
Wentworth is protecting himself from more pain. There will always be pain in life and there will always be opposition in all things. THAT is how you know joy!!
Where are you in the book? I have gotten to 145 and want to stay right about where you are! I'd kinda like you to get to end just slightly ahead of me. You be au fait!...
Nice thoughts! PAge 148 here...
At the risk of showing my lack of intelligence (and of losing more respect!) I looked up the word ''streightened'' because I did not understand it. It shows up toward the end of chap 21 and then in 22 (when I searched the searchable text for Persuasion). There was no reference for streighten except that it said to see ''straiten''. Here is the context; the definition follows.
"Mr Elliot would do nothing, and she could do nothing herself, equally disabled from personal exertion by her state of bodily weakness and from employing others by her want of money.**She had no natural connexions to assist her even with their counsel,
and she could not afford to purchase the assistance of the law. This was a cruel aggravation of actually streightened means.
To feel that she ought to be in better circumstances, that a little trouble in the right place might do it, and to fear that delay might be even weakening her claims, was hard to bear."
strait*en (strtn)
tr.v. strait*ened, strait*en*ing, strait*ens
1.
a. To make narrow.
b. To enclose in a limited area; confine.
2. To put or bring into difficulties or distress, especially financial hardship.
3. Archaic To restrict in latitude or scope.
It makes sense to me now. I think of strait jacket, straits pertaining to bodies of water, dire straits, relationship straits. That's where I am...
It is your turn to say something now!
What about page 137? Didn't you just love it?
From 158.
eclat
n. - Brilliant or conspicuous success or effect; Ceremonial elegance and splendor; Enthusiastic approval.
The noun eclat has 3 meanings:
Meaning #1 | accl...
Meaning #2: ceremonial elegance and splendor
**Synonym: pomp
Meaning #3: brilliant or conspicuous success or effect
I think if a deep and real love exists between a man and a woman, as you say, then it is not possible to be in love with anyone else. Doesn't anyone else out there have an opinion on any of this?
Page 137... Anne was thinking back about how he spoke, his mannerisms, etc, and decided he must still love her. It WAS good, but I was wondering as I read, why he had the sudden change of heart in his feelings for her. He could talk easily around her at Uppercross. So, now suddenly, when he didn't get what he wants in one place, he has to try somewhere else. "Looking for that next meal!" It's just not honorable to me!
I think "streightened" means "poor".
I actually have made it to the start of Chapter 22.
Page 150... "Her seeing the letter was a violation of the laws of honour, that no one ought to be judged or to be known by such testimonies, that no private correspondence could bear the eye of others, before she could recover calmness enough to return the letter which she had been meditating over, and say, "Thank you. This is full proof undoubtedly, proof of everything,..."
Even when it's accidental, reading something illuminating is proof of what a person's true feelings are.
Page 154... "There is always something offensive in the details of cunning. The manoeuvres of selfishness and duplicity must be revolting." So true!
Looks like you said something!! Wow! No doubt, you are right and I agree with you on that reply. Life can be convoluted at times, you know, and sometimes things aren't always as they appear...
I need to make a sandwich and get my day started. I've had a movie on and have spent the last 2 hours reponding and posting in the Lit Forum.
Guess what?...