I didn't really understand either of your posts, Aamir and Kiki.
Elinor and Marrianne are still Mrs. Jennings' guests at the end of volume 2, though they spend the whole of every day with Lady Middleton after Charlotte has a baby, because Mrs. Jennings spends the whole day at Charlotte's.
John Dashwood feels he ought to invite his sisters Elinor and Marianne to be his guests, but his wife talks him out of it and invites the Misses Steele instead.
Wonder if this clears up anything?
Exit, pursued by a bear.
Well, You remember that John Dashwood was the son out of a first marriage of Mr Dashwood. Then, Mr Dashwood married again and got Elinor and Marianne. So John and Elinor and Marianne are half-brother and -sisters.
John Dashwood's wife, née Ferrars, feels that he should not spend his (THEIR/HER) income on his sisters or stepmother. So, she contrives to put them away somewhere because they are a nuisance that would diminish her son's inheritance, her own liviing circumstances so to say.
When they eventually get to London the Dashwoods don't even receive a morning call. It could be expected from a brother that he would call on his sisters or that his wife would do that. They do not call/leave no cards (in the case that no-one was there when they called) and when they meet on the street, they don't even talk in an easy manner.
They do not invite the sisters to dinner even, but instead go for the Steeles, although they know that it is slighting the Dashwoods as they are close to the Steeles and as they are family (it is proper to invite your own famiy to dinner first). Would that have anything to do with the contempt that Mrs John Dashwood feels for her sisters-in-law? The Dashwoods (E&M) were not there, were they? I seem to remember not. However, they were at one time invited to tea?
But the Steeles will prove a mistake as I said.
I also agree with Mona Amon: Mr John Dashwood was talked out of it by is wife like the beginning.
One has to laugh before being happy, because otherwise one risks to die before having laughed.
"Je crains [...] que l'âme ne se vide à ces passe-temps vains, et que le fin du fin ne soit la fin des fins." (Edmond Rostand, Cyrano de Bergerac, Acte III, Scène VII)
Hmmm... that kind of clear it up. Anyway, I'm at a point in the book where everyone has just found out about Edward and Lucy, and Marianne feels upset because Elinor comforted her about Willoughby when she was silently grieving herself. That's where I'm up to. It's a good read, this book!
Now wait for what happens to Edward!
One has to laugh before being happy, because otherwise one risks to die before having laughed.
"Je crains [...] que l'âme ne se vide à ces passe-temps vains, et que le fin du fin ne soit la fin des fins." (Edmond Rostand, Cyrano de Bergerac, Acte III, Scène VII)
Hahahaha, he got kicked out. And Colonel Brandon invited Edward to his house. I have about 80 pages til the end of the book. I found it quite amusing when Mrs Jennings and Elinor were discussing what happened and their happiness, and Mrs Jennings got the wrong idea that Brandon was marrying Elinor. A rare funny moment by Austen in this book.
Yes, that was indeed hilarious about Mrs Jennings. Glad you like Austen!
Wait what happens next! From now on it is going to prove very interesting, although it's going to calm down before it gains mementum again.
Isn't CB lovely? Ah, offering a situation to Ferrars, bless him.
But I think you did not quite get what happened:
CB has an estate with a vicarage on it. It is empty and he offers to Ferrars. It also includes an income a there are grounds to be cultivated (small grounds of course,not comparable to what CB has). So this is very valuable, because essentially it puts Ferrars in a state where he can marry has no financial concerns.
Sweet, isn't it?
That was the moment where CB really went into my heart.
One has to laugh before being happy, because otherwise one risks to die before having laughed.
"Je crains [...] que l'âme ne se vide à ces passe-temps vains, et que le fin du fin ne soit la fin des fins." (Edmond Rostand, Cyrano de Bergerac, Acte III, Scène VII)
Oh, I get it now. But this will only help Lucy and Edward's prospects, right? I don't get why he wouldn't marry Lucy after all this kerfuffle when he was willing to get disowned for the cause.
He is planning to be honorable, yes, and marry the girl...Originally Posted by aamir
But, something will put a stop to it (the nature of one person)...
I'll leave you to the conclusion.
One has to laugh before being happy, because otherwise one risks to die before having laughed.
"Je crains [...] que l'âme ne se vide à ces passe-temps vains, et que le fin du fin ne soit la fin des fins." (Edmond Rostand, Cyrano de Bergerac, Acte III, Scène VII)
Okay, you got me all excited now. I'll just have to keep on reading.
It'll be a big surprise only at the end.
Prepare for Marianne now and everything connected with her...
They are amost going to leave London, aren't they?
One has to laugh before being happy, because otherwise one risks to die before having laughed.
"Je crains [...] que l'âme ne se vide à ces passe-temps vains, et que le fin du fin ne soit la fin des fins." (Edmond Rostand, Cyrano de Bergerac, Acte III, Scène VII)
Yeah kinda I think. When I read more I'll repost.
Wow, I'm so far into the book now that I have only three chapters left, and I cannot believe this awesome conclusion. Marianne got an illness, nearly died, Willoughby visited and told Elinor his story, then left, Elinor told Marianne and family his story of why he did everything, and Marianne is on the recovery. Colonel Brandon is growing closer to Marianne too. I can't wait to find out more about what happens to Elinor as she has been the rock in all hardships, and I just found out that Edward and Lucy are now married. So how will Elinor end up with him? Wow. Great book.
Yes, that last stretch does kind of surprise, doesn't it?
What did you think of Willoughby?
I found it amazing that in the beginning, you think: 'Well, what's he got to say for hmself? He made Marrianne sick and now he's coming to beg for forgiveness. He's not going to get it from me, he isn't!'
And then, at the end, you think: 'oh, poor Willoughby. Nasty aunt. Ok, he did muck up with the other girl, but really, bless him, he wanted to be genuine with Marianne and everything went wrong. Poor guy, forever saddled with his Miss Grey.'
I found it quite amazing how Austen redeemed him just that little bit in only one chapter. The (how many pages is it?) before, you don't want to hear from him, and at the end of the chapter there is just that little bit of sadness...
And what did you think about Mr Palmer? I found him quite resposible and caring. Surprisng, actually, because you have never liked him much because he is always so sulky... But he must still love his wife, joining her when she is fleeing for Marianne's sickness with the baby.
And CB... He's just... ah! Really. He is the man for her. You remember what criticism he had to suffer from Marianne in the beginning? haha. It's in the Austen her-vote if you want to have a look. 'But he talked of flanel waistcoats'... At the point were he is coming back to Barton Cottage, Austen also writes something very funny!
You think Edward and Lucy are married, do you? Read on. All will be explained.
And then when you are done, you can watch your earlier comments. It's quite funny what one thinks before the conclusion...
One has to laugh before being happy, because otherwise one risks to die before having laughed.
"Je crains [...] que l'âme ne se vide à ces passe-temps vains, et que le fin du fin ne soit la fin des fins." (Edmond Rostand, Cyrano de Bergerac, Acte III, Scène VII)
I finished the book early yesterday night. That was a brilliant read. The thing I was amazed about most from the whole book was when I found out it was Robert married to Lucy instead. Wow. The ending was nice, too. Very warm. In terms of Willoughby, my sentiments towards him were just shut up and go away, but even before he began to speak I was excited because some part of me wanted to hear what he had to say. After he had finished, I do not think him vain or arrogant anymore - just unfortunate. I feel really happy for Brandon but in a way I felt true love was loopholed at the end. All in all, a great book. And I will keep commenting here if you want to carry on discussing. Also, I will read my earlier comments!
It depends how one sees love... If love is a feeling that is created at first sight (as Marianne thought in the beginning) then certainly Willoughby was it and she was it for Willoughby. But if love is more than that, if it is a feeling of trust, friendship, stability, security etc. the rock so to say that keeps a relationship together then it is Colonel Brandon. If Willoughby was too much striken by his angry aunt to rebell or tell her that there was a girl he wanted to marry, and he married another one with a lot of money afterwards (result: unhappiness) then surely he did not want to fight for it and the 'love' wasn't that strong.
It is also interesting to note that Edward Ferrars has actually found himself in kind of the same position as Willoughby at some point: he meets Lucy Steele, falls in love and proposes. Years after, he cannot care less, but still keeps the engagement up out of propriety. This is not really Willoughby, but it is him all over on the infatuation-front (oh, ye yes, I'm in love, she is perfect). In the meantime though, Ferrars meets Elenor and there he finds a rock as Marianne finds finally in Brandon. The two do not show it and are not head-over-heels in love, but there is that deeper feeling. Brandon has neer ceased to love Marianne, not when Willoughby was his rival, not when Willoughby was the jerk, not when she was briefly gone out of sight, not when she was going to die. Elenor never ceased to love Edward although he lost his money (though that becomes alright after some time), although he turns out to be engaged, although she knew he was married...
By all means keep commenting. It's good to get stuff off your chest
One has to laugh before being happy, because otherwise one risks to die before having laughed.
"Je crains [...] que l'âme ne se vide à ces passe-temps vains, et que le fin du fin ne soit la fin des fins." (Edmond Rostand, Cyrano de Bergerac, Acte III, Scène VII)
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