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Sunday, September 21

Jane Austen Character Throwdown

In our previous Jane Austen Character Throwdown, Miss Eleanor Tilney won your hearts as the sweetest lady in the first round of this category. Miss Bates, although she is as sweet as they come, makes a decided impression with her incessant chatter. For my part, I can imagine conducting a pleasant conversation with Miss Tilney, but not with Miss Bates. Our next two ladies are equally worthy of the title. I wonder who you will vote for this week? I wait with bated breath.

Sweetest Lady, #2

Miss Harriet Smith, Emma

"She was a very pretty girl, and her beauty happened to be of a sort which Emma particularly admired. She was short, plump, and fair, with a fine bloom, blue eyes, light hair, regular features, and a look of great sweetness."Emma’s young protégé is as sweet and gullible as they come. In fact, she is so kind and pliable that her handsome yeoman farmer, Mr. Robert Martin, though hurt when she rejected his suit, was not at all turned off by her. As soon as he saw a second opportunity, he asked for her hand again. Even Mr. Knightley, that most discerning and exacting man, was won over by Miss Smith's artlessness and sweetness.

Miss Georgianna Darcy, Pride and Prejudice

Could there be a kinder, sweeter sister than Georgianna Darcy? This pretty, painfully shy sixteen-year-old trusts her brother's choice in a woman implicitly, and immediately accepts Elizabeth Bennet into her heart. Darcy's devotion to his sweet sister opens Lizzy’s eyes further to his character. Here is how Jane Austen describes her: “There was sense and good humour in her face, and her manners were perfectly unassuming and gentle.”


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Jane Austen Character Throwdown: Sweetest Lady, #2
Miss Harriet Smith Miss Georgianna Darcy

Posted by Vic, Jane Austen's World

6 comments:

Nigel said...

Sorry I didn't vote on this one because I wonder if sweet is a good title for these two characters?

Is it possible that Austen used Georgiana and Harriet as anti-heroines, if not fallen women, as a foil or counterpiont of her main charcaters in Emma and Pride and Predujice.

Moreover in a post-feminist world are not Georgiana and Harriet just as villianous as their male anti-hero's?

Laurel Ann (Austenprose) said...

Hi,readers we can not let my favorite Jane Austen character loose the throwdown can we? Harriet Smith is by far the sweetest most agreeable character Jane Austen ever penned. Who could not be won over by her pleasant and compliant manner? Anyone who is that obliging and tromped upon deserves a bit of support here. Miss Woodhouse would support her vote in a moment, so before she commands you, go ahead, be wild and push that button!

The Harriet Smith Election Commitee,

Laurel Ann

Nigel said...

Hhmmm!
No sorry. Fanny Price, the Dashwood sisters and Jane Bennet if I have too.

Vic said...

Nigel, the throwdown is headed in that direction. We always begin with the minor characters and work up to the major ones. If we just stuck with the major characters, our throwdown series would be done in no time! :)

Nigel said...

Sorry if I am being a nuisance! :)

Vic said...

Never a nuisance, Nigel. We love hearing from you!