Gentle readers, I just held a book giveaway contest on Jane Austen's World. In order to win Tracy Kiely's Murder Most Persuasive, I asked readers to comment on which character they would most like to see murdered off in a murder mystery. The answers are not surprising. In this week's throwdown, please choose three character who most deserve to die a suspicious death.
Which JA female character will drive you out of the room first from boredom?
Lady Middleton, Sense and Sensibility
The only subjects that animate the cold and reserved Lady Middleton are her children.
Mrs. Bates, Emma
Mrs. Bates, right, is almost past everything except tea and quadrille.
Lady Bertram, Mansfield Park
"I feel quite stupid. It must be sitting up so late last night. Fanny, you must do something to keep me awake. I cannot work. Fetch the cards, — I feel so very stupid." - Lady Bertram
You are a keen observer of personality oddities and collector of outrageous statements. Which Jane Austen character would you wish to observe most through visits and one-on-one interaction? If you prefer another character, please leave a comment.
Which Jane Austen secondary character would you be friends with? Part 2. In last week's friend showdown, you overwhelmingly voted for Colonel Fitzwilliam and Eleanor Tilney, with Mrs. Gardiner a close third. Poor Lady Russell came dead last with a little over 5% of the votes. This week you will consider characters from Sense and Sensibility, Emma, and Mansfield Park. You may pick as many as you like, or none.
Which Jane Austen secondary character would you be friends with? For the sake of brevity, I shall pick three novels first, and ask the question again next week with characters from Jane's remaining novels. You may pick as many as you like, or none.
Some of Jane Austen's characters are too irritating for words. Who, in your opinion, would be the most irritating character if you had to invite one of these women to a close family gathering? (We'll deal with the males at another time.)
Mrs. Bates and Miss Bates
Miss Bates, Emma: She cannot stop chattering and few can get a word in edgewise. Emma, who has been brought up better and embodies the rules of etiquette, can almost not stand her, forcing Mr. Knightley to remind her of Miss Bates's very reduced circumstances and uncertain future. No topic is too trivial for Miss Bates to lengthen and expound upon for endless boring minutes.
Mrs. Bennet has another attack of the vapors
Mrs. Bennet, Pride and Prejudice: I think it is safe to say that Mrs. Bennet is one of the most famous irritating characters in literary history with her continual spasms, vapors, and nerves. Conversations that should remain private are made public or are overheard in her loud voice. She can be notoriously insensitive and often embarrasses her family with her artless statements.
Mrs. Palmer always looks on the bright side
Mrs. Palmer, Sense and Sensibility: An incessantly cheerful airhead, she always sees the good in others or a situation. Mr. Palmer checked out of his marriage ages ago, ignoring his wife's talent for regurgitating inanities. Her altered Pollyanna perception of the universe makes her turn everything into a glad and happy world. Even Elinor Dashwood felt guilty for not liking her more.
Three characters in Jane Austen's novels are seventeen when their stories begin: Marianne Dashwood, Kitty Bennet, and Catherine Morland. In your estimation, which of the three girls will grow into the sort of mature woman you would like to befriend?
Kitty Bennet, at age 17, follows her younger sister, Lydia, who at 15 is flighty and silly and dangerously reckless. After Lydia runs off with Wickham, forcing a shotgun marriage, the Bennets oversee Kitty's upbringing more closely. After Jane and Elizabeth marry, they teach Kitty better social graces and provide a world for her outside of Meryton.She eventually settles down and demonstrates a modicum of common sense.
Catherine Morland prefers to roll down hillsides rather than pursue the ladylike activities of sewing, learning foreign languages, painting, or reading anything more strenuous than novels! Henry Tilney is charmed by her artless ignorance and enthusiastic preference for his company. Young as Catherine is, she is no dummy, seeing through General Tilney and John Thorpe. After the general banishes her from Northanger Abbey, she demonstrates a great deal of courage, integrity, and maturity.
Marianne Dashwood's uber romantic sensibilities blind her to Colonel Brandon's superior qualities and Willoughby's less than sterling ones. She not only survive love's disappointment but she slowly comes to the realization that her own behavior led her down the wrong path of romance. After her illness, she begins to open up to Colonel Brandon, and allows herself to fall in love with someone she has learned to esteem.
Two of Jane Austen's heroines have been on my mind lately. Known for their restraint, they must bear their burdens silently before love comes knocking at their door.
Elinor Dashwood, Sense and Sensibility: Poor Elinor. Not only did she have to endure her sister, Marianne's, histrionic outpouring of grief over her loss of Willoughby, but she had to offer her support while keeping Edward Ferrar's engagement to Lucy Steele a secret. Lucy, a creepy and manipulative woman if ever there was one, targeted Elinor as her confidante on purpose, repeatedly pouring salt in the wound as she shared secrets that Elinor was honor bound to keep to herself. Not only did Elinor bear her sorrow silently as Marianne accused her of a lack of romantic feeling, but even her ally, Colonel Brandon, caused her great pain by asking her to inform Edward in person of Colonel Brandon's gift to him of a living at the parsonage at Delaford. While Elinor's heart was breaking, she had to tell Edward that he now had the means to marry Lucy.
Anne Elliot, Persuasion: Long-suffering Anne. For seven years she has regretted her decision to break off her relationship with Captain Wentworth at the urging of Lady Russell, who meant well. For seven years, her spirits have flagged, even as she lost her bloom. Suddenly he walks into her life, rich, successful, and handsome, and begins to court the Musgrove Sisters. Anne endures the situation in silence, not realizing that the Captain, while still mad with her, is in equal agony. With no one to turn to, not her selfish sister Mary, not her arrogant father and older sister Elizabeth, not even her good friend Lady Russell, Anne must endure the presence of the handsome captain, knowing she has lost him and that he will belong to someone else soon.
Gentle readers, for which lady does your heart ache more? Elinor or Anne?
Maria was engaged to Mr. Rushworth when she set her cap on Henry Crawford. Their flirtation continued even after her marriage. When Fanny Price rejected Henry's advances, he ran away with the married Maria. His punishment? Loss of respect. For Maria the consequences were more severe. Mr. Rushworth divorced her, and her father, Sir Thomas, banished her to live in a remote cottage with Mrs. Norris.
Maria had destroyed her own character, and [Sir Thomas] would not by a vain attempt to restore what never could be restored, by affording his sanction to vice, or in seeking to lessen its disgrace, be anywise accessory to introducing such misery in another man's family, as he had known himself.
It ended in Mrs. Norris's resolving to quit Mansfield, and devote herself to her unfortunate Maria, and in an establishment being formed for them in another country—remote and private, where, shut up together with little society, on one side no affection, on the other, no judgment, it may be reasonably supposed that their tempers became their mutual punishment.
Lydia's punishment for being giddy, impetuous and foolish resulted in lifelong unhappiness. Her parents' leniency towards her brash behavior allowed her passion to rule her. Too late Lydia learned that passion rarely lasts.
"It had always been evident to [Elizabeth] that such an income as theirs, under the direction of two persons so extravagant in their wants, and heedless of the future, must be very insufficient to their support; and whenever they changed their quarters, either Jane or herself were sure of being applied to for some little assistance towards discharging their bills. Their manner of living, even when the restoration of peace dismissed them to a home, was unsettled in the extreme. They were always moving from place to place in quest of a cheap situation, and always spending more than they ought. His affection for her soon sunk into indifference; her's lasted a little longer; and in spite of her youth and her manners, she retained all the claims to reputation which her marriage had given her."
In the past we have asked you to vote on various aspects of Jane Austen villains, and this week is no exception. Two of Jane Austen heroines found something wanting in these men. Which villain's public persona is worse in your estimation? William Elliot's super polite facade to the world, which Anne Elliot suspects because of his unwillingness to share his true feelings, or John Willoughby's effusive likes and dislikes, which gain Elinor Dashwood's notice?
I dislike this villain's character more:
William Elliot (Samuel West), Persuasion
After a short acquaintance, Anne Elliot begins to find Mr. Elliot's unvarying affability a bit unsettling:
Mr. Elliot was rational, discreet, polished,--but he was not open. There was never any burst of feeling, any warmth of indignation or delight, at the evil or good of others. This, to Anne, was a decided imperfection. Her early impressions were incurable. She prized the frank, the open-hearted, the eager character beyond all others. Warmth and enthusiasm did captivate her still. She felt that she could so much more depend upon the sincerity of those who sometimes looked or said a careless or a hasty thing, than of those whose presence of mind never varied, whose tongue never slipped.
Mr. Elliot was too generally agreeable. Various as were the tempers in her father's house, he pleased them all. He endured too well,--stood too well with everybody. He had spoken to her with some degree of openness of Mrs. Clay; had appeared completely to see what Mrs. Clay was about, and to hold her in contempt; and yet Mrs. Clay found him as agreeable as anybody.
John Willoughby (Dominic Cooper), Sense and Sensibility
Early in their acquaintance, Elinor begins to see cracks in John Willoughby's character, as in this instance when she, Marianne, and Willoughby discuss his observations of Colonel Brandon:
"Brandon is just the kind of man," said Willoughby one day, when they were talking of him together, "whom every body speaks well of, and nobody cares about; whom all are delighted to see, and nobody remembers to talk to."
"That is exactly what I think of him," cried Marianne.
"Do not boast of it, however," said Elinor, "for it is injustice in both of you. He is highly esteemed by all the family at the park, and I never see him myself without taking pains to converse with him."
"That he is patronised by YOU," replied Willoughby, "is certainly in his favour; but as for the esteem of the others, it is a reproach in itself. Who would submit to the indignity of being approved by such a woman as Lady Middleton and Mrs. Jennings, that could command the indifference of any body else?"
"But perhaps the abuse of such people as yourself and Marianne will make amends for the regard of Lady Middleton and her mother. If their praise is censure, your censure may be praise, for they are not more undiscerning, than you are prejudiced and unjust."
"In defence of your protege you can even be saucy."
"My protege, as you call him, is a sensible man; and sense will always have attractions for me. Yes, Marianne, even in a man between thirty and forty. He has seen a great deal of the world; has been abroad, has read, and has a thinking mind. I have found him capable of giving me much information on various subjects; and he has always answered my inquiries with readiness of good-breeding and good nature."
"That is to say," cried Marianne contemptuously, "he has told you, that in the East Indies the climate is hot, and the mosquitoes are troublesome."
"He WOULD have told me so, I doubt not, had I made any such inquiries, but they happened to be points on which I had been previously informed."
"Perhaps," said Willoughby, "his observations may have extended to the existence of nabobs, gold mohrs, and palanquins."
"I may venture to say that HIS observations have stretched much further than your candour. But why should you dislike him?"
Last week's Regency food throwdown was the least visited of all the polls. Regency food, it seems, does not please the 21st century palate. This week we ask you to consider the first sons of two families: The Tilneys and the Bertrams.
Because of the laws of primogeniture, the first son stood to inherit the entire fortune, which made for many spoiled, unpleasant, and self-centered persons who were careless of the feelings of others, including their siblings. Of two first sons described by Jane Austen who play minor roles in her novels, who do you like the least? Frederick Tilney or Tom Bertram.
Captain Frederick Tilney, Northanger Abbey (Mark Dymond 2007)
Frederick Tilney is the heir of Northanger Abbey, an army captain, a decided flirt, and given to mischief. Captain Tilney flirts with Isabella Thorpe, and leaves her after she breaks off her engagement to James Morland.
Tom Bertram, Mansfield Park (James Purefoy 1999)
When Fanny arrives at Mansfield Park, Tom the heir is already 17 years old. Tom is a bit of a carouser and ladies man, and likes to drink and gamble the night away. His extravagant ways cause his father no end of worry.
We contemplated the happiest Jane Austen couple last week and were not surprised that Anne Elliot and her handsome captain won top honors. This week we ask you to contemplate those couples who stand the least chance of success for happiness in their wedded state. In random order, and for no reason other than these characters immediately come to mind, please vote for your
Jane Austen Couple Least Like to Be Happy in Their Marriage
Mr and Mrs Elton, Emma
She's bossy and overbearing. He's a petty and spiteful man. A match made in heaven? Maybe not. Emma's happy union with Mr. Knightley will only rub salt in the wounded egos of this odd couple. How long will it take for her to stop calling him her 'cara sposo'?
Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill, Emma
Jane Fairfax cannot be happy knowing how well her husband can lie to others or that he is capable of seriously flirting with a woman right under her nose. Jane comes with not a farthing to her name. How long will Frank be satisfied having married from his heart, not his pocketbook?
Lydia Bennet and Mr. Wickham, Pride and Prejudice
A mercenary spirit lurks behind Wickham's handsome visage and is disguised by a boat load of charm. What happens when both his looks and money are gone? Lydia stands to lose the most in this arrangement, but she does not know this yet. Silly girl, just like her mother. She'll descend into complaining and yapping about her unhappiness to anyone who will listen.
Robert Ferrars and Lucy Steele, Sense and Sensibility
Were there ever two less palatable characters created by Jane Austen? Robert and Lucy give me the creeps whenever I encounter them in print. One shudders to think what would happen when these two vapid and self-centered people start to turn on each other.
John Thorpe and Any Woman of His Choosing, Northanger Abbey
Granted Jane Austen did not marry him off in Northanger Abbey, but he must be included among this group. Mean, spiteful, and self-centered, with an ego bigger than his looks, talent, and pocketbook combined, this cretin is a total date turn off. Pity the girl he finally sets his eyes on and who is forced to marry him. What hope for future happiness is there?
John Willoughby and Miss Grey, Sense and Sensibility
Willoughby married for money despite being in love with Marianne, and created a little hell of his own making. How satisfied will his wife remain knowing that her husband regards her rival for his affections as the "ideal" woman?
Mr. Collins and Charlotte Lucas, Pride and Prejudice
One wonders about the long-term out look for happiness in this marriage once Lady Catherine de Bourgh cocks up her toes and meets her Maker. Mr. Collins will have no one to brag about to shore up his tiny ego. The closest woman in his sight will be Charlotte. Then what? After a decade of marriage, will Charlotte still be able to hide from him in her parlor and revel in her status as a married woman?
PBS is showing an encore presentation of 2007's Northanger Abbey this Sunday. Check your local listing for the time, and join me on Twitter as I watch the show EST. Of the women starring in the story, who do you like most?
Naive Catherine Morland? (Felicity Jones)
Bad girl Isabella Thorpe? (Carey Mulligan - also Kitty Bennet in 2005 Pride and Prejudice)
Good girl Eleanor Tilney? (Catherine Walker)
Clothes shopper and chaperone Mrs Allen? (Sylvestra Le Touzel, also Fanny Price in Mansfield Park)
This week's throwdown offers the least pleasing images we have ever chosen for this blog, but for a good reason. The three scenes represent a huge departure from Jane Austen's novels and they are quite egregious. Oh, there are more than three instances in which script writers changed Jane's plot dramatically, but these three stick particularly in my craw. For this week's throwdown you are asked to consider:
Which script deviation from Jane Austen's novels is the most egregious?
After reading his letter, Anne Elliot runs through Bath to go after Captain Wentworth in Persuasion 2007.
In the opening scene of Sense and Sensibility 2008, Willoughby seduces Eliza and presumably gets her pregnant.
In Pride and Prejudice 1940, Lady Catherine de Bourgh gives Mr. Darcy her approval to reconcile with Elizabeth Bennet.
Emma's ruined outing at Box Hill vexed readers most. Emma, as we have all read, has become the most popular girl's name in the U.S., besting Emily. In keeping with the name theme, who is the most aptly named Jane Austen character? Mr. Wickham or Mr. Knightley. You decide who is
Most Aptly Named
Mr. Knightley, Emma Mr. Knightley defends Miss Bates with a vengeance, telling Emma in no uncertain terms that she had made cruel sport of a defenseless woman. He also comes to Miss Harriet Smith's rescue, dancing with her when Mr. Elton so rudely snubs her at the Crown Inn ball. Who among us cannot admire such a chivalrous character? Emma observed: "In another moment a happier sight caught her;—Mr. Knightley leading Harriet to the set!—Never had she been more surprised, seldom more delighted, than at that instant. She was all pleasure and gratitude, both for Harriet and herself, and longed to be thanking him; and though too distant for speech, her countenance said much, as soon as she could catch his eye again. His dancing proved to be just what she had believed it, extremely good; and Harriet would have seemed almost too lucky, if it had not been for the cruel state of things before, and for the very complete enjoyment and very high sense of the distinction which her happy features announced."
Mr. Wickham, Pride and Prejudice The wickedly devilish Mr. Wickham is one of those bad boys who some women tend to love no matter what. On the surface he seems charming, but his selfish actions could have ruined Lydia, since he did not intend to wed her. An unabashed fortune hunter, Wickham almost ruined innocent Georgianna Darcy and badmouthed her brother to Elizabeth, lying to her in the process. Elizabeth eventually caught on to his schemes. She also learned the following information from Mrs. Gardiner about Wickham's behavior in London: "[Mr. Darcy] thought, to secure and expedite a marriage, which, in his very first conversation with Wickham, he easily learnt had never been his design. He confessed himself obliged to leave the regiment, on account of some debts of honour, which were very pressing; and scrupled not to lay all the ill-consequences of Lydia's flight on her own folly alone. He meant to resign his commission immediately; and as to his future situation, he could conjecture very little about it...Wickham still cherished the hope of more effectually making his fortune by marriage in some other country."
Your choice of Mrs. Bennet as favorite comical characteris not surprising, though I see that Mr.Woodhouse has quite a few fans as well. Our next question takes you outdoors. Which planned outing backfired the most - Fanny Price's trip to Sotherton or Emma Woodhouse's picnic on Box Hill?
Ruined Outing
Emma's Picnic on Box Hill, Emma
Nothing goes right for Emma on this planned excursion, which leaves her tearful and feeling lower than low when it ends with Mr. Knightley berating her for her cruel comment to Miss Bates. At first, "There was a languor, a want of spirits, a want of union, which could not be got over", then, "She had never seen Frank Churchill so silent and stupid. He said nothing worth hearing—looked without seeing—admired without intelligence—listened without knowing what she said." Feeling peevish, she embarrasses Miss Bates, prompting Mr. Knightley to admonish her: "Emma, I must once more speak to you as I have been used to do: a privilege rather endured than allowed, perhaps, but I must still use it. I cannot see you acting wrong, without a remonstrance. How could you be so unfeeling to Miss Bates? How could you be so insolent in your wit to a woman of her character, age, and situation?—Emma, I had not thought it possible." By this time we doubt that anything Emma ate at the picnic sat well in her stomach.
Fanny Price's One Hour Wait at Sotherton, Mansfield Park
First left by Edmund and Mary Crawford after she became fatigued during their ramble, Fanny waits on a bench for twenty minutes before the arrival of Henry Crawford, Maria Bertram, and Mr. Rushworth, who forgot to bring the key to the gate. As he walks back to Sotherton to retrieve the key, Maria and Henry slip around the gate, leaving Fanny alone. When Mr. Rushworth returns, Fanny has been waiting on and off for over an hour. Both Fanny and Mr. Rushworth wind up feeling ill-used, especially Fanny: "Fanny was again left to her solitude, and with no increase of pleasant feelings, for she was sorry for almost all that she had seen and heard, astonished at Miss Bertram, and angry with Mr. Crawford. By taking a circuitous, and as it appeared to her, very unreasonable direction to the knoll, they were soon beyond her eye; and for some minutes longer she remained without sight or sound of any companion. She seemed to have the little wood all to herself. She could almost have thought, that Edmund and Miss Crawford had left it, but that it was impossible for Edmund to forget her so entirely."
Frederick Wentworth's letter pierced your souls and he won the last throwdown with his eloquent words. Jane Austen, known for her sharp observations and satire, peopled her novels with eccentric characters we all recognize, for in our own lives we have met variations of these types. Each in their own way is a superb creation. Who can forget Mr. Collins' obsequiousness, Mrs. Elton's presumptions of superiority, or Sir Walter Elliot's vanity and pride? There are others equally outstanding, but we had to settle on two. This week we ask you: Which Jane Austen character is more comical? Mrs. Bennet or Mr. Woodhouse?
Comical Character
Mrs. Bennet,Pride and Prejudice
Mrs. Bennet's artless pronouncements made both Lizzy and Darcy squirm, but for different reasons. Darcy, because he did not suffer fools gladly, and Lizzy from sheer mortification, as in this instance: "When you have killed all your own birds, Mr. Bingley," said her mother, "I beg you will come here, and shoot as many as you please on Mr. Bennet's manor. I am sure he will be vastly happy to oblige you, and will save all the best of the covies for you." Mrs. Bennett, once a pretty young girl, has long ago lost her husband's respect for her lack of intellect or sense. Intent on getting her five daughters married, she is more concerned about their security than their happiness, yet her silly behavior often undermines their chances for marriage. Her presence enlivens any scene she is in, especially when she gets the vapors or when her jealousy of Charlotte Lucas's marriage to Mr. Collins brings out her mean streak, egged on by Lady Lucas's crowing. "A week elapsed before she could see Elizabeth without scolding her, a month passed away before she could speak to Sir William or Lady Lucas without being rude, and many months were gone before she could at all forgive their daughter."
Mr. Woodhouse, Emma
A masterful comic character, Mr. Woodhouse is seriously against change and overly preoccupied with everyone's health, including his own. Jane Austen describes him best: "Upon such occasions poor Mr. Woodhouses feelings were in sad warfare. He loved to have the cloth laid, because it had been the fashion of his youth; but his conviction of suppers being very unwholesome made him rather sorry to see any thing put on it; and while his hospitality would have welcomed his visitors to every thing, his care for their health made him grieve that they would eat. Such another small basin of thin gruel as his own, was all that he could, with thorough self-approbation, recommend, though he might constrain himself, while the ladies were comfortably clearing the nicer things, to say: "Mrs. Bates, let me propose your venturing on one of these eggs. An egg boiled very soft is not unwholesome. Serle understands boiling an egg better than any body. I would not recommend an egg boiled by any body else—but you need not be afraid—they are very small, you see—one of our small eggs will not hurt you. Miss Bates, let Emma help you to a little bit of tart—a very little bit. Ours are all apple tarts. You need not be afraid of unwholesome preserves here. I do not advise the custard. Mrs. Goddard, what say you to half a glass of wine? A small half glass—put into a tumbler of water? I do not think it could disagree with you."
Last week Sense won over Sensibility, but Marianne devotees were passionate about their choice. This week we examine second chances - second proposals to be more exact. Whose second attempt at a marriage proposal would move you to accept? Captain Wentworth's or Mr. Darcy's? Let the votes begin.
Second Chances
Mr. Darcy After Lizzy Bennet orders Lady Catherine de Bourgh to leave, Darcy hopes as he had scarcely ever allowed himself to hope before. Admitting to being heartily ashamed of his first proposal, he takes a chance that Elizabeth Bennet has changed her mind and will accept him now. "..."You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on this subject for ever.'' Elizabeth, a wise woman, accepts his proposal.
Captain Wentworth Captain Wentworth hastily writes Anne Elliot a letter after overhearing her conversation with Captain Harville : "I can listen no longer in silence. I must speak to you by such means as are within my reach. You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone forever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own, than when you almost broke it eight years and a half ago." Anne, who has never stopped loving her captain, cannot wait to tell him he is not too late.
Edward Ferrars was your preferred Man of the Cloth by a good margin last week. We now pit two sisters against each other: Elinor and Marianne. Which do you prefer? Prose or poetry? Linen or lace? Sense or Sensibility? Let the votes begin! (Oh, and Happy Easter!)
Sense or Sensibility?
Elinor Dashwood
Only nineteen years old, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Dashwood is a sensible, restrained, loyal, and affectionate young woman. She holds her feelings inside as she supports her grieving mother and willful sister. Elinor's restraint serves as a barrier, preventing others from helping her at a time when she needs it most. Elinor is the glue that holds her family together, but at her own expense. Her reticense in sharing her feelings - which are deep - isolates her and forces her to deal with her own sorrows even as she shoulders other peoples' burdens. Elinor's quiet personality draws people to her, but with time, she will need to learn to open up to others, even to her husband, or she will be doomed to suffer her travails alone.
Marianne Dashwood
Very pretty and talented, seventeen-year-old Marianne lives life to the full. She wears her heart on her sleeve, with everyone knowing her thoughts on any topic at any time. Willful, impulsive, and spoiled, she possesses a loving nature and truly cares for her family. Had she known about Elinor's internal struggle over Lucy Steele and Edward Ferrars, she would have supported her sister as much as her sister supported her. Marianne's star quality brightens a room the moment she enters it. Indications are that with time she will learn to restrain her impulses and mature into an interesting and loving woman.
My Janeites on the James friends were convinced that Elizabeth Elliot would be the hands down winner of last weeks’s Jane Austen Character Throwdown, but once again you, the readers, surprised me, making this one of the closest contests in JA Throwdown history. Statistically the votes were 50/50,with Caroline Bingley and Elizabeth Elliot vieing for top spot as the most insufferable woman by only a few votes. Thank you for keeping me on my toes.
I now direct you to two men of the cloth. Oh, you’ve already told me that you found Mr. Collins less tolerable than Mr. Elton, but which of the following two men could possibly win a place in your heart? I have deliberately not included the charming Mr. Henry Tilney. After all, this should be a contest, not a runaway race. So, which of these two men of the cloth could win a place in your heart? Mr. Edward Ferrars or Mr. Edmund Bertram?
Favorite Man of the Cloth
Mr. Edward Ferrars, Sense and Sensibility
He’s not particularly handsome, according to Jane Austen. Shy, short, introverted, earnest, and kind, Edward falls in love with Elinor Dashwood while he is engaged to Lucy Steele. A man of his word, he honors his commitment to Lucy. When Miss Steele breaks off their engagement, Edward is finally free to pursue Elinor. As Deirdre Le Faye remarks in her book, Jane Austen: The World of Her Novels: “Poor Edward is so accustomed to being bullied and derided by his unpleasant family that very probably he will be quite happy to let Elinor run his life for him – though in a much kindlier way. “
Mr. Edmund Bertram, Mansfield Park
As a second son, Edmund Bertram will not become heir to Mansfield Park and is destined for a clergyman's position. Edmund is the only one of the Bertrams' children to show kindness to Fanny when she arrives as a child, and they become and remain close friends. He has a good heart and is loyal and kind, but his judgment is suspect when he falls hard for Mary Crawford. Like Edward Ferrars, he lacks a sense of humor and doesn’t know how to flirt. One senses that this serious young man is truly religious and that he is horrified by Mary’s suggestion that he give up his calling.
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Bad girl Isabella Thorpe? (Carey Mulligan - also Kitty Bennet in 2005 Pride and Prejudice)
Good girl Eleanor Tilney? (Catherine Walker)
Clothes shopper and chaperone Mrs Allen? (Sylvestra Le Touzel, also Fanny Price in Mansfield Park)
Mr. Knightley, Emma
Mr. Wickham, Pride and Prejudice
Emma's Picnic on Box Hill, Emma
Fanny Price's One Hour Wait at Sotherton, Mansfield Park
Mrs. Bennet, Pride and Prejudice
Mr. Woodhouse, Emma
Mr. Darcy
Captain Wentworth
Elinor Dashwood
Marianne Dashwood
Mr. Edward Ferrars, Sense and Sensibility
Mr. Edmund Bertram, Mansfield Park