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.
Gentle readers: The Sunday Throwdown series is undergoing yet another metamorphosis. You will now be asked to judge the fashions in Jane Austen adaptations! For the first Fashion Throwdown, whose fashions best define Mrs. Bennet? The 1995 film or the 2005 version? The 1995 film depicts Regency dress styles when the book was published in 1813, and the 2005 film show the styles that were popular when Jane Austen first wrote Pride and Prejudice in 1797.
Whose wardrobe did you like best? Mrs. Bennet 1995 or Mrs. Bennet 2005?
Mrs. Bennet. What hasn't been said about this overwrough mother already that needs to be said again? Our question to you is this: NOT who your favorite Mrs. Bennet is (for we can guess which actresses would be high on your list), but which film got the character RIGHT through dress and props? Which actress's part was enhanced by the clothes she wore and the rooms she inhabited? There are five choices since, (in my humble opinion,) each of these ladies got an aspect of Mrs. Bennet exactly right. I frankly can't recall being disappointed with any of their performances.
Best Mrs. Bennet (Aided by Dress, Sets, and Props)
For years Mary Boland was the Mrs. Bennet against whom I measured all other Mrs. Bennets. Except for her Civil War era wardrobe, Mary's interpretation of the character was spot on. In fact, she is one of the few reasons why I tolerate seeing that movie more than once. Film buffs will possibly remember Mary as Countess De Lave in 1939's The Women. Anne Rutherford defended the use of Civil War clothes in the film in a JASNA interview: "But I must say, that when the studio, in its infinite wisdom, when they changed the wardrobe from the wet-nightgown look, that empire look, to the ship-in-full-sail [Victorian] – they did such a wise thing. Because the sight of Mary Boland [Mrs. Bennet] bustling down the street with all of her little goslings behind her in their huge voluminous skirts, and all of them chattering at once – it wouldn’t have been nearly as delightful a sight-gag if we had all been in little, skinny wet-night-gown-type things." I beg to differ with A.R., but you might agree. The Bennet's house, Longbourn, is an eleborate M-G-M stage set and reminds me more of a 1930's American Colonial style home than a Georgian country house.
Priscilla Morgan, Mrs. Bennet 1980
This 5-part series is the first BBC Jane Austen adaptation that I recall seeing on television. According to Sue Parrill in her critical studies of Pride and Prejudice, Priscilla's Mrs. Bennet has an unpleasant and shrill voice, which serves her well in her interpretation of the role. Compared to the 1995 P&P version, Priscilla's Mrs. Bennet receives the most chances to verbalize her foolishness, for she seems to have more speaking lines than Alison Steadman (see below). Of all the Mrs. Bennets, Priscilla's performance is comparatively restrained and less farcical. Small, compact, with an admirable little figure, her Mrs. Bennet is dressed rather simply and plainly, no doubt to allow her daughters to shine in her presence. Some fans find Priscilla's interpretation of Mrs. Bennet to be the best thing about this version of Pride and Prejudice. The props are a bit staged, but they represent the house of a gentleman of Mr. Bennet's means, and Longbourn suits his stature. During this time the BBC specials began to move from the staged sets to more natural locations, but realism in setting, acting, and direction was still being perfected and had not yet "arrived".
Overly dressed in frills, filled with spasms, and as silly as her younger daughters, Alison's turn as Mrs. Bennet is as unforgettable as it is over the top. Steadman was already known for her portrayals of loud and vulgar characters, so her performance was no surprise to fans and critics alike. About her interpretations of her characters, Alison says: "If we were all terribly wholesome, portraying people who are upright and safe, it would be so boring. You can make people laugh and move them and make them think, all at the same time." 1996 was a memorable year for Alison, one in which her mother died, her marriage ended, and in which she played the vulgar Mrs Bennet. In this 6-part film, whose settings were natural and elaborate, Longbourn contains a park with a prettyish wilderness area, and is filled with the latest accoutrements in Georgian era furniture, drapes, and china. Thankfully Mrs. Bennet never saw Colin's dip in the pond, for I believe she would have turned ballistic, yanking Lizzie away from our wet-shirted hero.
Brenda's Mrs. Bennet was dressed in the clothes that were fashionable when Jane Austen wrote the first draft of P&P, and thus her dresses are given waists and fichus. In an interview, Brenda said about Mrs. Bennet: " Well to tell the truth I hadn’t seen [Pride and Prejudice] before, although when I mentioned to people I was going to be playing this they said, oh, a wonderful, cartoony person...I said, what, no she’s not. Stop it! They said, oh, no, it’s usually like a figure of fun. I’ve read the book and I know her daughter’s description of her, but that has to come from some place real - she’s the only one taking the problem seriously. Mr. Bennet’s all right, they’ve got a roof over their heads all the time he’s alive - it’s when he dies that they’ve got the problem when the money goes down the male line. As it turned out, I think she’s the only one speaking up for her daughters and trying to solve these problems so I won’t hear a word said against her..." In this lavishly produced film with its breathtaking outdoor scenes, Longbourn is a rather rustic and stripped down house - rather too earthy for a gentleman's family. Pigs wander about, mud is tramped in and soils hems, and floors are (accurately) bare and carpetless. Although the family lives in the country, I somehow do not think that Jane meant the Bennets to be living alongside their cattle. You, gentle reader, may very well disagree.
Alex plays the youngest Mrs. Bennet, yet I suspect she is the closest to Mrs. Bennet in real age than the other actresses. About her character Alex said: "In playing a young Mrs Bennet it allowed me to explore, at least inwardly, the possibility of her still holding on to her childishness. She is a mother, who understands the desperate situation the family are in due to a lack of a son and heir, and tries accordingly to engineer the futures of her daughters. I also found a chance for her to live vicariously through the experiences of her daughters. Her husband gives her no joy, so why not enjoy the thrill of a dance or ball or invitation to a grand house." In this adaptation Longbourn is larger than I expected, though quite suitable for a gentleman's family, and has a nice prospect and lawn. This house also has a portal to the 21st century in its attic, which makes it different.
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."
We deemed the Musgroves worthy of a visit on New Year's Eve, although many of you were not put off by Sir John Middleton's and Mrs. Jennings vulgarities. We often have more fun at a raucous gathering and relish our guilty pleasures.
This week we turn our thoughts back to Jane Austen's characters. I have often debated over which wife is sillier: Mrs. Bennet or Mrs. Palmer. Oh, I know Mrs. Bennet has become the standard bearer for silly wives everywhere, but I suspect this is because Pride and Prejudice is so popular. Mrs. Palmer's perpetual smiles and cheer coupled with a lack of common sense must grate on all who know her. So think long and hard before you vote for
Silliest Wife
Mrs. Palmer, Sense and Sensibility
Mrs. Jenning's younger daughter Charlotte is as silly and good-natured a woman as was ever devised by an author. Perpetually in a good mood, she has only kind words to say about all and sundry. The problem is, she cannot distinguish good from bad or silly from sensible. Married to a churlish man, she chooses to ignore the fact that Mr. Palmer has no interest whatsoever in her constant chatter or vapid observations, pretending that she consults him on all matters and that he finds her plans equally as important and fascinating as she. Of course, we all know better, as evinced by this masterful dialogue in Chapter 20, Volume 1 of S&S.
Mrs. Bennet, Pride and Prejudice
With five unmarried daughters, one can forgive Mrs. Bennet's hysteria in seeing that they are well-settled and married. Her husband's estate is entailed to Mr. Collins, who was spurned by Lizzy. Unless Mrs. Bennet can arrange to have at least one of her daughters comfortably established, she faces the specter of living in relative poverty after Mr. Bennet's death, turned out of her home, and dependent on only the income that 5,000 pounds can provide. (About 200 pounds per year.) In addition, Mr. Bennet ignores her and makes fun of her at her expense. As I grow longer in the tooth I see that Mrs. Bennet is as much to be pitied as not, and I feel for her predicament. Be that as it may, Mrs. Bennet overreacts to everything, suffers from spasms and the vapors at the slightest provocation, has vulgar tendencies, and possesses a spiteful bent to her nature (witness her reaction to the Lucas family after Charlotte agrees to marry Mr. Collins).
