Prompt:
In the movie The Jane Austen Book Club, Kathy Baker's Bernadette says, "Jane Austen is the perfect antidote to life!" While most of you would agree and will go on loving Jane for years to come, there may be times when the Austen craze annoys you. Here's your chance to have a Jane Austen rant.
Response:
oh man. here it is. the rant blog.
i entirely hate how most of the novels end. i feel like i deserve more, after reading so much, they always end abruptly. her novels end so happily, after so much drama and terrible things happen to her characters, why cant we have more of the good parts, and not just a summary at the end?
at times, austen can be a little long-winded. i wonder if she spoke like most of her character do (forever). i feel like her books could be half as short, but still effective and enjoyable.
i also feel like most of the time, her heroines just settle for whoever. why cant they wait and find their true perfect match? i mean, for how much austen writes, you'd think some actual legit guy would come around. but no. its always like, well, i guess i can marry you, since everyone else sucks by comparison.
otherwise, good reads.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Week 12 Prompt
Prompt:
If you were to pick your perfect spouse from a Jane Austen character, who would it be, and why? Is your chosen, "perfect spouse" character, different from the type of person you in reality date? If so, which Jane Austen character is most like the type of person you end up dating, and how and why do you think this is different than your "perfect spouse"?
Response:
i would really like to date mr bingley (the only side effect being his sister...i think i could take her in a fight though). he's nice to everyone, it doesnt matter what class or status. he also seems shy, but i find shyness in guys endearing. his only drawback, besides his sister, which he cant help, is that he is probably too passive--he's easily influenced by ms bingley and darcy. sadly enough, the people i usually end up dating (if you can call it that) are wickhams, willoughbys, and eltons. a mr. bingley type would be a nice change of pace. why are these men different than my "perfect spouse?" probably because i am too much like fanny in the dating aspect: i see the guy i like, but dont do anything about it. : )
If you were to pick your perfect spouse from a Jane Austen character, who would it be, and why? Is your chosen, "perfect spouse" character, different from the type of person you in reality date? If so, which Jane Austen character is most like the type of person you end up dating, and how and why do you think this is different than your "perfect spouse"?
Response:
i would really like to date mr bingley (the only side effect being his sister...i think i could take her in a fight though). he's nice to everyone, it doesnt matter what class or status. he also seems shy, but i find shyness in guys endearing. his only drawback, besides his sister, which he cant help, is that he is probably too passive--he's easily influenced by ms bingley and darcy. sadly enough, the people i usually end up dating (if you can call it that) are wickhams, willoughbys, and eltons. a mr. bingley type would be a nice change of pace. why are these men different than my "perfect spouse?" probably because i am too much like fanny in the dating aspect: i see the guy i like, but dont do anything about it. : )
Week 11 Prompt
Prompt:
Compare and contrast Willoughby and Wickham. Who is the lesser of the two evils? Why?
Response:
given their situations, i think wichham is the "lesser of two evils." though he's a huge jerk to elizabeth, and probably doesnt really love lydia (he's paying for it now, im sure), i dont think he is as much as a womanizing bastard as willoughby, excuse the language. however, both had bad intentions from the start, money seems to be able to influence these characters without a second thought. and, i guess, even though it doesnt mean a whole lot to me (or garners any sort of redemption), willoughby apologizes. it just makes him seem like more of a ...dou**e (sorry, language again).
Compare and contrast Willoughby and Wickham. Who is the lesser of the two evils? Why?
Response:
given their situations, i think wichham is the "lesser of two evils." though he's a huge jerk to elizabeth, and probably doesnt really love lydia (he's paying for it now, im sure), i dont think he is as much as a womanizing bastard as willoughby, excuse the language. however, both had bad intentions from the start, money seems to be able to influence these characters without a second thought. and, i guess, even though it doesnt mean a whole lot to me (or garners any sort of redemption), willoughby apologizes. it just makes him seem like more of a ...dou**e (sorry, language again).
Week 9 Prompt
Prompt:
How does Catherine compare to the other heroines we've read so far? Why do you think Austen created her?
Response:
catherine is altogether "young" and inexperienced. i think this was a conscious choice of austen's though, it gave northanger abbey a sort of...well, comic feel (i dont think comic is the right word, more like parody...). gothic novels usually dont have naive characters, this made her story more interesting. i think catherine would make a good match for friendship with mrs bennet: mrs bennet could totally be that little gossiping parrot on her shoulder, and catherine would easiy believe her. : )
How does Catherine compare to the other heroines we've read so far? Why do you think Austen created her?
Response:
catherine is altogether "young" and inexperienced. i think this was a conscious choice of austen's though, it gave northanger abbey a sort of...well, comic feel (i dont think comic is the right word, more like parody...). gothic novels usually dont have naive characters, this made her story more interesting. i think catherine would make a good match for friendship with mrs bennet: mrs bennet could totally be that little gossiping parrot on her shoulder, and catherine would easiy believe her. : )
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Week 8 Prompt
Prompt:
Catherine is the fourth female protagonist we've been introduced to in this class. How is she like her three predecessors? How is she different? Do you think her spunky, tom boyish childhood would have been appealing to readers of Austen back then, especially young female readers?
Response:
if i had been living in the time of these novels, i am most positive that i would have fallen in love with catherine (as i already kind of have). her spirit is so unlike that of emma, fanny, and elizabeth. from what ive read so far, catherine is all about being herself, taking criticism and compliments as they come without worrying too much about them. i think younger female readers of the time would desperately cling to this girl; she probably represents what most girls feel they have to hide in order to be a "lady."
Catherine is the fourth female protagonist we've been introduced to in this class. How is she like her three predecessors? How is she different? Do you think her spunky, tom boyish childhood would have been appealing to readers of Austen back then, especially young female readers?
Response:
if i had been living in the time of these novels, i am most positive that i would have fallen in love with catherine (as i already kind of have). her spirit is so unlike that of emma, fanny, and elizabeth. from what ive read so far, catherine is all about being herself, taking criticism and compliments as they come without worrying too much about them. i think younger female readers of the time would desperately cling to this girl; she probably represents what most girls feel they have to hide in order to be a "lady."
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Week 7 Prompt
Prompt:
Volume one, Chapter eight is devoted, almost entirely, to describing a debate between Emma and Mr. Knightely concerning Harriet Smith, and her rejection of Robert Martin’s marriage proposal. Who do you most agree with? Do you side with Mr. Knightley, believing Miss Smith, in becoming friends with Emma, is beginning to think too highly of herself? Or do you, like Emma, believe Miss Smith’s rejection of fair deliberation?
Response:
i agree with mr. knightley. throughout the novel, it seems like he has everyone's best interests in mind, and knows the limits of society for all characters, whereas emma seems pretty biased in that area. i dont think harriet thinks "too much" of herself, i believe she's only acting according to please and more importantly, keep her newest bff. but i also dont think it was fair deliberation. harriet is the type of person to just be a push over, to let her friends influence her to the point of not going with her own instincts and judgements (and on the other hand, harriet is a very gentle soul, and probably doesnt see that such influences are taking place). mr. knightley is correct in thinking emma has too much power over harriet, but to come to emma's aid, she let harriet have the final word on martin's proposal and only approved of harriet after she chose "correctly."
i think all the characters are a bit too meddlesome anyways. theyd fit right in with a scoobydoo episode.
Volume one, Chapter eight is devoted, almost entirely, to describing a debate between Emma and Mr. Knightely concerning Harriet Smith, and her rejection of Robert Martin’s marriage proposal. Who do you most agree with? Do you side with Mr. Knightley, believing Miss Smith, in becoming friends with Emma, is beginning to think too highly of herself? Or do you, like Emma, believe Miss Smith’s rejection of fair deliberation?
Response:
i agree with mr. knightley. throughout the novel, it seems like he has everyone's best interests in mind, and knows the limits of society for all characters, whereas emma seems pretty biased in that area. i dont think harriet thinks "too much" of herself, i believe she's only acting according to please and more importantly, keep her newest bff. but i also dont think it was fair deliberation. harriet is the type of person to just be a push over, to let her friends influence her to the point of not going with her own instincts and judgements (and on the other hand, harriet is a very gentle soul, and probably doesnt see that such influences are taking place). mr. knightley is correct in thinking emma has too much power over harriet, but to come to emma's aid, she let harriet have the final word on martin's proposal and only approved of harriet after she chose "correctly."
i think all the characters are a bit too meddlesome anyways. theyd fit right in with a scoobydoo episode.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Week 6 Prompt
Prompt:
What would Emma's Facebook look like? (who wouldn't choose this one?)
Response:
emma's profile picture would be a picture of only her, probably a three-quater profile. nothing too flashy, but provoking enough for people to add her (since her page would be private, of course). She would write on someone's wall everyday, most likely mrs weston, and have all the popular applications. especially top friends, which would probably be edited every month or so. emma would have definitely been extremely upset about the switch from old to new facebook, and probably would have signed the petition against it. her notes would be every once in a great while, because she's too busy commenting on her friends photos and statuses. she would like to check her notifications at least three times a day, but limits herself to once a day, so as not to over-indulge.
What would Emma's Facebook look like? (who wouldn't choose this one?)
Response:
emma's profile picture would be a picture of only her, probably a three-quater profile. nothing too flashy, but provoking enough for people to add her (since her page would be private, of course). She would write on someone's wall everyday, most likely mrs weston, and have all the popular applications. especially top friends, which would probably be edited every month or so. emma would have definitely been extremely upset about the switch from old to new facebook, and probably would have signed the petition against it. her notes would be every once in a great while, because she's too busy commenting on her friends photos and statuses. she would like to check her notifications at least three times a day, but limits herself to once a day, so as not to over-indulge.
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