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Post by Carma on Jul 16, 2008 4:55:50 GMT -5
I also disagree, I'm very reserved, so I hope it's not true... anyway, I think Emma is a bit jealous of Jane. I get the idea Jane is prettier and more elegant, maybe even smarter? I think Emma feels a bit threatened by her. When Ms. Weston tells Emma she think Mr. Knightley might want to marry Jane (chapter 26) she get's really defensive...
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Post by pixie on Jul 16, 2008 11:26:50 GMT -5
Ok, let's start with part 3: 9. Talking of Jane Fairfax's reserve, Emma said: Oftentimes very convenient, no doubt, but never pleasing. There is safety in reserve, but no attraction. One cannot love a reserved person.' Do you agree? Unfortunately I agree. I'm a bit reserved myself and I agree with Dom that people who are reserved could turn out to be better friends than the ones who instantly wanna be your friend. However, I think that people tend to find it annoying and unappealing when someone is reserved. ------------------------------------------------------------- I have two questions: 10. Do you really think that Frank Churchill is gonna turn out to be as charming as he is so far? 11. What do you say of the possibility of Emma and Mr. Knightley together? It's the first time I read Emma so I'm only guessing but from my previous readings for Jane Austen, I feel like there are gonna be a lot of surprises in the end.
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Lu
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Post by Lu on Jul 16, 2008 14:43:55 GMT -5
A9. I absolutely agree with Dom. I'm very reserved myself and I can understand Jane's behaviour. I also agree with Carma about Emma being jealous of Jane. Jane is praised by everyone in Highbury, she's considered equal to Emma and that threaten her. Going back to question 1 (1. Do you think Emma would be so ready to become friends with Harriet if she wasn't of a lower social condition and presented "such a delightful inferiority"?) I think that's another proof that Emma wouldn't become friend with Harriet if she wasn't so "delightfully inferior". Oh, and I guess Emma likes the fact Harriet isn't reserved at all. I read Emma before and I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll answer what I remember I was thinking when I first read it (it was also my first Jane Austen) 10. I don't know...I mean, I do like Mr.Weston a lot and Frank is his son but Mr.Knightley doesn't like him very much and he's been wiser than Emma so far...I'm not sure yet. As for question 11, I don't think it's possible.
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Post by erin on Jul 17, 2008 1:00:23 GMT -5
I agree because I am also reserved but i have a lot of fun in my life. I am in love with someone who loves me for me and he doesn't want to change me. He has no complaints about my personality.
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Post by Carma on Jul 17, 2008 4:46:22 GMT -5
ok, 10&11, I've read the book before, but my first thoughts were: I really thought Frank was quite charming! and I'd loved to keep him afound for a lot longer. and the other one: never thought of! I don't see it happening. Another day, another question from Lu & me 12. What do you think of Jane Fairfax? What is her supposed history with the Dixons, and why do you think she didn't go to Ireland, but to Highbury?
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Post by pixie on Jul 17, 2008 6:02:45 GMT -5
Another day, another question from Lu & me 12. What do you think of Jane Fairfax? What is her supposed history with the Dixons, and why do you think she didn't go to Ireland, but to Highbury? I think Jane Fairfax is a smart elegant responsible young lady. I think she fell in love with Mr. Dixon and he fell in love with her (maybe before or after Mrs. Dixon came in the picture. I'm not sure) but she decided or was forced to step back and allow him and Mrs. Dixon to be together. I think she didn't go to Ireland because the situation would be sensitive and she doesn't wanna cause any trouble or agitation.
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Lu
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Post by Lu on Jul 18, 2008 7:08:05 GMT -5
I agree with pixie about Jane Fairfax. I really like her, especially because she's reserved (I don't agree with Emma about that) and for her situation in life, which is not as privileged as Emma's. I have the impression Jane would be a more usual heroine than Emma for a Jane Austen's novel. As for her going to Highbury, I believe the reasons she herself claimed (or Miss Bates for her, lol ). 13. What do you think of Mr.Woodhouse as a father? and compared to other father figures in Austen's novels?
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Post by erin on Jul 18, 2008 12:50:51 GMT -5
Question 13: I think Mr . Woodhouse is a gentile caring man who loves his daughter very much. He does not want anything to happen to Emma. He seems to been very protective of her as a father should be. I cant compare him to other father's in Austen's novels because I haven't read any of her other books.
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Michelle
First novel published
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Post by Michelle on Jul 18, 2008 14:25:46 GMT -5
I finally caught up again. I don't really feel like I can answer many of the questions because I've read this before and I do not want to spoil anything. I will say that it is smart to really think about characters and who they really are when reading Jane Austen. There are many misunderstandings of character in her stories.
To answer lu's last question, I love Mr. Woodhouse (I think I said this before). I think he is a great character. And I think he is a good father. He really cares for Emma (and everyone). Yes, he is overprotective but Emma still usually gets what she wants. I like that she and Mrs. Weston know how to talk him into things. And it must be nice to have a father who doesn't always consider every man as a possible husband for you. That seems to be how many father's viewed their daughters in those days. He would be perfectly happy if she never married and remained at home always. Of course, they have the money so he doesn't have to worry about marrying her well. I'm sure that makes a difference.
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Post by Carma on Jul 20, 2008 4:59:16 GMT -5
I think Mr. Woodhouse is also a really nice caring father . I think to have a man like that as your father might become really annoying, but somehow Emma seems to be able to get whatever she wants anyway. I'm already reading the next section, so I'm having trouble remembering what belonged to what section Just to be safe, I'll leave my comment at this Next question: Who do you think send the pianoforte to Jane Fairfax? Do you really think it was the Campbells? Or do you prefer Emma's point of view
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Lu
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Post by Lu on Jul 21, 2008 12:32:58 GMT -5
To answer lu's last question, I love Mr. Woodhouse (I think I said this before). I think he is a great character. And I think he is a good father. He really cares for Emma (and everyone). Yes, he is overprotective but Emma still usually gets what she wants. I like that she and Mrs. Weston know how to talk him into things. And it must be nice to have a father who doesn't always consider every man as a possible husband for you. That seems to be how many father's viewed their daughters in those days. He would be perfectly happy if she never married and remained at home always. Of course, they have the money so he doesn't have to worry about marrying her well. I'm sure that makes a difference. I totally agree. You're right Michelle, I think it makes a big difference! The first I can think of is Mr.Bennet ( Pride & Prejudice), who is worried about marrying well five daughters! Also, Mr.Woodhouse struck me for the contrast with Sir Eliott (in Persuasion) who doesn't seem to care much for Anne...Mr.Woodhouse is exactly the opposite with Emma. 14. I think the Campbells sent Jane the pianoforte...I can't say why they didn't tell her anything though. Weird.
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Michelle
First novel published
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Post by Michelle on Jul 21, 2008 13:14:04 GMT -5
I think that when I first read it, I believed Emma's story about it being from Mr. Dixon. I actually can't remember who actually gave it to her...
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Post by pixie on Jul 21, 2008 16:25:25 GMT -5
I think that when I first read it, I believed Emma's story about it being from Mr. Dixon. I actually can't remember who actually gave it to her... I agree with you. I think it's from Mr. Dixon too. I think the Campbells would have told her if they were the ones who sent it.
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Lu
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Post by Lu on Jul 22, 2008 5:38:00 GMT -5
I think that when I first read it, I believed Emma's story about it being from Mr. Dixon. I actually can't remember who actually gave it to her... I agree with you. I think it's from Mr. Dixon too. I think the Campbells would have told her if they were the ones who sent it. I think I don't believe Emma's story because of her previous misunderstanding of Mr.Elton...
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Post by Carma on Jul 22, 2008 7:34:52 GMT -5
When I first read it I think I was also going for Emma's point of view. It probably isn't the Campbells, because they would've told her. and who else could it have been? But Emma had a wilde imagination, so she could be terribly wrong...
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