zeldafitzgerald
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
ancora imparo
Posts: 1,948
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Post by zeldafitzgerald on May 9, 2008 19:47:37 GMT -5
Mrs. Norris is a very disagreeable, but interesting, character. I think her situation in life has a lot to do with how her personality formed. She rose about her youngest sister (Fanny's mother) in society, but is still lower than Lady Bertram. I think she feel superior to many people, largely due to her close connection with Sir Bertram and his family, and being a blood relation to them. But she doesn't actually have much financial power of her own. I think this is why she is so opinionated - she wants to feel influential, even though normally her position in society would not make her so. I feel like I know several real people similar to Mrs. Norris.
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Post by Lucky on May 10, 2008 4:34:09 GMT -5
I'm reading Mansfield Park for the second time. I have to say that for the first time I didn't like it too much. But now.. I'm really enjoying the book. I don't think Fanny is less interesting than other characters in the book. I like the relationship between Edmund and Fanny and I'm interested in how it is going to continue (because I can't bethink of it). The main difference between Fanny and the other heroines of the Austen's novels is that Fanny is a little bit more shy and meek. But it is because of the atmosphere in which she grew up.
About love triangles.. I've found out Julia-Crawford-Maria as the most interesting right now.
I don't understand how someone like Edmund can fall in love with Mrs. Crawford. Because Edmund acts as very considerate and he's just not that type who would fall in love with someone like Mrs. Crawford (I hope you understand what I mean).
And finally about Mrs. Norris, I just think she wants to feel importantly to the family and she's just too miserly. Sometimes I feel sorry about her.. because in my opinion she's doing it because of her position in the family and the fact that without them her social position would go down. So because of it she's trying to be indispensable.
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Post by Carma on May 10, 2008 13:52:48 GMT -5
ok, here I go I kinda like Fanny, I understand why she's the way she is. Since she doesn't feel accepted by the rest of the family, and I'd probably act the same way if that happened to me. I agree, she isn't as nice as Austens other heroins, but I still like her back to zelda's second question about Jane Austen and ehm.. her 'traveling' (don' t remember exactly how you phrased it ) but I thin it shows, I think she might have written down her own experiences.. I don't see much happening with fanny and edmund yet... maybe it's just because i find it weird to fall for your cousin, even though that was probably quite normal back then. ok, Mrs. Norris, I have to laugh at the things she does.. she reminds me of Mss. Bouquet (Bucket actually.. Keeping up appearances ). I think she likes to make everybody's bussiness her own and that she doesn't like to spend any money. I think she also eats a lot at the Bertrams family... she thinks herself to be of a higher rank than she really is.. But Jane Austen always has a character like Mrs. Norris, doesn't she? I like MP so far, I can read it very fast actually, while some austen books give me some trouble. But maybe it's because I'm reading a penguin classic again, that has note sin the back.. even though those notes sometimes give away more than I'd wanted to know.. (like.. what will happen later..)
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zeldafitzgerald
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
ancora imparo
Posts: 1,948
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Post by zeldafitzgerald on May 11, 2008 9:28:00 GMT -5
I just realized that my edition does not number the chapters consecutively the whole way through, it's broken up into three volumes.
For anyone else who has an edition like mine, here's the schedule with revised chapter numbers: May 8: Volume One, Chapters 1-12 May 15: Volume One, Chapters 13-18 and Volume Two, Chapters 1-8 May 22: Volume Two, Chapters 9-13 and Volume Three, Chapters 1-4 May 29: Volume Three, Chapters 5-17
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Kristie
Novel turned into BBC miniseries
"If a book is well written, I always find it too short."
Posts: 7,214
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Post by Kristie on May 11, 2008 12:42:57 GMT -5
ok, Mrs. Norris, I have to laugh at the things she does.. she reminds me of Mss. Bouquet (Bucket actually.. Keeping up appearances ). I think she likes to make everybody's bussiness her own and that she doesn't like to spend any money. I think she also eats a lot at the Bertrams family... she thinks herself to be of a higher rank than she really is.. But Jane Austen always has a character like Mrs. Norris, doesn't she? Haha, I love Mrs. Bucket I don't get to see that show often because it's not on TV at a normal time here, since it's not American lol And I definitely see the connection
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Post by Dominique on May 12, 2008 5:40:17 GMT -5
Ugh Mrs Norris drove me craaaazy, but only because she's so true to life and is just like one of those incredibly frustrating and irritating people we all know. Everytime Mrs Norris was mentioned I think I cringed!
I agree Zelda I couldn't really think of any ways to improve Edmund either when I thought about it, but there must be something! He's just so dull!
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zeldafitzgerald
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
ancora imparo
Posts: 1,948
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Post by zeldafitzgerald on May 12, 2008 7:10:45 GMT -5
Carma is definitely right, Jane Austen always has a character like Mrs. Norris. Someone extremely irritating. Sometimes they end up being a bit funny too (Like Mary in Persuasion or Mr. Collins in Pride and Prejudice) but Mrs. Norris doesn't seem to be providing any comic relief yet, at least to me. Maybe she will further on.
Why do you think Jane Austen always included annoying nosy people in each novel? Do you think it is comic relief? What purpose does Mrs. Norris serve in Mansfield Park?
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Post by Carma on May 12, 2008 7:45:09 GMT -5
hmm, i think some comic relief, but mostly to make it more real I thnk. Everybody knows someone annoying, so I think she might have included them to get the story closer to the readers? Or she just knew people like that and wanted to write them down...
I'm not sure what purpose Mrs. Norris has in MP. But without her Fanny wouldn't have come to Mansfield Park.. I'm not sure...
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Lu
Administrator
Posts: 5,469
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Post by Lu on May 13, 2008 11:19:39 GMT -5
I agree with Carma too. Mrs. Norris is such a realistic character!
I'm not sure about her role in the novel (besides what Kristie mentioned!) either...perhaps it's just in her way of acting towards Fanny (hope it makes sense...), always comparing Fanny to her cousins and pointing out she's not their equal.
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Brunella
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
Posts: 1,441
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Post by Brunella on May 13, 2008 13:16:44 GMT -5
I haven't had much time lately, so I've only managed to read the first 4 chapters *hides her head beneath the desk*, but I completely hate Mrs. Norris... She's totally one of those pretentious people who think things are as they see them, and who try to get out of uncomfortable situations quickly... I didn't like it how she was the one who suggested for Fanny to move to Mansfield Park, and I didn't like it when she wouldn't take her in after her husband died, with the whole "ME?!?! A little old lady with such a young girl???" excuse... It really bothered me... Oh, and the brainwash she performs on her nieces bothers me too...
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Kristie
Novel turned into BBC miniseries
"If a book is well written, I always find it too short."
Posts: 7,214
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Post by Kristie on May 13, 2008 14:17:41 GMT -5
I agree with Carma too. Mrs. Norris is such a realistic character! I'm not sure about her role in the novel (besides what Kristie mentioned!) either...perhaps it's just in her way of acting towards Fanny (hope it makes sense...), always comparing Fanny to her cousins and pointing out she's not their equal. I think if it hadn't been for Mrs. Norris, most of the characters would have sort of forgotten Fanny wasn't actually in their family. She's the omnipresent being that always reminds Fanny of how she should be happy she was taken in.
While writing that I just realized that Mrs. Norris is probably the reason to blame for Fanny's passiveness. Because Mrs. Norris always reminded Fanny of how she is very fortunate, Fanny grew passive in regards to the Bertram family because she didn't feel she had the right to want anything more than what they've already been gracious enough to give her. So glad I made that connection because now I don't dislike Fanny as an Austen heroine as much because it wasn't her fault...it was Mrs. Norris'!
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Post by Lucky on May 14, 2008 6:07:46 GMT -5
Mrs.Norris is really miserly person. But I don't dislike her. I just think that without her the story wouldn't be so funny and real. Maybe she is one of my best-loved character, not because of her horrible signs .. but because of her agility and fun, which she brings into the book (hope it makes sense)
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zeldafitzgerald
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
ancora imparo
Posts: 1,948
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Post by zeldafitzgerald on May 14, 2008 6:58:40 GMT -5
That's true Kristie! She does make Fanny who she is, it's not really her fault. I hadn't thought about that. Lucky - I agree with you. That's one thing I love about Jane Austen - even her annoying or mean characters bring humor or drama to the book that makes for very interesting reading.
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Post by ItalianLaneGirl on May 14, 2008 10:53:25 GMT -5
I am SO far behind in reading this book. I think because I wasn't enjoying it, I was reading any book but this one! So, I'm going to drop out of this discussion for this book for the time being.
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