-Read Persuasion to pg. 224... in other words, everything but the last three chapters... note that Van Sant told us she was doing full spoilers on Monday... but I already ruined the ending anyway
-Discovery Task #2... turn it in to the Dropbox by Monday morning... I'm not sure if this pertains directly to Paper #3 or not; I have to ask at the next staff meeting... I know that the main reason that Core requires these assignments is to teach you good research skills in preparation for a big paper that you write in the spring
-Blog homework... post below... I assigned each of you a character in the book... rate their social/economic status 1-10 and give me a corroborating textual reference (paste quote and give page number)... then rate their satiric status 1-10 and give me a corroborating textual reference (paste quote and give page number).
Have a nice weekend! If you happen to go to the Cobb, be careful of the steps or you might fall down.
p.s. #1 Which character from Persuasion are you?
I was Admiral Croft.
p.s. #2 A thought occurred to me as I was walking from class back to the office. The thought was that Austen probably isn't quite as socially progressive as we were making her out to be today. On the one hand, she does seem to be pitching in for taking risks, looking to new sources of knowledge, some form of self-determination, and new model of marriage as an emotional and intellectual joint partnership. On the other hand, it's not like Anne marries an actual capitalist, like a merchant or someone like that. The military is much more merit-based (meritocratic) than the aristocracy. But it still has a kind of traditional status. I mean, literally speaking, the military is where the original aristocratic titles and real estate all came from, right? William the Conqueror williamtheconquered England and gave land and titles to all the dudes in his army. That's the equivalent of Captain Wentworth winning prize money for sinking French ships. Err, but then again, money is different from land and the navy is different from the army. Bears further thought.
p.s. #3 How you can tell when a character is being satirized... we've been talking about Austen and her use of irony. Since I mentioned The Office today, it bears saying that there is a very clear hierarchy on that show between who is "in" on the joke and who is not. Jim and Pam always look at the camera in alliance with the viewer; you could compare that to the kind of narrator function Van Sant has been talking about. Some of the other characters look at the camera, in particular Michael, but their effort to be part of the "in" group with the viewers fails. Indeed if you look at Michael on the show, one of the things that defines his character is his desire to be part of a social in-group, particularly with Jim and Pam. The camera isn't passive on the show; it renders judgments, just like Austen's narrator.
20 comments:
For Admiral Croft:
social/economic status: 6
"Admiralcroft ...aquired a handsome fortune..."(p. 61).
"He is a rear admiral of the white"(p. 61).
satiric status: 3
"His goodness of heart and simplicity of character were irresistable"( p. 150).
Captain Wentworth:
Socia/Economic Status = 8.
He is considered very high in the social status based on his fortune founded through the navy, but he is not from old arictocratic line and status.
"He had, very soon after their engagment ceased, got employ; and all that he had told her would follow, had taken place. He had distinguished himself, and early gained the other step in rank - and must now, by successive captures, have made a handsome fortune" (Pg. 68-69).
"'If he should ever be made a Baronet! 'Lady Wentworth' sounds very well. That would be a noble thing, indeed for Henrietta! She would take place of me then, and Henrietta would not dislike that. Sir Frederick and Lady Wentorth! It would be but a new creation'" (Pg. 107).
Satiric Status = 2.
I think Jane Austen approves of Captian Wentworth very much, afterall he is the ideal match for Anne. Jane Austen leads the audience to wish that they would fall in love again and be together in the end. Also, I couldn't really find anything negative about him or satirical about him, because he is portrayed as perfect in manners and a great gentlemen, that not only Anne loves but all the other women would wish to attain his affection. He's like McDreamy from Greys Anatomy!
" It was a merry, joyous party, and no one seemed in higher spirits than Captian Wentworth. She felt that he had everything to elevate him, which general attraction and deference, and especially the attention of all the young women could do" (Pg. 104)
"No, no; Frederick is not a man to whine and complain; he has too much spirti for that. If the gill ieks another man better, it is very fit she should have him" (pg. 190)
Elizabeth (Miss Elliot): Social/economic status:8
Although they are not considered royalty like their cousins, they are higher up on the social/economic status. As the eldest daughter, and prettiest according to her father, she is to secure their status and wealth by marrying suitably.
pg 48 "Elizabeth had succeeded, at sixteen, to all that was possible, of her mother's rights and conequence; and being very handsome, and very like himself, her influence had alwasy been great..."
"All equality of alliance must rest with Elizabeth; for Mary had merely connected herself with an old country family of respectability and large fortune, and had therefore given all the honour, and received none: Elizabeth would, one day or other, marry suitably."
Satiric Status: 9
Elizabeth is very vain and wants nothing to inconvience her or her father. Austen is satiring her lack of mind compared to Anne, etc.
pg 52 "...Elizabeth, to do her justice, had, in the first ardour of female alarm, set seriously to think what could be done, and had finally proposed these two branches of economy: to cut off some unnecessary charities, and to refrain from new-furnishing the drawing-room; to whic expedients she afterwards added the happy thought of their taking no present down to Anne, as had been the usuaal yearly custom."
Pg 202 "Very, very happy were both Elizabeth and Anne Elliot as they walked in. Elizabeth, arm in arm with Miss Carteret, and looking on the broad back of the dowager Viscountess Dalrymple before her, had nothing to wish for which did not seem within her reach..."
Austen is satiring her wish to be of higher status such as her cousins, however she is looking upon the back of Viscountess Dalrymple which does not seemm like a pleasant spot and is obviously satiric of her vanity.
Sir Walter:
Social/Economic Status: 6
"Then followed the history and rise of the ancient and respectable family, in the usual terms ..." (pg. 46)
Satiric Status: 6
"He considered the blessing of beauty as inferior only to the lessing of a baronetcy ..." (og. 47)
The Harville's
Social/Economic status= 4
Captain Harville is stated in living in Lyme, which is known for its beautiful landscape. However, he is stated as having a small and inexpensive home, "for in a small house, near the foot of an old pier of unknown date" (p.126).
Satiric status: 2
I think Jane Austen approves of the Hartville's. They do not have as much social status as most people, but they are nice people with good hearts.
"Captain Harville...was a perfect gentleman, unaffected,warm,and obliging. Mrs. Harville, a degree less polished than her husband, seemed however to have the sa,me good feelings" (P.127).
Mr. William W. Elliot
soc./econ. status: 8
"In all probability, he was already richer of the two, and the Kellynch estate would as surely be his hereafter as the title." [comparison of Sir W. Elliot and Mr. Elliot] pg. 162
satiric status: 6
Austen flipflops her character's opinion of Mr. Elliot, but preserves their shallow, outward admiration.
"...on conversing with him she [Lady Russell] found the solid so fully supporting the superficial...and could not seriously picture herself a more agreeable or estimable man." pg. (bottom of)167-(top of)168
"...but it had been no unhappiness to sour his mind, nor (she began to suspect) to prevent his thinking of a second choice [second wife]" pg 168
"...she [Anne] would rather see Mr. Elliot again than not" pg. 159
"Still, however, she [Anne] had the sensation of there being something more than immediately appeared, in Mr. Elliot's wishing" pg. 162
"...Anne had begun to learn that she and her excellent friend could sometimes think differently; and it did not surprise her, therefore, that Lady Russell should see nothing...to require more motives than appeared, in Mr. Elliot's great desire of a reconciliation." pg. 168
These are very good. I'm not sure if I was clear about this, but I'd prefer if the remaining ones would give sum-up comments as Mari, Roselaine, & Jessica did. It would be more helpful to the rest of the class.
Captain Benwick:
socio-economic status:3
"Captain Benwick had some time ago been first lieutenant of the Laconia; and the account which Captain Wentworth had given him, on his return from Lyme before; his warm praise of him as an excellend young man and an officer, whom he had always valued highly...the sympathy and good-will excited towards Captain Benwick was very great." (pg. 126)
He certainly isn't lacking in status or wealth, as is described in the exerpt, however it is clear that he doesn't have the same social status as Wentworth or Harville due to his demeanor. Depression makes him less desirable than the other captains.
satiric status: 3
"...that the strong feelings which alone could estimate it truly, were the feelings which ought to taste it but sparingly."(pg. 130)
Benwick is a rather tragic character. Austen's approval of him is apparent because Anne feels inclined to talk and enjoy his company. He however, takes back seat to Wentworth, who is clearly the second least satiric character next to Anne.
For Mrs. Smith
Social/economic status: 3
"she was a widow, and poor. Her husband had been extravagnt; and at his death, about two years before, had left his affairs dreadfully involved...She had come to Bath on that account, and was now in lodgings near the hotbaths, living in a very humble way, unable even to afford herself the comfort of a servant, and of course almost excluded from society." (173)
satirical status: 8
Austen approves of Mrs. Smith. she believes in the strength of friendship and thus mirrors it in Mrs. Smith.
"she had weathered it however, and could truly say that it had done her good. It had increased her comforts by making her feel herself to be in good hands." (175)
Charles Hayter:
social/economic status: 2
Even though his parents' "inferior,retired, and unpolished way of living" make them "hardly have any class at all", Charles had "very superior cultivation and manners". (pg 106)
satiric status: 5
Austne uses Charles to escalate Captain Wentworths actions, for example, when the nephew latches onto Anne. It is the Captin who pulls the annoying child off of Anne, not Charles so he "comprehends his regretting that Captain Wentworth should do what he ought to do himself" (pg 112)
Lady Dalrymple and Miss Carteret:
Social/economic status: 7
"The Bath paper one morning announced the arrival of the Dowager Viscountess Dalrymple, and her daughter, the Honourable Miss Carteret" (p. 169)
"Anne had never seen her father and sister before in contact with nobility" ( p. 169)
Satiric Status:6
Austen has a more neutral role with Dalrymple and Carteret. Although in this quote it shows that Lady Dalrymple is
"Lady Dalrymple being kept at home by a bad cold, was glad to make use of the relationship which had been so pressed on her"
this quote makes it seem like they're a very uninteresting couple.
For Henrietta Musgrove:
Social/economic status: 5
"...young ladies of nineteen and twenty who had brought from school at Exeter all the usual stock of accomplishments, and were now, like thousands of other young ladies, living to be fashionable, happy, and merry. Their dress had every advantage, their faces were rather pretty, their spirits extremely good, their manner unembarrassed and pleasant; they were of consequence at home, and favourites abroad." (p78)
Henrietta and her sister are tossed amongst an entire genre of fairly well-off young women, making her almost the poster child of upper-middle-class women. The reason I rate her as a 5 is not because she is strictly in the middle class but simply because Austen makes her seem so common--like she could be confused by almost any girl of her status.
Satiric status: 6
The fact that you could easily confuse Louisa and Henrietta doesn't seem accidental and they seem to be educated, yet somewhat ditzy and replaceable girls which Austen would not have a difficult time making fun of.
"'I wish,' said Henrietta, very well pleased with her companion, 'I wish Lady Russell lived at Uppercross, and were intimate with Dr. Shirley. I have always heard of Lady Russell, as a woman of the greatest influence with every body! I always look upon her as able to persuade a person to any thing! I am afraid of her, as I have told you before, quite afraid of her, because she is so very clever; but I respect her amazingly...'" (p132)
Henrietta
1) Social/economic status: 5.5, she is not high on the list but she is not destitude her good looks and positive temperment give her the .5, "I regard Lousa Musgrove as a very amiable, sweet-tempered girl, and not deficient in understanding; but Benwick is something more."
2) Satire: 6.5, she is not the main focus of Austen's mean humor, but she is not excused either: "They wew more in love with him; yet there it was n ot love. It was little fever of aadmiration; but it might probaly must, end in love with some."
Anne Elliot:
Social/Economic Status: 5
Although she is the daughter of a Baronet, she is not thought highly of in social standing, because she lacks youth, beauty, and husband.
"...but Anne...was nobody with either father or sister: her word had no weight; her convenience was always to give way;- she was only Anne" (48).
"She played a great deal better than either of the Miss Musgroves; but having no voice, no knowledge of the harp, and no fond parents to sit by and fancy themselves delighted, her performance was little thought of only out of civility, or to refresh the others, as she was well aware" (83).
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Satiric Status: 1
Jane Austen approves of Anne the most and demonstrates this by making her the female protagonist of the novel. She ridicules her very little compared to the other characters and takes every opportunity to distinguish her above the other characters.
"...but Anne, with an elegance of mind and sweetness of character, which must have placed her high with any people of real understanding..." (48).
"She was always on friendly terms with her brother-in-law; and in the children, who loved her nearly as well, and respected her a great deal more than their mother, she had an object of interest, amusement, and wholesome exertion" (80).
Mr. and Mrs. Musgrove:
Social Ranking = 2
The Musgroves are of very high social ranking (not king or queen though).
"...the Musgroves were the first class of society in the country..." -106
Satire = 4
The Musgroves are portrayed higher than any other parents so far, but they have their faults. Their sore spot is their deceased son Dick, who is rarely brought up (they found him unintelligent and lazy). Also, they are not as "worldly" as other characters, although that is not necessarily Austen dislikes. They tend to show concern about others more than concern for themselves.
"The real circumstances of this pathetic pieve of family history were, that the Musgroves had had the ill fortune of a very troublesome, hopeless son [Dick]; and the good fortune to lose him before he reached his twentieth year..." -86
"Mrs. Musgrove...could not accuse herself of having ever called them [Bermuda and Bahama] any thing in the whole course of her life." -103
"[Charles Hayter] had even refused one regular invitation to dinner; and having been found on the occasion by Mr. Musgrove with some large books before him, Mr. and Mrs. Musgrove were sure all could not be right, and talked, with grave faces, of his studying himself to death." -113
Charles Musgrove:
Satiric Status: 3
"The word curricle made Charles Musgrove jump up, that he might compare it with his own..." (133)
A curricle is a gentleman's courage. Through this statement, Austen portrays Charles' wealth, and that he thinks highly of himself, and will seize any opportunity he can to show it.
Social/Economic Status: 9
"Mr. Hayter had some property... [that] was insignificant compared to Mr. Musgrove's... The Musgroves were in the first class of society in the country." (106)
This quote is pretty self-explanitory. Charles musgrove is in the first class of society and he owns land.
Mary:
Social/Economic Status= 5
Mary married into the Musgroves and though they do have more money than the Elliots (the family she is from) they are of lower social ranking and do common things. Happy family though!
"Though better endowed than the elder sister, Mary had not Anne's understanding or temper" (75).
".. some of the happiest creatures of her acquaintance; but still, saved as we all are by some comfortable feeling of superiority from wishing for the possibility of exchange, she would not have given up her own more elegant and cultivated mind for all their enjoyments; and evied them nothing but that seemingly perfect good understanding and agreement together..." (78) [In Anne's pov]
Satiric status: 7
Mary is definitely slower than Jane Austen's protagonist Anne but Austen doesn't bash on her as much as Elizabeth. "Mary was not so repulsive and unsisterly as Elizabeth, nor so inaccessible to all influence of hers" (80). "...while well, and happy, and porperly attended to, she had great good humour and excellent spirits; but any indisposition sunk her completely; she had no resources for solitude; and inheriting a considerable share of the Elliot self-importance, was very prone to add to every other distress that of fancying herself neglected and ill-used" (75).
Mrs. Clay
Social/ Economic status- 3
"We must feel that every addition to your father's society, among his equals or superiors, may be of use in diverting his thoughts from those who are beneath him." He looked as he spoke, to the seat which Mrs. Clay had been lately occupying..." Pg 341
Satiric status- 5
"Mrs. Clay was very pleasant ans very smiling but her courtisies and smiles were more a matter of course."
Lady Russell
SES: 8
She is the widow of a knight, and she is always invited to the Elliot parties. You need to have a specific social rank in order to go to the parties, so in order to be in them, she had a high social and economic standing in order to always be invited.
"She could think only of the invitation she had with such astonishment witnessed; and of the manner in which it had been received, a manner of doubtful meaning, of surprise rather than gratification, of polite acknowledgment rather than acceptance" (pg.236)
Many people would have loved to get a letter, and when Wentworth got his invitation, people were surprised that he had not reacted in the way people usually do, which is surprised. Therefore, the power of an invitation is powerful, and many invitations, like what Lady Russell had, made her have a high social standing.
Satiric Status: 3
I think that Lady Russell is approved by Austen, in that she was the mother's best friend and now the protagonists' best friend. She usually knows what is best to do in situations with her social standing, but she judges people too quickly.
"Lady Russell, in spite of all her former transgressions, he could now value from his heart." (p.257)
Lady Russell has made mistakes before, and Austen shows it here, but she also acknowledges that she doesn't do it out of vanity, but out of what she thinks is right.
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