tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-790762616882118040.post4835399476353406526..comments2022-11-01T20:28:29.448-07:00Comments on Literary Adventures Along the Brandywine: Persuasion Read-Along: Chapter 3Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17418854988524303306noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-790762616882118040.post-44788160455732715182015-01-13T06:35:22.097-08:002015-01-13T06:35:22.097-08:00Dr. Sus,
Yes, especially having an American herita...Dr. Sus,<br />Yes, especially having an American heritage (and in this day and age), I've often found it hard, too, to sometimes fully grasp that "down the nose" attitude towards hard work and--as you say--grit.<br /><br />And yes, I actually rather admire Mr. Shepherd's dealing here! It had to be hard working around Sir Walter....but he manages his best interests so neatly and smoothly. :)Heidihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17418854988524303306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-790762616882118040.post-60891943888925091472015-01-12T21:36:02.026-08:002015-01-12T21:36:02.026-08:00I loved this chapter. It was fascinating (and I mu...I loved this chapter. It was fascinating (and I must admit irritating) to observe Sir. Walter's worries about tenants. What an air of superiority? In this day and age hard work and grit are honored, something to be proud of. It is quite hard to relate to a man who does nothing and looks down on people who don't have the titles to live as lavishly as himself. Anyway...<br /><br />Anne's one liners were great in this chapter. But when are we going to learn/hear more about our herione? <br /><br />As to the questions: <br /><br />1. Resounding YES. His behavior was suspect, highly suspect. <br /><br />2. I agree with Hannah that he might have been a Lady Catherine type. I am sure he thought and tried within is power to be a good landlord. However, I am not sure his unobliging and rather condescending attitude (lacking any signs of empathy) would make that truly possible. Susanna https://www.blogger.com/profile/00066037966026823577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-790762616882118040.post-80977778128666152302015-01-12T11:34:37.190-08:002015-01-12T11:34:37.190-08:00Hamlette,
Yes, I think Mr. Shepherd got word to th...Hamlette,<br />Yes, I think Mr. Shepherd got word to the Admiral. Somehow, I always visualize him going up to the Admiral and pulling his elbow and laying the matter out, but---thinking about it---obviously, he was probably much more polished: i.e. causing the word to get round inauspiciously and then drawing up with a look of astonishment and then more general bonhomie as the Admiral explained himself.<br /><br />And about ending with the curate.... Yes, I know! I always think it might almost have been fun to hold out the suspense a little there, without clearing it up in the next chapter, but it obviously wouldn't be practical from a plot point perspective. And I don't <i>really</i> want it, because then it would be that much longer before getting to CW. ;)Heidihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17418854988524303306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-790762616882118040.post-14210385524554565102015-01-12T11:26:10.388-08:002015-01-12T11:26:10.388-08:00(To paraphrase), "I must have my share in the...(To paraphrase), "I <i>must</i> have my share in the conversation if we're talking about leaving things out!" :) There, that was (somewhat) of a smooth paraphrase.... :P<br /><br />But really, it's a fascinating topic. When writing, I'm constantly reminded that "what one leaves out, is actually more important than what stays <i>in</i>." Which is very hard to apply sometimes. To quote Ana in <i>Frozen</i> (and what's with all the quotes today? hmmmm....), but it's like "a crazy trust exercise." The author trusting that we, as the readers, will be able to decode and put pieces together. It's part of what makes deep literature---and that ongoing conversation between author and reader---with the reader participating in the creative process....Heidihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17418854988524303306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-790762616882118040.post-27616974288681157192015-01-12T11:17:16.797-08:002015-01-12T11:17:16.797-08:00Hannah,
I forgot to say that---yes---isn't tha...Hannah,<br />I forgot to say that---yes---isn't that little bit about Mr. Wentworth and the apples wonderful? I just thoroughly love every little tidbit we get about the Wentworth family as a whole!Heidihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17418854988524303306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-790762616882118040.post-41085249666280655112015-01-12T11:15:02.146-08:002015-01-12T11:15:02.146-08:00Hannah,
Yes, I can see Sir Walter riding round his...Hannah,<br />Yes, I can see Sir Walter riding round his estate and being the grand and condescending lord---pointing things out with his hunting crop and wanting everything to be "just so," to reflect well on his dignity. :) It's rather amusing when you stop and think about it.<br /><br />And Naomi,<br />"Sweet and hopeful and romantic...." That's just about a perfect summing up of <i>Persuasion</i> in its entirety. ;)Heidihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17418854988524303306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-790762616882118040.post-38813525509896809032015-01-11T23:07:16.222-08:002015-01-11T23:07:16.222-08:00Hannah, me too! The final sentence is such a lovel...Hannah, me too! The final sentence is such a lovely one. And so sweet and hopeful and romantic.... *sigh*Naomi Pittshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13932777444665441104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-790762616882118040.post-19736969301925866482015-01-11T16:21:06.073-08:002015-01-11T16:21:06.073-08:00Haha! No, but I did minor in English in college, ...Haha! No, but I did minor in English in college, and I'm a writer. So maybe that does make me a bit of a literary detective? I do enjoy trying to figure out unsaid things in novels (one of the things I like about Hemingway is how much he leaves out, if that makes any sense).Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-790762616882118040.post-23598108444482909082015-01-11T16:11:41.346-08:002015-01-11T16:11:41.346-08:00I can see Sir Walter being a bit of a Lady Catheri...I can see Sir Walter being a bit of a Lady Catherine type. You know, going around to all of his tenants and being all nosy and condescending and all that. Active but not in a positive way. <br /><br />I LOVE Anne's final sentence in this chapter. It's a great cliffhanger! And I especially like your point about Mr Wentworth and the apple incident. We learn so, so little about Mr Wentworth in this book but that sentence in the book reflects really well on him. Hannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08112080523452829647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-790762616882118040.post-36452965794902166432015-01-11T16:06:19.914-08:002015-01-11T16:06:19.914-08:00Hamlette, are you some kind of literary detective ...Hamlette, are you some kind of literary detective in disguise?! You're really good at this "reading in-between the lines" lark! It's never once occurred to me that Mrs Clay's husband might have been involved in shipping before. Hannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08112080523452829647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-790762616882118040.post-79417485943373365812015-01-10T22:08:15.393-08:002015-01-10T22:08:15.393-08:00Oh, that was so clever of Austen to leave the read...Oh, that was so clever of Austen to leave the reader thinking her connection is with the curate, but...Ruth @ with freedom and bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15531827758868215023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-790762616882118040.post-30326016059498040812015-01-10T14:06:18.242-08:002015-01-10T14:06:18.242-08:00I rather think that Mr. Shepard caused Admiral Cro...I rather think that Mr. Shepard caused Admiral Croft to hear about Kellynch being for rent. How else would a navel officer only just arrived in the neighborhood know exactly what lawyer to talk to about this? I rather expect Shepard had been doing some sniffing around about who's been inquiring about renting estates, and then when he heard about Admiral Croft looking at other properties and being unsatisfied, arranged for him to hear of Kellynch.<br /><br />And Sir Walter likes being seen as a very lordly sort of person. I imagine he rode around to his tenants rather regularly and made sure that the appearance of their homes, and of themselves, reflected well on him. Not because he cared about them, but because he wanted everyone to think he was perfect.<br /><br />And, you know how we were saying that in the first chapter, you'd almost think Elizabeth was the main character? In this chapter, you're almost led to believe that the person Anne is thinking of at the end as "he" is Mr. Wentworth the curate! (Austen puts an end to this with the first line of the next chapter, though.)<br /><br />And speaking of stuff we discussed earlier, here Mrs. Clay says she has known a great deal of the profession of naval officer. Perhaps her husband was in the navy, or involved with shipping?<br /><br />Lines I noted:<br /><br />Mr. Shepard laughed, as he knew he must (p. 17) (So telling about his relationship to Mr. Elliot!)Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-790762616882118040.post-49334135142972617462015-01-10T09:29:00.706-08:002015-01-10T09:29:00.706-08:00Ruth,
Thank you! And yes, Sir Walter's defini...Ruth, <br />Thank you! And yes, Sir Walter's definitely self-centered. I don't think he would be grinding down his tenants, but I get the impression he probably just doesn't give them much thought, beyond how they relate to his own consequence. And I agree! That entire paragraph of Mrs. Clay's is quite priceless. :)Heidihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17418854988524303306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-790762616882118040.post-59626728524680489012015-01-09T14:32:48.227-08:002015-01-09T14:32:48.227-08:00Oh, yeah, and I loved that comment by Mrs. Clay in...Oh, yeah, and I loved that comment by Mrs. Clay in an attempt to counter Sir Walter's prejudice against sailors.Ruth @ with freedom and bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15531827758868215023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-790762616882118040.post-14313370975856843902015-01-09T14:23:38.096-08:002015-01-09T14:23:38.096-08:00These are such great questions. I don't think...These are such great questions. I don't think Sir Walter cared about anyone but himself, and I don't see him being an obliged landlord. Sure, I got the feeling that Shepherd caused that connection to occur w/ Kellynch quite smoothly.Ruth @ with freedom and bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15531827758868215023noreply@blogger.com