Oh, how I dreaded it...
No, but Elinor HAD to find out!
She had to find out that her beloved... is engaged!
*shocked gasps float from the audience*
Jane Austen has Elinor handle her emotions quite well. It's really quite astonishing... being faced with such brutal and cruel knowledge and every inch of her heart being denied, Elinor kept face. Not on the inside, but en face with Lucy Steele she didn't make any a distressed move.
The only thing to perhaps give her away to Lucy was her sudden hardness of character... but Lucy doesn't think much. She's not the type to read deep into people, and even less into introverted and quiet individuals, like Elinor, who do not wear their hearts on their sleeve.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Social Politics
In Sense and Sensibility, Elinor is a really admirable girl. I guess you could call her a model person, embodying many good traits.
One of those is her toleration of people. Whereas Marianne likes to flee annoying company, Elinor does not find it so easy to act so inconsiderably. The reader must sympathize with Elinor as she has to take on the tough job of speaking civilly to the most ridiculous of visitors and acquaintances.
However, this remarkable toleration does bring good to Elinor when she finds out about Lucy Steele's secret involving her beloved Edward Ferrars... *gasp*
One of those is her toleration of people. Whereas Marianne likes to flee annoying company, Elinor does not find it so easy to act so inconsiderably. The reader must sympathize with Elinor as she has to take on the tough job of speaking civilly to the most ridiculous of visitors and acquaintances.
However, this remarkable toleration does bring good to Elinor when she finds out about Lucy Steele's secret involving her beloved Edward Ferrars... *gasp*
Friday, March 7, 2008
Eugene Onegin ---> S and S
So, last weekend was a black void in terms of blogging...
because I was in CHICAGO!
Watching my favorite opera of all time... the beautiful, heartwrenching Eugene Onegin. A Russian opera based on the epic poem of Alexander Pushkin (the most famous Russian poet) and brought to measures of utter fantasy with the music of Tchaikovsky!
The plot... is pretty simple.
There's a guy named Evgeny. He's this well-to-do guy who has nothing to do, and just goes to balls and festivities. But he's bored. Soooo he goes to visit his friend Lenski in his house in the Russian countryside.
Now Lenski is completely in love with his neighbor. The neighboring house is the Larin residence, and they have two daughters. Lenski is in love with Olga - the pretty but empty-headed girl. Onegin goes with Lenski to visit this household... and the other sister, Tanya takes one look at Onegin and falls in love with HIM.
Then, Tanya does something VERY unusual for the day and age... she decides to confess her love to Onegin! She writes him a love letter, and as soon as she sent it, she regrets it...
...what will Evgeny think? She freaks out when he finally comes, but he smoothes things out. He tells her that he would make a horrible husband... that he wouldn't appreciate her. He is not ready to give up his roaming bachelor lifestyle. Tanya is releived, but heartbroken.
On Tanya's birthday there is a big party. Onegin is irritated at Lenski for dragging him to another ball. SO - he decides to push his buttons.
Onegin starts flirting with Olga. And Olga - being the pretty little bitch she is, returns the favor. Poor, idealistic, enamored Lenski was beside himself. How could this happen!?
Poor Lenski... grew angry. And Onegin didn't know when to stop. Before everyone knew it, an argument broke out, and...
LENSKI CALLED ONEGIN TO A DUEL!
Uh. Oh.
They go to the duel... Onegin came late. He didn't want to come at all.
By this time even Lenski was regretting it.
But they're MANLY men, and didn't say anything.
Well... they shot! Lenski missed... and Onegin tried to shoot without killing his friend.
But that didn't happen.
Lenski dropped dead.
What guilt for Onegin! He fled Russia and for four years travelled Europe, with his conscience trailing him. Finally he came back... only to end up at another ball!
And then, the lady of this rich house in Moscow came out...
and it was Tanya! The simple country girl who professed her love to him so long ago! But she's changed, she became stunning in mind and beauty, truly beautiful, not like her sister Olga.
And... suddenly Onegin didn't know what he was feeling! Could it be... he is in LOVE!
But it is too late. Tanya is married now, to a man who loves her very much. Onegin found her alone, and told her of what had happened, and tried to win her love again... and she confessed that although she did still love him, she could not, and would not leave her husband in disgrace for Onegin's sorry ass.
So - she left, and he was left with nothing.
Nice? Nice.
This type of story closely resembles that of Sense and Sensibility... in fact they are from the same time period. However, Sense and Sensibility takes place in England, while Evgeny Onegin takes place in Russia. But the similarities remain.
I just found a picture of the most famous Lenski of all time! (In Russia at least) Sergei Lemeshev. I have the recording, he is wonderful. :)
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Sense and Sensibility 4
Although many people think that showing emotion is a bad trait for a person, the character of Marianne in Sense and Sensibility sets it in a good light.
When her sister Elinor is in love with Edward Ferrars, she is the first to note something bad about the well-thought-of Edward. She complains that he doesn't express any strong feelings and that he can read even the juiciest poetry unemotionally. Also she critisizes his lukwarm response to Elinor's drawings. The reader does not know what Edward is really thinking, but we have the assumption thus far that he is just too shy to express himself directly. We'll see if Marianne is right, but for now we'll have to respect her value of human emotion.
When her sister Elinor is in love with Edward Ferrars, she is the first to note something bad about the well-thought-of Edward. She complains that he doesn't express any strong feelings and that he can read even the juiciest poetry unemotionally. Also she critisizes his lukwarm response to Elinor's drawings. The reader does not know what Edward is really thinking, but we have the assumption thus far that he is just too shy to express himself directly. We'll see if Marianne is right, but for now we'll have to respect her value of human emotion.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Sense and Sensibility 3
There is no 'good' and 'evil' in this book...
In most fantasy books, there is a strict line between the good characters and bad characters, often vulgarized by obvious character traits such as black clothing, etc. In Sense and Sensibility, good and evil dont exist... there are just many characters who all have a different sense of self and identity, and who sometimes just don't get along because of their differences.
For instance... Fanny is automatically perceived as an antagonist. She is elitist, manipulates her husband out of giving his stepdaughters money, and is very worried about the rank of Edward's prospect wife. However, she is not evil. She has her own agenda which the reader does not agree with, as we sympathise easily with Elinor and Marianna very early in the book. In fact, Jane Austen even adds humorous touches to the character of Fanny, revealed in wittily written passages that lightly make fun of the lady. She just cannot be evil if you laugh at her...
In most fantasy books, there is a strict line between the good characters and bad characters, often vulgarized by obvious character traits such as black clothing, etc. In Sense and Sensibility, good and evil dont exist... there are just many characters who all have a different sense of self and identity, and who sometimes just don't get along because of their differences.
For instance... Fanny is automatically perceived as an antagonist. She is elitist, manipulates her husband out of giving his stepdaughters money, and is very worried about the rank of Edward's prospect wife. However, she is not evil. She has her own agenda which the reader does not agree with, as we sympathise easily with Elinor and Marianna very early in the book. In fact, Jane Austen even adds humorous touches to the character of Fanny, revealed in wittily written passages that lightly make fun of the lady. She just cannot be evil if you laugh at her...
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Sense and Sensibility 2
It's amazing what characterization can do.
Three sisters... each one with their own distinct personality.
Elinor, the oldest sister is introverted and rational. Being the oldest sister in a family without a father, she is naturally responsible and thoughtful about others around her. As soon as Edward Ferrars is introduced in the book, the reader begins to see that they are a perfect couple: both just as sweet as the other.
Marianne, the second sister is passionate and inspired. She is sometimes hot-tempered, but is loyal to her beleifs and will never stray from her ideals. Her character provides a contrast to Elinor, and in fact conflicts arise when Marianne feels like Elinor is 'unemotional' just because she is not as vocal about her feelings like Marianne.
The youngest sister (I forget her name...) acts as a gauge of honesty thoughout the story. Because she is young and innocent, Jane Austen uses her to show the readers how to feel about each character. Because Edward gained the little girl's trust in the beginning of the book, the reader realises that ultimately he is a good character.
Three sisters... each one with their own distinct personality.
Elinor, the oldest sister is introverted and rational. Being the oldest sister in a family without a father, she is naturally responsible and thoughtful about others around her. As soon as Edward Ferrars is introduced in the book, the reader begins to see that they are a perfect couple: both just as sweet as the other.
Marianne, the second sister is passionate and inspired. She is sometimes hot-tempered, but is loyal to her beleifs and will never stray from her ideals. Her character provides a contrast to Elinor, and in fact conflicts arise when Marianne feels like Elinor is 'unemotional' just because she is not as vocal about her feelings like Marianne.
The youngest sister (I forget her name...) acts as a gauge of honesty thoughout the story. Because she is young and innocent, Jane Austen uses her to show the readers how to feel about each character. Because Edward gained the little girl's trust in the beginning of the book, the reader realises that ultimately he is a good character.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Sense and Sensibility 1
Sense and Sensibility is a story with an eternal message.
However, it is set in old-time England.
Now its interesting how even though this time period has vanished from our eyes, there still remain momentos to life in this era, like Jane Austen's books. Even though we can't identify with many of the aspects of the characters' lifestyles, there are still some things and ideas which surpass the dragging clock of history. The overarching theme of love conquering societal expectations is as true today as it was during Jane Austen's time.
Now we'll just have to see HOW.
However, it is set in old-time England.
Now its interesting how even though this time period has vanished from our eyes, there still remain momentos to life in this era, like Jane Austen's books. Even though we can't identify with many of the aspects of the characters' lifestyles, there are still some things and ideas which surpass the dragging clock of history. The overarching theme of love conquering societal expectations is as true today as it was during Jane Austen's time.
Now we'll just have to see HOW.
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