Week Seven: A Modern Austenite and Keeping all the Plates Spinning

If we were to believe everything we watched in "Becoming Jane" (not necessarily the most historically accurate in regards to Jane's life, but I do feel like it gives Jane something of what she deserved) then it would seem that Jane was able to live a life of leisure, breaking men's hearts and writing letters and novels and doing other mundane life things. 


This is not the life of a modern Austenite. We run all over the place striving to do more. And more. And still more!!! We have a job, often two, we are students, we are professionals, we are mothers, sisters, daughters (sons, husbands, brothers). We are exhausted, we run on empty and still we keep going - because in this society that is what is expected of us. But even more, we expect it of ourselves.


For example: I worked two jobs all summer, both where I was required to be on my feet. I also had an internship. This had been my plan all school year - I wanted to earn as much money as possible and that meant two jobs. But after 14 hour days, I was exhausted. What did I do? I finally got back to school. Now, I'm already working one job (less than 10 hours a week), I'm taking six classes, and I start a second job in about a week. All along I'll be posting here and writing other places. 


I expect this level of activity of myself.


To Jane though, we probably look like chickens running around with our heads cut off (that is how we feel after all, isn't it?). I'm not saying that the life of a Regency era woman of Jane's status was easy - a Hollywood film probably isn't the best source after all. But if they had enough leisure time to knit things and do needlepoint and plan lavish meals and balls and such - lucky them!


P.S.
I realize this is a week behind. Moving in and starting classes took a little bit more out of me than I expected. Therefore, week eight's post will follow in the next couple of days. 

Week Six: When Your Stepbrother Closes the Door to Your Childhood Home, Another Door Opens…

First order of business: the past and next couple of weeks are ones of transition as I move back to my Second City and start my sophomore year of college…Thus I might not (won’t) have every post on time. I give you my most sincere apologies in advance.

Second order of business: I moved into my new apartment this weekend!!! And it’s a wreck. Hope to have that cleaned up by Tuesday. Despite that, it already kind of feels like home. This will be the third night I have spent here. I’ve figured out which light switches turn on which outlets, moved my roommate’s bed out of the living room and into the bedroom, and cooked something in the microwave. The cabinets have food and bowls and plates and plastic silverware in them. The refrigerator has ice trays and fresh fruit in it. It’s all starting to come together.  

This year’s transition was much easier than last years. Last year I came to a brand new (much bigger) city where I knew absolutely no one. I didn’t know any streets. I didn’t know the campus. And I didn’t know what college would be like. Then I met one of the most important people in the world to me. It was the end of the first week of classes, I was trying to decide if I wanted to stick out the semester or just go ahead and leave, and she plopped down in front of me (I was eating lunch in the cafeteria -alone). She changed everything.

The Dashwoods had a similar experience, except they had less time to prepare for their move. But they had to throw themselves upon the mercy of others and trust them to help them out in a completely foreign environment. The people are what saved the Dashwoods. Those willing to take an interest and make an effort to reach out to them made all the difference. Granted, those people were not pure angels…but that human connection and compassion changed everything.

Although nowhere near as difficult as last year, this year’s move has had its challenges. For completely different reasons I found leaving my home to be emotionally difficult. I expected to be torn when I arrived, home sick, feeling guilty for what I was leaving behind…but when I saw the skyline I realized that this is home too. Living in two places is not for the faint of heart. It’s a balancing act, one I am learning and will continue to learn as long as I live in two different cities. But again, it is the people who make the difference – the people who love and care for me from long distance and the same room. No man is an island (I <3 John Donne). No woman – at least not this nearly 20 year old – can go it alone. Family – blood or not – and friends are the ones who make it possible to pack up as much as possible and go six hours from what is most comfortable to a place that is uncomfortable and mostly unfamiliar.

The Dashwoods came to be able to depend upon some of their family and their friends. Although it can be down-right frightening to trust so much, that is what I have learned to do as well. Because being at school provides endless opportunities for growth and development. It is a gift to be here. Learning to trust others is part of that gift of growth.

The door home is still very open for me. But in moving, many more have been opened. I chose to move. The Dashwoods did not. But I think that one of Jane’s motives in thrusting the Dashwoods into the harsh world and forcing them to depend on others was to show that there are so many opportunities created. For them it came in the form of husbands. For me, education. But beyond that, it is the ability to trust and depend on others.

Next week: I’m not really sure at this point. I trust that something will come to me. I’ll be very busy this week so it’ll probably be this weekend again.

P.S. If you followed or got anything out of the rambling word vomit that occurred above – I applaud you. Please take a moment to pat yourself on the back. And my most sincere thanks.

Till next week!

Week Five - Jane Austen, YouTube Darling

I do not believe it would be entirely erroneous to state that although the most prominent and visible following of Jane Austen is that of the 50 something and up crowd, there is a very strong presence among the younger generations. A walk around the Jane Austen Festival will illustrate this. The hosts and volunteers are a mixture of each.

Jane Austen is timeless.

Her stories of love and loss and hardship overcome reach anyone who wants more than a stable situation from this world. She reaches those who want to love and be loved, who want to be happy and satisfied, who want to wake up smiling because they are alive. This is not someone from one generation or another. This is an enduring desire.

Although she never texted Mr. LeFroy or sent an all caps email to her publisher asking why Northanger Abbey (then titled “Susan”) had yet to see a bookstore, I firmly believe she would have reveled in the constant and every growing exchange of information that occurs online and throughout our world today. And she would have been just as quick to adopt YouTube as a platform as the many people who produce cute kitten videos or talk smack or make up songs about being thought to be gay by their families… it would have been very interesting.

As it is, Jane is not here to take advantage of the second most popular search engine (after Google, naturally). But thousands of Austenites are. A search of “Jane Austen” will return about 5,110 videos. “Pride and Prejudice” brings the number up to 5,350. “Kittens” will provide 186,000. Kittens aren’t really related to Jane Austen – I was just curious.

I found the “Jane Austen’s Fight Club” video to be particularly humorous. And oddly enough, true to the spirit. Jane lived within a very tight set of rules. Although I can’t imagine her taking her issues out on strangers or friends with her fists (she used a pen) I can see her recognizing the feelings expressed in a movie like Fight Club (originally a novel by Chuck Palahniuk).

Also, check out Emma Thompson’s Golden Globe Speech and Emma Thompson on Ellen Degeneres.

Next week: commiseration with the Dashwood sisters as I move back to Chicago and they are forced to leave their beloved familial home. Basically, a look at opportunity.

My Deepest and Most Sincere Apologies...

Hi guys.


So I know I said that there'd be this awesome post today exploring Jane on YouTube....but there's not. I've worked all week and I'm behind on a few things I said I would have done today - and you have to keep your word (especially when you are paid to do so)! So I'm offering my most sincere apologies and a promise that SUNDAY you will be able to read a most scintillating post all about how Jane is a force to be reckoned with on YouTube, the second biggest search engine out there (next to Google, of course).


Again, deepest apologies,


Mari

Week Four: A Nation, City, and Man and Woman Divided

“I don’t want to possess you – I wish to marry you because I love you!” – John Thornton, portrayed by Richard Armitage…thus read this quote in an intense and deep British accent…

As I sit in my best friend’s mom’s living room on a rather dreary stormy gray day nibbling my Reduced Fat White Cheddar Cheez-Its, I can’t forgive myself for having left North and South at home on my couch. I could really kick myself. It would be the perfect accompaniment to this dreary day! The beautiful music, awesome cinematography, fantastic acting, and – of course – the love story would at least transport me from hot and muggy Louisville, Kentucky to the beautiful climate of Industrial Revolution mill town of Milton, where every day is gray and overcast, the air smells of human excrement and factories burning lord only knows what, and the seasons change before you realize you were in the last one.

Sounds great doesn’t it? Yeah, I don’t think so either.

This is one reason why I have no qualms writing about another author, Elizabeth Gaskell, on my blog about Jane Austen. Not only is North and South the P&P of the Industrial Revolution, but many of the same elements drive its plot as in Austen’s works, i.e. character and place. Because it is a conflict of place. Margaret Hale comes from the agricultural south of England. After her father leaves the Church they move to Milton, and Industrial center in the north (modeled after Manchester). There, cotton is king. Business and making money are the moral principles. Enter John Thornton, one of her father’s first friends in Milton. Thornton is a Master, meaning he operates a Cotton Mill. Highlights include being strong-willed, driven, protective, and having an over-protective mother. The last one isn’t always such a good thing, actually. The two clash – leading to the quote above. It truly is P&P set roughly fifty years later. There is the conflict between the two, in which the viewer/reader is privy to the knowledge that she hates his guts and he is falling for her, the first (disastrous) proposal, the growth where they both figure out that they know nothing about the other and they behaved like complete imbeciles, and then the happy ending. Don’t get mad, I didn’t give anything away. The fun is how it all comes about. Let’s just say that you’ll forgive Mr. Bell for his horrendous plaid pants. With plenty of intricate plot lines and “WHY, MARGARET, WHY?!?” moments, North and South deserves a place next to Austen on the bookshelf.

I could go on and on about the beauty of this film…but I’ll abstain.

About the title of this post… an American who heard the title of this film/book would most likely assume that it was about the Civil War. Clearly, it’s not – but the parallels between the regions and the class conflict are really interesting. This film is a history lesson – what I learned from seeing it made more of an impact than whatever I learned in the classroom. Funnily enough, I convinced my History 104 (Global History since 1500 with a Woman’s Perspective) to watch it. She showed a clip in class J. Her graduate assistant also said that she was using the novel as a text in her next class. But I digress. This is one aspect where I feel the novel surpasses P&P – you learn about every class, every person. There is equal representation and choosing sides is not an option. They are equally well represented. There is a political and social justice message. And yet it is so powerful because of the two main characters and their personal story, their developing relationship and growth. It’s a love story, set in possibly the most unromantic place in England. We recognize the conflict within the characters as conflict we have or could experience ourselves.

Jane would have loved it.

Next Week:

I’m working on a plan for the entire year. Keyword, working. This week was actually supposed to be making the chemise for my costume, but since I am working three jobs that’s just not realistic. Plus, it’ll take forever since I don’t know how to sew really much at all. The goal for that is three weeks (week seven?). Next week I’m going to be discussing something I find fascinating and amusing…Jane on YouTube!!! Till then…

Week Three: Northanger Abbey, or How to be Completely Naïve and Get the Man of Your Dreams

Ladies and tyrants and boos – oh my! I always forget how much I love to read Northanger Abbey – then I pick it up and a smile floods my face. Though lightening strike me down, this novel comes very close to eclipsing my love of P&P. Very close. Why, you might ask? Because deep down I know that I am much more like Catherine Morland than I am Elizabeth Bennet. A Facebook quiz proved it too.

Catherine Morland is a fifteen year old girl whose first passion in life is reading novels – novels referring to the gothic romantic coming of age genre that was so popular at the end of the eighteenth century and also favorites of Jane herself. So naturally she has a very – quite possibly over – active imagination. This all sounds so familiar…. Oh yeah. Because that would be me. Anywho. The daughter of a minister and sibling to nine , she is invited by rich, childless neighbors to go to Bath, the place to be in the summer months - because “when a young lady is to be a heroine…something must and will happen to throw a hero in her way” (Northanger Abbey 6). And so it does. Enter HENRY TILNEY!!! *insert cliché big sigh* Henry Tilney is the son of General Tilney and the sister of Eleanor Tilney and brother of Captain Tilney. And he has a sense of humour, and he’s cute, and he’s a minister – but he still reads novels! And enjoys them!!! And he makes me laugh and he is so sweet and considerate… and that was me talking, not Catherine. He is, obviously, the hero of our story. The villains? Numerous! And not limited to the following: Isabella and John Thorpe. Isabella loves Catherine’s brother and John starts to fall in love with Catherine (I hope you automatically read those italicized words in a snarky sneering sing-songy voice. If not, go back and repeat). The first time you meet those characters, you can immediately see through their façade. Our sweet, dear, NAÏVE heroine cannot, unfortunately. Luckily she is whisked away to Northanger Abbey upon invitation from the General. But what mysteries are hidden in its aged walls? What is really behind those bumps and moans in the night? What really happened to Mrs. Tilney? All these questions haunt Catherine’s over-active imagination while she is there…

I’m going to stop now. I’m notorious for giving away the ending. Although I suppose the title of this post does that for me. But then, it is a work by Jane so a happy ending is required.

And if you appreciate the dark, gothic, foreboding tone I attempted to use at the end of the synopsis, check out this 1965 reprinting of the novel… 

As with all of Austen’s novels, two things really drive this work’s greatness – character and place. The characters are all recognizable and though some are contemptible, none are flat. They all have a story and various motives. We all know an Isabella or John. We all know an Eleanor. We are probably all related to a General Tilney. As for Catherine, although we may not be as young as she is (fifteen), we have all had similar embarrassing moments to the ones she experiences, after which we slap our foreheads and call ourselves stupid in as many ways as we can think of (and I know you are either nodding or looking away from your computer and remembering your most-like-to-forget moment).  In regards to place, like Pemberley is for P&P Northanger Abbey is for Northanger Abbey. Clever of Jane to title the book that then isn’t it? Just as we have all fantasized looking out at Pemberley and thinking “Of all this I might have been mistress” you’ll find yourself longing to glimpse this illustrious home. Finally, what sets this novel apart is the humor and irony in every word that comes from Jane Austen’s mouth. She is the omniscient narrator and I personally feel like it is this, her first work, that most gives a reader a glimpse into her playful nature.

I have included both the Masterpiece Theater version of the novel below. The film is a fantastic adaptation of the work – in my opinion, one of the best book-to-screen films ever. It manages to capture Austen’s playfulness as well as remaining true to the characters and place. And J.J. Feilds is the perfect Henry Tilney.

So I do realize that today is Friday…not Thursday as I had promised. But I’ve had a long week and my internet access is sketchy at best. So please forgive me J. I had originally intended to begin my costume next week, but since I have to work everyday (this blog won’t pay the bills you know) that will have to wait. I believe I shall do a review of North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. Well, the BBC version at least. It’s not Jane Austen, but it is the P&P of the Industrial Revolution, and a bit of a role reversal. Basically, Jane would have loved it.

Week Two: A Matter of Honour

Like how I used the British spelling? I thought you might. So I hope that before reading this you watched the little video I put together of the DUEL at the Jane Austen Festival (from here on out to be referred to as the JAF2010). I had so much fun with that!!! I used Windows Live Movie Maker which is VERY basic. But it did the trick. And honestly, if it had been any more complicated I would have had no idea what I was doing and it really just would have been a complete mess. As it is I couldn’t use the exact part of the 1812 Overture that I wanted (the middle) but I think the timing worked out pretty well. I like how it’s kind of somber during the duel and then really picks up at the end. And it’s period correct. Let me know what you think (keep in mind I had really no idea what I was doing).

But speaking of honour…

I kind of like to think that this is what happened to Wickham later in his life after Lydia was fed up with him and his children (scary thought – Lydia + Wickham = little impetuous/impulsive/reckless/greedy babies) had realized how worthless he was (but maybe they’re the kids who turn out okay despite everything - maybe). Because if this had happened in Pride and Prejudice at some point, where would we all be? One of the most beloved characters of all time – because really, who else can you think of that you love to hate more than Wickham? – would have died in a duel and Lydia would have never run away and Lizzie wouldn’t have thought she had completely lost Darcy and Darcy wouldn’t have been able to prove just how much he had learned and grown from knowing Lizzie so even if they had of gotten married it wouldn’t be as great a thing as it is! (Don’t worry, there will be a post about why Lizzie and Darcy are the greatest couple ever). And there would have been no nail-biting (I know I’m not the only one) for readers as they approach the end of the novel! How will this all turn out? Will Lizzie ever get Darcy? Will he be able to look at her ever again? What about Jane and Bingley? Will Lydia ever learn her lesson? Exactly how many drawing rooms does Pemberley have? Is the fishing really that great there? These questions would either never be answered or worse, never asked! That’s one of the best parts of P&P! The commiseration and agony we experience with Elizabeth leading towards the well deserved happy ending. I think most people would agree that an Austen staple is that people get their come-uppance. Wickham and Lydia get each other. Jane and Bingley get each other. Lady Catherine and Loneliness also get each other (poor loneliness).  And of course – Darcy and Elizabeth and the polluted shades of Pemberley. J So thank God that no one called Wickham out on his lack of honour. And thank you Jane for your creation of this delightful love to hate character.

Another note: The Duel was awesome. There was a woman yelling about how the men were dueling in their pajamas and the accuser yelled back that women technically weren’t allowed at duels. Also, I don’t think the misfires were supposed to happen – but the men really thought on their feet and it turned out splendid.

Next Week: NORTHANGER ABBEY!!!! I am so excited for this one! I’m still not sure exactly what I’ll do. I might do the most recent version of the movie, possibly the book (I have one with a lot of footnotes!), or I might just go on and on about how Henry Tilney is the greatest thing before sliced bread. Or maybe something else. Check back next Thursday to find out!

A Novel Beginning

On the tenth of July, 2010, I was strolling around the house at Locust Grove in Louisville, KY, having just witnessed a most terrifying duel between two men over cards when the thought occurred to me that to write once a week on a topic relating to Jane Austen for a year would be a splendid undertaking. Okay, it actually went like this:

“OHMIGOSH!!!! That’s it!”

My two friends who had accompanied me to the 2010 Jane Austen Festival, Elizabeth and Marcy:

“Um, what’s it?”

Me:

“My blog! I’ll write about Jane Austen for the next year until the 2011 Jane Austen Festival!”

It was quite an exciting moment. Here was something I am truly passionate about, that I want to know more about, and that has truly shaped my life. How about a little back story….

It was in the beginning of fifth grade. I was given permission to go to the “big kid” side of the school library – one of the only in my class. I was perusing the book shelves when one caught my eye. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. This many years later I can’t remember if I had heard of her or the book before or the real reason it caught my eye. What I do remember is that I read it once, in three days, and then again, and then I read from after The Letter to the end. Of course, I had to go back and read the beginning to keep it even…and I couldn’t leave it unfinished so I read to the end again. So began my love for Jane Austen.

Alright, so it’s a short back story, but it’s the beginning. Over time I read the rest of her novels, except Emma which I have yet to get through. I watched the A&E “Pride and Prejudice” with Colin Firth and the new one with Kiera Knightly (which came out the day before my birthday). And although many still look at me like I’m crazy, my friends and coworkers have accepted that I am a Jane Austen Fanatic.

I haven’t quite figured out what about Jane and her writing captivates me. I believe it is a combination of things – her own rather sad story (all these love stories and she never married herself), the romance between Liz and Darcy that I consider to be perfect and real, her laughter which you can hear in her writing…

I love Jane Austen.

She inspired me to become a writer. She inspired me to not settle for Joe Schmoo – or my cousin Mr. Collins. Perhaps most importantly, she taught me the importance of being able to laugh at myself. She gave me a lot more than this, but these three gifts I consider the most important. For these reasons, I consider the reading of Pride and Prejudice to be one of the pivotal moments of my life.

Last year was the first time I went to the Jane Austen Festival – and, naturally, I had what can only be called a blast! I saw beautiful dresses and was able to share my love of Jane with others. This year was even better. Next week I’ll give a short presentation of why, although I will say the number of men who participated was a key factor. This year it was about 10x more. As in, last year there was one gentleman and this year there were about ten.

Okay, so in this rather random introduction I’ve tried to tell you a little bit about myself (oh, I’m a college sophomore in Chicago, but I’m from Kentucky) and a little bit about why Jane means so much to me. But what about this blog?

For the next year I will be posting a new blog every Thursday. Sometimes it’ll be a review of one of Jane’s works with a more in depth look at a character or aspect of the novel. Other times it might be a review of fan fiction. I hope to be able to do an interview with an author of published fan-fiction at some point. And all throughout this I will be putting together my own dress for next year’s festival! I hope to do most of it myself, but I’m no seamstress – luckily I know a couple who might be willing to help me out! Basically, throughout all of this I want to learn more about Jane – by reading Emma and her shorter works, as well as some of her letters – and more about myself (whatever that means, :). And I want to share my love with you! Whether you consider yourself a seasoned Austenite, a fledgling, or just someone with a passing fancy, I hope that you enjoy what I present here. This is a learning opportunity for me in more ways than one (my first blog, finally getting through Emma, figuring out blogger, keeping true to my voice and style…), which means that I want your feedback! I want this to be fun for everyone who sees it, not just me.

And so it begins!