Chapters 37-end.
The storyline, while always moving quickly, really gets rolling in this section.
1) What was your reaction to the uproar caused by the revelation of Lucy and Edward’s engagement? How did this contrast with the treatment of Lucy by Fanny and Mrs. Ferrars previously? What did you think of Marianne’s conversation with Elinor regarding her knowledge of the engagement?
2) What do you think of Colonel Brandon’s offer to Edward? Why do you think that Elinor was asked to be the bearer of the news?
3) What function did Marianne’s illness serve in the storyline? Was it a necessary or unnecessary plot?
4) What did you think of Willoughby’s visit, and of his explanations? Was he redeemed?
5) After their return to Barton Cottage, Elinor and Marianne both reach romantic conclusions. Did you think they were well written, and did you appreciate the way the story ended?
6) What were your overall thoughts about the novel? If you have seen the movie, do you think that it was well adapted?
7) Anything I’ve missed?
Thank you so much. This has been an absolutely delightful book to read together, and I have greatly enjoyed each comment, thought, and answer.
posted by Mimi @ 12/21/2010 01:50:00 PM
8 Comments
8 Comments:
I always thought Elinor was chosen partly beause of her discretion and also because she was related to Edward.
And I think Marianne's illness was necessary. Without the illness she would have revelled in,and eventually romanticised, Willoughby's behaviour; the illness brings her up sharp against her foolishness and forces her to re-evaluate herself. With a character like Marianne's it would take something like a life-threatening illness, for someone so sensitive she doesn't have much subtlety.
I've enjoyed this read-along very much - good excuse to curl up with a warm laptop in this cold weather :) Responses, prolix as usual, are over at http://pikku-myy.blogspot.com/2010/12/sense-and-sensibility-3.html
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1)I thought it was interesting how quickly Lucy falls from grace when the engagement was discovered. It truly brought to the forefront that the main reason that the Ferrars women were fawning over Lucy and her sister was to be cruel to Elinor and Marianne.
I also was intrigued by the way that Marianne could read Elinor so well over the fact of the engagement – it truly shows their bond.
2)I thought it was a very generous offer. One thing I was struck by was how drawn to the ministry Edward was, in marked contrast to other books where it is something that a man is “stuck with” – by his birth order or family status.
I did think that it was a bit of a misread by Brandon that he had Elinor deliver the news.
3)Like others have said, I think that an illness such as this was both significant to the plot, as well as to the development of Marianne’s character. It showed a lessening of self-involvement for Marianne.
4) I am not sure he was redeemed, but he was less smarmy by the end of it. I thought it was interesting that he reappeared, I wasn’t expecting it.
5) I loved Edward and Elinor as a couple and kind of found the “Mrs. Ferrars” revelation to be cute. I agree with Anna that the foundation of Brandon and Marianne as a couple is less firm – or at least less fleshed out in the novel.
I was glad that it was explained why Robert and Lucy were able to get married without financial ruin, because that was bothering me.
6) I loved this novel, it’s probably my favorite of the Austen ones that I’ve read (and I liked her others just fine,) I also thought that the movie was well done. As Anna brought up, the character of Margaret was utilized in the movie, but not at all in the book.
Rats! I've been in virtual hibernation from the blogosphere, and I missed a read-along. Big bummer!
Hey, girlfriend! See you finished up another one! ;) Good for you all.
Miss you!
Love to you too, Suzanne!
Mimi..where are you? Only on Facebook? AW man..miss you!
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