Masterpiece Theater Presents - Persuasion

Last night kicked off PBS's showing of the adaptions of all six Jane Austen novels. They will be airing through April, Sunday nights at nine. The only version I have seen before is the Pride and Prejudice one. The rest all appear to be new or lesser known. More information can be found on the PBS website.

Mrs. Fenton, Katrina, and I gathered in my living room with our cups of tea to spend our evening judging this newest version of Persuasion. Having fallen in love with the BBC version starring Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds, every other adaption will be compared to it. (You can expect the same for Emma, Mansfield Park, Sense and Sensibility.) This Anne Elliot was decidedly lacking the sense and restraint I found appealing in the both the other movie and the original novel. She was not as mature a character as I expected of her. There was too much gasping and faltering and stammering that I don't believe careful Anne Elliot would have been likely to display. She lost her composure every other scene. Also, she was at one point decidedly more under-dressed than would probably have been appropriate for the time period. Nothing was exposed, but it didn't seem entirely believable and was unnecessary.

Captain Wentworth's character was a little underdeveloped. Of course, this adaption was shorter than the other and so less time was available. Unfortunately his lack of dialogue and expression lead to his character being weaker. It was hard to form an opinion of him since you didn't really seem to know that much about him.

The camera angles and constant closeups of the first part of the movie just about drove me batty. Thankfully that didn't last too long. There was a bunch of narration derived from a journal that Anne kept. It seemed to be a way of making up for what was lacking in the acting and dialogue. (Yes, I'm being a bit harsh, but once I'm devoted to a certain version of a film it's extremely difficult to sway my opinion.) Each of the scenes was a bit short and reordered. Perhaps one or two may have been better off with a little more information but I didn't think it affected it too much. On the whole it was entertaining and enjoyable to see another interpretation of Austen. Of course, my true test is whether or not I need my own copy so that I can spend hours watching it over and over. I'm afraid for this particular version the answer is no, but don't be afraid to watch it and form your own opinion! I'd love to hear it!

Pride and Prejudice Movies vs. Pride and Prejudice Book

Today I finished rereading Pride and Prejudice for the second time. Even though I knew what was coming I enjoyed the book far more this time. I have grown used to Jane Austen's way with words and was much better able to appreciate her wit. There are a million literary don'ts now days that she artfully gets away with. To have her talent.....

I am amazed at how closely the 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice, starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, followed Austen's book. They were so true to her intent. Large portions of dialogue are taken right from the pages of Pride and Prejudice and even more has been only slightly modified. Darcy in this movie is enough to twist your heart around in circles right along with Elizabeth's.

The more recent version of this tale starring Keira Kneightly incorporates more of the humor, I must say, but it also portrays more of what 21st century people would have done in 19th century England. Not necessarily what they would have done themselves.

However, both movies succeeded in bringing Austen's most vivid character Elizabeth to life. I applaud everyone who spent any time at all working on these films. You made me believe, so you have done your job.

Sonnets of Sensibility

Here are two sonnets which Marianne quotes in the movie Sense and Sensiblity. I found them intriguing, especially the one she associates with Willoughby. The first is spoken when Marianne goes to question Elinor about her feelings for Edward Ferrars. The second is Marianne and Willoughby's favorite sonnet and Marianne quotes when she stands on the hill overlooking his house.

Sonnet VII

By Hartley Coleridge

Is love a fancy, or a feeling? No.

It is immortal as immaculate Truth,

'Tis not a blossom shed as soon as youth,

Drops from the stem of life--for it will grow,

In barren regions, where no waters flow,

Nor rays of promise cheats the pensive gloom.

A darkling fire, faint hovering o'er a tomb,

That but itself and darkness nought doth show,

It is my love's being yet it cannot die,

Nor will it change, though all be changed beside;

Though fairest beauty be no longer fair,

Though vows be false, and faith itself deny,

Though sharp enjoyment be a suicide,

And hope a spectre in a ruin bare.

SONNET 116
Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

Finished!

Yesterday I finally finished Mansfield Park. Like all of Austen's works it was good. However, the character of Fanny in the book and in the movie is hardly comparable. Her goodness and purity of heart is evident in both, but she has a much more lively spirit in the movie. The Fanny of Austen's novel has a weak constitution and is not only easily fatigued but worn in spirit. She does not stand well under stress or confrontation. I connected much more with the Fanny of the MP movie. She has wit, humor, and intellegince. She is strong, rambunctious, and an avid reader. I love Fanny's spirit of independence and her wish not to be "sold" to any man. She carries with her unbendable morals, a deep respect for the position of the clergy, and agrees with Edmund that music is at it's best when in church. I found her romance with Edmund refreshingly sweet. And even while she makes mistakes they are quickly remedied. Also she wishes to be a writer and has an exaggerated but insightful style. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie because I saw a great deal of what I am and what I wish to be. Her story spoke to my heart and so I could not help but love it. But, as in many things, there was a down side to the movie. It has a scene which while getting the point across I believe could have been done with more decency. Thankfully it was very brief. There was also some graphic drawings of slavery. However I considered these accurate would not censor them for viewers of appropriate age and understanding. The MP book differed from the movie in that it did not really deal with the issue of slavery and Fanny did not aspire to be a writer. There were some other minor differences. I'm not sure the book matches up to the ideal of Pride and Prejudice, but on the whole I was entirely delighted with both and strongly recommend them.

Quotes from Mansfield Park (the movie)

Edmund Bertram: Surely you and I are beyond speaking when words are clearly not enough.
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Fanny Price: I have no talent for certainty.
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Henry Crawford: You dance like an angel, Miss Price.
Fanny Price: One does not dance like an angel alone, Mr. Crawford.
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Edmund Bertram: Your entire person is entirely agreeable.
Fanny Price: Yes, well, tonight I agree with everyone.
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Fanny Price: Beware of fainting fits. Beware of swoons.
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Mary Crawford: Gentlemen, please. Fanny Price is as fearful of praise and notice as other women are of neglect.
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Fanny Price: Well, Lady Bertram is always suffering near-fatal fatigue.
Susan Price: From what?
Fanny Price: Usually from embroidering something of little use and no beauty... not to mention a healthy dose of opium every day.
Susan Price: Your tongue is sharper than a guillotine, Fanny.
Fanny Price: The effect of education, I suppose.
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Edmund Bertram: She does not think evil, but she speaks it.
Fanny Price: The effect of education, I suppose.
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Mary Crawford: Selfishness must always be forgiven, you know, because there is no hope for a cure.
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Susan Price: So, this Henry Crawford, what's he like?
Fanny Price: A rake. I think.
Susan Price: Oh, yes, please.
Fanny Price: They amuse more in literature than they do in life.
Susan Price: Yes, but they amuse.
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Young Susan: Think up lots of stories for me and eat hundreds of tarts.
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Fanny Price: I often wonder that history should be so dull, for a great deal of it must be invention.
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Henry Crawford: What? A compliment? Heaven's rejoice, she complimented me.!
Fanny Price: I complimented your dancing, Mr. Crawford, keep your wig on.
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Fanny Price: Run mad as often as you choose but do not faint.
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[to Edmund Bertram as she is leaving to return home]
Fanny Price: I hope... I hope you know how much... how much I shall... write to you...
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Fanny Price: And a woman's poverty is a slavery even more harsh than a man's.
Henry Crawford: Mm, arguable. But it need not be your lot. You can live out your days in comfort... with me.
Fanny Price: I know.
Henry Crawford: You do?
Fanny Price: Yes.
Henry Crawford: Is that a yes?
Fanny Price: Yes.
Henry Crawford: Is that the yes I have heard a hundred times in my heart but never from you? Oh, Fanny Price... You will learn to love me. Say it again.
Fanny Price: Yes.
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Mary Crawford: This is 1806 for Heaven's sake!
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Edmund Bertram: Your keen adaptability to my brother's possible demise sends a chill through my heart. A chill. Happily planning parties with his money. You shush my father like a dog at your table, and then you attack Fanny for following her own, infallible guide concerning matters of the heart. All of this leads me to believe that the person I've been so apt to dwell on for many months has been a figure of my own imagination, not you, Miss Crawford. I do not know you, and I'm sorry to say, I have no wish to.
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Edmund Bertram: Fanny, I've loved you my whole life.
Fanny Price: I know, Edmund.
Edmund Bertram: No... I've loved you as a man loves a woman. As a hero loves a heroine. As I have never loved anyone.
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Fanny Price: Life seems nothing more than a quick succession of busy nothings.
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Henry Crawford: And what is your opinion, Miss Price?
Fanny Price: I am sorry to disappoint you, Mr. Crawford, but I'm afraid I do not have a ready opinion.
Henry Crawford: I suspect you are almost entirely composed of ready opinions not yet shared.
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Edmund Bertram: Oh, don't be an imbecile.
Fanny Price: Oh, but imbecility in women is a great enhancement to their personal charms.
Edmund Bertram: Fanny, you're being irrational.
Fanny Price: Yet another adornment. I must be ravishing.
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Fanny Price: Maria was married on Saturday. In all important preparations of mind she was complete, being prepared for matrimony by a hatred of home, by the misery of disappointed affection, and contempt of the man she was to marry. The bride was elegantly dressed and the two bridesmaids were duly inferior. Her mother stood with salts, expecting to be agitated, and her aunt tried to cry. Marriage is indeed a maneuvering business.
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Henry Crawford: Fanny, you have created sensations which my heart has never known before.
Fanny Price: Please.
Henry Crawford: There is only one happiness in life: to love and be loved.
Fanny Price: Mr. Crawford, do not speak nonsense.
Henry Crawford: Nonsense?
Fanny Price: You are such a fine speaker that I'm afraid you may actually end in convincing yourself.
Henry Crawford: Fanny. You are killing me.
Fanny Price: No man dies of love but on the stage.
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Edmund Bertram: There are as many forms of love as there are moments in time.
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Mary Crawford: We seemed very happy to see each other, and I think we actually were a little bit.
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Edmund Bertram: Fanny, you really must begin to harden yourself to the idea of... being worth looking at.
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Fanny Price: It could have turned out differently, I suppose. But it didn't.
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Mary Crawford: We all need an audience, wouldn't you say, Fanny?
Fanny Price: To be truthful, I live in dread of audiences.
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Maria Elizabeth Bertram: [to Henry Crawford] Would that the sigh were for me...
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Sir Thomas Bertram: Tom! You will do as I say!
Tom Bertram: What, and do as you do? Even I have principles, sir.
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Edmund Bertram: And has your heart changed towards him?
Fanny Price: Yes. Many times.

Welcome

I'm afriad I'm one of those really weird people who loves classics. To make it even worse I love Jane Austen classics. So if you're weird like me and want the best quotes from the movies and books and any interesting thing I can find that is related to Jane Austen and her life, here is the place to get it. But be prepared my opinion goes with it!