Something Austen got right
Jun. 18th, 2011 11:02 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
litlover12Having reamed out Jane Austen for her love scenes, I now feel like saying something nice about her. :-) Here's something I recently noticed about the book and that I really love.
Have you ever noticed that there's no real physical description of Elizabeth? I've always thought, and still think, that Jennifer Ehle looked exactly right for the part, but that's not based on anything in the text -- it's just based on how I think Elizabeth should look. (It's probably also based on this picture on the cover of my copy.) But the narrator tells us nothing directly of how she looks -- only how other people perceive her. Most interesting, of course, are the perceptions of Darcy, whose view of her goes from "tolerable" to "pretty" to "one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance" to "loveliest Elizabeth."
Having written this, it occurs to me that doubtless there's some scholar out there who's written a dissertation on Elizabeth as the "object of the male gaze" or some such rot -- as if Elizabeth Bennet could ever be any sort of passive "object."
[Edited to add: I'm sorry that came out sounding rude. As I clarified in the comments, I don't mind when it's pointed out that some female character really is being objectified; I only mind those scholars who see objectification everywhere they look, without ceasing. That's the kind of scholar I was complaining about.]
Personally, I think it's a brilliant move on Austen's part, for several reasons. Mainly because Darcy is so undemonstrative that this subtle technique is perfect for giving us insight into his feelings . . . not to mention serving as a rather amusing commentary on beauty being in the eye of the beholder.
Have you ever noticed that there's no real physical description of Elizabeth? I've always thought, and still think, that Jennifer Ehle looked exactly right for the part, but that's not based on anything in the text -- it's just based on how I think Elizabeth should look. (It's probably also based on this picture on the cover of my copy.) But the narrator tells us nothing directly of how she looks -- only how other people perceive her. Most interesting, of course, are the perceptions of Darcy, whose view of her goes from "tolerable" to "pretty" to "one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance" to "loveliest Elizabeth."
Having written this, it occurs to me that doubtless there's some scholar out there who's written a dissertation on Elizabeth as the "object of the male gaze" or some such rot -- as if Elizabeth Bennet could ever be any sort of passive "object."
[Edited to add: I'm sorry that came out sounding rude. As I clarified in the comments, I don't mind when it's pointed out that some female character really is being objectified; I only mind those scholars who see objectification everywhere they look, without ceasing. That's the kind of scholar I was complaining about.]
Personally, I think it's a brilliant move on Austen's part, for several reasons. Mainly because Darcy is so undemonstrative that this subtle technique is perfect for giving us insight into his feelings . . . not to mention serving as a rather amusing commentary on beauty being in the eye of the beholder.
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Date: 2011-06-18 09:50 pm (UTC)She also seems to continually look skinner and skinner. I don't think she has an eating disorder. However I think she's overworking herself and I feel she doesn't get the proper amount of food or rest due to a way too busy lifestyle. I do believe she's a naturally lean person like Celine Dion is and she just doesn't get the extra care I think a person with a fast metabolism needs. I dunno.
I do think there is too much Keira hate and because of that I feel naturally protective of her. I'm one of those people who by some weird instinct so it a mother bear mode and nurture someone I feel is being overly attacked. I do think the hate gets taken too far. I'm like just say she's not your cup of tea and move on.
The thing with her Elizabeth is I have the same nervous giggle and mannerisms that she gave her. People have pointed this out to me! XD
I like both the movie and miniseries for different reasons, just like I like both performances for different reasons. What one lacked I liked in the other and vice versa.
The film adaptation I have the most issues with is the Greer Garson. The ending was so messed up in my opinion.
The fine eyes is always striking to me. They can hire a blonde, redhead, whatever, but if she doesn't have a pair of fine eyes then :P. Which was the great thing about Greer, Jennifer, and Keira, they have very captivating eyes.
I don't have an eye fetish, I swear. And if I do I blame Austen LOL.