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| Lucy reveals her tie to Edward http://mollands.net/etexts/senseandsensibility/snsillus.html |
"Fortunately for her, they had now reached the cottage, and the conversation could be continued no farther. After sitting with them a few minutes, the Miss Steeles returned to the Park, and Elinor was then at liberty to think and be wretched." Sense and Sensibility chapter 22
Event: JASNA CWNY (virtual) March Meeting
Topic: "Jane Austen's Mean Girls: Duets and Duels"
A discussion led by Celia Easton, JASNA-CWNY member and
Dean of Academic Planning and Advising, Professor of English, SUNY Geneseo
When: Saturday, March 19, 2022 at 1 pm EST
Where: Online
Registration: click HERE
Jane Austen's characters are not always heroes. Even Austen's most endearing characters have flaws. Elizabeth Bennet just can't get over being described as "tolerable". Fortunately, Elizabeth realizes her mistakes and learns to better perceive her own character after receiving Darcy's letter.
"She grew absolutely ashamed of herself. -- Of neither Darcy nor Wickham could she think, without feeling that she had been blind, partial, prejudiced, absurd." Pride and Prejudice chapter 36.
However, there are some characters in Jane Austen's novels who are just plain mean. Lucy Steele in Sense and Sensibility intends to have Edward, and, under the guise of friendship, wants Elinor to know it.
Then there is my all time favorite mean girl, Lady Susan. Yes, she needs to do what she needs to do in order to survive, but her whole attitude is fraught with meanness. There does not seem to be a shred of compassion in anything she does.
This month JASNA Central and Western NY invites you to a discussion of "Jane Austen's Mean Girls: Duets and Duels" led by Celia Easton. Celia writes:
"This meeting with be an interactive discussion on Zoom (including Zoom “polls” for participation) exploring the kinds of “mean girls” who appear in Jane Austen’s fiction and deciding — or not — who’s the meanest of them all."
So if you ever wanted to truly understand some of Jane Austen's less endearing (but always fascinating) characters please join us for this for this discussion. Put aside Elizabeth and Elinor for a bit, and let us know with whom you would least like to have tea.
