 |
| Leather shoes 1798, British @www.metmuseum.org |
"Dirty, sir! Look at my shoes. Not a speck on
them." Emma chapter 1
On December 10, JASNACWNY joyfully holds its annual Jane Austen
Birthday Luncheon. Alicia Kerfoot, Professor of English at SUNY Brockport,
joins us to celebrate Jane Austen’s birthday and speak about Jane Austen’s use
of shoes in her writing
Along with an intriguing speaker, we will have a grand
luncheon complete with delicious popovers and a birthday cake. There will be
a toast to commemorate our favorite author, and plenty of good conversation with
“clever well-informed people”.
From boots to bonnets, Jane
Austen knew how to use clothing to establish character, set a scene or move
along a plot. Ever scheming to accomplish her matrimonial plans for
Harriet, Emma literally stoops to using her boots in pursuit of her plan.
“This would not do; she immediately
stopped, under pretence of having some alteration to make in the lacing of her
half-boot, and stooping down in complete occupation of the footpath, begged
them to have the goodness to walk on, and she would follow in half a minute.”
Emma chapter 10.
Alas, it is not enough. Somehow she must contrive to get Harriet into Mr. Elton’s vicarage.
“They now walked on together
quietly, till within view of the vicarage pales, when a sudden resolution, of
at least getting Harriet into the house, made her again find something very
much amiss about her boot, and fall behind to arrange it once more. She then
broke the lace off short, and dexterously throwing it into a ditch, was
presently obliged to entreat them to stop, and acknowledged her inability to
put herself to rights so as to be able to walk home in tolerable comfort.” Emma chapter 10.
But it is all for nought. Mr.
Elton is not yet ready to accommodate Emma’s scheme.
“The lovers were standing together at
one of the windows. It had a most favourable aspect; and, for half a minute,
Emma felt the glory of having schemed successfully. But it would not do; he had
not come to the point. He had been most agreeable, most delightful; he had told
Harriet that he had seen them go by, and had purposely followed them; other
little gallantries and allusions had been dropt, but nothing serious.” Emma chapter 10
In Northanger Abbey Henry Tilney mentions shoes when he
teases Catherine about what she may write in her diary.
“"Yes, I know exactly what
you will say: Friday, went to the Lower Rooms; wore my sprigged muslin robe
with blue trimmings -- plain black shoes -- appeared to much advantage; but was
strangely harassed by a queer, half-witted man, who would make me dance with
him, and distressed me by his nonsense."” Northanger Abbey chapter 3.
In Pride and Prejudice we find that ladies must have the appropriate
footwear to venture far outside.
“From his garden, Mr. Collins
would have led them round his two meadows, but the ladies, not having shoes to
encounter the remains of a white frost, turned back; and while Sir William
accompanied him, Charlotte took her sister and friend over the house, extremely
well pleased, probably, to have the opportunity of shewing it without her husband's
help.” Pride and Prejudice chapter
28.
Perhaps they could have gone a
bit further through the white frost, but the shoes provided a good excuse for
the ladies to seek their own company inside the house.
Event: JASNA CWNY Jane Austen Birthday Luncheon
Topic: Jane Austen and Shoes
Alicia Kerfoot, professor of English at The College at Brockport
When: Saturday December 10, 10:30 am.
Where: Chatterbox Club, 25 Goodman St. N, Rochester
NY 14607
