We were parked the other day and saw a bumper sticker that said "if you aren't appalled then you aren't paying attention". It was very clever to say the least and I'd seen it a few times before, but this time it sparked a conversation between Ryan and I about how flexible the sticker was as it could be insulting the reader for:
their driving
apathy towards the country
apathy towards politics
etc...
I love clever sayings that can be taken so many different ways. They make me happy.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Reality TV or Really Manipulated TV
So yesterday morning, before the crack of dawn, at 3 in the morning, I drove my hubby down to the Energy Solutions Arena (its still the Delta Center in my heart) to try out for American Idol. The night before, I told him that I support him in achieving his many many dreams, but that I thought American Idol was a manipulative evil publication.
Around 3:30, 12 hours later, he told me that he didn’t make it. I was relieved to have a husband again and when I got home from work crashed because my body was pretty upset at having been up at 3. Around 10, when Ryan rose from the dead, we finally started to talk about the process he had gone through.
He really wanted professional feedback, but however, received none. As it turns out the first try out the producers screen people to see the 3 judges; you have to be really amazing or really suck to pass. This is why when the blooper tryouts air there are so many terrible acts, and why the people are all but heart broken when they hear how bad they really are; screened and profited by other peoples humiliation this is what the producers are giving to us to watch.
I myself am terribly happy that Ryan was in the middle of both of these categories. Just something to think about as people watch the supposed reality TV.
Around 3:30, 12 hours later, he told me that he didn’t make it. I was relieved to have a husband again and when I got home from work crashed because my body was pretty upset at having been up at 3. Around 10, when Ryan rose from the dead, we finally started to talk about the process he had gone through.
He really wanted professional feedback, but however, received none. As it turns out the first try out the producers screen people to see the 3 judges; you have to be really amazing or really suck to pass. This is why when the blooper tryouts air there are so many terrible acts, and why the people are all but heart broken when they hear how bad they really are; screened and profited by other peoples humiliation this is what the producers are giving to us to watch.
I myself am terribly happy that Ryan was in the middle of both of these categories. Just something to think about as people watch the supposed reality TV.
Friday, July 25, 2008
My list of things that must go
I’m tired, I feel like writing so much more, but I can’t find the right things to say, or the right way of saying things.
So in honor of the Radio From Hell show on X96, I have decided to post my list of things that must go.
- People seemingly forgetting that although said dead actor put on a spectacular performance, it led most definitely to said actor’s own demise.
- Action Movies, this isn’t the first time I’ve griped about the meaningless drivel that makes it to the big screen for the masses.
- Contractor’s unprofessional and unethical persistentnes, I said no and I’m sorry I don’t have the information you need, you should leave now. What was that? You want me to call the person on VACATION who has the info you desire, why certainly, just a moment.
- Bad Sushi, it gives good sushi a bad name…
- Fast Food, its been making me sick lately…cursed hunger cravings on the go…
- Caffeinated drinks…they aren’t worth the hours of caffeine headaches one gets when one tries to rectify the dependency.
- Construction. It boggles my brain that one cannot get from one side of 1-80 to the other below 20th east until state street. That is 20 blocks, and typically out of the way, not making the gas crunch any easier.
- Advertising new gadgets for scrapbooking, I’m supposed to have sworn off the addiction until I have kids, but one gadget after the other seemingly makes it into my hands. The latest that are tempting me that must go off the market somehow are the cuttlebug and the cricut design studio. I must focus on being a poor starving student for yet another year.
- New York Bestseller Lists. So many people upon discovering that I am an English major ask me which of these I have read, the current answer none and I am quite proud of it. Meaningless drivel that the masses flock to, where an author writes about sex, drugs and alcohol, areas that hardly warrant literary recognition
- People who tell me I cannot do something. First it rather surprises me, and merely reinforces my own resolve.
- Judgmental People, I know it is an inherent thing, and even a quality animals use to have the survival of the fittest. But there has to be a healthy limit, and I think we go heads and tails above it.
- Fake people. You know who you are, ‘nuff said.
- People in general? People are stupid, individuals are smart.
- Chain Restaurants, think about it, the money doesn’t stay in the community more often than not. So start thinking about buying local. It travels by far less, and much more money stays in the community, benefiting people a lot more.
- Gas Prices. A car that costs $20.00 to fill last year should not cost $50.00 to fill this year. That’s it, I’m being a hermit, I have no intention of driving.
- Cuttlebug, I think I could probably make a device similar for under 20, and yet you boast the exuberant price of $80.00. Why dost thou torture me?
- Time, its said to be relative, so why cannot it just be done away with? It’s a devious being consistently mucking up my life.
- People who complain and do nothing, that’s why our country is in the state its in, from silly pacification from overworked alienated beings. Lemmings anyone?
- Oneuppers, can’t we just send them all to a state no one cares about? They do no good, and are typically rather miserable beings.
- Upgraders, how is one supposed to be content, when everything in life is targeted to makeoneself feel that what one has is not, nor was it ever, good enough.
If you finished reading, I apologize for the overly negative vibe, its 3:47 on a Friday afternoon after a holiday few people consider a holiday. It has been a long week, and somehow this Monday magically turns into a Friday.
If you haven’t picked up I’ve rather overwhelmed myself, my own fault I agree, and yet I feel the society I grew up in and the position I currently hold has made it near impossible for me to say no. With this in mind, my list is a ranty way for me to fight back. I apologize, something better should be posted next time.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Princess Mononoke and My Love Hate Relationship
The first time I saw this movie I think I was 14, it was summer, and I was not too impressed with the show, but I kept watching because there were a lot of big names doing the voice overs. Little did I know that my years of watching my brothers playing RPG’s would lead me to a new addiction, Anime.
The story was poignant and sad, it did not end happily, like all other American films I had witnessed up to that time. Instead, there was an alluring beauty to the unigue new ending, where love was not the highest form of happiness, where dying for love, protecting nature and not being with the person you love, was put in a higher column than the cliché boy wins girl ending.
Lately however, with a husband dying to be an animator, I’m still drawn to the anime world, where the animation is like art.
But Princess Mononoke, like an entry drug, remains unviewed in years.
A good friend of mine in High School told me that I loved to hate the sad ending, and that in fact, I had no proof that the boy does not still see the girl after the ending. He has a point, but my insane desire for closure makes the ending very final, and so my brain is not allowed to see another ending.
I’ve watched other Miyazaki anime’s, but not Princess Mononoke and Ryan has no desire to watch it. So here I am twiddling my thumbs as I abstain from the desire to watch a movie that changed my young little life. The movie makes me insanely sad, cry and makes me ache for days. And yet, the desire has been burning as of late and I can’t seem to quench the flame, except for watching the movie.
Most Japanese anime’s, video games, movies have the same affect, oh and I am a sucker for them, insanely so.
But, the beauty of man versus nature, man versus magic, the end of one magical world and the beginning of an industrial world.
Very epic. Like Beowulf, as man must learn to live in a foreign new world, with unmystical beasts. Like Robin Hobb and Orson Scott Card. No wonder fantasy fascinates me. It speaks to me on a whole new level than pop culture. Its enchantment weaves its spell and only when the end is reached is there a huge feeling of loss, but those are the types of things I like to involve my mind with. No one said it was healthy, in fact it probably isn’t at all. But I am determined to do it to myself and so I will.
Someone asked me if I had read any of the books on the New York Bestseller list, I was nice to them about it, but I don’t think people really understand that it does not rate the level of writing, just the popularity, and with the above in mind, I think I don’t fall into the New York Bestseller reader category. I will say that there are always engima’s that appear, but for the most part its all garbage.
Not to attack writers, but its rare for a popular book from that list to be written by a well educated writer. In fact its rather depressing, that opportunity will knock for the mediocre, but not for the really brilliant. Why are we punishing genius?
Anyway, what is wrong with being different, enjoying that difference and believing that mainstream media should have a higher bar to achieve, to be more of an experience other than mindless entertainment? What is wrong with demanding more from media, to have it achieve some sort of epic standing?
I had a brilliant latin professor who challenged that movies are our modern day myths, personally I’d like to demand more if that is the case. She was brilliant published in very reputable books, we watched Seven Bride’s for Seven Brother’s version of the Rape of the Sabine women. Genius! But it seems all screenwriters are trying to achieve is a bigger paycheck by attracting the masses with trite material.
What would be so awful about a return to man really interacting with nature? With magic? The symbolism alone should be enough to quiet those people who think it paganistic. Not only that, it would inspire imagination, not the imagination killing Disney marketing schemes. What is wrong with wanting someone to pretend? To think for there self? As opposed to dolls from a film where you already have a story in mind…its frustrating. Poor mindless lemmings, and the worst part is they don’t know; it isn’t fair to take one’s ability to think outside of the box away from someone.
Well, we will see what we can do to return to the innocence of epic.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Harriet Smith as An Uncertain Character
Harriet Smith is an unpredictable character in a Jane Austen novel because she has a role in the plot that no other character would be able to do. The social network of Highbury places Harriet in an irregular position and makes her the wild card for many reasons. She has not known Emma for her entire life, and is so beneath Miss Emma Woodhouse that she is in no danger of making Emma feel inferior to her. Her own inferiority in contrast to Emma’s is what enables her to be befriended so completely. Harriet Smith's confession of liking Mr. Knightley has the unpredictable result of making Emma realize that she loves him; if Harriet, rather than Jane Fairfax, had not confessed such feelings, then Emma would have never realized that she was so completely in love with Mr. Knightley.
In Jane Austen's “Emma” we are given Miss Emma Woodhouse who befriends Miss Harriet Smith and decides that she, Emma, would be happiest to make Harriet happy by matching her with a man of the higher society of Highbury. Emma continues to lead Harriet into mischief and does not really help her friend find someone to marry. There are several elements of miscommunication that allow the story to weave a love triangle. As the story unweaves we are able to see the superior role Harriet has in the text. Harriet plays an important role in the story as she is the only person who can make Emma realize that she is in love with Mr. Knightely.
Harriet is fixed on by Emma as she is not more accomplished than her and is a different kind of pretty. Both of these attributes make Harriet the ideal companion for Emma as Emma may improve Harriet as she is introduced into Highbury's higher society. Harriet's inferiority in situation as well as upbringing make her an ideal friend for Emma as Emma is in no way worried of Miss Smith making her feel inferior in society because of her illegitimacy and so she will never be a threat like Miss Fairfax.
Emma has known Miss Fairfax and has been in competition with her for her entire life. Emma is not as accomplished as Jane, and Emma feels her inferiority in her own piano playing. Emma treats Jane unkindly because of her feeling of inferiority. Jane Fairfax is in an unpleasant situation as she is being trained to become a governess, despite this situation Emma continues to treat Jane with indifference.
Mrs. Weston believes Mr. Knightley takes too many pains on account of Miss Fairfax, and that he only does this because he is in love with her. She voices this claim further in the passage where she says: “My dear Emma, I have told you what led me to think of it. I do not want the match-I do not want to injure dear little Henry-but the idea has been given me by circumstances; and if Mr. Knightley really wished to marry you would not have him refrain on Henry's account, a boy of six years old, who knows nothing of the matter?”(176). She guesses that he must be attached from all of his attention that she has noticed as of late. Further she refutes Emma by telling her that Mr. Knightley should not hold himself from marriage because of a little boy.
Emma is upset by Mrs. Weston's match in a way entirely different from how she reacts to how Harriet's infatuation. The difference is specifically in her competition with Miss Fairfax, as opposed to her strong friendship with Miss Smith. When affronted by the idea of Mr. Knightley loving Miss Fairfax she has a claim on the time Mr. Knightley should spend away from Hartfield we can see this in the passage:
Her objections to Mr. Knightley's marrying did not in the least subside. She could see nothing but evil in it. It would be a great disappointment to Mr. John Knightley; consequently to Isabella...-a most mortifying change, and material loss to them all;-a very great deduction from her father's daily comfort-and, as to herself, she could not at all endure the idea of Jane Fairfax at Donwell Abbey. A Mrs. Knightley for them all to give way to!-No-Mr. Knightley must never marry. Little Henry must remain the heir to Donwell.
(179)
Emma is threatened by the claim a Mrs. Knightley should have on his time. She wishes Mr. Knightley to be able to come visit her father and herself when he wishes. Futhermore, Emma is threatened that her nephew Henry may be in danger of not inheriting Donwell Abbey. Her reactions show that she thinks Mr. Knightley belongs to her and Hartfield as his marrying would affect her family, she cannot wish it.
When Harriet voices her infatuation for Mr. Knightley this is when she becomes a threat to Emma. Emma is taken aback as we see in the passage during the confession from Miss Smith where she the narrator tells us: “She could not speak another word.-Her voice was lost; and she sat down, waiting in great terror till Harriet should answer”(318). This is unusual for Emma as she always has something to say to her dear friend. Her schemes for Miss Smith are completely blown away by this new realization. Not much later, Emma realizes why this is so much worse than Mr. Knightley loving Miss Fairfax. Emma comes to this conclusion as she ponders: “Why was it so much worse that Harriet should be in love with Mr. Knightley, than with Frank Churchill? Why was the evil so dreadfully increased by Harriet's having some hope of a return? It darted through her, with the speed of an arrow, that Mr. Knightley must marry no one but herself!”(320). The hope of Mr. Knightley’s returning her affection is a blow deeper to Emma than a mere infatuation. Emma has always had Mr. Knightley upon an altar, she thinks he is superior to Frank Churchill. She comes to the conclusion quickly and is very upset by the new threat presented by Harriet. Emma now realizes why she has never compared another man to Mr. Knightley and feels the full force of the new danger at hand of his returning Harriet’s affection.
Emma uses the confession of Harriet to find out how deep Harriet’s infatuation is. Menacingly she uses this to find out if Harriet’s hopes are perhaps returned by Mr. Knightley. In the following passage we see how Emma uses her friend’s confession to fortify her own concerns: “-For her own advantage indeed, it was fit that the utmost extent of Harriet's hopes should be enquired into; and Harriet had done nothing to forfeit the regard and interest which had been so voluntarily formed and maintained-or deserve to be slighted by the person, whose counsels had never led her right”(321). Harriet’s confession is used by Emma to show how sincere a threat Harriet is to her. She cannot justify hurting her friend and hindering her now, rather she hopes Mr. Knightley might not choose to marry at all. Emma does not ever expose Harriet’s infatuation which shows how deep a friendship they truly had.
She reacts differently because of how different her relationships are with both of the threats. As Harriet is her good friend she knows it is no simple matter of jealousy, as it would be if Jane were the threat. It is because of the differences in relationships that it takes Emma so long to realize she loves Mr. Knightley. If Harriet had never liked Mr. Knightley, Emma should have continued on without realizing she loves him.
It is the feminine competitive nature that allows Harriet to play so important a role. Jane Fairfax would have only antogonized Emma in her threat, but Emma would not have realized that her indifference was due to more than just the competition she has had with Miss Fairfax in feeling inferior to her accomplishments. Rather, Harriet was such a close friend that it was so odd that Emma should wish her to not have the returned affections of Mr. Knightley.
Harriet is successful as bringing about an unpredictable twist in the story. She is the only character equipped to control the result of Emma's love life. Had she never confessed of her infatuation Emma never would have had the threat of a good friend, who she particularly likes, falling in love with her own cherished love. The realization for emma takes place in the passage: “She saw that there never had been a time when she did not consider Mr. Knightley as infinitely superior, or when his regard for her had not been infinitely the most dear. She saw, that in persuading herself, in fancying, in acting to the contrary, she had been entirely under a delusion, totally ignorant of her own heart-”(324). Emma realizes she has always loved Mr. Knightley and that his importance to her as she once reasoned was an unconscious façade. This abrupt realization allows the reader to see the role of Harriet in a new light. Harriet is able to make Emma realize something that no other character would be capable of doing.
Harriet is chosen as the character to make Emma realize she is in love with Mr. Knightley from the beginning. This is evident in the contrasts between Jane Fairfax and herself and how Emma responds to them. Had Jane confessed a confession of liking Mr. Knightley, Emma would have been outraged, but she would not have thought that it was because she, Emma, was in love with Mr. Knightley. The unpredictable use of social networking through Harriet is effectively use to bring about an effect that no other character would be able to undertake. Through this use Harriet becomes an essential character to the plot.
In Jane Austen's “Emma” we are given Miss Emma Woodhouse who befriends Miss Harriet Smith and decides that she, Emma, would be happiest to make Harriet happy by matching her with a man of the higher society of Highbury. Emma continues to lead Harriet into mischief and does not really help her friend find someone to marry. There are several elements of miscommunication that allow the story to weave a love triangle. As the story unweaves we are able to see the superior role Harriet has in the text. Harriet plays an important role in the story as she is the only person who can make Emma realize that she is in love with Mr. Knightely.
Harriet is fixed on by Emma as she is not more accomplished than her and is a different kind of pretty. Both of these attributes make Harriet the ideal companion for Emma as Emma may improve Harriet as she is introduced into Highbury's higher society. Harriet's inferiority in situation as well as upbringing make her an ideal friend for Emma as Emma is in no way worried of Miss Smith making her feel inferior in society because of her illegitimacy and so she will never be a threat like Miss Fairfax.
Emma has known Miss Fairfax and has been in competition with her for her entire life. Emma is not as accomplished as Jane, and Emma feels her inferiority in her own piano playing. Emma treats Jane unkindly because of her feeling of inferiority. Jane Fairfax is in an unpleasant situation as she is being trained to become a governess, despite this situation Emma continues to treat Jane with indifference.
Mrs. Weston believes Mr. Knightley takes too many pains on account of Miss Fairfax, and that he only does this because he is in love with her. She voices this claim further in the passage where she says: “My dear Emma, I have told you what led me to think of it. I do not want the match-I do not want to injure dear little Henry-but the idea has been given me by circumstances; and if Mr. Knightley really wished to marry you would not have him refrain on Henry's account, a boy of six years old, who knows nothing of the matter?”(176). She guesses that he must be attached from all of his attention that she has noticed as of late. Further she refutes Emma by telling her that Mr. Knightley should not hold himself from marriage because of a little boy.
Emma is upset by Mrs. Weston's match in a way entirely different from how she reacts to how Harriet's infatuation. The difference is specifically in her competition with Miss Fairfax, as opposed to her strong friendship with Miss Smith. When affronted by the idea of Mr. Knightley loving Miss Fairfax she has a claim on the time Mr. Knightley should spend away from Hartfield we can see this in the passage:
Her objections to Mr. Knightley's marrying did not in the least subside. She could see nothing but evil in it. It would be a great disappointment to Mr. John Knightley; consequently to Isabella...-a most mortifying change, and material loss to them all;-a very great deduction from her father's daily comfort-and, as to herself, she could not at all endure the idea of Jane Fairfax at Donwell Abbey. A Mrs. Knightley for them all to give way to!-No-Mr. Knightley must never marry. Little Henry must remain the heir to Donwell.
(179)
Emma is threatened by the claim a Mrs. Knightley should have on his time. She wishes Mr. Knightley to be able to come visit her father and herself when he wishes. Futhermore, Emma is threatened that her nephew Henry may be in danger of not inheriting Donwell Abbey. Her reactions show that she thinks Mr. Knightley belongs to her and Hartfield as his marrying would affect her family, she cannot wish it.
When Harriet voices her infatuation for Mr. Knightley this is when she becomes a threat to Emma. Emma is taken aback as we see in the passage during the confession from Miss Smith where she the narrator tells us: “She could not speak another word.-Her voice was lost; and she sat down, waiting in great terror till Harriet should answer”(318). This is unusual for Emma as she always has something to say to her dear friend. Her schemes for Miss Smith are completely blown away by this new realization. Not much later, Emma realizes why this is so much worse than Mr. Knightley loving Miss Fairfax. Emma comes to this conclusion as she ponders: “Why was it so much worse that Harriet should be in love with Mr. Knightley, than with Frank Churchill? Why was the evil so dreadfully increased by Harriet's having some hope of a return? It darted through her, with the speed of an arrow, that Mr. Knightley must marry no one but herself!”(320). The hope of Mr. Knightley’s returning her affection is a blow deeper to Emma than a mere infatuation. Emma has always had Mr. Knightley upon an altar, she thinks he is superior to Frank Churchill. She comes to the conclusion quickly and is very upset by the new threat presented by Harriet. Emma now realizes why she has never compared another man to Mr. Knightley and feels the full force of the new danger at hand of his returning Harriet’s affection.
Emma uses the confession of Harriet to find out how deep Harriet’s infatuation is. Menacingly she uses this to find out if Harriet’s hopes are perhaps returned by Mr. Knightley. In the following passage we see how Emma uses her friend’s confession to fortify her own concerns: “-For her own advantage indeed, it was fit that the utmost extent of Harriet's hopes should be enquired into; and Harriet had done nothing to forfeit the regard and interest which had been so voluntarily formed and maintained-or deserve to be slighted by the person, whose counsels had never led her right”(321). Harriet’s confession is used by Emma to show how sincere a threat Harriet is to her. She cannot justify hurting her friend and hindering her now, rather she hopes Mr. Knightley might not choose to marry at all. Emma does not ever expose Harriet’s infatuation which shows how deep a friendship they truly had.
She reacts differently because of how different her relationships are with both of the threats. As Harriet is her good friend she knows it is no simple matter of jealousy, as it would be if Jane were the threat. It is because of the differences in relationships that it takes Emma so long to realize she loves Mr. Knightley. If Harriet had never liked Mr. Knightley, Emma should have continued on without realizing she loves him.
It is the feminine competitive nature that allows Harriet to play so important a role. Jane Fairfax would have only antogonized Emma in her threat, but Emma would not have realized that her indifference was due to more than just the competition she has had with Miss Fairfax in feeling inferior to her accomplishments. Rather, Harriet was such a close friend that it was so odd that Emma should wish her to not have the returned affections of Mr. Knightley.
Harriet is successful as bringing about an unpredictable twist in the story. She is the only character equipped to control the result of Emma's love life. Had she never confessed of her infatuation Emma never would have had the threat of a good friend, who she particularly likes, falling in love with her own cherished love. The realization for emma takes place in the passage: “She saw that there never had been a time when she did not consider Mr. Knightley as infinitely superior, or when his regard for her had not been infinitely the most dear. She saw, that in persuading herself, in fancying, in acting to the contrary, she had been entirely under a delusion, totally ignorant of her own heart-”(324). Emma realizes she has always loved Mr. Knightley and that his importance to her as she once reasoned was an unconscious façade. This abrupt realization allows the reader to see the role of Harriet in a new light. Harriet is able to make Emma realize something that no other character would be capable of doing.
Harriet is chosen as the character to make Emma realize she is in love with Mr. Knightley from the beginning. This is evident in the contrasts between Jane Fairfax and herself and how Emma responds to them. Had Jane confessed a confession of liking Mr. Knightley, Emma would have been outraged, but she would not have thought that it was because she, Emma, was in love with Mr. Knightley. The unpredictable use of social networking through Harriet is effectively use to bring about an effect that no other character would be able to undertake. Through this use Harriet becomes an essential character to the plot.
Differences Between an Original and a Modern Adaptation
The 1995 film version of “Persuasion” directed by Roger Michell is a beautiful adaptation of the text. Though certain scenes are changed it shares the same tone and message of the text. Specific themes are more clear by the focus of the film and the director’s translation. One noticeable theme, was the importance of illuminating the focus on the Napoleonic wars. Also noticeable was the overall desire for Anne to be able to escape all of the Elliots. The end of the movie is very different from the text as the film reveals the focus of war as an element of escape for Anne Elliot.
The end of the book is quite different from the movie for many reasons, as the mediums are different and the audience At the end of the book, Captain Wentworth comes to Sir Walter’s rooms and is amiable, but no other significant events occur. In the last chapter Anne and Captain Wentworth end up together with little opposition or interest from the Elliots. Contrasting, in the end of the movie, before Captain Wentworth makes it to Sir Walter’s rooms, Anne overhears that Napoleon has escaped from Elba and that indeed the navy would be requested at once. Then Anne goes and sits by her cousin, Mr. Elliot, whom she knows to be only interested in her because of his own interests within the Elliot family; he requests her decision upon his proposal. Before Anne can answer Captain Wentworth comes in and announces to the whole room of their proposal and his request from Sir Walter to secure a date.
The differences between the two endings are striking because of the proposed themes revealed in the different mediums. The film has a more direct focus upon the value of war as an element of escape for Anne Elliot that the book does not qualify so well. In the book, Anne is mortified because of her own family connections as she was severely conscious:
…Of having no relations to bestow on him which a man of sense could value…The disproportion in their fortune was nothing; it did not give her a moment’s regret; but to have no family to receive and to estimate him properly; nothing of respectability, of harmony, of good-will to offer in return for all the worth and all the prompt welcome which met her in his brothers and sisters, was a source of as lively pain as her mind could well be sensible of, under circumstances of otherwise strong felicity.
(p 202)
The acute pain Anne suffers is lost in the movie as it does not show her embarrassment at her own relations, rather, Sir Walter makes a scene as he wonders why Captain Wentworth should have taken an interest in Anne, and this is a close translation to make Anne’s internal feelings shown through her family’s peculiar reactions. Anne’s value on sense versus rank is evident in both the film and the text as it is clear to the audience that rank should be nothing without sense. As Sir Walter has only his rank he is a ridiculous man for Captain Wentworth to desire to have a connection with.
Anne’s desire to have good sense over rank and social status estranges her in her family. The movie had to have a war for Anne to truly escape from her family, whereas the book leaves her marrying as separation enough. The values for when the movie was made about travel made this change necessary as travel is a lot more feasible and sixteen miles of good road are nothing. Thus Captain Wentworth has to necessarily draw Anne out of her family circle by the new worry of war resuming. In the book, Anne’s friends are worried about her as Captain Wentworth’s; “profession was all that could ever make her friends wish that tenderness less; the dread of a future war all that could dim her sunshine. She gloried in being a sailor's wife, but she must pay the tax of quick alarm for belonging to that profession which is, if possible, more distinguished in its domestic virtues than in its national importance”(p 203). The movie felt it was right in refuting the worry as Anne should be able to go seafaring along with him.
The book does not end with a return to war, but rather the fear Anne's friends have of their being one as she is now married to a Captain of the Navy. This illuminates the texts use of war, for if there never had been war, there would not have been a rise in social class for so many men in the Navy. “Persuasion” uses the war to elevate Captain Wentworth to be someone that the Elliot's old rank will have to respect. Since the change was so drastic for the old nobility, it can be no wonder that in order for Captain Wentworth to leave all of the nonsense of the Elliot’s behind, that the film would more practically resume war and have Anne be on a boat far away from the Elliots.
The end of the book is quite different from the movie for many reasons, as the mediums are different and the audience At the end of the book, Captain Wentworth comes to Sir Walter’s rooms and is amiable, but no other significant events occur. In the last chapter Anne and Captain Wentworth end up together with little opposition or interest from the Elliots. Contrasting, in the end of the movie, before Captain Wentworth makes it to Sir Walter’s rooms, Anne overhears that Napoleon has escaped from Elba and that indeed the navy would be requested at once. Then Anne goes and sits by her cousin, Mr. Elliot, whom she knows to be only interested in her because of his own interests within the Elliot family; he requests her decision upon his proposal. Before Anne can answer Captain Wentworth comes in and announces to the whole room of their proposal and his request from Sir Walter to secure a date.
The differences between the two endings are striking because of the proposed themes revealed in the different mediums. The film has a more direct focus upon the value of war as an element of escape for Anne Elliot that the book does not qualify so well. In the book, Anne is mortified because of her own family connections as she was severely conscious:
…Of having no relations to bestow on him which a man of sense could value…The disproportion in their fortune was nothing; it did not give her a moment’s regret; but to have no family to receive and to estimate him properly; nothing of respectability, of harmony, of good-will to offer in return for all the worth and all the prompt welcome which met her in his brothers and sisters, was a source of as lively pain as her mind could well be sensible of, under circumstances of otherwise strong felicity.
(p 202)
The acute pain Anne suffers is lost in the movie as it does not show her embarrassment at her own relations, rather, Sir Walter makes a scene as he wonders why Captain Wentworth should have taken an interest in Anne, and this is a close translation to make Anne’s internal feelings shown through her family’s peculiar reactions. Anne’s value on sense versus rank is evident in both the film and the text as it is clear to the audience that rank should be nothing without sense. As Sir Walter has only his rank he is a ridiculous man for Captain Wentworth to desire to have a connection with.
Anne’s desire to have good sense over rank and social status estranges her in her family. The movie had to have a war for Anne to truly escape from her family, whereas the book leaves her marrying as separation enough. The values for when the movie was made about travel made this change necessary as travel is a lot more feasible and sixteen miles of good road are nothing. Thus Captain Wentworth has to necessarily draw Anne out of her family circle by the new worry of war resuming. In the book, Anne’s friends are worried about her as Captain Wentworth’s; “profession was all that could ever make her friends wish that tenderness less; the dread of a future war all that could dim her sunshine. She gloried in being a sailor's wife, but she must pay the tax of quick alarm for belonging to that profession which is, if possible, more distinguished in its domestic virtues than in its national importance”(p 203). The movie felt it was right in refuting the worry as Anne should be able to go seafaring along with him.
The book does not end with a return to war, but rather the fear Anne's friends have of their being one as she is now married to a Captain of the Navy. This illuminates the texts use of war, for if there never had been war, there would not have been a rise in social class for so many men in the Navy. “Persuasion” uses the war to elevate Captain Wentworth to be someone that the Elliot's old rank will have to respect. Since the change was so drastic for the old nobility, it can be no wonder that in order for Captain Wentworth to leave all of the nonsense of the Elliot’s behind, that the film would more practically resume war and have Anne be on a boat far away from the Elliots.
The Use of Poetry in Persuasion
Jane Austens novels are used to focus on the importance of reading as well as the dangers and strengths of specific genres. In “Persuasion” her targeted genre is poetry, and throughout the novel we see how specific the affect of poetry is on the plot. “Persuasion” uses poetry to exploit the characters with “a mind destroyed by wretchedness”(p 85). Poetry has a direct affect upon the emotions of characters in “Persuasion” as they grow and develop. When Anne judges the affects of poetry on Captain Benwick she realizes the danger to oneself if one only reads one genre; by exploiting one genre so severely the text shows us the danger of being focused too much on one type of reading as it becomes too large apart of the character’s identity.
There are two character’s that “Persuasion” chooses to show the danger of only reading poetry. They are Captain Benwick and Anne Elliot, as Captain Benwick is recovering from the loss of his deceased fiancé and as Anne tries to forget about Captain Wentworth. Anne is at a distinct disadvantage as she cannot forget someone with whom she is constantly around as she is at Uppercross. Captain Benwick is very comfortable with all of the dismal emotions of all of the poets as they reflect upon the sad state he is currently in. As we compare Anne to Captain Benwick we see how his enjoyment of poetry is truly hindering his recovery. Anne contrastingly is not so ill affected by poetry and is a good character to show how diversity in ones hobbies is a very amiable quality.
When Anne is in Lyme the affect of poetry on the plot becomes a lot more apparent. Captain Benwick meets Anne and as he is educated, she is quickly drawn into conversation with him. Upon their continued conversation Anne becomes aware of the ill affect of poetry to his recovery as he:
...shewed himself so intimately acquainted with all the tenderest songs of the one poet and all the impassioned descriptions of hopeless agony of the other, he repeated with such tremulous feeling, the various lines which imaged a broken heart, or a mind destroyed by wretchedness, and looked so entirely as if he meant to be understood, that she ventured to hope he did not always read only poetry; and to say, that she thought it was the misfortune of poetry, to be seldom safely enjoyed by those who enjoyed it completely; and that the strong feelings which alone could estimate it truly, were the very feelings which ought to taste it but sparingly.
(p 85)
Anne realizes that those who truly enjoy poetry are doing a great evil to themselves, as they seem to understand the poetry all too well. She reflects that those who are safe in reading the genre are typically those who cannot understand the verse very well. It is through Benwicks sole focus on poetry that the reader can feel what the text means by having the genre of poetry being the only genre read. The text shows the misfortune of people who are only focused upon poetry, as it has become a large part of who Captain Benwick’s character is, and as we see how Anne does not need to read poetry to maintain her identity.
As poetry relates to identity, we see how it contrasts Captain Benwick against Anne Elliot by how Anne re-evaluates her conversation with Captain Benwick. Anne is pondering upon her validity in judging the affect of poetry on Captain Benwick so harshly. She recognizes her own failures and is concerned as she reflects that she:
…could not but be amused at the idea of her coming to Lyme, to preach patience and resignation to a young man whom she had never seen before; nor could she help fearing, on more serious reflection, that, like many other great moralists and preachers, she had been eloquent on a point in which her own conduct would ill bear examination.
(p 85).
When she realizes that she is perhaps the wrong person to be so critical to the severe affect of poetry on Captain Benwick. Her concern with her unqualified judgment shows a new growth in Anne as she realizes what her sermon on patience and resignation would mean to someone who she knew very little and what his own judgment could be of her if he would know her better. This is a point where Anne is able to see failings in herself.
“Persuasion” is able to show the reader how severe the monopoly of one genre is upon the characters. By showing us this we are able to see how we are affected by our own monopoly of genres. The text allows the reader to be severe upon the characters and then unconsciously upon theirselves. When the text is able to point out the evils of its own genre we are able to broaden our own reading horizons and diversify, and then safely take the bad and the good of the genre.
There are two character’s that “Persuasion” chooses to show the danger of only reading poetry. They are Captain Benwick and Anne Elliot, as Captain Benwick is recovering from the loss of his deceased fiancé and as Anne tries to forget about Captain Wentworth. Anne is at a distinct disadvantage as she cannot forget someone with whom she is constantly around as she is at Uppercross. Captain Benwick is very comfortable with all of the dismal emotions of all of the poets as they reflect upon the sad state he is currently in. As we compare Anne to Captain Benwick we see how his enjoyment of poetry is truly hindering his recovery. Anne contrastingly is not so ill affected by poetry and is a good character to show how diversity in ones hobbies is a very amiable quality.
When Anne is in Lyme the affect of poetry on the plot becomes a lot more apparent. Captain Benwick meets Anne and as he is educated, she is quickly drawn into conversation with him. Upon their continued conversation Anne becomes aware of the ill affect of poetry to his recovery as he:
...shewed himself so intimately acquainted with all the tenderest songs of the one poet and all the impassioned descriptions of hopeless agony of the other, he repeated with such tremulous feeling, the various lines which imaged a broken heart, or a mind destroyed by wretchedness, and looked so entirely as if he meant to be understood, that she ventured to hope he did not always read only poetry; and to say, that she thought it was the misfortune of poetry, to be seldom safely enjoyed by those who enjoyed it completely; and that the strong feelings which alone could estimate it truly, were the very feelings which ought to taste it but sparingly.
(p 85)
Anne realizes that those who truly enjoy poetry are doing a great evil to themselves, as they seem to understand the poetry all too well. She reflects that those who are safe in reading the genre are typically those who cannot understand the verse very well. It is through Benwicks sole focus on poetry that the reader can feel what the text means by having the genre of poetry being the only genre read. The text shows the misfortune of people who are only focused upon poetry, as it has become a large part of who Captain Benwick’s character is, and as we see how Anne does not need to read poetry to maintain her identity.
As poetry relates to identity, we see how it contrasts Captain Benwick against Anne Elliot by how Anne re-evaluates her conversation with Captain Benwick. Anne is pondering upon her validity in judging the affect of poetry on Captain Benwick so harshly. She recognizes her own failures and is concerned as she reflects that she:
…could not but be amused at the idea of her coming to Lyme, to preach patience and resignation to a young man whom she had never seen before; nor could she help fearing, on more serious reflection, that, like many other great moralists and preachers, she had been eloquent on a point in which her own conduct would ill bear examination.
(p 85).
When she realizes that she is perhaps the wrong person to be so critical to the severe affect of poetry on Captain Benwick. Her concern with her unqualified judgment shows a new growth in Anne as she realizes what her sermon on patience and resignation would mean to someone who she knew very little and what his own judgment could be of her if he would know her better. This is a point where Anne is able to see failings in herself.
“Persuasion” is able to show the reader how severe the monopoly of one genre is upon the characters. By showing us this we are able to see how we are affected by our own monopoly of genres. The text allows the reader to be severe upon the characters and then unconsciously upon theirselves. When the text is able to point out the evils of its own genre we are able to broaden our own reading horizons and diversify, and then safely take the bad and the good of the genre.
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