Jane Austen discussion

Mary isn't pleased to hear about Edmund's plans to be a proper, full time clergyman, rather than just a 'Sunday-only' sort of arrangement! Sir Thomas decides to throw a ball in Fanny's honour. Edmund remains confused about the state of Mary's affections. Preparations for the ball continue!

Poor Fanny! I just completed ch. 25. It's looking as if Sir Thomas thinks Henry is an eligible Parti for Fanny! Ugh!

Andrea (Catsos Person) wrote: "Poor Fanny! I just completed ch. 25. It's looking as if Sir Thomas thinks Henry is an eligible Parti for Fanny! Ugh!"

If only he had witnessed Henry with Julia and Maria.

This is a quiet section! What do you guys think about the necklace for William's cross?

@Louise

I cringed over that necklace . Fanny is trying to keep HC at a distance and now everyone is "conspiring" against her plan. HC is very manipulative. He knows that Fanny is put in an awkward position by her refusal bec he, HC on paper is a brilliant, brilliant match for a dowerless, poor-relation such as Fanny. She really has few options to concern herself with suitor's "steadiness ."

I was struck by Fanny's dependence (as well as William's) on crumbs from the Bertram table. William saved to give his sister an amber cross--couldn't even afford one made of metal--and couldn't afford a chain to go with it. Fanny had no way of getting a chain for it herself; she's wearing a dress that was given to her so she would look appropriate for Maria's wedding. Fanny has nothing; the Bertrams and Aunt Norris have total power over her life. It is a terribly sad situation.

Abigail wrote: "I was struck by Fanny's dependence (as well as William's) on crumbs from the Bertram table. William saved to give his sister an amber cross--couldn't even afford one made of metal--and couldn't aff..."

I wonder if Fanny's steadiness, her strength of character, comes from the fact that she has nothing of her own. From the food she eats and the clothes she wears to the very air she breathes, she has nothing that wasn't given (sometimes grudgingly) to her. But instead of letting that kind of obligatory gratitude get to her, she keeps her perspective on life and love and honor.