Jane Austen discussion

Edmund returns ordained and also approves of the match between Fanny and Henry. Henry continues to convince Fanny of his sincerity, and poor Fanny is the brunt of a lot of surprise and displeasure at her continued refusal.

Poor Fanny!

I don't think HC has ever taken so much trouble over anything in his careless life! and all because Fanny is not in thrall with him as her cousins were! And he's manipulative too by insisting that everyone know of his intentions toward Fanny too, so that she'll feel pressured to accept him!

Miss Crawford's opinion of marriage and love are not nearly so hopeful as she professes, in fact the way she describes her friends gives the impression that her mind (if not society itself,) is somewhat warped.

Sir Thomas seems nearly as bad as he is only concerned that Crawford's affections remain constant until Fanny has accepted him and does not seem to consider it likely that they will remain constant for very long if she does not... and Sir Thomas thinks well of him!

Edmund means well of course but his own feelings are blinding him. I think this shows that Mary's influence over him would eventually be greater than his over her and the changes that would occur to their personalities would not be for the better.

Some how I still like Sir Thomas with all his faults Do not forget that he will have to support Fanny if she doesn't marry. And where will she meet someone as she goes no where and what will happen to her when he dies (apropos the Austin women) An option might have been until now one of Edmunds friends like Mr Owen But a wealthy lazy landowner gentry would not appear so quickly. As lady Bertram puts it this was a one time great opportunity and as Charlotte says Marriage is a gamble . Don't get me wrong I don't think she should have accepted him I just want to put things into context of the times of Ja. I think Sir Thomas was OK for his times if tactless with Fanny in their conversation

@Mrs

I too wondered what was to bec of Fanny if she did not marry HC when sir Thomas died. I didn't see that wastrel Tom giving a pin about her. I was starting to think that since HC was not cruel or mean just a terribly vain flirt, that Fanny could marry him and stay at his estate in the country. I thought since Fanny did not love him, she need not know the pain of not having her love returned in that quarter. At this point in the book, I just thought that HC just wanted the challenge of attaching a woman who holds him in contempt.