Jane Austen discussion

Volume 2, chapters 1-7

Summary - Elinor spends time with Lucy Steele and hears all about Edward and their engagement. Mrs. Jennings invites Elinor and Marianne to join her in London. They make the long journey and Marianne writes to Willoughby who does not answer. Col. Brandon appears. Elinor and Marianne go to a party with Lady Middleton. Willoughby is there and Marianne confronts him. He is very cold to her and leaves shortly thereafter. Marianne becomes ill and Elinor and Lady Middleton take her home. Marianne takes to her bed.

Discuss!

My goodness, that letter that Willoughby writes to Marianne while they're in London! The coldest, most formal letter ever! Roamnce can be revived with a love letter, but can be killed with a hurtful one just as easy. I don't have the book in front of me, but that one quote, "If my actions were perceived to be more than I felt..." (paraphrased drastically, I'll update later). I read it in Algebra 2, and was so disappointed in Willoughby. I've seen the movie, and I wish they would have put that letter in there.

I believe it is included in the Emma Thompson film version. However, as we talk about later, other Willoughby-related things were not. Very cold letter and devastating to Marianne. And he knows this and seals his own fate too.

Really? I'll have to watch the movie again, I almost feel sorry for him. Even though he seduced Brandon's daughter and jilted Marianne for money, I think he really was in love with her.

Yes, that letter is in the film version--Kate Winslet reads a little of it. (I don't want to spoil any new readers for the later chapters, but Maggie, you are right and we find that out in a dramatic scene that ISN'T in the '95 film version.)

I like Austen's humor in this section where John tries to make himself feel better about not doing his duty by his sisters by insisting that Elinor will make a good match with the Col. or that Mrs. Jennings will be a benefactor to them! Too little, too late, brother!

The letters are what convince Marianne's circle (and perhaps persuade Marianne herself) that there is an actual, or imminent engagement. When Brandon comes to visit them in London and says that he has heard of Marianne's engagement from their friends but he was ready to doubt it "if I had not...accidentally seen a letter..directed to Mr. Willoughby in your sister's writing", and earlier Elinor tells her mother that she would not doubt an engagement "if we find they correspond".
Ladies did not correspond with gentlemen who were not family members or fiances.