Jane Austen For Dummies (58 page)
Read Jane Austen For Dummies Online
Authors: Joan Elizabeth Klingel Ray
You might want to begin your discussion of this novel by creating, on a large pad, a family tree of the Dashwoods, because the book opens with a lot of them! Once you have the family structure and characters' identities down, you'll be set to get going on these questions:
Analyze Mrs. Dashwood (the mother of Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret) as a mother.
After reading the novel and watching the Emma Thompson film version of this novel, discuss what she gains or loses in casting Hugh Grant in the role of Edward Ferrars. How does Austen present Edward, and why does she do it in the way she does? What does Thompson add to Edward's characterization? Do her changes in any way affect your impressions of him? If so, how?
Analyze Colonel Brandon as a romantic character. Who gets the better deal at the end of the novel, Marianne or Brandon? Explain.
Analyze the way Lucy Steele plays the games of society to suck up to others.
Discuss the characters in the novel in terms of all aspects you can think of regarding sense and sensibility.
Many people of your group may have seen the recent
Pride and Prejudice
television series and films, and so they will come to the novel with pre-conceived ideas about how characters look and behave. (See Chapter 15 for the film and television versions.) As the people in your group read this book, ask them to note any physical descriptions Austen gives of the characters.
Does Mrs. Bennet get a fair deal from the narrator? Is she as stupid as she appears? Explain your answer.
Discuss Darcy's friendship with Bingley: Speculate why they're friends. Can you forgive Darcy for meddling in the Jane/Bingley relationship? Why? Why not?
Compare Charlotte Lucas Collins and Mr. Bennet in terms of how each deals with an unhappy marriage.
Why are Elizabeth and Darcy a good couple?
Watch the 1995 television miniseries of
Pride and Prejudice,
and then discuss the following:
⢠Is Jennifer Ehle well cast in the role? Why? Compare her looks and actions to what Austen says in the novel.
⢠Is Colin Firth well cast in the role? Why? Compare his looks and actions to what Austen says in the novel.
⢠Notice the scenes that script writer Andrew Davies added to the series that weren't in the novel. What purposes do they serve?
Watch the 2005 film of
Pride and Prejudice
and discuss the following:
⢠How does the film change the setting of the novel? What purpose did it serve?
⢠Compare the way Matthew MacFayden plays Darcy to the way Austen presents Darcy in her novel. Is Macfayden's portrayal accurate?
⢠Compare the way Donald Sutherland plays Mr. Bennet in the film to the way Austen presents him in her novel. Is Sutherland's portrayal accurate.
If any of your group members have seen Patricia Rozema's film of
Mansfield Park,
and have not yet read the novel, they're in for a big surprise! Start your discussion with these questions:
What is Austen showing through the Bertram sisters, Maria and Julia?
Find a copy of the play
Lovers' Vows;
read it; then discuss why Austen chose that play for
Mansfield Park.
Analyze Mary Crawford. She's one of Austen's most complex characters. Determine her good and not-so-good traits. Why does Edmund fall in love with her?
Henry Crawford starts his attentions to Fanny with the purpose of making a small hole in her heart. How do his feelings for Fanny change? Do you agree with the narrator at the end of the book that Henry truly loved Fanny? Why?
Apply the traits of pride and prejudice to characters in this novel.