Karan and Carmen giggle and gaggle over Austen

 

Not only did I make a potential new bestie, I mean Carmen and I IMMEDIATELY began comparing Mr. Darcy and Mr. Rochester but we were also giggling over the qualities of a gentleman. Particularly those written by women. Austen was a genius of her time and we could not help but be two bookish women who shared mutual love of literature and our very broody Mr. Rochester. swwoooon 

• How do you think Austen’s world of drawing rooms, dances, and letters speaks to ours today?

Not much has changed between our world and Austen’s really. What we search for today is the same during her time-connection with others, love, and an excuse to socialize. We are all looking for our social circle, and instead of it being framed in the context of a dance or drawing room, people gather in all sorts of spaces (coffee shops, gaming stores, bookstores…) to be in community with others. Texts now take place of letters when we talk about courtship, but I think we can take inspiration for Austen’s world and explore a slower type of courtship. I feel like letter writing forces you to really think about what you want to say and how you present it. Texts just aren’t as romantic, and we could use some more romance in our lives.

• What’s one scene from Austen that always makes you laugh or cry?

Mr. Collins' proposal to Elizabeth Bennet never fails to make me laugh. It is cringy, as is every scene that includes Mr. Collins. What makes it so funny to me is Elizabeth’s reaction every time Mr. Collins ignores her refusal. Also, his proposal speech is absolutely insane; talking about Lady Catherine (who I think Mr. Collins would have married if he could), to reminding Elizabeth that he will inherit her home, then ending it with saying that he won’t her small dowry won't bother him. Saying that with 100% confidence that he is being practical and romantic is peak comedy to me.

• If Jane Austen had a Substack, what do you think she’d write about?

I think she would write commentary on pop culture, and frame it through a feminist lens.

• What kind of tea (or coffee!) best fits Austen’s tone?

I realized I said rooibos when we first talked, but after thinking about it, I think Jane Austen is more of a fruity black tea, like currant black tea.

• If Pride and Prejudice were set at UIW, what would the Bennet sisters be studying?

Jane would be an English major with a minor in Education, and Elizabeth would double major in English and Philosophy.

• Which moment in the novel feels most real to you not as a reader, but as a human being?

The moment when Elizabeth starts reading Darcy’s letter when he explains everything. I’ve had moments like that in my life, when I realized that what I thought about someone was based on my own assumptions and prejudices. Her realization in the role she played hits close to home for me.

Finishing our discussion, I felt like truly a kindred spirit had divinely made its way to me. How very appropriate for our class. Thank you Dr. D'Amico for being the Romanticist we all need to guide our lives, and our class projects.