My child is finally old enough to understand the perfection which is Jane Austen. This is all very interesting because she’s echoing a lot of the same things I was thinking when I was young. #1 — that Pride and Prejudice is a masterpiece. And #2 — that Marianne getting BEYOND knocked down a peg, and marrying Colonel Brandon at the end of Sense and Sensibility is fairly depressing.
I love the 1995 Ang Lee Sense & Sensibility movie, despite the bittersweet turn of events for Marianne. My daughter was like (insert gag emoji here). We are now currently reading Persuasion but I’m pretty sure she’s going to stay staunchly a fan of P&P, and the 1995 BBC version bears no comparison in her mind to the 2005.
While re-watching S&S last night, I was reminded of my favorite Shakespearean sonnet (featured in the book) and figured I’d throw it out here to refresh those who also know it and maybe inspire those who don’t!
Sonnet 116
Let me not to the marriage of true minds
–William Shakespeare
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove.
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wand’ring bark,
Whose worth’s unknown, although his height be taken.
Love’s not Time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle’s compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me prov’d,
I never writ, nor no man ever lov’d.
You go, Will. (Dap.)
This varies radically from feelings contemporary — as most things contemporary seem rather transient in general. But even after 20+ years, what it does seem is still profoundly true, to me anyway.
Here’s to Jane Austen, good books, and all things that feel good, honest, and true.
And with that, time for (me to finish!) a Coffee,
M
Carpe Capulus 