<< Previous • Message List • Next >>
Mar 6, 2016 at 4:57pm
#2943865
I have read so much ! How to pick so... I went with..... Jane Austen's Love life!  Outside of being a logophile and reader, and family gal....In researching Jane Austen I focused my inquiry on her relationships. As she wrote in the romantic genre I was curious as to her own experiences. I knew she was a single woman all her life but wondered if there had been any personal romances or just observations of people of the time. James Austen Lee described her as attractive, tall, slender with an expressive face; a clear brunette, with bright hazel eyes and natural curls. It was interesting to learn there may have been a few suitors but much detail has been lost as her Sister destroyed any personal letters on this area of Jane’s life, after she passed on, to protect privacy. The first one I could find was in 1795 when she was 20. Only two of Jane’s letters survive and they mention Tom Lefroy, who she met at Christmas and danced several time with. His aunt was fond of Jane. They had common interests in books and were thought by some to be a couple. They supposedly visited each other’s homes. I am not sure what happened but it was over in 4 weeks and in Jane’s letter she says she has had her last “flirt” with him and is very sad about it. There seems to have been some expectation of an offer of marriage and also that his family gave Tom a hard time about the relationship. A split happens anyway. A short time later Tom is married and perhaps there had been rumours that he was already engaged when he met Jane. Much is not clear. Still, one wonders in her novels where “dancing” can be a step to “falling in love” and In Sense and Sensibility where Edward was trapped in an engagement while falling in love with Elinor—would these have been echoes of a past. Another story goes that she had a proposal of marriage from Harris Bigg-Wither in 1802 and it would have been practical financially for her family.. She accepted but the next morning changed her mind. She later advise her niece not to marry if” affection is not there” and again in Pride and Prejudice “do not marry without affection.” As an independent woman, perhaps she stood by this too. There was a growing consciousness about it as the time went on. The third I was able to find was a story that she may have had a budding romance with a navy man when she visited Lyme, a place she described so lovingly in Persuasion. But he died at sea before one of their intended meetings. There were no names mentioned anywhere only speculation that a John Wordsworth’s ship went down in 1805 around that time. It is wondered if the Captain Wentworth in Persuasion was based on him. Ah the mystery in complete may never be known as no letters more detailed exist. Makes for great controversy and discussion! And maybe that is a good thing! Jane would like to be a bit of a mystery. We know she was a beloved aunt and corresponded with many relatives, even giving advice on love life etc. Her sister was a close ally and looked after her reputation right to the end. (if indeed there was any to really protect.) Jane wrote of it though so unlike her sister she might have been ok with us knowing the whole story. Her writings about it were on the up and up and she followed the customs. In any case, her stories have happy endings for the most part--- the dream that love wins out. And the rogues existed, and the attempts to fix the wrongs were tried and tragedies happen. True to what she saw in life perhaps. Enjoy. eyestar "DreamTime Dragon's Poem Contest"   
|
|||
MESSAGE THREAD
Research Challenge · 03-06-16 4:57pmby eyestar~*
by ~Minja~
by amyjo-Keeping it real and fun!
