What Will Be Her Decision?
We know Elizabeth Elliot suffers from much gossip and a damaged reputation. How is she ever going to put the past events and scandal behind her? Her cousin, Mr. Elliot seems to have the perfect answer.
We know Elizabeth Elliot suffers from much gossip and a damaged reputation. How is she ever going to put the past events and scandal behind her? Her cousin, Mr. Elliot seems to have the perfect answer.
Listen in to the proposal Mr. Elliot has to alleviate Elizabeth’s troubles.
Well, now, becoming the next Lady Elliot doesn’t seem half bad? But can Elizabeth accept her cousin who once turned her down? Another frightful thought Elizabeth has is whether or not there will be any more proposals from other men? What is a girl in her predicament to do?
If you were Elizabeth, and know what you do about Mr.
Elliot’s past and what he has to offer for her future, would you accept?
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This is a fun series-I recommend it! (don't enter me in giveaway, I ready own)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, June! I second your motion! This really is a great series! :)
DeleteThanks, June, for the kind words. I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed Mercy's Embrace!
DeleteHmm what I do? It's hard to say! Especially since I haven't read the book yet! Lol The security would be good, of course, but I would not want to spend my life with someone who was constantly reminding me that they did me a huge favor by marrying me. He seems like he would do that.
ReplyDeleteGood point, Monica! One would truly need to weigh the seurity & social position offered verse the constant reminder of doing one a huge favor. Hmm. I guess she could always pull a Charlotte Collins and keep to her sitting room and encourage him to be out of the house as much as possible. ;)
DeleteWhen you read this scene in context, Monica, you'll realize that she would be doing him a favor as well. And wouldn't it be like Elizabeth to remind him right back?
DeleteWilliam Elliot is one of Austen's worst villains. He's not a seducer of women like the others, but he deliberately led a friend into financial ruin (Mrs Smith's husband) without batting an eye. Later he refused to act as executor of Smith's will, knowing full well what that would mean (he trained as a lawyer). Mrs Smith was left almost penniless, simply because William Elliot could not be bothered.
He married solely for money, too --- though his wife's family was no doubt drooling over the prospect of the title. His wife was miserable, and before she could bear children, she died. Guess who got the money? An idea for a murder mystery has presented itself. Except we'd know from the get-go who did it, so where would the fun be?
I was thinking about the Collinses, too. There are worse things than living contented, somewhat separate lives, especially if neither one is really in love. The funny thing is, I think Mr Collins is just as likely to tell Charlotte how lucky she is. This makes me sound shallow but at least William Elliot is rich and handsome (is he? I honestly can't remember how he was described in Persuasion, it's been forever since I read it - is that terrible?) And - bonus! - no noble patroness to put up with!
ReplyDeleteMmm-hmm! He is both, rich & handsome, Monica! At least you know you won't lose your appetite looking at him at dinner, and I imagine marital matters with him would be much more pleasurable than say with Mr. Collins. ;) And you are right, not having to deal with a noble patroness is an added bonus!
DeleteMr Elliot, being an Elliot, certainly thinks of himself as handsome. Dear Jane (bless her!) gives him a sole blemish: an under-hung jaw, which Elizabeth dislikes but learns to overcome.
DeleteHe no doubt styles himself as a skilled lover, too. Hm'm. I don't need to tell you ladies that the hunk-of-man selfish fellow is concerned only with himself. How pleasurable is that? And if Elizabeth loathes the very sight of him before they're married, I imagine she would hate him even more after.
But a husband you are indifferent to has little power to wound, and that's what Elizabeth discovers about falling in love. She is suddenly so vulnerable to rejection. Really, is marrying for love worth the risk?
It's a question women grapple with even in our day.
I couldn't find a good illustration of a human with an underhung jaw (thank you, orthodontists!), so this will have to do.
DeleteIf the comments box accepts html, this link should take you to a picture! Such a smile!
Hard to say - there are both good points and bad points in either decision. But there could be worse things like marrying a someone who will keep reminding you of how fortunate you are. If Mr. Eliot gets a bit pompous, I'm sure Elizabeth could mutter a few words about him behind her hand.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, susied. Elizabeth, Lady Elliot would do more than mutter!
DeleteHowever, I expect the arrangement would leave her at Kellynch Hall to rear their children, with Sir William free to pursue an independent life in London, both as a politician ... and a philanderer.
Which when one considers Mr Collins (who is always underfoot), this might not be so bad.
Ha! I can picture Elizabeth dishing it right back to William Elliot, Susied!
DeleteLaura, yes I can see that arrangement happening, especially the philandering part.
Thanks for the giggles, Laura, with the photo! When I thought of an underbite my mind went to Mr Bottomtooth from Family Guy. home.comcast.net/~ron.killgore/images/bottomtooth.jpg
ReplyDeleteIt really is a tough decision for her. I mean, what if you marry the "safer" person and then fall in love with someone else? Do you do what all the cool kids are doing and have an affair, since he likely is anyway? Do you care if he is, even if you don't love him? I overthink everything so Sir William and Patrick would probably give up on me and die of old age before I made up my mind. Lol
Monica, those are questions I always think about when reading Regency novels. If you married for convenience instead of love, do you have a affair too, since everyone is doing it? And does it bother you that he is? I would imagine it would have to sting nonetheless. Man am I glad that it is easier to be a woman of means, education, and independence now. If the right man does not come along, you don't feel the need to marry for safety, protection, or your family. You can just go on working, living on your own & waiting for Mr. Darcy to come into your life!
DeleteAt the end of the day, it comes down to this: Before Whom did I make the marriage vow?
DeleteI'm not talking about the tom catting or abusive husband---see you in Divorce Court, dude! ---but the one we grow tired of. Oh dear, which would be most any man! Even (dare I say it?) Mr Darcy!
When I was a young teen (and radio stations played the Top 40 Hits), this song came on. My mom and I were driving in the station wagon, and we just listened.
It's Sad to Belong to Someone Else
And I remember Mom making this comment. "Sometimes that happens."
There was a note in her voice I'd not heard before; even now I remember it. I was surprised, but I remember not daring to ask what she meant. She was, after all, married to my dad. But it made me wonder. Had she fallen in love with someone and stayed true? If so, I as her daughter, was (and still am) grateful.
This theme comes up in Mercy's Embrace, as Jakki knows. No spoilers, but as I work on material for the 4th and 5th books, this issue hasn't disappeared.
Over 30 years in the trenches tells me that humans are not static and are constantly changing. We all fall in and out of love. The question that we have to deal with is: are we going to stick and keep falling in love with the same person, or jump the fence and fall for numerous others?
DeleteWow...what would I do? There are so many interesting comments here already.
ReplyDeleteIf that would happen nowadays, I wouldn´t want to marry without love. But the circumstances are different there. There´s protection, money, a safe home.
I think it would do Elizabeth good to fall for someone - like Mr. Knightley said for Emma, it would do her good to fall in love (and also not always get her way). It would do Elizabeth good to find her Wentworth, Darcy, Tilney and be loved in return as well.
(My comments have changed from the first vlog, if I was able to feel some sympathy for Elizabeth..well, well. Different story now! :D)
So true, Susan. I have no personal experience with a successful marriage, but the ones that I see generally involve a couple who are willing to honor their commitment to each other, to God, and to their children. And those marriages seem to weather life's storms and come out on the other side stronger and healthier. Falling in love with the same person over and over again. Interesting concept.
ReplyDeleteGayle, Susan, & Laura, I think you ladies are on to something. People do change. I know for a fact I am different than I was when my husband married me almost 8 years ago. Marriage and parenting are the two hardest things I think people can do. My hubby and I try to date weekly, bi-weekly if we can't, and I think that really helps, especially with having children who vie for our attention. I agree, since we are not static, and constantly changing, we need to find ways to fall in love all over again with our spouse, otherwise we will never be able to make a marriage last. I wish more people would learn to fix the one they got and work on it rather than get a divorce. Anyway, I will just stop there! I hope readers are able to walk away with some great advice to file away from you sagely ladies! :) Thanks so much for the wonderful discussion! :)
DeleteGreat v-blog, Jakki!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Robin! It was sure fun to read!
DeleteI left a comment, but it wasn't counted, so here I go again!
ReplyDeleteDid you click on the "comment on The Lady Must Decide vlog tab on the Rafflecopter form above? That should work! :) Good luck, Robin!
DeleteLooking forward to reading this one! It seems like a great example of 'be careful what you wish for!'
ReplyDeleteHi, Angie! It won't be long until a winner is selected. Thanks so much for stopping by to enter! :)
Deletecommenting here and on the youtube site of your vlog, Jakki ~ you brave girl :)
ReplyDeletejust in the door after 2+ wks away on vaca - found your email on this & beat it straight over to
get in on the chance to win [again!!]
thanks always, Laura, for sharing the FuN with us :)
Hi, Faith!
ReplyDeleteKeep a weather eye peeled on Candy's blog, "So Little Time...". She'll be hosting a Mercy's giveaway sometime in the future.
And I agree, Jakki is brave. (Helps to be slim and beautiful, but it's still scary!)
Faith Hope Cherrytea, thanks so much for stopping by and entering! I'm thrilled you like my vlogs! If you haven't seen the other two for Laura's other books, you should watch those too. All are equally diverting! ;)
ReplyDeleteLaura, thanks for the kind words! Though you should see me on my "off days" where I don't leave the house and stay in yoga pants and a sweatshirt all day with no make-up...very attractive! ;)