Audge

Folks,

There comes a time in a girls life when she discovers a world in which she simply cannot exist physically. Instead, she is driven mad by this world, because all she can really do is dream about it, read about it, and watch endless film perspectives of what others think it was like.

Jane Austen's worlds fit this description.

My sanity, I fear, has been taken away. Due to this extraordinary fictional world that I do not exist in, my mental state of mind has been completely taken away. For what reasons you ask? I shall tell you. 

The society that I live in will simply never return to the proper and elegant sort of society that occupied Ms. Austen's life.

The social buzz that middle to higher class women could entertain in seems absolutely thrilling! I want to have my tea with the neighbors. I want to take my constitution to Mr. Knightley's home. I want to go to town and buy ribbons for the upcoming ball. I want to attend balls! To dance to my hearts content with all the eligible bachelor's in the country. I want to dress in dresses everyday, accompanied with large hats or bonnets. Sleep in a large four poster bed. The list could go on and on my dear friends, for as I have said before, it has taken over my mind.


The men. (Come on, you knew this one was coming...)

I cannot hold it in any longer. These Austen men were created to torture me. Absolute agony. Beautiful, wonderful agony. How can a woman, who never actually married herself, be able to create such men? Well..she's a woman of course. Women of all ages and times have been creating perfect men in their minds. Jane Austen just happened to be amazingly talented at creating such men. Let's break this down shall we?

Captain Wentworth (Persuasion)

A tall, handsome man who found love and then lost it. Though he was hurt terribly, his love for Anne never stopped, and he proved to have the first rate qualities of a gentleman who was madly in love with a girl for whom he would do anything and everything for. I would marry him....in a heartbeat.

Favorite Quote:  (Letter to Anne at the end of the book)

"I can listen no longer in silence. I must speak to you by such means as are within my reach. You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight years and a half ago. Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you. Unjust I may have been, weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant. You alone have brought me to Bath. For you alone, I think and plan. Have you not seen this? Can you fail to have understood my wishes? I had not waited even these ten days, could I have read your feelings, as I think you must have penetrated mine. I can hardly write. I am every instant hearing something which overpowers me. You sink your voice, but I can distinguish the tones of that voice when they would be lost on others. Too good, too excellent creature! You do us justice, indeed. You do believe that there is true attachment and constancy among men. Believe it to be most fervent, most undeviating, in

F. W.

Favorite Film/TV adaptation: Persuasion, 2007 Starring Sally Hawkins and Rupert-Penry Jones

Who could NOT be in love with that face?

Mr. Darcy (Pride and Prejudice) 

Where do you even begin with this man? He's the perfect tall, dark, and handsome man that women all over the world search for. Guarded by his fierce pride in the beginning, you soon find that underneath it all you find the gentlest of men. One who would go to world's end for his love. When he is captivated by young Elizabeth's beauty and charm, there is no going back for him. He loves her ardently. His sophisticated speech and lovely blue (yes blue, that's how I imagine them) eyes sink deep into your soul. His tenderness, and loyalty steals my heart every time I merely think of him. (And he is conveniently wealthy.) I search in desperation for a man like this.

Favorite Quote:

"You must know, surely you must know, it was all for you. You are too generous to trifle with me. I believe you spoke with my aunt last night, and it has taught me to hope as I'd scarcely allowed myself before. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes have not changed, but one word from you will silence me forever. If, however, your feelings have changed, I would have to tell you: you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love... I love... I love you. And I never wish to be parted from you from this day on."

Favorite Film/TV adaptation: Pride and Prejudice, 2005 Starring Keira Knightly and Matthew Macfadyen
(AND the Colin Firth version, stopping yelling at me) 

Let's be honest....when he smiled during the movie, your heart skipped a beat.

Mr. Knightley (Emma)

....sigh.....Mr. George Knightley. In my opinion, he is the most perfect of all the Austen men. Throughout the book, it is Emma, not Mr. Knightley that really needs the changing. This is one of Austen's few books where you get to watch the heroine grow up for a change. Mr. Knightley on the other hand needs not change a thing. He is kind and gentle, but knows how to be firm. He is extremely intelligent, yet does not flaunt it to the world. He has a wonderful sense of humor that goes hand in hand with Emma's quick wit and charm. He happens to also be conveniently wealthy, and handles his affairs perfectly. He knows how to treat a woman and makes fair judgements of all those around him. He deeply cares for the feelings of others and never wishes to harm or offend anyone he comes in contact with (unless it's Frank Churchill). He is sentimental, and when in the earth's time has any woman not loved a sentimental man? Never. Mr. Knightley has it all. And he has ruined my opinions of modern men because currently, the list of men like that is empty. Mr. Knightley has evaded my dreams and I do not wish him to leave.

Favorite Quote:

"I don't - Friends indeed. I do want you to be honest. So, tell me, have I no chance of succeeding?
" My dearest Emma, for that is what you always have been and you always will be, my most beloved Emma. I cannot make speeches. If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more, but you know what I am. I have lectured you and scolded you and you have born it as no other woman would have."

Favorite Film/TV adaptation: Emma, BBC 2009 Starring Johnny Lee Miller

I'm in love. I cannot help it.

I could go on about the many other Austen gentlemen, but I decided sharing my favorites was best.

It all comes down to one thing ladies; these men don't exist. They aren't real. I can only watch my favorite clips and dream about them. I pity the man who ends up with me, for his expectations will not be easy. Thanks to Jane Austen. My ideals for men are tarnished with perfection. It's that simple.

That concludes my discourse of the world I have been deeply entangled in for the last few weeks.

And, yes, I was listening to the Pride and Prejudice soundtrack while I was typing this. And yes, there is a boy sitting next to me in the library that is probably thinking I'm either crazy, or that he will never understand women.

Farewell friends.

Song of the Day: Dawn---Jean-Yves Thibaudet