In my history of the novel class in college, we read Samuel Richardson, Henry Fielding, and Laurence Sterne before Jane Austen, and it wasn't until we got to her novels that I began to see an author's love for her characters. Her writing reminds me that it's not perfect people who deserve love, it's all of us. I'm not even thinking of the happy-ending romantic love, but of love that embraces even with our foibles, mistakes large and small, and our funny little ways. Austen hates none of her characters. She hardly even punishes the worst ones. When the world feels deficient in love to me, Austen reminds me that I can choose to love rather than mock those I don't like or understand.
Melody, I love this SO MUCH. What a great sentiment: "when the world feels deficient in love to me, Austen reminds me that I can choose to love rather than mock those I don't like or understand." May I quote you in a future essay about this?
In my history of the novel class in college, we read Samuel Richardson, Henry Fielding, and Laurence Sterne before Jane Austen, and it wasn't until we got to her novels that I began to see an author's love for her characters. Her writing reminds me that it's not perfect people who deserve love, it's all of us. I'm not even thinking of the happy-ending romantic love, but of love that embraces even with our foibles, mistakes large and small, and our funny little ways. Austen hates none of her characters. She hardly even punishes the worst ones. When the world feels deficient in love to me, Austen reminds me that I can choose to love rather than mock those I don't like or understand.
Melody, I love this SO MUCH. What a great sentiment: "when the world feels deficient in love to me, Austen reminds me that I can choose to love rather than mock those I don't like or understand." May I quote you in a future essay about this?
Oh, thank you. :) You may quote at will. I loved reading what you gathered from Twitter, too. And hearty congratulations on meeting your goal!
Congratulations, Amy! So happy for you. I love the quotes you've shared about Austen's significance. She really is the GOAT. ☺️
Yay! So glad you get to make the trip!