“I have no doubt that he will thrive and be a very rich man in time-and his being illiterate and coarse need not disturb us.”
Emma’s backhanded compliment of Robert Martin, the farmer Harriet adores
Emma, volume 1, chapter 4
Category Archives: Men
Mr. Martin
Filed under Emma, Emma Woodhouse, Harriet Smith, Insults, Men, Money, Robert Martin, Wealth
Vanity, thy name is Sir Walter
“Vanity was the beginning and end of Sir Walter Elliot’s character: vanity of person and of situation. He had been remarkably handsome in his youth, and at fifty-four was still a very fine man. . . . He considered the blessing of beauty as inferior only to the blessing of a baronetcy; and the Sir Walter Elliot, who united these gifts, was the constant object of his warmest respect and devotion.”
Persuasion, volume 1, chapter 1
Thanks to Kellynch.com for the image — check out this lovely site!
Filed under Character description, Men, Persuasion, Pride, Sir Walter Elliot
The measure of a man?
“’Brandon is just the kind of man,’ said Willoughby one day when they were talking of him together, ‘whom everybody speaks well of, and nobody cares about; whom all are delighted to see, and nobody remembers to talk to.’”
Sense & Sensibility, volume 1, chapter 10
Then again, Willoughby is the kind of boy who gets girls pregnant and leaves them to fend for themselves, disgraced and alone in the world.
David Morissey as Colonel Brandon. ©BBC 2007 for Masterpiece™
Filed under Col. Brandon, Men, Popularity, Sense and Sensibility, Willoughby
I require so much!
“I could not be happy with a man whose taste did not in every point
coincide with my own. He must enter into all my feelings; the same
books, the same music must charm us both. . . .
Mama, the more I know of the world, the more am I convinced that I
shall never see a man whom I can really love. I require so much!”
Marianne
Sense and Sensibility, volume 1, chapter 3
Charity Wakefield as Marianne Dashwood. ©BBC 2007 for Masterpiece™
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Filed under Love, Marianne, Men, Sense and Sensibility
Too excellent creature!
“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.”
Captain Wentworth’s letter to Anne, in the Musgrove’s room at the White Hart in Bath
Persuasion, volume 2, chapter 11
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Filed under Anne Elliot, Capt. Wentworth, Love, Men, Persuasion, Proposals
Another Man
“It is very true that you never may attach another Man, his equal altogether, but if that other Man has the power of attaching you more, he will be in your eyes the most perfect.”
letter to her niece Fanny Knight
November 30, 1814 [114]
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Filed under Austen family, Letters, Love, Men, niece Fanny Knight
A possible Evil
“I am at present more impressed with the possible Evil that may arise to You from engaging yourself to him-in word or mind-than with anything else. When I consider how few young Men you have yet seen much of-how capable you are (yes, I do still think you very capable) of being really in love-and how full of temptation the next 6 or 7 years of your Life will probably be-(it is the very period of Life for the strongest attachments to be formed)-I cannot wish you with your present very cool feelings to devote yourself in honour to him.”
letter to her niece Fanny Knight
November 30, 1814 [114]
I think they quoted this nearly directly in Miss Austen Regrets. Olivia Williams as Jane Austen.
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Filed under Austen family, Letters, Love, Marriage, Men, niece Fanny Knight
If he possibly can
“He is just what a young man ought to be,” said she [Jane], “sensible, good-humored, lively; and I never saw such happy manners!-so much ease, with such perfect good breeding!”
“He is also handsome,” replied Elizabeth, “which a young man ought likewise to be, if he possibly can. His character is thereby complete.”
Lizzy and Jane on meeting Bingley
Pride & Prejudice, volume 1, chapter 4
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Filed under Elizabeth Bennet, Jane Bennet, Men, Mr. Bingley, On being a gentleman, Pride and Prejudice
Marrying without affection
“Anything is to be preferred or endured rather than marrying without Affection; and if his deficiencies of Manner &c &c strike you more than all his good qualities, if you continue to think strongly of them, give him up at once.”
letter to her niece, Fanny Knight, about Mr. John Plumptre, whom Fanny was considering marrying
November 18, 1814 [109]
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Filed under Austen family, Letters, Marriage, Men, niece Fanny Knight
Wisdom is better than Wit
“Think of all this Fanny. Mr. J.P. has advantages which do not often meet in one person. His only fault indeed seems Modesty. If he were less modest, he would be more agreable, speak louder & look Impudenter;-and is it not a fine Character, of which Modesty is the only defect? . . . Wisdom is better than Wit, & in the long run will certainly have the laugh on her side.”
letter to her niece, Fanny Knight, about Mr. John Plumptre, whom Fanny was considering marrying
November 18, 1814 [109]
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Filed under Austen family, Character, Letters, Men, niece Fanny Knight
A Walk with Jane Austen: A Journey into Adventure, Love, and Faith