As I was reading Evelina I realized how much society has not changed. The difficult pursuits of the young girls for their innocence, the fear of embarrassment, as well as the trials of fitting in all expressed similarly in this past. I feel this is why I found this Novel more enjoyable then the rest. Evelina is a teenager growing up in a society she can’t fit in. She is like the quite nerd that no one notices but then realizes she is the beauty of the school. I found it enjoyable because I read it as a teenage sitcom, much more enjoyable that way. It’s like one tree hill in the 1700’s. I imagine this is what it was, all the young girls reading it and then chatting about it in small groups, and the boys reading it to get what the girls are talking about.
I assumed that Burney pulled all if not some of the topics within the story are pulled from society, or even experience. This is where I had a hard time believing to the extent that these fault were used on Evelina. I felt that Burney took all the little societal mistakes from various sources and through them into Evelina. It’s strange the play on mistakes makes her more and less real to me at the same time. I liked that since it made the read a source of thought, as to how do I feel of certain scenes. I guess back to the Sitcom and gossip within it, some things we can see as occurring others not so.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Evelina: admirable follies
With one more comment focusing on a comparison to Pamela, one of the first things I noticed when I began reading Burney's Evelina was the letter form. Structurally similar, I half expected Evelina to be as tedious to me as the challenge set forth by reading Pamela--but I have been pleasantly surprised. While Pamela's letters to her father have a single-sided edge to them as she constantly praises herself, Evelina's letter to Mr. Villars reveal her own follies within a society that she in unaccustomed to. For this reason Evelina's "with all love and duty" was just so much easier to stomach than the pomp of Pamela's "your most dutiful daughter..."
One reading more though, it is exposed to the reader that Evelina's 'follies' are not always so likeable. Whereas she certainly acts out of line sometimes out of naivete, he disdain for everyone around her who is not high society is quite disgusting. She resents being in the company of her very own family, because they are ill-bred, and this carries through as she writes "nothing could be more disagreeable to me, than being seen by Sir Clement Willoughby with a party at once so vulgar in themselves, and so familiar to me" (246)--she longs for the acceptance of a man she barely cares to even speak to! Although I have not yet finished the novel, from somewhere beyond the midway point, its seems that Evelina's endearing qualities have shifted to borderline bratty.
But even so, Mr. Villars has the ability to shift my opinion of Evelina to admirability. While the reader becomes so involved with Evelina's tales of her disgust for her company, he notes that she acts with strength during the 'pistol scene.' This brought me back to believe that although Evelina has her faults, this is only NORMAL (in contrast with Pamela), aand she remains in my mind, a character to be admired.
One reading more though, it is exposed to the reader that Evelina's 'follies' are not always so likeable. Whereas she certainly acts out of line sometimes out of naivete, he disdain for everyone around her who is not high society is quite disgusting. She resents being in the company of her very own family, because they are ill-bred, and this carries through as she writes "nothing could be more disagreeable to me, than being seen by Sir Clement Willoughby with a party at once so vulgar in themselves, and so familiar to me" (246)--she longs for the acceptance of a man she barely cares to even speak to! Although I have not yet finished the novel, from somewhere beyond the midway point, its seems that Evelina's endearing qualities have shifted to borderline bratty.
But even so, Mr. Villars has the ability to shift my opinion of Evelina to admirability. While the reader becomes so involved with Evelina's tales of her disgust for her company, he notes that she acts with strength during the 'pistol scene.' This brought me back to believe that although Evelina has her faults, this is only NORMAL (in contrast with Pamela), aand she remains in my mind, a character to be admired.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Burney's Map
After Pamela, I was hesitant about the idea of beginning another epistolary novel. But, from the instant I began to read, I knew that Frances Burney had surpassed Richardson in bringing life and dimension to the letters of Evelina. The letters take you on a journey to the late 1700’s covering every detail of life, as it existed then. Evelina’s emergence from her sheltered country life into the lion-filled pits of London’s upper-middle class society life is satirical but sincere, and Eveline’s personal journey from innocent girl to a desirous, knowing young woman, feels as contemporary to me as a John Hughs’ coming-of-age movie (although this reference dates me). This period of time in a girl’s life is complex on many levels and Burney captures them skillfully. There is lightness in the novel that might be read as trivializing, but I think to attribute pain over seemingly small incidences as trivial, is to miss the point. These early years are about deciding whom we are going to be and, if the decision is not actively made, than we passively allow those around us to decide our fate. Evelina struggles without the proper tools to accomplish her goal of having a say in the progression of her life, but she continues to fight for her resolution. Eveline seems to be asking the reader if it is possible to experience the duplicity of others without becoming tainted oneself.
Recently, while away on a girl’s weekend, we began talking about why it is that people often marry first loves from high school later in life. My husband was my very first sweaty palm, heart-palpitating crush. This state basically lasted all of high school during which time we were great friends but, to my disappointment, he never asked me out. Ten years later we met again through friends and were engaged less than a year later. We will celebrate ten years married this spring. My mother’s second and much happier marriage was to her senior year boyfriend with whom she reconnected after thirty years apart. My brother-in-law is finally getting married next month to a woman that my husband and I went to high school with, and that he knew through us all being common friends. While I have no hard research to back up my theory, it goes something like this: during these years we are our rawest, most awkward selves and anyone who knew us then and still likes us now is worth an extra look. This theory of mine actually has a few more layers than that, but it would be another paper and I’m sure you get the gist.
Burney captures this raw and awkward self perfectly, as Evelina tries to find her place in the world. Her days in London help her, through observation and participation, to begin to form a template for her future self. She watches others around her behave in ways that mystify and offend her, and she learns who she does not want to be. I have not finished the book yet, but John Hughs gives me hope that all will end well. I cannot help but root for Evelina who is good but not too good, troubled but not neurotic, insecure but not pathetic. Evelina’s journey seems to be Burney’s map for her contemporary readers, as they begin their own journey. I have my money on a marriage to Lord Orville.
Recently, while away on a girl’s weekend, we began talking about why it is that people often marry first loves from high school later in life. My husband was my very first sweaty palm, heart-palpitating crush. This state basically lasted all of high school during which time we were great friends but, to my disappointment, he never asked me out. Ten years later we met again through friends and were engaged less than a year later. We will celebrate ten years married this spring. My mother’s second and much happier marriage was to her senior year boyfriend with whom she reconnected after thirty years apart. My brother-in-law is finally getting married next month to a woman that my husband and I went to high school with, and that he knew through us all being common friends. While I have no hard research to back up my theory, it goes something like this: during these years we are our rawest, most awkward selves and anyone who knew us then and still likes us now is worth an extra look. This theory of mine actually has a few more layers than that, but it would be another paper and I’m sure you get the gist.
Burney captures this raw and awkward self perfectly, as Evelina tries to find her place in the world. Her days in London help her, through observation and participation, to begin to form a template for her future self. She watches others around her behave in ways that mystify and offend her, and she learns who she does not want to be. I have not finished the book yet, but John Hughs gives me hope that all will end well. I cannot help but root for Evelina who is good but not too good, troubled but not neurotic, insecure but not pathetic. Evelina’s journey seems to be Burney’s map for her contemporary readers, as they begin their own journey. I have my money on a marriage to Lord Orville.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
"Man of Feeling"
To be honest as I was reading this book, and as we discussed it in class, I felt a little confused about the reactions of the class. I couldn’t understand why anybody in class couldn’t really relate to him. I can honestly say that I know at least one person who completely basis all her decisions on her emotions. That is just life and those people who say they don’t do that as well are not really being honest with themselves. I’m not saying that every decision we ever made was because of our feelings, but it definitely effects us. We may feel a certain way about something that and will make our decision through that.
I know when I usually make a decision my feelings are definitely involved. Not everyone can make a decision without feeling something towards the subject. We may think we are but we are not. When you make a decision you consider everything and reconsider how it would affect you and whoever else is involved and that to me is feeling something.
I mean don’t get me wrong, I thought Harley was a little over board but overall it makes sense. Another thing is to think that a man can’t really feel this much is just a lie. There are plenty of guys that are sentimental but then they just tend to bring in their ego and become someone of an *******. We sometimes don’t give men credit, and I know very well why. But we can’t honestly blame all men who are disrespectful to men in general, because if that is the case they should think the same for women.
I do know one thing; I found it easier to read Mackenzie’s work then the rest of the novels that we have read thus far. It was easier to follow, and the language wasn’t as difficult. Overall I really did enjoy the book and thought it was something different. I mean we have Pamela who was very emotional but never a man who was really this emotional and all his feelings. So it was a change and it was nice.
I know when I usually make a decision my feelings are definitely involved. Not everyone can make a decision without feeling something towards the subject. We may think we are but we are not. When you make a decision you consider everything and reconsider how it would affect you and whoever else is involved and that to me is feeling something.
I mean don’t get me wrong, I thought Harley was a little over board but overall it makes sense. Another thing is to think that a man can’t really feel this much is just a lie. There are plenty of guys that are sentimental but then they just tend to bring in their ego and become someone of an *******. We sometimes don’t give men credit, and I know very well why. But we can’t honestly blame all men who are disrespectful to men in general, because if that is the case they should think the same for women.
I do know one thing; I found it easier to read Mackenzie’s work then the rest of the novels that we have read thus far. It was easier to follow, and the language wasn’t as difficult. Overall I really did enjoy the book and thought it was something different. I mean we have Pamela who was very emotional but never a man who was really this emotional and all his feelings. So it was a change and it was nice.
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