empire waist of mind

sideblog for austen posting

[aust3nland]

Hi! I’m Lyric, this is my sideblog and my main is @d33pwithinmys0ul

my Jane Austen/regency fanfic:

• Pride and Prejudice and Titans

(Attack on Titan/Pride and Prejudice and Zombies AU)

• To Abandon All Prudence

(Attack on Titan Eren x Mikasa regency AU, smut)

• mirth, admit me

(Attack on Titan Eren x Mikasa regency AU, smut)

[aust3nland]

randomly remembering suki waterhouse as kitty bennet 🫪

[theprofessional-amateur]

Author/illustrator Trung Le Nguyen has been live posting reading Pride and Prejudice for the first time on bluesky and just hit the first proposal. The replies are basically the sickos meme

Thread here

[theprofessional-amateur]

Incredible stuff happening. I want push notifications for every update. I hate push notifications.

[warrioreowynofrohan]

@bethanydelleman if you haven’t seen this yet it’s DELIGHTFUL!

There’s a whole liveblog from the start of the book throught at least to Wickham running off with Lydia, and it’s SO much fun to read!

[bethanydelleman]

My friends have all been reading them! I've read a few, but I hate reading threads so I am happy to share a document version:

Pride & Prejudice Commentary by Trung

[sirwilliamlucasstanaccount]

Tbh it fundamentally does not really matter whether Mrs Bennet would have saved for her daughters’ dowries or brought them up to be better educated or was less gossipy because the point was always that her primary characteristic was that she was more anxious about her daughters being married than being well married. And the main part of this problem is that she clearly does not have enough understanding of other people to be able to facilitate the latter.

Take Mr Collins for instance. He is expressly requesting to marry one of her daughters despite lack of fortune, seems not at all bothered by their poor education nor Mrs Bennet’s manners, and practically offers himself up on a silver platter. Mrs Bennet fumbles this entire opportunity because instead of being in tune with the people around her by taking the time to check in with Elizabeth and maybe trying to guide him toward Mary instead, she steams right ahead into his preference for Elizabeth and makes it a rough time for everyone. This mismatch was not a circumstance affected by any of Mrs Bennet’s shortcomings in raising children, rather her inability to comprehend and respond to the differences in personalities, opinions, and tastes of those around her.

IMO, if Mrs Bennet had been the type of person to understand the ‘proper’ way of getting a husband, she would have been just as much in her own way as she is in the novel, just in a different way. Instead of trying to force the Jane/Bingley situation along by pushing them together as much as possible, I think she would have tried to control Jane’s actions to be the exact textbook courting behavior (eg. “Don’t seem too overeager, only dance with him twice” or whatever nonsense is the 19th century equivalent of never texting directly after a date), which would just similarly obfuscate Jane’s feelings and still jeopardize her relationship with Bingley. She probably would have been more brown-nosey to Darcy than standoffish and combative, which we know he would not be any more receptive to and would likely still create the appearance of the Bennets as opportunistic social climbers. And she would still be just as snobby, gossipy, vain, and elitist to those around her in general.

I don’t even think you can claim Mrs Bennet forcing more propriety would save Lydia, because the only thing more likely than indulgence to drive a teenager to spontaneous ill-thought action is rebellion against control. Lydia would have still been boisterous, vain, and vapid, and would likely have been pushed to do something extreme by feeling confined, just as much as she was giddy to do something extreme when she was free. In order for Lydia to make it through teenagerdom relatively unscathed, it wouldn’t work for her guardians to try to control her, but rather find ways to allow her to let off steam and divert her attention. But that takes a nuance and flexibility to parenting that Mr Bennet is uninterested in and Mrs Bennet does not have the capacity for.

Fundamentally, Mrs Bennet is incapable of comprehending that the people around her have their own desires, tastes, and priorities, and that she should interact with them accordingly. All that matters is her priority for her daughters to be married as soon as possible, and I think she’s just as likely to fuck it up if she went entirely by the book because the problem is not that she doesn’t understand what the textbook strategy is, but that she doesn’t understand how to apply it individually to unique scenarios. In short, Mrs Bennet is incapable of being practical, which means she’d be unable to properly implement any strategy regardless of what it is.

[paranormal-taters]

MY DEAR TUMBLR USERS!!

WONDERFUL NEWS!!

NETHERFIELD PARK IS LET AT LAST!!!

[paranormal-taters]

[soychronicprocrastinator]

What a wonderful thing for our girls!!!

[lady-merian]

How so? How can it affect them? 🤨

[sunflowergardens-world]

My dear Merian! You must know I am thinking of his reblogging from one of them!

[green-great-dragon]

Is that his design in blogging here?

[estel-and-agape]

Design? nonsense, how can you write so! But it is very likely that he may reblog from one of them, and therefore you must follow him as soon as his blog is online.

[lady-merian]

I see no occasion for that. You and the girls may follow him, or they may follow him by themselves, which perhaps will be still better for them, for as you are as clever as any of them he might reblog most from you of the party.

[soychronicprocrastinator]

My dear, you flatter me. I certainly HAVE had my share of cleverness, but I do not pretend to be anything extraordinary now. When a woman has five grown-up mutuals, she ought to give over thinking of her own reblog counts.

[siena-sevenwits]

In such cases, a woman has not often much of a reblog count to think of.

[paranormal-taters]

[forthegothicheroine]

I empathize with Mary Bennet but not in the flattering nerdy girl way, in the 'having failed to be popular as a teenager, I decided I was smarter and more moral and artistic then everyone anyway, and had a reflexive snobbishness that probably made me insufferable even to those who might have been sympathetic' way. Thankfully my future life and marriage wasn't determined by who I was at 15.

[firawren]

Elizabeth

A Pride and Prejudice ficlet written for @flashfictionfridayofficial

Fandom: Pride and Prejudice Relationship: Elizabeth Bennet/Fitzwilliam Darcy Rating: Teen Tags: Canon Compliant, Post-Canon, Established Relationship, Fluff, Pillow Talk, Implied that they just had sex, Names Word Count: 436

—

"Say it again," she breathed into his neck.

"Hmm?" was his only response, muffled, hoarse, and foggy; it made her smile. She was coming to learn that her husband was uncharacteristically inarticulate immediately following his pleasure. It was amusing and charming to see such a competent man utterly undone.

"Say my name," she clarified.

He had said it right as he finished—"Oh Elizabeth, Elizabeth!"—and the joyful sound of it had made her chest ache in the best possible way. She still did not consider herself a terribly sentimental creature in general, but love and marriage had wrought more change upon her than simply changing her last name, and she was not ashamed to let her husband coax such romantic feelings out of her through such seemingly trivial means.

This current pleasing ache around her heart, and its cause, was not new to her. She always thrilled at hearing him call her by her Christian name, ever since that first "dearest, loveliest Elizabeth." It was not only the fact that he was allowed to call her that now, a reminder of their unity as husband and wife, but that he was the only one who called her that. To her family, she had always been Lizzy. To a few of her friends, she was Eliza. But to him and him alone, she was Elizabeth, always Elizabeth.

He treated her name like a treasure, beloved and jealously guarded from everyone else, only his to enjoy. Mrs. Darcy, he called her when they were in the company of others, and she took pleasure in that too, the affectionate tenor of his voice to use her married name, a name he had bestowed upon her. But there was an irresistible intimacy to the fact that as soon as they were alone, it was Elizabeth, always spoken with such warmth of feeling as to make her almost giddy at times.

At the present moment, with the sound fresh in her ears, her heart still racing from her release, and his body heavy and hot atop hers, she was feeling close to giddiness. He raised his head from where he had pressed it into the gracefully sloping valley of her neck and shoulder to look into her face. His cheeks were flushed, his lips parted as he breathed hard, his eyes bright with feeling.

"My Elizabeth," he said, slow and sure, and she sighed as its warmth spread through her.

He smiled at her pleased reaction, raising a hand to nudge her damp hair off her temple, then cup her soft cheek. His eyes held hers. "I love you. Elizabeth."

[bethanydelleman]

As much as Mr. & Mrs. Bennet could have done much better preparing for the future and saving money in Pride & Prejudice, it's actually not surprising at all that they didn't manage it. Not just because they were banking on a boy but everything else too.

Saving is very hard and so few people do it. The government in my country has forced pensions that come right out of people's wages for a good reason. A lot of the inheritances we see in Austen are just money being passed on, saved by someone who had the will to do it and then paid forward. A mother's dowry was placed in trust and protected, then split between her daughters and etc. Recycled inheritances.

Mrs. Bennet going from "middle class" to upper class as a very young woman, it must have seemed like the money was endless and would never run out. Her husband didn't even have to work for it like her father! With so much wealth, saving must have just seemed unnecessary.

Mr. Bennet being born into wealth... I remember my parents teaching me to think about all money in terms of my minimum wage. I used to calculate how many hours as a cashier it took to buy this pair of jeans or that book I wanted to buy. Mr. Bennet never worked. He knew the money would keep coming until he died, barring some major disaster. The motivation to save must be so hard to inspire in those circumstances. He knew he should set some aside for emergencies, but he never actually did.

So many people live up to their incomes, no matter their wealth. So many people save nothing, despite knowing they should. I wonder what percentage of the gentry actually managed to save for their daughters (and extra sons) and how many failed at it.

And it makes me think, is one of the things that made Darcy so attractive to Elizabeth the fact that he could come up with £3000 twice at the drop of a hat, indicating that he has both savings and an emergency fund?

Financial responsibility and planning, always attractive.

[didanagy]

EMMA (2020)

dir. autumn de wilde

[bethanydelleman]

Something I noticed about Charles Bingley and his relationship with Darcy this read through of Pride & Prejudice that I think is important: the narrator says that Bingley knows Darcy likes him and that he trust his judgement. In that order.

On the strength of Darcy’s regard, Bingley had the firmest reliance, and of his judgment the highest opinion.

Bingley knows that Darcy is a very good friend of his, so of course he trusts his judgement. The order matters! A person who likes you should give you advice that they sincerely believe will help you. I'm never one to accuse Bingley of being weak because he was convinced that Jane didn't love him (I love some modesty in a man), but many do and I think this is an important piece of the picture.

It means that we should compare Charles Bingley to Anne Elliot in Persuasion more than Harriet Smith from Emma. Harriet had only known Emma for a few weeks when she's talked out of accepting an engagement with Robert Martin. Charles is like Anne, who took the advice of a beloved godmother who despite her prejudices, wanted the best for her. Both of them are young and without a parent who can advise them (Bingley is an orphan, Anne's not getting anything good from Sir Walter). And neither Darcy nor Lady Russell are strictly wrong. They don't put love first, but considerations of wealth and status are important in this era and class.

And I think it's kind of unique to Austen too, these lovers weren't separated by the evil machinations of some villain, they were influenced by incorrect advice born from deep affection.

[steamverse]

— catherine morland.

northanger abbey (2007)

[dimlightofsunrise]

After reading Emma, I was really surprised to notice (well, maybe not that surprised, given Austen's lack of physical description) that Emma's hair color is never actually specified in the novel. So... the blonde hair is just an adaptations thing?

How did this come to happen? I'm really intrigued by this!!!!

[linmeiwei]

Adaptation consistency is so interesting across the others too (not complete consistency since there have been brunette Emmas): Jane Bennet tends to be fair and Elizabeth darker, Darcy is generally not blond… I guess one adaptation sets the visual language compellingly and then the others follow!

[7pleiades7]

Youthful Decadence (2019) by Casey Childs (American, born 1974) , oil on linen, 87.63 x 152.4 cm (34 1/2 x 60 in), Private Collection

[bethanydelleman]

Do you consider Caroline being called a “pick me” in modern terms reductive/inaccurate

No. I shall explain. Also, ug this term is horrible but this does actually come up a lot so I'll get into it.

Here is the top definition of a "pick me" girl from Urban Dictionary:

A pick-me girl is a girl who seeks male validation by indirectly or directly insinuating that she is “not like the other girls.” Basically a female version of a simp. Characteristics of a pick-me girl: lets men walk all over her because of her “CaReFrEE” demeanor, only hangs out with men because they’re “unproblematic”, exerts qualities/characteristics of her male counterparts that were not initially present to be more likable and relatable to them, etc.

Firstly, Caroline attempts to accuse Elizabeth of being a "pick me" girl

“Eliza Bennet,” said Miss Bingley, when the door was closed on her, “is one of those young ladies who seek to recommend themselves to the other sex by undervaluing their own; and with many men, I daresay, it succeeds; but, in my opinion, it is a paltry device, a very mean art.” “Undoubtedly,” replied Darcy, to whom this remark was chiefly addressed, “there is meanness in all the arts which ladies sometimes condescend to employ for captivation. Whatever bears affinity to cunning is despicable.”

But back to Caroline. I don't think Caroline fits the modern definition because she does not set herself apart by claiming to be different from other women, her argument seems to be more that she's An Ideal Woman. Her criticism of Elizabeth's muddy walk is, "I, a proper woman, would never do that (neither would your well-mannered sister)." She tries to demonstrate that she's more elegant than Elizabeth by walking around the room together. We know that she has a fancy education and many accomplishments. We never see her play herself off as a tomboy or engage in male activities.

Mary Bennet is probably the strongest candidate for a "pick me" girl:

To this, Mary very gravely replied, “Far be it from me, my dear sister, to depreciate such pleasures. They would doubtless be congenial with the generality of female minds. But I confess they would have no charms for me. I should infinitely prefer a book.” (emphasis author's)

but she also doesn't have that aspect that engages in male pursuits.

Some people accuse Elizabeth Bennet of being a "pick me" girl because of this quote:

“My beauty you had early withstood, and as for my manners—my behaviour to you was at least always bordering on the uncivil, and I never spoke to you without rather wishing to give you pain than not. Now, be sincere; did you admire me for my impertinence?” “For the liveliness of your mind I did.” “You may as well call it impertinence at once. It was very little less. The fact is, that you were sick of civility, of deference, of officious attention. You were disgusted with the women who were always speaking, and looking, and thinking for your approbation alone. I roused and interested you, because I was so unlike them. Had you not been really amiable you would have hated me for it: but in spite of the pains you took to disguise yourself, your feelings were always noble and just; and in your heart you thoroughly despised the persons who so assiduously courted you.

However, Elizabeth was not trying to attract Darcy at all, she was borderline rude and acted unlike other girls because she genuinely disliked him. This was not a tactic.

Therefore, Pride & Prejudice contains zero "pick me" girls!

[princesssarisa]

Another thing about the Elizabeth quote mentioned here: she’s not congratulating herself for being different from other women who tried to flatter Darcy. She’s being comically self-deprecating. She’s saying, “Admit it, Darcy: I was rude. You only liked it because you were sick of other women trying to suck up to you. If you were a lesser man, you would have hated me for it.”

Elizabeth = not a “pick me.”

[obscureau]

personally I DONT think Jane Austen intended for Mr. Bennet to be paying Mrs. Bennet a genuine compliment when he said she was as beautiful as any of their daughters. He seems kind of incapable of paying his wife a real compliment.

BUT

I still think we should have MILF Mrs. Bennet. I think everyone should be like “damn” when they see her and then she opens her mouth and they’re like “oh”. I want them to go through the same process Mr. Bennet did, in a much shorter time frame.

[princesssarisa]

I've been looking over 19th century and early 20th century illustrations for Pride and Prejudice, and I can't help but notice something. The tradition that we see in almost all recent adaptations of a brunette Elizabeth and a blonde Jane is basically non-existent.

Hugh Thomson, 1894

Light haired Elizabeth, dark haired Jane.

Henry Brock, 1899

Strawberry blonde Elizabeth, brown haired Jane.

Of course he's also the illustrator who gave us the remarkable sight of a strawberry blond Darcy.

Charles Brock (Henry's brother), 1895

Light haired Elizabeth, dark haired Jane

Though to be fair, in 1907, he did a new set of watercolor illustrations which were completely different from his earlier drawings, and which give Elizabeth black hair and Jane light golden brown hair.

Arthur Wallis Mills, 1908

Both brunette, but Elizabeth's hair is a lightish golden brown, while Jane's is a rich auburn.

This rule also seems to apply to the adaptations that came before the 1995 miniseries.

The 1940 film has redhead Greer Garson as Elizabeth and dark haired Maureen O'Sullivan as Jane, for example (of course the film is in black and white, but I found a color production still of Garson)...

...and the 1980 miniseries has golden brown haired Elizabeth Garvie as her namesake and dark haired Sabina Franklyn as Jane.

Yet nowadays, if Elizabeth isn't a brunette and Jane a blonde, there are fans who cry blasphemy!

Is it all because of the 1995 miniseries? Did that series' popularity change everything?

[firawren]

My answer to your last question: no. The hair coloring in 1995 was an effect, not a cause. By the 90s, the common trope/beauty standard of "blonde = the most pretty one" was well established, so they were just following that, either consciously or unconsciously. And the reason why no adaptation since then has bucked the trend is not because they're copying 1995, they're just going along with the still common trope of blond=prettiest. This is all just my opinion/hypothesis, of course 🤷‍♀️

(Also, shout-out to Mormon P&P for having a blond Elizabeth and brunette Jane!)

[princesssarisa]

In the comments section on a recent YouTube video about Pride and Prejudice, I accidentally got into a small debate with someone about just why Elizabeth is so upset by Charlotte's choice to marry Mr. Collins.

I made some remarks based on this post, about how marriage for a woman in that era wasn't just about choosing a partner, but about choosing the master of your life, both legally and spiritually, whom you would be expected to obey. So choosing a man whom you didn't respect, and who obviously wasn't worthy of respect, was a much bigger deal than just "He'll never make you happy."

But another commentator disagreed with me, pointing out that mercenary marriages with no thought of love or respect took place all the time in the Regency era. In their point of view, Elizabeth is just upset that her best friend doesn't find Mr. Collins as repulsive as she does herself.

That made me think of how @bethanydelleman has complained that the adaptations almost always portray Mr. Collins as older and more physically off-putting than the character in the book, who is a young man (younger than Charlotte, in fact) and who is only ridiculous in personality, not in looks. This creates the sense that Elizabeth's objection to marrying him, and to Charlotte marrying him, is more visceral and less objective than Austen meant it to be.

I wonder if that other commentator on YouTube was thinking mainly of the adaptations, because "Elizabeth is upset that Charlotte doesn't find Mr. Collins as repulsive as she does" sounds like a very visceral interpretation of her feelings.

But either way, I still don't think I agree. To me, it seems that what upsets Elizabeth is that Charlotte does find Mr. Collins just as obnoxious, stupid, and unworthy of respect as Elizabeth does, but chooses to marry him anyway.

[bethanydelleman]

I totally agree. Elizabeth knows and respects Charlotte (prior to this decision) and must see Charlotte as intelligent or else I really don't think they would be close friends. Elizabeth is upset because she knows that Charlotte can see Mr. Collins's faults and yet she married him anyway.