Oooh! "Settling for Louisa"-that's a great theory! You argue it well and I can definitely see this as being accurate. I love digging into the various interpretations-especially since everyone has a different one and each one teaches me to see something new. Louisa being simple and attainable makes sense. I think the flattery of being pursued would help (especially in light of Austen's comments in Northanger about Tilney's attachment being founded in Catherine's regard for him).
Though, Anne's relatives might see him as "settling for Anne" once Louisa throws him off.
I love that you translate every story into a modern context of your experience. I do the same. Every story has a modern equivalent in my head in an East African/USA context. It makes the stories come alive and make sense and feel more real- and is part of what is so timeless about the stories- they can be culturally translated- and yet each translation casts a new light on the story and the characters. I like contrasting and comparing different modern translations for this reason- and because each author puts a bit of themselves and their world into their story. It's so fun.
Comment on The Art of Knowing Our Own Nothingness
maembe13 on Chapter 8 Thu 13 Nov 2025 05:02AM UTC
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