Bryce Crader
9 October 2015
Jane Austen and Film
Dr. Corsun
In Jane Austen's novels characters often act and speak believing that they understand the true relations between various characters when in fact they do not. The intuitive reader, however, quickly realizes that things are in fact quite the opposite. There is a distinction to be made between the character's limited perceptions and the underlying reality, which is only gradually made apparent throughout the novel.A society's expectations of an individual, or a group of people, are instrumental in the formulation of a person's identity. Identity here is defined as the way in which people,specifically in this paper, men and their actions towards women, that ultimately helps society perceive each individual and their character traits.
Jane Austen is a master of irony. Dramatic irony characterizes Austen's novel of Sense and Sensibility. Saying or doing something while unaware of its ironic contrast to the whole truth helps develop the characters limited perceptions, while waiting for the other shoe to drop. The speaker is unaware that his or her actions or words are not accurate representations of the state of things, this truth is only available to the reader, who is able to read between the lines so to speak, to infer from other scenes and from the narrator's own interpolations, that things are quite different to what the character believes they are. This plays a major role in the way Austen goes on to represent masculinity throughout the novel, Sense and Sensibility. How does Austin represent masculinity? Throughout Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen sets up character relationships between males and females during the 18 century.
This is what I have done so far, and I'm leaning on comparing and contrasting Colonel Brandon and John Willoughby. I'm having troubles forming an argument and a thesis statement though. Will you be able to help me?
Problem 1: Analyze the representation of Austin in the film Jane Austin Regrets. How is the represented? What are her priorities? How does the film establish historical context? In what ways might the film's depiction of the author affect how one interprets her fiction?
2. Respond to one or more of the critical articles that we have read, including those on historical context and the film adaptation of Sense and Sensibility. In your essay, be sure to succinctly and accurately summarize the argument presented in the piece to which you are responding.
3. Tony Tanner that siblings might stand in for two sides or parts of a whole person. How might Marianne and Elinor represent an individual psyche? How is it divided? What are the major conflicts represented?
4. How does Austen represent masculinity? What types of men does the depict? Is there an ideal representation of masculinity?
5. Consider Sense and Sensibility as a "conduct" manual and analyze the "advice" Austen is offering to young women.
6. In what ways might Sense and sensibility be considered an anti-romance?
7. Create your own topic please clear it with me before you begin writing.