CNJ JASNA Meeting Discussion

This past weekend we had a discussion on some articles about Persuasion.

 "She Had Only Navy-Lists and Newspapers for Her Authority" by Hazel Jones 

• We discussed Ann tracking Wentworth's movements in these navy lists and how because of the size it would have been easy to sneak into Kellynch since her father disapproved of the naval advancement in society. 
• We discussed James Stanier Clarke's connection. He founded the Chronicle, which published naval news.  When Austen went to Carlton House for a meeting with her, the Chronicle had just recently published a line about Charles' sloop taking a prize. 
• We liked that one of the ships shown on a list in the article was called Love & Friendship
• We discussed how safe the publication of these lists were, and how US publications were pulling information from these naval lists.  Once the War of 1812 started, they stopped reporting locations of their ships.

 "A Tale of Two Captains: Whose Heart Is Worth Having?" by Theresa Kenney

• This article starts off by discussion the relationship of Louisa and Benwick and the different sides that Ann and Wentworth take on the relationship.  So who do you agree with, Ann or Wentworth?
• We also discussed if Benwick is fickle, following the time line from when he learned about Fanny's death to his romance with Louisa. 
• We discussed the match and if it was good match and if Louisa's changed demeaner was a factor.
• If Wentworth had really pursued Louisa, would Ann have ended up with Elliot or Benwick?  We had more votes for Benwick, no votes for Elliot, and a few votes with neither. 

"The Influence of Naval Captain Charles Austen's North American Experiences on Persuasion and Mansfield Park" by Sheila Johnson Kindred

• We talked about how it's hard to take what Austen took from her real life and incorporated into her novels.  That said, this article shows proof that we can assume she used her brother's prize money as the basis for Wentworth's prizes (Wentworth got more than Charles really did!). 
• We discussed the comparison of Jane's sister-in-law Fanny and Mrs. Croft.  Both are dedicated navy wives who loved their husbands. 
• Then we discussed the Admiral John Warren and Admiral Croft. Both men were good natures, caring, and liked kids.
• There was realism in the novels characterizations as well as the friendship between the sailors. A kind of brotherhood between men who choose a life. 
• There article goes on to discuss the connections to Mansfield Park. We only talked about the crosses Charles purchased for his sisters with his prize money like William purchased for Fanny. 

"Persuasion: Why the Revised Ending Worked So Well" by Paul Wray

• We were all happy with the revised ending
• You can read the original chapters here - https://www.pemberley.com/janeinfo/pcanchap.html

CNJ JASNA Meeting Information

Hello Everyone!

This year the members of CNJ JASNA are focusing on Persuasion.

We have our first meeting this weekend on Sunday, February 17 at 2 pm. 

We'll be meeting at the Plainsboro Public Library

We welcome anyone who would like to discuss the novel, even if you haven't finished it, never started it or even never heard of it!

Please email us to RSVP.

We hope to see you all there.

Pride and Prejudice Discussion

Yesterday we had our February meeting and we had a wonderful discussion about Pride and Prejudice.

I put together a list of 15 questions that I pulled from various sources (list at the bottom of this post).

Here are some of the ones we discussed:

• How are Elizabeth’s wit and intelligence and independence first made clear in the novel? In what ways, during the course of the novel, is she the victim of her own intellect and independence? Are these features eventually responsible for her happy ending?
• In 1814 Mary Russell Mitford wrote: "It is impossible not to feel in every line of Pride and Prejudice. . . the entire want of taste which could produce so pert, so worldly a heroine as the beloved of such a man as Darcy. . . Darcy should have married Jane." Would you have liked the book as well if Jane were its heroine?
• Austen suggests that in order to marry well a woman must be pretty, respectable, and have money. In the world of Pride and Prejudice, which of these is most important? Spare a thought for some of the unmarried women in the book-Mary and Kitty Bennet, Miss de Bourgh, Miss Georgiana Darcy, poor, disappointed Caroline Bingley. Which of them do you picture marrying some day? Which of them do you picture marrying well?
• In what ways is Elizabeth out of place in her own family? How do they limit what she can do with her “lively mind”? What do Darcy and Pemberly represent to Elizabeth? To what extent do you think family makes a person who he or she is? How does family influence the way others think of that person?
• Mrs. Bennet, Mr. Collins, and Lady Catherine de Bourgh are famously comic characters. What makes them so funny? How does Elizabeth’s perception of them affect your trust in Elizabeth’s views of other people in the book, particularly of Wickham and Darcy?

Discussion Question Sources:

• Pride and Prejudice Discussion Questions - Chicago Public Library
• Pride and Prejudice Questions - Shmoop.com
• Pride and Prejudice: Questions and Topics for Discussion - Penguin Books
• The Jane Austen Book and Film Club - PBS
• Pride and Prejudice Discussion Questions - Reading Group Guides