What is a Feminist?

I didn't really know what to expect when I started reading my first Jane Austen novel. In my mind, Jane Austen was  I had preconceptions of feminism at its finest, picturing women breaking barriers while the chauvinistic men attempting to suppress them stood in awe at their grandeur. I somehow envisioned a montage of Joan of Arc in armor battling misogynistic men in tunics, except in a Victorian England setting instead of Revolutionary France.

Another depiction I had in my head was Rosie the Riveter, who likely embodies feminism for modern women.  However, now that I'm several chapters into the book, I don't foresee any of the female characters gallantly portraying that scene. This isn't to say that Austen's characters don't break the shackles of feminism, because I can already see that occurring, but it happens in a much subtler way than I ever could have expected. In a way, this approach might be more effective, as any behavior that we in 2011 would consider bold, brazen, or ostentatious (satiric pun, intended) would have been too radical to have been taken seriously. It is a testament to Austen's skill as a writer that she's able to portray scenes that I would deign as pedestrian, as progressive. While Rosie was the preeminent feminist icon during World War 2, if any of Austen's characters embodied Rosie's attitude, they surely would have been ostracized, if not publicly condemned.

When I read about Elizabeth's adventure to see her sick sister, Jane, and the matronly women's disapproving responses for the state of her arrival, I realized that it probably was quite a social faux pas for the period. This is one of the many things that I admire about Elizabeth, and a reason that I can strongly identify with her. She doesn't hold stock in social etiquette that doesn't serve her purpose. In thinking on that scene, I've tried to come up with a modern equivalent, and I think the perhaps showing up to job interview with dirty clothes and a disheveled demeanor would be comparable. After all, the women that judged Elizabeth would surely spread prattle on about her solecism, which could damage her reputation and thus her chances for finding a suitable husband; similar to how an unprofessionally dressed person at an interview would have a severe disadvantage of getting a job. After all, a woman's job in this time period was to get married and produce more children.

The role of women in P&P really made me realize how much progress women really have made over the years. When Austen describe's Mrs. Bennett's primary responsibility to marry off her daughters, I think she was being quite serious. Since women weren't present in the workforce, a woman's survival seems to have depended upon her ability to find a husband that could provide for her. While part of me understands this as a social construct of the time period, I personally find it so difficult to truly comprehend. I know a great many incredibly strong women, and it would be such a shame if they were confined by society to only get married and produce babies. While I certainly don't want to discredit the important of motherhood, nor do I not value women who raise their children (especially in this day and age), but one of the key aspects of the women's movement was choice. A woman should be able to choose to have a career or a family, that choice shouldn't be made for her by society. I think this is actually one of the few ways that a gender role has evolved over the years. While it isn't completely unheard of for a man to stay at home and raise children, there is still a certain stigma and judgment that goes with that, even from fairly progressive individuals.

In these first few chapters, I've decided to focus more on key topics that come to mind when I'm reading, rather than the actual occurrences of the story, because sometimes only one event can happen in the duration of an entire chapter. I think soon I'll also go through a brief analysis of the characters and some larger commentary about Austen's writing. Until then...

Pithy Perfectionist or Perpetual Procrastinator

So as I was starting to write my third blog post, I couldn't get past the second sentence. I tried and tried to write it, but I wasn't satisfied. This is often a frequent recurrence when I write anything that I deem important, and one of the main reasons I've not ever written my statement of purpose for graduate school. I've always wanted to focus on the quality of my writing versus the quantity. However, in thinking about my last two blog posts, they were both more or less stream of consciousness, so maybe I shouldn't put too much pressure on myself to make every word perfect. After all, this isn't likely going to be the deciding factor about whether I get into a graduate program or not. While the perfectionist in me would like to think of this habit as wanting to make it the best writing possible, I also have to face the fact that this could be me procrastinating... And I think I'll leave with that thought.

Foreshadowing: I did decide on a title of my next blog, which will be coming soon, and will really be about the book. It will be called "Pride & Prejudice & Propriety"

It is a truth universally acknowledged...

Long before I had read Pride & Prejudice (P&P), I had heard of the opening line.(which I'm including below, along with the subsequent line):

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man  in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.

However little know the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.

Before I begin with my thoughts on the first few chapters, I'd like a quick side rant: I found a version of P&P today that was created by a certain publisher that didn't include these lines. Now whether this book was created for training purposes, for demo testing or what, I still find it ludicrous that those two lines were omitted. This find reinforces my belief that the company doesn't value the sanctity of classic literature, but that's a long tirade that I'm not going to get into. I just had to point it out because having just started reading P&P, those are the most crucial lines I've encountered in the book.

As I've considered for a few days now how I'd like to do this, it dawned on me how much I miss college. In fact, I really do miss writing papers. (Yes, I know this makes me a nerd; and yes, I realize that I did hate writing papers in college). For those of you that know me, this past year I "helped" a "friend" write all of his essays for his intensive writing literature class. I honestly loved it. Getting back into that critical thinking mentality really kindled a fire for my intellectual mind, but unfortunately due to other events shortly thereafter, that fire was reduced to smoldering embers.

More to the point, was that I could go about it in a number of ways: Detailed plot analysis of a section, Character Analysis, Motif Analysis, Chapter-by-Chapter analysis (the options really do go on and on). And to be honest, now that I've written several paragraphs on this blog before even starting to talk about the book, I'm concerned that brevity isn't a strength of mine. As such, I think I'm going to take one more day, and read one more chapter before beginning to write about the book. I'm going to make a few drafts of possible outline  schemas I could use, possibly develop some criteria for evaluation, and maybe even do a few mockup (I told you, I can be a real nerd). Although, and hopefully this is not the case, I will find myself here at this time tomorrow with none of those academic-esque preparations completed, but at least that post will be starting fresh, and just about the book.

Beauty in things exists in the mind which contemplates them
~ David Hume

It starts...

When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one person to get with the times, it rarely comes easily. (I hope you enjoyed my homage to freedom).  Over the years, I've avoided doing a blog for many different reasons, but now I've finally found the gumption to do it.

The primary reason being because I've never felt that I had the attention span or commitment to maintain one. However, with the recent changes in my life, I find myself with more resolve to commit to things and oddly enough starting a blog has become one of them. Now as I write this, I cynically picture myself stumbling across this lone post in the distant future, thinking about how it was another endeavor that I undertook, but never completed. 

Another reason I have refrained from blogging (and writing in general, actually) stems from my current job. After working in self-publishing for three years, I've encountered enough terrible writing to make me think that the world doesn't need another wannabe writer. However, I've decided to not compare myself to them (or anybody else) and to just write. 

So while there have been many reasons for me not to write, I've finally discovered a reason FOR me to write. I've recently started reading Pride & Prejudice for the first time (its a travesty, I know) and I thought I would start a blog a la "Mark Reads Harry Potter" sharing my thoughts on Jane Austen's great novel, since so many of my friends hold her in such high esteem. I'll try to update it frequently as I read through the book and share my thoughts, but we'll see how it goes. 

I feel I would be remiss if I didn't thank a few people who've helped me recently, and given me inspiration to start this blog:

First and Foremost, Elizabeth Bennett. For those of you that don't know her; yes, that is her real name. That, in and of itself, would ostensibly make it fitting that I start a blog about Pride & Prejudice thanking her.However, I honor her first because A) She said she would read the book with me and we could discuss it B) She said she would read my blog if I wrote one and C) She's the best long distance pen pal that I could ever hope for.

April Koontz. Not only were you the one that pretty much made me start reading Pride & Prejudice, but your blogging has been an inspiration to me. I doubt I'll be as entertaining as Mark, but I'll try to incorporate some "Double Rainbow" "Die in all the fires" and "Holy Flying Unicorns" into my blog to keep you reading. 

Sam Hale. Your love of Jane Austen has always made me want to read her, and that love was a large part in my undertaking this endeavor.

Elizabeth Ward. In an ideal world, we'd be reading Pride & Prejudice together, living in a condo overlooking Lincoln Park and the Lake in Chicago. For now though, we can share it in spirit. 

Brandi Turner. Your strength of spirit. Your determination of character. Your perseverance against the world. You inspire me. 

Liz Sidley. Now we have another thing in common - blogging!

Jake Adams & Abigail Ray. Anytime I read "classic literature" I think of you two and our book group. Maybe this will be a faux-forum to tide us over until we can all get together in person.

Bruce Parker. Anytime I reflect on life, search for myself, or undertake a new endeavor, I think of you. 

My Mom. I can never express my gratitude enough. I love you.

While there are many more people I'd like to thank, I've written for over an hour, and should draw this inaugural post to a close. Thank you, dear reader, for making it through this prolix post. 

Dare to Be Remarkable ~ Jane Gentry