In England this week, we’re enjoying something of a heat wave – temperatures in the mid 80s F. Hardly Saharan but hot enough for me.
As well as shortening dresses, the summer sun also shortens tempers. More improprieties too, I would guess, are committed in the summer than any other season.
In two of Jane Austen’s novels it is in summer that we are shown the moral failing which breaks the dam propriety sets on constraint, and sets in train the events that bring their protagonists face to face with their destiny.
In Sense and Sensibility, Colonel Brandon has invited his friends and neighbours to a picnic in the grounds of Whitwell, owned by his brother-in-law. They are all on the point of setting off when mysterious news is brought to Colonel Brandon requiring his immediate departure. He leaves in a hurry. Without his calm and moderating presence the constraints of propriety are loosened. There is speculation and gossip among the women (with some accuracy too) that his hurried leaving relates to ‘his natural daughter'. And, tongues wagging, they all go off for a drive in the country instead. Willoughby and Marianne drive off on their own.
At dinner that evening it emerges that they had been to visit Allenham, the house, and its estate, that Willoughby is to inherit from his relative, Mrs Smith. The house too that, Mrs Jennings mischievously speculates might one day too be Marianne’s.
The impropriety is a double one. It is Marianne’s for allowing herself to be placed in the position of being alone in the house with Willoughby, thereby risking sexual compromise. It is also Willoughby’s, for his presumption. His action results in disinheritance and the tearing apart of their burgeoning attachment. Neither will be happy again.
Mr Knightley has invited his neighbours to his house and grounds, Donwell Abbey, to pick strawberries. Frank Churchill arrives cross and out of sorts, complaining of the heat.
‘No – he should not eat. He was not hungry; it would only make him hotter.’
It’s enough to confirm Emma’s conclusion that he is not the man for him.
‘I am glad I have done being in love with him. I should not like a man who is so discomposed by a hot morning.’
It’s not enough, though, to have him lose all influence over her. The following day, at Box Hill, is even hotter. Nothing works properly. Their conversation and games are forced and childish. The Eltons take offence at their antics. Jane Fairfax is piqued. Mr Knightley is ominously quiet, unable to counter the cascade of their trivial talk - until Frank induces Emma into her gratuitous insult of Miss Bates.
Then, when Mr Knightley chastises Emma for her behaviour, it is like a storm breaking.
‘Emma felt the tears running down her cheeks almost all the way home, without being at any trouble to check, extraordinary as they were.’
Here thunderstorms are forecast for the end of the week.
As well as shortening dresses, the summer sun also shortens tempers. More improprieties too, I would guess, are committed in the summer than any other season.
In two of Jane Austen’s novels it is in summer that we are shown the moral failing which breaks the dam propriety sets on constraint, and sets in train the events that bring their protagonists face to face with their destiny.
In Sense and Sensibility, Colonel Brandon has invited his friends and neighbours to a picnic in the grounds of Whitwell, owned by his brother-in-law. They are all on the point of setting off when mysterious news is brought to Colonel Brandon requiring his immediate departure. He leaves in a hurry. Without his calm and moderating presence the constraints of propriety are loosened. There is speculation and gossip among the women (with some accuracy too) that his hurried leaving relates to ‘his natural daughter'. And, tongues wagging, they all go off for a drive in the country instead. Willoughby and Marianne drive off on their own.
At dinner that evening it emerges that they had been to visit Allenham, the house, and its estate, that Willoughby is to inherit from his relative, Mrs Smith. The house too that, Mrs Jennings mischievously speculates might one day too be Marianne’s.
The impropriety is a double one. It is Marianne’s for allowing herself to be placed in the position of being alone in the house with Willoughby, thereby risking sexual compromise. It is also Willoughby’s, for his presumption. His action results in disinheritance and the tearing apart of their burgeoning attachment. Neither will be happy again.
Mr Knightley has invited his neighbours to his house and grounds, Donwell Abbey, to pick strawberries. Frank Churchill arrives cross and out of sorts, complaining of the heat.
‘No – he should not eat. He was not hungry; it would only make him hotter.’
It’s enough to confirm Emma’s conclusion that he is not the man for him.
‘I am glad I have done being in love with him. I should not like a man who is so discomposed by a hot morning.’
It’s not enough, though, to have him lose all influence over her. The following day, at Box Hill, is even hotter. Nothing works properly. Their conversation and games are forced and childish. The Eltons take offence at their antics. Jane Fairfax is piqued. Mr Knightley is ominously quiet, unable to counter the cascade of their trivial talk - until Frank induces Emma into her gratuitous insult of Miss Bates.
Then, when Mr Knightley chastises Emma for her behaviour, it is like a storm breaking.
‘Emma felt the tears running down her cheeks almost all the way home, without being at any trouble to check, extraordinary as they were.’
Here thunderstorms are forecast for the end of the week.
4 comments:
Dear Old Fogey,
I think we, Brazilians live in dangerous all the time! LOL
Raquel - The trouble with the English is that we have never been able to get used to hot summer days. So it makes us much more cross - like Frank Churchill at Donwell - of course he's also cross because he has quarreled with Jane Fairfax - but he mightn't have done so had the day been cooler.
Best wishes
OF
Great post OF! Sorry I haven't been around for a while!
Yes!!-- I never noticed how the weather is used in Austen's work- is it a pathetic fallacy? I knwo that that phrase works with rain/thunderstorms...
The lingering image in my mind of Sense and Sensibility is the thunderstorm and Marianne getting caught out in the rain- a deliciously romantic, heartbroken moment!
However for now The English have been spared the hot weather- the rain and the clouds have swept in!
NSSM - I'm slowing down a bit too here - don't worry, we can't keep up with everything we started. The Marianne in the storm episode is right - pathetic fallacy, as you say - weather mirroring her inner torment. That's why we English are the best at it. Foreigners don't understand - they have it all cold, or all hot - and so they miss the nuances which only we English can capture, in weather that mirrors our subtlest feelings.
Doesn't Mrs Dashwood tell them in the carriage home not to talk of dangerous things, but restrict themselves to the weather. Very wise!
OF
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