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Title:
Love and Friendship
Series:
----------
Author: Jane Austen
Rating:
3 of 5 Stars
Genre: Juvenilia short story
Pages:
28
Words: 10K
This is my
first foray, ever, into Jane Austen’s juvenilia work, ie, the works
she wrote as a child and teenager that were never published. I
enjoyed my time with this short story, but there is a reason they
were never published publicly during her lifetime.
This is a
series of letters from an older woman to her friend’s daughter
detailing the “hardships” of her life. This is very much a parody
and it is obvious from the get-go that Laura (the older woman doing
the letter writing) is an empty headed idiot who makes one bad
decision after another and is the epitome of selfishness.
It’s
amusing because while Laura is sure she is imparting “wisdom” to
Marianne, it is obvious that Isabella (the mother of Marianne and
friend to Laura) is using it to show Marianne what will happen if she
makes the same decisions as Laura did in her younger days. So in a
way, Laura IS imparting wisdom, just not in the way she thinks :-)
I enjoyed
this little tidbit. While it comes in at 28 pages, that’s mainly
because there was a page break after the end of each letter,
increasing the page count quite a bit. The upside is that I read
through this in a snap.
★★★☆☆
From
Wikipedia.org
Letter
The First
From
Isabel to Laura
This
presents a glimpse into the life of Laura from Isabel's perspective.
Isabel asks Laura to tell the "misfortunes and adventures"
of her life to Isabel's daughter Marianne (Austen 516). Isabel argues
that because Laura is turning 55, she is past the danger of
"disagreeable lovers" and "obstinate fathers"
(Austen 516). This initial letter sets up the rest of Austen's
narrative through Laura's letters to Marianne.
Letter
The Second
Laura
to Isabel
This
consists of a reply from Laura to Isabel. Laura initially disagrees
with Isabel's assessment that she is safe from "misfortunes"
simply because of her advanced age (Austen 516). Laura agrees to
write to Marianne and detail her life experiences to "satisfy
the curiosity of Marianne" and to teach her useful lessons
(Poplawski 183). The useful lessons are lessons learned from the
misfortunes caused by "disagreeable lovers" and "obstinate
fathers" (Poplawski 183). Poplawski highlights the importance of
the relationship between females and their lovers and also between
females and their fathers as a means through which Austen is able to
criticise stereotypical female behaviour. As seen throughout the
work, these two relationships are constantly criticised by satirical
anecdotes. Janetta's relations with her father and with her lover,
Capitan M’Kenzie, in the twelfth letter, show Austen mocking the
fickleness of family ties and romantic relationships.
Letter
The Third
Laura
to Marianne
Laura's
narrative to Marianne begins in the third letter and continues
through to the 15th letter. In the 3rd, Laura gives a brief overview
of the origins of her parents, her birth in Spain, and her education
in a convent in France. At 18, Laura returns to her parents' home in
Wales. Laura pauses to describe herself at this age. She emphasises
her "accomplishments", which in that period would have been
things that made a woman a better companion for her future husband
(Austen 516). Laura ends the letter by posing the idea that her
misfortunes in life "do not make less impression... than they
ever did", but that her accomplishments have begun to fade
(Austen 517). The uncertainty of Laura's memory causes Austen's work
to resemble a fairy tale in its qualities of ambiguity.
Letter
The Fourth
Laura
to Marianne
Here
Austen reveals the connection between Laura and Isabel. Laura tells
Marianne that Isabel was one of her few neighbours in Wales and that
Isabel resided in the neighbourhood due to "indigent
circumstances" and for "economic motives" (Austen
517). Laura depicts Isabel as having fewer accomplishments and less
beauty than herself, but being better travelled. Isabel warns Laura
of the "insipid vanities and idle dissipations" of London,
Bath and Southampton, while instilling in Laura a desire to explore
the world (Austen 517).
Letter
The Fifth
Laura
to Marianne
Here
Laura recalls a night in December when a strange man and his servant,
who were lost, stopped at her home in need of shelter. Upon hearing a
knock at their door, Laura and her family converse about the
character of the knock and the knocker's intention. Laura depicts her
initial attraction to the young gentleman, claiming him to be the
"most beauteous and amiable youth" she had ever seen
(Austen 518). Austen's character Laura's instant and "undying
attachment" to the stranger mocks the romantic notion of
friendship as an overused cliché (Deresiewicz 103). Deresiewicz
shows Austen's satirical view of love and friendship by illuminating
the idea that romantic notions of these themes are oversimplified and
stereotypical.
Letter
The Sixth
Laura
to Marianne
This
consists of a dialogue in which the stranger, named Lindsay, tells
Laura and her family of his experiences before arriving at their
house. Coming from an aristocratic family, Lindsay, referred to as
Edward, describes his father as "seduced by the false glare of
fortune and the deluding pomp of title" (Austen 518). His father
wanted Lindsay to marry Lady Dorothea but Edward refused as he did
not want to oblige his father. So Edward embarked on a journey to his
aunt's house but having taken the wrong direction, ended up at
Laura's instead. The letter ends with the hasty marriage of Edward
and Laura performed by her father, which mocks the sensibility of
Austen's characters (Sahney 130). Sahney's analysis shows how
Austen's views of sensibility differed from those of the romantic
novels she is likely to have read in her youth. While sensibility may
have been a value that was pushed upon women of Austen's time, Sahney
makes the point that Austen's use of exaggerated hasty
decision-making in her novels shows that Austen knows the romantic
notion of sensibility is a myth.
Letter
The Seventh
Laura
to Marianne
Here
Laura and Edward travel to his aunt's house in Middlesex. Edward's
marriage to Laura is a surprise to his aunt and to Edward's sister
Augusta. Laura notes the "disagreeable coldness and forbidding
reserve" with which Augusta greets her (Austen 519). Laura
overhears a conversation between Augusta and Edward in which Augusta
expresses concern about Edward's "imprudent" marriage and
consequently of their father's reaction (Austen 520). A discourse
ensues in which Edward and Augusta work out just how many years
Edward has been defying his father. It is through Edward and
Augusta's dialogue that Austen questions the motives of romantic
sentimentality (Southam 26). Lady Dorothea briefly visits and Laura
does not take kindly to her.
Letter
The Eighth
Laura
to Marianne, in continuation
After
Lady Dorothea leaves, Sir Edward unexpectedly visits. Knowing Sir
Edward came to admonish Edward for his marriage to Laura, Edward,
"with heroic fortitude", defends his marriage (Austen 521).
Edward says it is his "greatest boast" to have displeased
his father. Again Austen mocks the romantic motives of Edward and
Laura's marriage (Austen 521). At once Edward and Laura take Sir
Edwards carriage and travel to the home of Edward's friend Augustus
who is married to Sophia. Upon meeting Sophia, Laura praises
Sophia's, "sensibility and feeling," as positive
characteristics of her mind (Austen 521). The two women "instantly"
vow to be friends forever and share their deepest secrets (Austen
521). Edward and Augustus create an "affecting scene" when
they meet causing both Sophia and Laura to faint "alternately"
on the couch (Austen 521). By using the words "instantly"
and "alternately," Austen shows her mastery of language and
the ability of these words to serve as adverbs and also to function
satirically (Lambdin 185–86).
Letter
The Ninth
From
the same to the same
Laura
and Edward receive a letter from Philippa saying that Sir Edward and
Augusta went back to Bedfordshire abruptly after the married couple
departed. Philippa also desires to see Edward and Laura again and
asks them to return after their visit with Augustus and Sophia. A few
weeks later Philippa is married to a fortune-hunter and Laura and
Edward remark at the imprudence and insensibility of her decision.
Laura recounts how perfect and happy their stay was with Sophia and
Augustus until Augustus is arrested for unpaid debts. Augustus and
Sophia had also defied their parents and Augustus had run out of the
money he had taken from his father's escritoire when he left to marry
Sophia. Laura describes Augustus's arrest as "treachery"
and "barbarity" (Austen 522). With Augustus facing a
seizure of the House, Laura, Edward, and Sophia do the only thing
they can do. They sigh and faint on the sofa. The theme of rebellion
and revolution reappears throughout Austen's work and can be
considered conventional (Copeland 92).
Letter
The Tenth
Laura
in continuation
After
Laura, Sophia and Edward recover, Edward sets off to town to see his
imprisoned friend. Laura and Sophia have a "mature deliberation"
and decide to leave the house before the Officers of Justice take
possession (Austen 523). They wait for Edward who doesn't return.
After fainting, Laura decides to take Sophia and set out for London
to see Augustus. Once in London, Laura asks every person they pass
"If they had seen… Edward," but can get no replies since
the carriage they are riding in is moving too quickly (Austen 523).
Sophia tells Laura that seeing Augustus in distress would "overpower
[her] sensibility," especially since hearing of his misfortune
is already shocking (Austen 523). So Laura and Sophia resolve to
return to the country. Laura then tells Marianne that her mind never
wandered to thoughts of her parents, who she forgot to mention had
died two weeks after she left their cottage.
Letter
The Eleventh
Laura
in continuation
Sophia and Laura decide to travel
to Scotland to stay with a relation of Sophia's. At first they are
hesitant because Laura is unsure whether the horses will be able to
make the journey; the postilion (driver) agrees. They resolve to
change horses at the next town and continue the journey. At an inn a
few miles from Sophia's relation, they decide to stop. Not wanting to
arrive unannounced, the women write an elegant letter detailing their
misfortunes and desire to stay with the relative. As soon as they
send the letter, they begin to step into their own carriage to follow
right behind it. At that moment, another coach arrives and an elderly
gentleman emerges and goes into the inn. Laura is overwhelmed with
the feeling that this person is her grandfather so she throws herself
to her knees in front of him and begs him to acknowledge their
relation. He exclaims that she is in fact his
granddaughter.[1] Sophia then enters and the elderly man
exclaims that Sophia is also his granddaughter descended from another
of his daughters. As they are all embracing each other, a young man
appears and the elderly man, Lord St. Clair, claims he is also one of
his grandchildren. Another youth comes into the room and exclaims
that he is the grandchild of Lord St. Clair's fourth daughter. Lord
St. Clair writes each of the four grandchildren banknotes and
immediately leaves.
Letter
The Twelfth
Laura
in continuation
After
Lord St. Clair leaves, Laura and Sophia faint. When they wake up,
both the male grandchildren are gone and so are Sophia and Laura's
banknotes. Sophia's cousin, Macdonald, who they first perceive as
amiable and sympathetic, offers to take them to Macdonald-Hall. They
ride with Macdonald's daughter Janetta, who is to be wed to Graham, a
man Macdonald has chosen, once they return to Macdonald-Hall. Laura
and Sophia see through Macdonald's character and no longer perceive
him as well disposed. Laura and Sophia decide Graham is not fit to
marry Janetta because Graham has no soul, hasn't read The
Sorrows of Werther, and does not have auburn hair (Austen 525). Laura
and Sophia ask Janetta if she has ever felt affection for Graham or
any other man and soon convince Janetta of her love for a man named
Captain M’Kenzie. After analysing Captain M’Kenzie's actions
concerning Janetta, Laura and Sophia declare he must be in love with
her despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. They decide to
write Captain M’Kenzie a letter encouraging him to confess his
attachment to Janetta and secretly marry her. Captain M’Kenzie
replies that it was only modesty which kept him from acting sooner
and thus Janetta and M’Kenzie leave for Gretna-Green to celebrate
their nuptials. Austen's continuous ridicule of love at first sight
expresses scepticism about the spontaneous feelings and the truth or
lack of truth which those feelings possess (Walder 229).
Letter
The Thirteenth
Laura
in continuation
Here
Sophia finds banknotes in a private drawer in Macdonald's library.
Laura and Sophia plan to take a banknote or two each time they pass
through the room because it would be "proper treatment for so
vile a wretch" (Austen 527). However, on the day that Janetta
escapes, Sophia is caught by Macdonald in the act of stealing his
money. Macdonald verbally reprimands Sophia and in response she
informs him of Janetta's elopement as revenge. Laura enters into the
library and both women are offended by Macdonald's "ill-grounded"
accusations (Austen 527). Macdonald tells the women they must leave
in half an hour and Laura and Sophia agree to do so. After walking a
mile or so, they settle next to a stream to rest. Sophia expresses
distress over the situation Augustus was in when they left. On the
road near where they are sitting, an accident causes a gentleman's
phaeton to overturn. Laura and Sophia rush to help and discover it is
Edward and Augustus on the ground bleeding. Sophia faints and Laura
shrieks and runs madly about. After more than an hour, Edward regains
consciousness and Laura asks what has happened since Augustus was
taken to jail. Edward said he will tell her, but after a deep sigh,
dies. The women again become frenzied and finally walk to a white
cottage. A widow leads them into her house, where Sophia and Laura
meet her daughter Bridget.
Letter
The Fourteenth
Laura
in continuation
Next
morning Sophia complains of severe pain in her limbs. Gradually, the
pain got worse and it turned into a "galloping consumption"
or tuberculosis (Austen 530). As Sophia dies, she tells Laura that
she dies a "martyr to [her] grief for the loss of Augustus"
(Austen 531). Sophia dies, and Laura takes to walking out of the
village. She gets into a stagecoach which she decides to take to
Edinburgh. As it is dark when she gets in, Laura does not know who
she is riding with and becomes upset that the travellers in the
carriage fail to speak to her. At daylight, she realises she is
travelling with Sir Edward, Augusta, Lady Dorothea, Philippa,
Philander and Gustavus. After Laura tells them that Edward is dead,
Augusta realises she is the heiress of Sir Edward's fortunes.
Letter
The Fifteenth
Laura
in continuation
The
coach stops for the travellers to have breakfast. Laura seeks out
Philander and Gustavus and talk with, but does not ask about the
banknotes that disappeared in their presence. At 15, Philander and
Gustavus took 900 pounds and ran away. They divided the money into
parcels to be spent on various things. They went to London and spent
the money in seven weeks. They joined a theatre and began performing
in plays. Philander and Gustavus went to their grandfather for money
and left once they had obtained the banknotes. The journey continues
to Edinburgh. Sir Edward decides to give Laura 400 pounds a year
because she is the widow of his son. Laura moves to the Highlands of
Scotland and lives in "melancholy solitude" mourning the
death of her family, husband, and friend (Austen 534). Augusta
marries Graham. Sir Edward marries Lady Dorothea in hopes of gaining
her estate. Philander and Gustavus moved to Covent Garden and perform
under the names Lewis and Quick. Philippa's husband continues to
drive the stagecoach from Edinburgh to Sterling.
