6 minute read
AUSTEN FEST
A decent proposal
As we anticipate the 20th annual Jane Austen Festival this month, festival director Jackie Herring considers the theme of marriage proposals within Austen’s novels; it seems there are a fair few...
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All six of Jane Austen’s novels take her readers on a journey. In each case the heroines learn who they are, who they want to be, and who they want to be with. The Georgian context doesn’t undermine the freshness and believability of the characters, because they remind us of ourselves. We are particularly lucky as we can visit the real-life locations of Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, both set in the city of Bath.
One of the city’s most romantic settings is the pathway known as the Gravel Walk, from John Wood the Younger’s Royal Crescent to John Wood the Elder’s Queen Square. This now tarmacked walk passes the back gardens in Brock Street and was the setting for the final coming together of Captain Wentworth and Anne Elliot in Persuasion. This most romantic ending was facilitated by Wentworth’s letter with the emotive words, “You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope… I offer myself to you again …” How could anyone resist such a declaration?
All of Austen’s six novels and indeed her epistolary work Lady Susan contain marriage proposals, some better known than others. Even non-Austen readers are likely to be aware of the proposal by Mr Collins to Elizabeth Bennet, in Pride & Prejudice, who instead of declaring undying love for Elizabeth tells her, “My reasons for marrying are… I think it a right thing for every clergyman… it will add… to my happiness… it is the… advice and recommendation of… my patroness…” It’s not surprising that Elizabeth rejected him.
Mr Collins was not the only suitor after Elizabeth’s hand, and the first proposal of marriage from Mr Darcy was also rejected –and the poor man started so well! “In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you." If only he had stopped there, Elizabeth might have been tempted. Instead he went on to insult her family, telling her that despite low connections and inferiority of birth he still wanted her to be his wife. Not the most persuasive of arguments and Elizabeth turns him down.
Another unsuccessful marriage proposal appears in Northanger Abbey where the heroine is totally oblivious to the proposal. Catherine Morland is at Edgar Buildings visiting her friend Isabella Thorpe, when she is approached by Isabella’s brother John. “A famous good thing this marrying scheme, upon my soul... What do you think of it, Miss Morland?...”
“I am sure I think it a very good one...”
“Do you? That’s honest, by heavens!... Did you ever hear the old song going to one wedding brings on another?... I say… we may try the truth of this same old song...”
“May we? But I never sing…”
Missed the proposal? So did Catherine. However, John Thorpe was left “to the undivided consciousness of his own happy address, and her explicit encouragement…”
In the end, Catherine Morland finds happiness with Henry Tilney, whose proposal speech is known only to the author. Nevertheless, the result is marriage between the two.
Mr Elton’s misguided declaration in Emma is another example of a rejected proposal. Emma finds herself travelling alone in a carriage with Mr Elton when, “Her hand seized –her attention demanded, and Mr. Elton … availing himself of the precious opportunity, declaring sentiments… hoping –fearing –adoring –ready to die if she refused.”
Engraving for Persuasion, chapter 23: Wentworth drew out a letter from under the scattered paper, placed it before Anne with eyes of glowing entreaty fixed on her for a time. Theo James as Sydney Parker and Rose Williams as Charlotte Heywood in the 2019 ITV production of Sanditon. Sydney almost proposes to Charlotte at the Midsummer’s Ball
1898 illustration by Chris Hammond for Emma of Mr Knightley's proposal : "'Say "No," if it is to be said.'—She could really say nothing".
Mr Elton’s declaration and persistence is delicious and goes on for several paragraphs. Emma declined but it took a great deal of persuasion before she managed to convince him of her resolution. His ego unwavering, it took almost their entire journey of threequarters of an hour for her to do so. Such was Mr Elton’s grief that not long after his disappointment he travelled to Bath, where he successfully found a willing lady to become his bride.
Austen’s masterly description of the courtship and final realisation of the depth of feeling between Mr Knightly and Emma keeps the reader in utter suspense. Is it possible Emma will actually say no to him because she misunderstands his meaning? It is with such relief that Mr Knightly successfully secures Emma’s hand with the words: "I cannot make speeches, Emma… If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more…” In this case Emma says yes –and Mr Knightly’s choice of words was the best way of securing her heart.
For the last eight years, Professor John Mullan, an expert on Austen’s writing, has presented an entertaining lecture on the writer’s artistry at the annual Jane Austen Festival. In his book What Matters in Jane Austen? he discusses 20 puzzles, including one entitled, What are the Right and Wrong Ways to Propose Marriage?
Most interestingly, Professor Mullan explains why Austen decided to have Robert Martin propose to Harriet Smith by letter in Emma, and why in Mansfield Park Edmund Bertram considered writing a letter of proposal to Mary Crawford before deciding against it. The Robert Martin letter was a device used by Austen to enable Emma to interfere, and it was not an unusual event for someone to propose by letter in the 19th century. Professor Mullan explains that there were even guides to letter writing which included examples of those for a proposal*.
This year, Professor Mullan will be appearing on 18 September at The Mission Theatre and his two lectures are entitled Offstage Austen and Listening to Miss Bates. Miss Bates is one of the many characters in Emma to whom the secret engagement between Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill is a surprise.
Proposals are also the subject matter of the Jane Austen Festival finale, which is being performed by the Bath-based Natural Theatre Company. The hilarious one-off performance of A Decent Proposal is on the evening of 18 September at The Mission Theatre and it seems likely that some of the not-so-successful proposals in Austen’s novels will have their moment of glory.
“You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you”. C. E. Brock illustration for the 1895 edition of Pride and Prejudice
The 20th annual Jane Austen Festival will run from 10–19 September. For more information about the programme and to book tickets, visit janeaustenfestivalbath.co.uk
See The Natural Theatre Company in a performance of A Decent Proposal on 18 September at The Mission Theatre
