And
now, as promised, here are the answers to my quiz, the identity of the three
Austen heroines and their respective suitors who are representations of three
of Portia's undesirable suitors in The Merchant of Venice, Act 1, Scene 2, when
Nerissa asks Portia for Portia's opinion about three of the suitors who
have come to Meryto---I mean, Belmont---to seek Portia's hand in marriage:
NERISSA But what warmth is there in your affection
towards any of these princely suitors that are already come?
PORTIA
I pray thee, over-name them; and as thou namest them, I will describe them;
and, according to my description, level at my affection.
NERISSA
First, there is the Neapolitan prince.
PORTIA
Ay, that's a colt indeed, for he doth nothing but talk of his horse; and he
makes it a great appropriation to his own good parts, that he can shoe him
himself. I am much afeard my lady his mother played false with a smith.
OF
COURSE, THAT IS JOHN THORPE, WHOSE EQUINE OBSESSION IS THE LEAST OF HIS UNDESIRABLE
CHARACTERISTICS, AS HIS IDEA OF COURTSHIP VERGES ON ABDUCTION AND OPPRESSION,
AS HE "COURTS" OUR HEROINE CATHERINE MORLAND IN NORTHANGER ABBEY.
AND...PERHAPS
JANE AUSTEN MADE A SMALL ADDITIONAL WINK AT "A SMITH" IN THE ABOVE
PASSAGE WHEN SHE WROTE THE FOLLOWING:
[Catherine
speaking to Eleanor] "That never occurred to me; and of course, not seeing
him anywhere, I thought he must be gone. Was not the young lady he danced with
on Monday a MISS SMITH?"
SO
THAT WAS AUSTEN SUITOR & HEROINE PAIR #1, NOW FOR PAIR #2:
NERISSA
Then there is the County Palatine.
PORTIA
He doth nothing but frown, as who should say 'If you will not have me, choose:'
he hears merry tales and smiles not: I fear he will prove the weeping
philosopher when he grows old, being so full of unmannerly sadness in his
youth. I had rather be married to a death's-head with a bone in his mouth
than to either of these. God defend me from these two!
OF
COURSE, THAT IS MR. DARCY, WITH HIS FROWNS, HIS COMMENTS THAT JANE BENNET
SMILES TOO MUCH, AND HE CERTAINLY GIVES THE APPEARANCE OF A DEATH'S HEAD WITH A
BONE IN HIS MOUTH DURING THE FIRST HALF OF PRIDE & PREJUDICE WHEN HE FIRST
COMES TO MERRY-TOWN (I.E., MERYTON) TO BEGIN HIS MERRY WAR WITH ELIZABETH
BENNET!
AND
THAT WAS AUSTEN SUITOR & HEROINE PAIR #2, NOW FOR THE BEST ONE, PAIR #3:
NERISSA How say you by the French lord, Monsieur Le
Bon?
PORTIA
God made him, and therefore let him pass for a man. In truth, I know
it is a sin to be a mocker: but, he! why, he hath a horse better than the
Neapolitan's, a better bad habit of frowning than the Count Palatine; he is every
man in no man; if a throstle sing, he falls straight A CAPERING: he will fence
with his own shadow: if I should marry him, I should marry twenty husbands. If
he would despise me I would forgive him, for if he love me to madness, I shall
never requite him.
AND
OF COURSE THE PROTEAN MONSIEUR LE BON, WHO SEEMS TO CHANGE IDENTITIES AS OFTEN
AS OTHER MEN CHANGE THEIR CLOTHES, IS REPRESENTED IN JANE AUSTEN'S FICTION BY
THE PROTEAN HENRY CRAWFORD, WHO MAKES THE FOLLOWING COMMENT ABOUT HIMSELF:
"Oh
for the Ecclesford theatre and scenery to try something with." Each sister
could echo the wish; and Henry Crawford, to whom, in all the riot of his
gratifications it was yet an untasted pleasure, was quite alive at the idea.
"I really believe," said he, "I could be fool enough at this
moment to undertake any character that ever was written, from Shylock or
Richard III down to the singing hero of a farce in his scarlet coat and cocked
hat. I feel as if I could be anything or everything; as if I could rant and
storm, or sigh or CUT CAPERS, in any tragedy or comedy in the English language.
Let us be doing something. Be it only half a play, an act, a scene; what should
prevent us? Not these countenances, I am sure," looking towards the Miss
Bertrams; "and for a theatre, what signifies a theatre? We shall be only
amusing ourselves. Any room in this house might suffice."
DO
YOU NOTICE THAT BOTH OF THESE PASSAGES (IN TMOV AND IN MP) REFER TO PLAYING
MULTIPLE ROLES AND TO CAPERING? JANE AUSTEN MADE CERTAIN THAT READERS WHO
COMPARED THESE PASSAGES WOULD RECOGNIZE THE BREAD CRUMBS. BUT FANNY PRICE, LIKE PORTIA, IS NOT SUFFICIENTLY ENAMORED OF PROTEAN CHARMS TO BE WILLING TO MARRY THESE SUITORS.
AND
THAT WAS AUSTEN SUITOR & HEROINE PAIR #3, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. BUT...I
PROMISED ONE OTHER INTERPRETIVE PAYOFF, AND I WILL PROVIDE IT SHORTLY, IN A
BLOG POST OF ITS OWN---STAY TUNED!
Cheers,
ARNIE
@JaneAustenCode
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