Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Elizabeth And Lady Catherine In the Garden
For Doxy, who says in the comments to the JA birthday post:
But honestly...the scene between Lady Catherine and Elizabeth in the garden is the single best piece of dialogue in the English language, AFAIC. Every time I read it, I want to cry because I know that I will never write anything half that good.
I'd quote from the scene, but it's pages long. No one can write dialogue like Jane Austen. Her exquisite writing is enough to drive any writer to despair.
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I agree. Great dialogue.
ReplyDeleteI think that my single favorite JA production is "Persuasion" -- It is filmed so authentically, that in the evening sequences, one can almost smell the candles burning.
Oh, Mimi--what a gift you gave me! I love that scene! It is almost verbatim to the book...
ReplyDelete"I take no leave of you, Miss Bennet. I send no compliments to your mother!"
Ouch...
How utterly delicious. Thank you! I shall savour it for the rest of this cold, snowy day.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I did not like the end of this dialogue.
ReplyDeleteSince the Ladies were social equals, and since seteling disputes such as this was often done by dueling, I should have expected this scene to end with a proper dueling challenge as was the custon of the times. Duels between ladies, though not as frequent as between gentlemen, were a remedy for extreme provocations such as this. The words "I demand the satisfaction. Do you prefer pistols or swords?" was sorely missed.
Beauregaurd
Beauregaurd, female characters in Jane Austen novels do not fight duels. I'm sorry you were disappointed. Remember that Lady Catherine does not have the last word in the end. All's well that ends well.
ReplyDelete"Are the shades of Pemberly to be thus polluted?!!!"
ReplyDeleteMichael and I just love that line.
Awesomely written. And what a shrew! Miss Bennett holds her own, though. Thank you for ferreting out this video for us to savor.
ReplyDeleteThink of it! The shades of Pemberley polluted!
ReplyDeleteDumas, or even Verne, would have had the dueling challenge. I guess Austen isn't my girl.
ReplyDeleteBeauregaurd
Oh, Beauregaurd, if that was not dueling nothing ever was. If you think that blood was not drawn, you simply were not paying attention!
ReplyDeleteBeau, Austen wrote with sparkling clarity and wit and with great insight about the human family. BooCat is right. Her rapier was sharp and true.
ReplyDeleteHowever, she's not everyone's cuppa.
That scene makes me want to watch that wonderful production for the... fifth time...or is it the sixth time...
ReplyDeleteCatherine, me too. I bought the whole BBC series on video, so I can watch them whenever I want.
ReplyDeleteIt's an excellent adaptation, and the acting in that scene is superb. A treat to watch (again). Thanks.
ReplyDelete"I am most seriously displeased." Can't wait for the next opportunity to use that line.
ReplyDeleteA cat fight bien elevée ;)
ReplyDelete