I saw the movie a few days ago. Even though the combination of the Victorian era and a love story transported me into my magical and romantic land, I was left feeling sad and hollow after the movie. Jane Austen wrote few of the best romantic stories of our times. Most girls and some boys have grown up with dreams of "the ideal one", who quite coincidentally resembles one of her characters. And she, herself, died a spinster. One line struck me as quite poignant: "My characters will have all what they desire".
I'm not so sure about the Mr. Lefroy angle and wonder if she had fallen in love with one of her characters and being an idealist, did not want to compromise with the reality of life... Did she feel the emptiness, loneliness and despair which she fleetingly touches in almost every story through one of the characters who is an "old maid"? Did she regret her decision to not marry without affection?
I imagine that this movie was one of the things I needed to "grow up", to understand that happy endings are, sometimes, limited to fairy tales and books.
5 comments:
Cheer up dear Ritu....no need for such bitterness. I think what we have to realise is that 'ideal' endings are not the only happy endings! True love is certainly there somewhere for each of us....maybe not in neat little packages like Mr.Darcy or Mr.Tilney......but more 'realistic' packages, with a few scratches and tears here and there on the surface.....we have to learn to feel what's within......and when one does find love, after getting through all the obvious imperfections that meet the eye, it is all the more meaningful isn't it?
I forsee a brutal attack from you to this comment....be gentle....I entreat thee.... !!!!
Ah! I knew this post was on its way. I knew it all along ;)
Red, amber, green... remember the signals, mate!
Hehheh Rammy! Unfair! You warded off my "brutal attack" even before I could collect my thoughts to launch it.
I'm not bitter. I was just struck by the irony of life. And, of course, by the sad circumstances of her living her life (as she must have wanted to) through her stories.
In life, we compromise at every juncture. It's only natural that we grow out of idealism at some point of time and settle with the next best option. :D
Btw, your last few lines are nicely put. I had similar thoughts on an earlier post. :)
Harsha! Don't puff up with self-importance! You knew this was coming coz I chatted with you about this last evening. The signal is unchanged. :D
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