I think there are a lot of apples and oranges as well as kiwis and kumquats in all this. One’s life is going to jog along exactly the same without Ellery Queen (whom I personally can enjoy) or even Rex Stout (ditto), but not knowing Austen would be a loss. Or Shakespeare, because of
Merchant of Venice and
Taming of the Shrew. On the other hand, you can’t read everything anyway. I also think it become harder to accept the offensive the more recent it becomes, i.e., people should have known better and unless the author’s making a point, nuh-uh. Austen’s one thing, but
Star Trek is another thing entirely.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hitch
If I'd been Elizabeth Bennet, I'd have been shooting people. Starting with the Dad that put away zero money for me.
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In Trollope’s last novel, there was a minor character, a father of five daughters all unmarried and in their thirties, who lived well within his income so as to provide for them after his death. Heh.
Mr. Bennet is not a good person; it always surprises me when readers don’t get that. As stupid, vulgar and irritating as she is, Mrs. Bennet is morally superior. So it was the business of her life to get her daughters married? What were their other options?