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Welcome to My Jane Austen Book Club! Today, we have the pleasure of hosting MJ Stratton, author of the captivating Sense and Sensibility variation, "What Ought to Have Been." In this intriguing tale, Stratton invites readers to explore a world where the Dashwood sisters take fate into their own hands, seeking justice and redemption amidst the challenges of love and society.
Join us as we delve into the mind behind this
engaging adaptation, exploring Stratton's passion for Jane Austen's world and
her creative process in crafting this compelling narrative. Feel free to share
your thoughts and questions in the comment section below after the interview!
Welcome, MJ
Stratton! Could you share with us what drew you to Jane Austen's works and
inspired you to write a variation of Sense and Sensibility?
In
"What Ought to Have Been," you take a bold approach in reshaping the
fate of the characters, particularly Marianne Dashwood. What prompted you to
explore this alternate path for the Dashwood sisters?
I have always hated how Sense and Sensibility ended. How could such undeserving people get their every wish? Sure, it’s true to real life; we don’t always get what we want, but I still hated it. That was the impetus for this novel.
Marianne
is a passionate young woman. I wondered what would happen if she directed her
considerable energies in another direction. Marianne comes to many realizations
early in this book that drive her to channel her heartbreak in unexpected ways.
I think a lot of people give her the short stick, just like they do Lydia
Bennet. I would hate to be judged based on my 16-year-old self, and so I tried
to give Marianne a little redemption here, while still staying true to her
character.
Elinor
is the sensible sister, always poised, calm, etc, to her own detriment. In this
book, I gave her a means of reprieve from Miss Lucy Steele by way of her sister
knowing that Edward was engaged. I tried to show the inner turmoil she must
have felt while also allowing her to grow and change, too.
Trying
to keep Marianne from becoming someone completely different wasn’t easy. I
wanted her to grow up and mature, but keep her zest for life while learning
valuable lessons. The same passion she felt for Willoughby drove her need for
justice. They say the line between love and hate is thin and often blurred, and
Marianne certainly treads that line in this book. Marianne is an open, genuine
person. The subterfuge required for her to accomplish her schemes really drains
her, and near the end of the book, she learns an important lesson about revenge
and retribution. I won’t spoil it though!
The theme of retribution and the pursuit of what is just resonates strongly throughout your novel. How do you perceive this theme in relation to the societal norms and values depicted in Jane Austen's original work?
Life is
never fair. It wasn’t fair then, and it isn’t fair now. It’s unfortunate. We
see Jane Austen’s characters suffer for it frequently. Colonel Brandon’s first
love, Eliza, who was treated so abominably… he never could seek justice for
her, but he did his best to avenge the honor of her daughter by duelling
Willoughby. I think the Dashwood ladies felt all the injustice of losing their
home and their father, and Jane Austen did a good job of illustrating how
unfairly their society treated such situations.
I realize that ladies like the Dashwoods seeking justice and retribution was
likely not possible during Regency times. Marianne’s actions in my book could
have plausibly happened, though, and I think that’s what made it so fun to
write.
There
are many villains in Sense and Sensibility, in my opinion. First, Fanny and
John Dashwood. John is very much led around by his wife, and so it is she who
is the true villain between the two of them. Fanny has secrets, though, and
secrets have a way of getting out…
Everyone
knows Mr. Willoughby is a villain! He preys on young ladies and then leaves
them to face the world’s derision alone. After his actions are discovered, his
aunt disinherits him, leaving him in a tight spot. What if he doesn’t get to
marry Miss Grey?
And what of Lucy Steele? She is, by far, one of the MOST HATED villains in Jane Austen’s works. I think only Mrs. Norris surpasses her. Lucy got everything she wanted in Sense and Sensibility, a husband, wealth, notice, etc. It rankled me! She is SO awful to Elinor, exulting in her superiority time and again. I knew that whatever happened, Lucy could NOT finish this story on top. Nope, not at all. Marianne’s orchestration of her downfall is cunning and is also one of the few situations where she feels guilty for her machinations.
I’m not
sure. My writing process is very consuming. When I write, I do so in large
amounts, with minimum 5000 words a day. That quantity allows me to submerse
myself into the story, and I often find it writes itself. That can present some
complications, because I usually begin with an end in mind, only to have the
characters take control.
When I
write, I try to picture Austen’s words in my head, how they sound, how they
feel on my tongue. That means I tend to get a little prosy. My style has
adapted and changed since I began writing full time in 2022, and I think it
will continue to do so as I keep writing.
Lastly,
what do you hope readers will take away from What Ought to Have Been? And do
you have any future projects in mind within the realm of Austen variations or
other literary adaptations?
I really
hope that readers will understand that revenge and retribution often have
unforeseen outcomes. Marianne certainly learns something of that.
As for
future projects, I have another book releasing in August! It’s called Thwarted
and is another Pride and Prejudice Variation. It was meant to be part of
Crossroads, but I pulled it to make it a full-length novel. I do NOT regret it,
because it turned out even better than it was before! This book starts out in
Darcy’s POV. He discovers that the Town gossip has painted him as cursed,
because every lady he has ever granted his notice has had something befall her.
Who is behind the rumors, and who is trying to ruin Fitzwilliam Darcy?
I have
another book in the conception stage, and will likely be starting that in July,
once it is too hot to be outside in the afternoon. My plot bunny list is so
long, I’ll likely be busy for a while!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Retribution
belongs to God, and I am ill-equipped to carry it out in His place.
~ Elinor
Dashwood
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Before leaving Norland forever, Miss Elinor Dashwood forms an attachment to Mr.
Edward Ferrars. Her tender regard stays constant when the four Dashwood ladies
remove to Devonshire to let Barton Cottage. Elinor’s fervent hopes for the
future are dashed when she becomes an unwilling confidant to Miss Lucy Steele,
who she learns has been betrothed to Edward for four years.
Unfortunately for Miss Steele, she never secures Elinor’s promise to keep
silent on the matter. When Marianne encounters Elinor amidst her misery, the
sisters share confidences and Marianne is left comparing Edward’s honorable
behavior with that of Mr. John Willoughby. Her musings lead to some startling
revelations, and a spark is lit within her.
Determined to right the wrongs perpetrated upon her and her beloved relations,
Marianne takes matters into her own hands. Elinor may be ill-equipped to carry
out God’s retribution, but Marianne is not. Armed with determination and
resolve, Marianne Dashwood sets out to accomplish her aims by any means
necessary, but will she reach the end of her journey without losing herself in
the process?
What Ought to Have Been is a Sense and Sensibility variation
that ensures all the villains of the story receive their just desserts.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
1 comment:
very interesting post
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