tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954683999390981517.post5493225999623757212..comments2024-03-19T02:38:36.676+01:00Comments on MY JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB: VICTORIA GROSSACK, IN DEFENSE OF LADY CATHERINEMaria Graziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876779286144473782noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954683999390981517.post-57346452724386559472018-06-16T21:02:12.574+02:002018-06-16T21:02:12.574+02:00What a lovely defence of this usually disliked and...What a lovely defence of this usually disliked and ridiculed character!<br />I imagine that Lady Catherine is terribly lonely too, surrounded by emotionally & mentally-challenged, uneducated sycophants like Mr. Collins and her servants, in lavish but lonely luxury. <br />Thank you for pointing out her generosity & hospitality, her intelligence and her interest in the lives of others ... also her good judgements about the importance of education and decent social behaviour. <br />She was right in her insights about the serious shortcomings of the senior Bennetts, amounting to educational & moral neglect (resulting in the behaviour of Lydia, which was judged disgraceful by everyone.)<br />I now feel compassion and even sympathy for Lady Catherine, on her lonely high perch, with her unwell daughter and few other meaningful relationships. Anyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09401769750597383212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954683999390981517.post-13519739541477860222018-05-23T20:42:52.647+02:002018-05-23T20:42:52.647+02:00Just because we don't like her in her attempt ...Just because we don't like her in her attempt to stop a relationship between Lizzy and Darcy, she was doing right by her daughter--can't fault her for that. And in her world, an agreement of marriage made at birth was supposed to be honored.<br /><br />Still glad Darcy had the backbone to ignore societal expectations and follow his heart with Lizzy.<br /><br />denisedstoutholcombhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09715837468307132294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954683999390981517.post-20557334509783444642018-05-23T18:12:22.849+02:002018-05-23T18:12:22.849+02:00Very interesting perspective, Celia. But I think w...Very interesting perspective, Celia. But I think we need to remember how isolated Lady Catherine was. Her beloved sister, Lady Anne Darcy, has been dead for years, and in her part of Kent she has few peers. That was a serious problem, especially for women - intellectual isolation (think of Emma). And so she would easily drift to feeling as if she had to be in charge of everything (it also gives her something to do).Victoria Grossackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14808023266088914173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954683999390981517.post-256323904735540872018-05-23T15:45:05.774+02:002018-05-23T15:45:05.774+02:00A very interesting essay, and many shareable point...A very interesting essay, and many shareable points. However the core of Lady Catherine's character is CONTROL. Control of her daughter, her entourage, her servants, the Collinses, and attempted control of Elizabeth when she fears she will be part of the family. So control plus a huge superiority complex plus total disregard for other people's freedom - a lethal combination in my opinion!<br />Thank you so much Victoria!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14740334632215922505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954683999390981517.post-26088168003467355452018-05-23T12:18:59.747+02:002018-05-23T12:18:59.747+02:00Thank you for your very enlightening essay. Lady C...Thank you for your very enlightening essay. Lady Catherine is not perfect, but you are right. Her good points are often overlooked. I am happy to view her in a more sympathetic light now. Marcihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09208570034587298385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954683999390981517.post-6897371048781992202018-05-23T11:27:32.625+02:002018-05-23T11:27:32.625+02:00Thank you, Victoria, for a great post and for bein...Thank you, Victoria, for a great post and for being my guest blogger today. I agree with you, that even if we do not admire Lady Catherine, we have to admit that she brings her scenes to life. She's such a vivid, wonderfully -written character, we can just admire Dear Jane for that. Maria Graziahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08876779286144473782noreply@blogger.com