Friday, June 12, 2009
Oh, Mr. Darcy.
I've often thought that chick flicks and romance novels are a "good girl's" version of pornography. Mr. Darcy is oh so desirable. Just writing this article makes me want to go rewatch 6 hours of Pride and Predjudice all over again. Here is a thoughtful article that compares and contrasts chick flicks and pornography. This author has the right balance and offers thoughtful reflection rather than condemnation through which those of us who love a good romance can guard ourselves against unrealistic, unbiblical expectation.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Fascinating. You know in a way evangelicals in some circles have spentt a lot of time telling men they need to BE Mr. Darcy without necessarily telling them to read Austen novels. I used to see discussions of how any time a woman got married a man was bringing "redemption" into her life. That always had the stink of idolatry to me since Christ can use a variety of earthly means to reveal His kindness to us whether or not we are married.
That said, I frankly loved the Austen novels I read. I think it would be unwise to make a steady diet of her novels just as I would say it is unwise to make a steady diet of Dosteovsky novels, much as I love his writing. A steady diet of Scripture is the most advisable steady diet of reading but as Ecclesiastes puts it, it is good to hold on to one and not let go of the other.
Great article! Very good to keep in mind when I watch my favorite chic flick, Sense and Sensibility!
The article makes many good points but shouldn't have used Jane Austen to try and make them. Sometimes Jane Austen is so subtle that she is easily misunderstood. Jane Austen knows the value of a good man, and I think she keeps the balance quite right. Neither overestimating nor underestimating.
For instance, when Jane tells Lizzie "If there were but such another man for you!", Elizabeth's reply is, "If you were to give me forty such men, I never could be so happy as you. Till I have your disposition, your goodness, I never can have your happiness.". Here Jane Austen hints that life is more than having a worthy man.
Another instance. After Elizabeth and Mr Darcy have been engaged, Elizabeth feels tempted to laugh at mr Darcy, but checks herself because 'she remembered that he had yet to learn to be laughed at, and it was rather too early to begin'. Austen then hints at the difficulties that might arise in their future marriage.
Post a Comment