(This conversation will contain spoilers for the current chapters and possibly for future chapters.)

S: The first part of this section made me laugh out loud – Marianne’s melancholic state is absolutely hilarious, and Mrs. Dashwood’s sympathy for her kind of makes me roll my eyes.

R: Austen describes this period as a ‘violence of affliction,’ which fits Marianne perfectly. She never does anything by half-measures. Everything that happens to her is the very worst or the very best. And the indulgence of Marianne’s emotions by their mother doesn’t help.

I do like how Austen introduces Edward Ferrars through Marianne’s lens. Any man who rode up during that time was likely to be mistaken for Willoughby. I love how Austen describes Marianne’s emotions when she realizes who it actually is: ‘He was the only person in the world who could at that moment be forgiven for not being Willoughby; the only one who could have gained a smile from her…’ Despite Marianne’s despair, Edward brings back a little of her joy. 

S: As I was reading the parts about Edward’s visit, I felt a little off put by his demeanour. In my mind from when we first met him he was shy, but after reading this section he seems to me more depressed than shy, so I’m not sure how to feel now. I almost think we’re supposed to feel just as confused as Elinor obviously feels. I do like, though, how he and Elinor tease Marianne; it’s rather cute.

R: Edward acts so oddly throughout this part. And there’s absolutely no hint as to why. With Colonel Brandon’s situation, there is the ‘insider’s perspective’ from Mrs. Jennings, but the only people at Barton who know Edward at all, are as confounded as the reader.

The teasing is a fun bit; it gives us a different view of Edward. We also see that Edward not only seems to have stolen a bit of Elinor’s hair as a memento, but seems unwilling to discuss it even with her. And we learn about his preference for becoming a clergyman, which would be considered a rather significant step down for a nobleman, even a younger son, as Edward is.

I like how Edward explains it: ‘I always preferred the church, as I still do. But that was not smart enough for my family. They recommended the army. That was a great deal too smart for me. The law was allowed to be genteel enough […] But I had no inclination for the law […] As for the navy, it had fashion on its side, but I was too old when the subject was first started to enter it—and, at length, as there was no necessity for my having any profession at all, as I might be as dashing and expensive without a red coat on my back as with one, idleness was pronounced on the whole to be most advantageous and honourable, and a young man of eighteen is not in general so earnestly bent on being busy as to resist the solicitations of his friends to do nothing. I was therefore entered at Oxford and have been properly idle ever since.’

So, was Oxford the party school of the Georgian era?

S: Oh, that’s funny!

I feel as if I want to like Mrs. Palmer, even though she’s extremely flighty and somewhat pushy like her mother, Mrs. Jennings. 

R: I’m afraid my view of Mrs. Palmer is too colored by the movie version to be able to even think of liking her; she’s played by the actress who plays Professor Umbridge in the Harry Potter movies. But she is kind of sweet and quite ridiculous, never taking anything her husband says seriously.

S: One of my favourite lines from Chapter 20 regards Mrs. Palmer: ‘The studied indifference, insolence, and discontent of her husband gave her no pain; and when he scolded or abused her, she was highly diverted.’ My next favourite line regards Mr. Palmer: ‘…but the means, however they might succeed by establishing his superiority in ill-breeding, were not likely to attach any one to him, except his wife.’ Some people are just made for each other even though they seem like they shouldn’t be. I continue to be highly amused at the silly people the Dashwoods keep meeting.

R: Mr. Palmer is another favorite character. I’m curious if he was always so sarcastic or if his wife’s flightiness drove him to it. And Mrs. Palmer shows herself to be very much like her mother in reporting that she was told by Colonel Brandon about Marianne being engaged to Willoughby. We know from his earlier reticence with the whole party that this isn’t likely to be true, so we’re shown in this way that Mrs. Palmer is as big of a gossip as Mrs. Jennings, and just as factual, which is to say, not at all.

S: The question remains: What is happening with Edward, Willoughby, and Colonel Brandon? It seems we are no closer to a satisfying explanation by the end of this section.

R: All the mysteries! It leaves you wondering if any of these three will return; and if they do, under what circumstances? 

S: Here’s hoping we’ll find out a few answers in Chapters 21-25!