#THE MOST QUALITY

[whetstonefires]

You know what I realize that people underestimate with Pride & Prejudice is the strategic importance of Jane.

Because like, I recently saw Charlotte and Elizabeth contrasted as the former being pragmatic and the latter holding out for a love match, because she's younger and prettier and thinks she can afford it, and that is very much not what's happening.

The Charlotte take is correct, but the Elizabeth is all wrong. Lizzie doesn't insist on a love match. That's serendipitous and rather unexpected. She wants, exactly as Mr. Bennet says, someone she can respect. Contempt won't do. Mr. Bennet puts it in weirdly sexist terms like he's trying to avoid acknowledging what he did to himself by marrying a self-absorbed idiot, but it's still true. That's what Elizabeth is shooting for: a marriage that won't make her unhappy.

She's grown up watching how miserable her parents make one another; she's not willing to sign up for a lifetime of being bitter and lonely in her own home.

I think she is very aware, in refusing Mr. Collins, that it's reasonably unlikely that anyone she actually respects is going to want her, with her few accomplishments and her lack of property. That she is turning down security and the chance keep the house she grew up in, and all she gets in return may be spinsterhood.

But, crucially, she has absolute faith in Jane.

The bit about teaching Jane's daughters to embroider badly? That's a joke, but it's also a serious potential life plan. Jane is the best creature in the world, and a beauty; there's no chance at all she won't get married to someone worthwhile.

(Bingley mucks this up by breaking Jane's heart, but her prospects remain reasonable if their mother would lay off!)

And if Elizabeth can't replicate that feat, then there's also no doubt in her mind that Jane will let her live in her house as a dependent as long as she likes, and never let it be made shameful or awful to be that impoverished spinster aunt. It will be okay never to be married at all, because she has her sister, whom she trusts absolutely to succeed and to protect her.

And if something eventually happens to Jane's family and they can't keep her anymore, she can throw herself upon the mercy of the Gardeners, who have money and like her very much, and are likewise good people. She has a support network--not a perfect or impregnable one, but it exists. It gives her realistic options.

Spinsterhood was a very dangerous choice; there are reasons you would go to considerable lengths not to risk it.

But Elizabeth has Jane, and her pride, and an understanding of what marrying someone who will make you miserable costs.

That's part of the thesis of the book, I would say! Recurring Austen thought. How important it is not to marry someone who will make you, specifically, unhappy.

She would rather be a dependent of people she likes and trusts than of someone she doesn't, even if the latter is formally considered more secure; she would rather live in a happy, reasonable household as an extra than be the mistress of her own home, but that home is full of Mr. Collins and her mother.

This is a calculation she's making consciously! She's not counting on a better marriage coming along. She just feels the most likely bad outcome from refusing Mr. Collins is still much better than the certain outcome of accepting him. Which is being stuck with Mr. Collins forever.

Elizabeth is also being pragmatic. Austen also endorses her choice, for the person she is and the concerns she has. She's just picking different trade-offs than Charlotte.

Elizabeth's flaw is not in her own priorities; she doesn't make a reckless choice and get lucky. But in being unable to accept that Charlotte's are different, and it doesn't mean there's anything wrong with Charlotte.

Because realistically, when your marriage is your whole family and career forever, and you only get to pick the ones that offer themselves to you, when you are legally bound to the status of dependent, you're always going to be making some trade-offs.

😂 Even the unrealistically ideal dream scenario of wealthy handsome clever ethical Mr. Darcy still asks you to undergo personal growth, accommodate someone else's communication style, and eat a little crow.

[cowboyooo]

Happy world hijab day. Especially to the Muslim Palestinian women who live under constant threat of the occupation and have had to sleep with their hijab on every night for years

[yeoldenews]

A selection of strange and cryptic personal ads from The New York Herald, 1860s to 1890s. 14/?

[cleric4vampire]

wyll.y.am ravengard, I love you so

everyone loves to put him in gold (rightly so) but my personal style is lots of silver jewelry + heavy eyeliner so that's what I gave him. also roses because he's so damn venusian

[chaoticstabby]

DEAD BOY DETECTIVE AGENCY + HUGS

BONUS: HANDSHAKES

[bigfatbreak]

How would’ve Sabine reacted if the peacock curse claimed Tom instead? Would she have gone down a similar path of vengeance?

yea probably

[nostalgia-tblr]

ao3 is a medieval feast and i am a drunken lord slamming my goblet down on the table and yelling "bring me the most fucked up shit in all the realm!!!"

[krysmcscience]

Sometimes annoying your bratty husband with silly gifts will cause him to bluescreen unintentionally. It's fine, though. Just take advantage of his touch starvation with cuddles to override the issue. Any biting and hissing that follows is totally normal. You may then proceed with your usual goofy antics of sticking tape onto the end of his tail when he's not looking, no doubt leading to the massacre of half your followers. :]

Anyway.

I can't be the only one convinced that Narinder hates having stuff around his wrists after finally being freed. I Can Not.

[whataduck]

was watching my sibling play rain world and it reminded me of when i first started playing too. So, assorted doodles from my and their experiences. I'd love to hear you guys' experiences so feel free to share in the tags!

[rat-enclosure]

corona&ianthe. worst girls alive

[allroseshave-their-pricks]

My roommates keep stealing my tools because they don't have any, so I'm curious

[cheeseanonioncrisps]

Emotional scene from Muppets Star Trek.

[breakbleheavens]

No rules in breakable heaven

CRUEL SUMMER Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (2023) dir. Sam Wrench

[somewhatsentientspellbook]

in honour of today's beautiful gift

[mobius-m-mobius]

#so unserious 😂💖

[kenobihater]

made a post a while back on how javert's suicide is often poorly portrayed in film adaptations to the point of accidental comedy, and how the 1978 movie in particular is the most unhinged example. audio warning for a loud trumpet blast, don't turn up your volume