 |
| I'm not sure how I feel about this picture... |
Because it seems, to me anyway, Jane Austen's "Persuasion" has limited scenes between Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth it is amazing to me that neither of the movies (I'm referring to the 1995 and the 2007 versions) captured this moment. It's a small scene to be sure but, I think that if it would be added to a movie it would better illustrate both Anne's situation and Captain Wentworth's awareness of Anne in spite of himself.
"Another minute brought another addition. The younger boy, a remarkable stout, forward child, of two years old, having got the door opened for him by some one without, made his determined appearance among them, and went straight to the sofa to see what as going on, and put in his claim to any thing good that might be giving away.
There being nothing to eat, he could only have some play; and as his aunt would not let him tease his sick brother, he began to fasten himself upon her, as she knelt, in such a way that, busy as she was about Charles, she could not shake him off. She spoke to him--ordered, intreated, and insisted in vain. Once she did contrive to push him away, but the boy had the greater pleasure in getting upon her back again directly.
"Walter," said she, "get down this moment. You are extremely troublesome. I am very angry with you."
"Walter," cried Charles Hayter, "why do you not do as you are bid? Do not you hear your aunt speak? Come to me, Walter, come to cousin Charles."
But not a bit did Walter stir.
In another moment, however, she found herself in a state of being released from him; some one was taking him from her, though he had bent down her head so much, that his little sturdy hands were unfastened from around her neck, and he was resolutely borne away, before she knew that Captain Wentworth had done it.
Her sensations on the discovery made her perfectly speechless. She could not even thank him. She could only hand over little Charles, with most disordered feelings. His kindness in stepping forward to her relief--the manner--the silence in which it had passed--the little particulars of the circumstance--with the conviction soon forced on her by the noise he was studiously making with the child, that he meant to avoid hearing her thanks, and rather sought to testify that her conversation was the last of his wants, produced such a confusion of varying, but very painful agitation, as she could not recover from, till enabled by the entrance of Mary and the Miss Musgroves to make over the little patient to their cares, and leave the room. She could not stay."
To read the rest of the scene for yourself, I will direct you to Chapter 9 of Jane Austen's "Persuasion".
Yours truly,
Cordy
P.S. For those of you who missed the Pride and Prejudice Forgotten Scenes, you may read them here.
Yes, it's such an important scene, isn't it? The first inkling we have that he still has any kind of nice feelings at all toward her, and when we first sense that wow, he's feeling pretty uncomfortable and off-kilter in her presence.
ReplyDeleteIt's almost like he acts without thinking for a moment and then doesn't know how to handle himself.
DeleteOh! They should include this scene in a movie! You're right, it is a small scene--and perhaps doesn't seem that significant--but it really is important for understanding Captain Wentworth's character...and Anne's. I wish they would do another, longer version of Persuasion sometime.
ReplyDeleteI wish they would make a longer movie too. They haven't been able to manage to get everything in the shorter versions that are available now. However, I do prefer the Anne from the 1995 because she isn't so very melancholy through the whole, which I believe is more accurate to the book. But at the same time, that Captain Wentworth isn't exactly my cup of tea. :/
DeleteI liked Anne in the 1995 version, too (much better than the 2007 one). As for the 1995 Captain Wentworth...well, he did not look at all how I had imagined him to look, but I did like him a lot better than I was expecting to. However, I don't think he will ever really BE Captain Wentworth for me. (If you know what I mean.)
DeleteI haven't yet read Persuasion, but this is SUCH a sweet scene! They definitely should have included it in the movies.
ReplyDelete