Cross Reference- Harding and Austen

Jane Austen's novel is certainly a didactic text. Whether it was her intent to create a bible, a book of etiquette, or a mirror for self reflection, I am not sure. Regardless, Austen definitely questions the morals of the era by evaluating and even jeering at  the importnace of money in a relationship. Knowing that Austen was a revered satirist, why did she make Mrs. Bennett obsessed with finding a financially secure husband for her daughters rather than happiness? "Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance" (Austen 14). Through prejudices, the reader is brainwashed to believe that a good marriage is based on inheritance, property ownership, and societal influence. Therefore, class consciousness and elitism permeate the novel. After all, Darcy even says to Elizabeth that he is mad at himself for doing so, but he was willing to lower himself in order to ask for Elizabeth's hand in marriage. The reader must question his intent since she doesn't have anything to bring to the relationship, and knowing this, Darcy is still uncontrollably magnetized to her. Class consciousness also surfaces when Elizabeth distinguishes between Darcy, who represents the "rooted" wealth, and Bingley, who represents and acts in the way of "Nouveau riche" at the ball. Subconsciously,  Elizabeth correlates looks and grandeur with the amount of money in her romantic's pocket.  Therefore, DW Harding certainly misunderstood Austen's intent to question the morals in the 18th century English society especially the repeated offense that finances confirm romances.

Self Evaluation

I was so thrilled that you recognized my initiative to explore Mrs. Bennett in not only new, but powerful  ways. My goal of this essay was to make sure that each sentence added one more piece of the puzzle.  These dense, but hopefully not "clunky",  phrases would allow the reader to understand and hopefully sympathize with Mrs. Bennett, rather than condemning and scoffing at her. However, my quotes proved to be my ultimate demise. While my arguments were honest, influential, and bold, my textual evidence failed to adequately support my claims. I spent a lot of time coming up with succinct phrases that I thought captured Mrs. Bennett in a few words. These phrases legitimized my argument and provided a foundation that was hard for a reader to doubt. Still, I could have developed my quote analysis more and most definitely further delved into my idea about Mrs. Bennett's instict vs. shallowness.

CONFIDENCE

Confidence is the most important factor in an essay. Through confidence, the reader is able to persuade her audience and thus engage their imaginations. Understandably, confidence, like writing, is a skill that takes practice to produce satisfying results. This is often encouraged in an "edgy" thesis that is meant to be arguable. Still, confidence reassures the reader that the writer’s idea is the right decision for the reader to follow, thus magnetizing the reader’s attraction and positive approach to the essay. In Essay A2, Anastasia never digresses from her main point. Her goal is to prove why Mr. Darcy is often misjudged and consequently hated. Though a debatable topic, Anastasia definitely convinces me that Mr. Darcy is human, naïve, and vulnerable. She explains that these common characteristics should transcend his snobby shallowness. Confidence allows Anastasia to “perform” at her best, by delivering her resolute belief. While some readers mask their insecurities with arrogance, Anastasia’s confidence is attractive and genuine (you could almost imagine this as conversation). Anastasia gently coerces the reader to invest in her belief that Darcy is simply misunderstood. Evidently, Anastasia believed that her certainty in Mr. Darcy would be explained to her audience, as promised. Her firm delivery and subsequent attitude overtake any of the reader’s previous misconceptions. Furthermore, if a writer is able to convey her purpose, grammar, syntax, and structure can be revised later on.

After all, if the writer doesn’t have confidence in her ideas, why should reader have confidence in them?

Bennet:Greek Chorus, Thoroughly Lovable Bully

Thesis: Because the intro is so short, it is hard to decide what the thesis is, but I believe it is the 2nd to last sentence. Franny's thesis is original, inspiring,narrow focused, and arguable. It presents her claim in a very clear and visual manner, and thus serves as a colorful map for the rest of the essay.

Structure: The structure is often underdeveloped. The opening sentence needed to be stronger and the author needed to be bolder in her claim. The second sentence (run-on) includes an incorrect citation, as well as, a premature quote. These errors, however, are erased when Franny brilliantly states that Mr. Bennet might not be the most capable father, yet his saltiness attracts his readers.

Evidence: Most often, the quotes are vacuous and do not validate Franny's claim, but in fact add bulkiness. Here, reveals the truth that quality is better than quantity. Franny uses 11 quotes (!) in her essay, all from various segments of the novel. Yet, the quotes rarely reveal Mr. Bennett's bully characteristic nor his likability and thus render useless.

Analysis:It is evident that the quotes do not build up Franny's ideas because their analysis is absent or weak. A quote should never explain itself and Franny seems to hope they would. However, I love Franny's analysis in her last paragraph that Bennett is more of a "commentator that exists in the realm of the reader". Unfortunately, this is an extremely enticing idea that is only mentioned and not dissected. :(

After having read the essay, I am still left questioning about WHY Mr. Bennet is loved and WHY he is a bully. This clear polarity of word order seems to be an intriguing claim, but the essay leaves the reader with unsatisfied, curious, and disappointed.

Are humans capable of change(ing their title after writing a paper that is incongruous with eleven words above it)?

Thesis: Amazing ideas for the topic sentences, but followed by dialogue and evidence that aren't pertinent to the main point ogf the paragraph nor the thesis.
Structure: The structure wasn't progressive.
Evidence: Quotes were way to long and lacked a proper introduction.
Analysis: Analaysis was at times thoughtful and enlightening, but it was not consistent with thesis and title. In 3rd paragraph, the writer fails to describe why Darcy is Elizabeth's male counterpart...an unexpected cliffhanger. Overall, the ideas were all original and still, in my own essay, I was able to comment on such topics as the female Bennett characters being so well written that they are petinent to today's society.
Style:The opening sentence grabbed my attention, but the unfortunate rambling second sentence seemed not to fit and thus left the reader confused and disappointed. Big (non logical) leaps between paragraphs. Seems very choppy. Doesn't talk about change until last sentence in intro and conclusion! Some language seems convoluted and bulky.

Mrs. Bennett: Austen's Punching Bag

This essay should be highly rewarded for its intricate and fresh ideas. The title was extremely clever and catchy especially because Austen's satire "punches" the reader. Though there were some thin areas that lacked proper quote analysis, the essay often pulls the reader in many directions with so many firm points. Unfortunately, this detracts the reader from the main point. Though I loved the second opening sentence about Mrs. Bennett's happiness, which is evidently dependent upon the financial security of her daughters, the first opening sentence is too convoluted and lengthy, thus boring the reader. Without an quick  snatch, the writing suffers and can only offer ambitious knowledge sporatically.  Immediately following their respective topic sentences, the first and second quotes are awkward because they lack proper quote context (set up). Additionally, the third quote should be shortened. Still, there were minimal grammar errors. Passive language, incorrect quote citations, and colloquial language, however, did reveal  that the writer needed to touch up on some grammar.Regardless, the ideas were substantial and I must  agree that Mrs. Bennett's multi dimensions are imperative to eliminate prejudice against her. These other facets allow the reader  to consider, and hopefully reevaluate, the reasons that Mrs. Bennett responds in such a seeemingly superficial way. In fact, in my own essay I used some similar ideas about Mrs. Bennett's myopic pursuit, thus accounting for her superficiality.

Mrs. Bennett: Tolerable or Irrational?

While most readers believe that Mrs. Bennet is a desperate and obsessive mother, she justly represents the women of 19^th century English society.

It quickly becomes evident that social reality and marriage decisions for her children consume Mrs. Bennett’s mind: “The business of her life was to get her daughter married; its solace was visiting and news” (Austen 3).