This is a scene from chapter VII in Part II on page 165. Here, Captain Wentworth and Anne run into each other in a store, and things get very uncomfortable.
Captain
Wentworth unsuspectingly entered Molland’s surrounded by his acquaintances. The
mood was light and the laughter was plentiful. Captain Wentworth was in the
middle of sharing a joke with his friend Mr. Walker when the sight of Anne
Elliot made him stop dead in his tracks. She sat by the widow, looking diffident
and uncomfortable, but not at all surprised to see him. There was an unmistakable
look of guilt on her face, which was an expression of hers that he was all too
familiar with.
He became overwhelmed
by the silence looming in the air. The tension was evident to everyone
including his acquaintances who had ceased their laughter and began to whisper uneasily.
In an effort to break the stillness he offered an awkward greeting, but his
voice shook slightly, causing him to turn his head in embarrassment. He cleared
his voice to regain his footing, and started into a conversation about Uppercross.
Activity resumed in the room, and Captain Wentworth relaxed, his initial shock
and embarrassment melting away slowly, though not completely.
He lifted
his head to see Elizabeth, but she scowled and turned away before he could
acknowledge her. Anne was visibly upset by this interaction, but she did not
say anything about her sister. She seemed relieved when she saw Lady Dalrymple’s
carriage pull up. Captain Wentworth offered his services to her. She politely
rejected him, and explained that there was not enough room for her in the
carriage, so she will gladly walk home. Captain Wentworth paused for a moment,
and then thought to offer her his umbrella.
He said, “Though
I came only yesterday, I have equipped myself properly for Bath already, you
see. I wish you would make use of it, if you are determined to walk; though I
think it would be more prudent to let me get you a chair.”
Again, Anne
politely declined his offer, and added “I am only waiting for Mr. Elliot. He
will be here in a moment, I am sure.”
Sure enough,
Mr. Elliot walked in at that very moment. Captain Wentworth recollected him
perfectly…
During this interaction between Anne and Wentworth there's also an air of indifference. This shows that the characters are hiding their true feelings with small talk and guarded countenances. The rewrite does a good job of showing that Wentworth felt just as awkward and unsure of himself when it came to being in Anne's presence as she was with him.
ReplyDeleteThere's also the issue of fear that persuades and overrules their true feelings for each other. They're both scared of being vulnerable because of the possibility that too much time has passed to rekindle what connection they once had. However the reader knows that Anne and Wentworth have at least some regard left for each other. We see this in the descriptions, such as in this scene, of their body language around each other and their repeated attempts to converse even with the barrier of the past between them.
When the story is told from Anne's POV, she's observant of Wentworth's disposition which influences her own responses to him. Didactically speaking, it'd be best for Anne to tell Wentworth how she feels instead of waiting to be persuaded by his words and actions to take initiative. However she's limited in her actions mainly by her fear of being rejected. It's important that story's originally told from Anne's perspective because she's reflective of both of what's going on around her and her own emotions. These two factors are the main narrations of the story and develop the didactic lesson (Anne's growth) that couldn't be seen in other characters.
Both of them have so many built up emotions, and don't really know how to deal with them in my opinion. Anne feels really bad about what she did to the Captain and in a way he's resenting her, because he's still angry. This rewrite allows you to feel how other characters were feeling, and get into their minds, and not just focus on Anne.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Carly's rewrite makes me realize how many different forces are acting upon the decision-making in these later scenes. Jenee, you point out that Anne is likely afraid of rejection, and you're right. But there's also the impropriety of her "making a move." And Carly's scene shows how anxious and uncertain Wentworth is, as well as the ample possibilities for his misinterpretation of Anne's actions (her refusals, etc). This tense scene really points to the kind of psychological realism in which Austen's version of the novel is engaging readers -- she's getting us to entertain all of the dimensions of this situation, even though we know it isn't "real." This depiction of Wentworth's awkwardness really points this out as well... and it also accords with how Anne behaves, and indicates how the awkwardness and uncertainty that she was feeling would not be unfounded.
ReplyDelete