Beth Massey's Blog
March 8, 2019
International Women's Day
International Women’s Day or International Working Women’s Day is a day of International Solidarity that was born in the early years of the 20th century. It is a global celebration of the economic, political and social achievements of women, and a reminder of the ongoing struggle for women’s rights and liberation.
In 1908, on the last Sunday in February, socialist women in the United States initiated the first Women's Day. Large demonstrations took place calling for the vote, as well as political and economic rights for women. The following year another demonstration took place in Manhattan, its ranks swelled by striking shirtwaist workers.
In 1910, inspired by the actions of US women, Clara Zetkin (German Marxist theorist, activist, and advocate for women’s rights) proposed the establishment of a working women’s day to be celebrated throughout the world. Working women would be able to press their demands on the same day each year in concert with their sisters all over the world. This proposal was made at the second International Conference of Working Women. The gathering of over 100 women from 17 countries, representing unions, socialist parties and working women's clubs greeted Zetkin's suggestion with unanimous approval and International Women's Day was the result.
The date chosen at the conference for International Women’s Day was March 8. It was picked because it was the day in 1857 that a protest was staged by women from clothing and textile factories in New York City. Those garment workers, who were struggling against very poor conditions and low wages were attacked and dispersed by the police. Those same women established their first labor union in the same month two years later.
A few weeks after the first official International Women’s Day in 1911, a deadly fire took place in the Triangle shirtwaist factory in Manhattan killing 146. Subsequent marches and commemorations of March 8th in New York City paid tribute to the dead of that disaster and the militancy of women garment workers.
In 1917, the great February revolution broke out in Russia at a time when preparations were being made for International Women’s Day. The working women of Petersburg were the first to organize opposition to the Czar. By the following year when the next International Women’s Day was due to be celebrated the Socialist Revolution had taken place and it became a double celebration of those actions that began the fight for full liberation.
Today, 100 years after women won the right to vote in the US, we are bombarded by myriad evidence of the daily attacks on women and their rights. Still, for the first time in many years the fight for women’s rights has reignited. Millions of women and their male allies came out to large marches in the wake of Trump’s election. The MeToo Movement of survivors of sexual violence has encouraged multitudes of women to talk about what happened to them and to bring attention to the magnitude of the problem.
It becomes more and more evident that full and absolute liberation for women will only happen when the working class with women at the forefront of the struggle takes power and determines their own destiny.
But you ask, how does this bit of history impact Beth Massey, author?
In March of 2012, I self-published my first novel. It was my intention to commemorate International Women’s Day when I chose the date for releasing ‘Goodly Creatures.’ It seemed appropriate considering the content.
I spent my childhood learning to be an actress. From eight on I played many different roles for the Chattanooga Little Theater, at school and in college. I played everything from the sociopath child killer, Rhoda in ‘The Bad Seed,’ to Annie Sullivan the teacher of the blind and deaf Helen Keller in ‘The Miracle Worker.’ I played a drunken sailor in Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’ and Solange in Jean Genet’s ‘The Maids’ where the two title characters spend their free time enacting sadomasochistic rituals that always end with the ceremonial killing of their employer.
But as Bob Dylan sang the times they were a changing. When I transferred in 1967 to Barnard College, to get a degree in literature, the campus was alive with struggles against the war in Vietnam and against the racism of the University that was encroaching into Harlem to build a gym. I forgot about acting and became involved in the movement.
It was during the strike that shut down Barnard and Columbia's campuses in the spring of 1968 that I first became involved in the struggle against women’s oppression. Along with other female participants, I resented the tasks relegated to us by the male members of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS)—make coffee, type up news releases and run the mimeograph machine. We often met to have consciousness raising sessions discussing the inequalities we faced. Soon these speak bitterness sessions led us to the streets demanding reproductive rights, equal pay for equal work and free childcare.
For 51 years I have been an activist, a socialist and for many of those years a worker. It quickly became obvious to me that the only way the oppression, racism and war that I objected to could be overcome was by getting rid of capitalism.
During my working life, I created payroll checks for workers—first as a clerk and later as a department manager. Before I was laid off in 2009, I found myself with a significant amount of free time. It was time to steal back some of the surplus value that had been stolen from me. My goal was to teach myself to write and get back to the creativity I had enjoyed as an actress.
Sitting in front of a computer all day, I found the world of Jane Austen Fan Fiction (JAFF). I had studied her works at Barnard as a literature major. Her ironic style and women’s issues subject matter seemed a fit for me. In addition, writing something and posting it online to receive comments that critique was very appealing,
While investigating writing as a craft, I kept coming upon the axiom: Write what you know. Still as an actor, I knew it was sometimes necessary to play roles you are not. When I was nine and attempting to play Rhoda the child killer, my director, who had studied method acting, had some great advice. His words of advice to me were If I wanted to play a killer, I should remember the most homicidal feeling I had ever had. Mine was recalling how I felt when I saw a bigger, older boy sitting atop my brother and beating him. I had attacked him with a garden claw in an all-consuming rage.
This direction I received at nine became important as I tried to understand the true meaning of ‘write what you know.’
I had absolutely no experience with early 19th century England, but I could empathize with the limited options for women in Austen’s novels. Most importantly, in ‘Sense and Sensibility’ she wrote about a mother and a daughter whose stories horrified me. The mother was an orphan with an inheritance. Her guardian coerced her to marry his son making her fortune his. He treated her cruelly and after a time she turned to another for affection. This act justified her husband to kick her out without a penny and divorce her. It infuriated me he was legally able to keep her money. She died on the streets after giving birth to a daughter. That young woman was put into a seminary by her much kinder male guardian. At fifteen, she travels to Bath where she and a school friend are allowed by her friend’s father to go about poorly chaperoned. She ends up pregnant and abandoned by an older man. This was the tale that truly inspired me. Austen does not tell her readers the particulars of how the teenager ended up disgraced with her life ruined, so I decided I would come up with a probable scenario to give her a happy ending as my first fan fiction.
While I was at Columbia, I had been raped. It was far from the ‘legitimate’ kind—you know—one where an innocent woman is brutally attacked by some lowlife ruffian. What happened to me was more like date rape, which was not even considered something that could be prosecuted in 1968. It was those consciousness raising sessions of the early days of the movement that had women sharing their experiences that began changing attitudes about the complexity of violations—ones that were more ambiguous but still should be labeled rape because women are denied the right to decide—what they want to do or not to do.
As I explained in my last blog post, my roommates and I had a party. I drank too much to overcome social anxiety and ended up dancing a bit too provocatively. I went into the back bedroom where we were keeping the coats for our guests to crash. A guest I did not know came in and proceeded to assault me. I kept asking him to please stop, but I was too drunk to fight him off. More than anything, I was humiliated that I could not make him stop and it was my fault he had been provoked by me to do what he did. My first thought was to hide the event—not tell anyone and pretend it never happened. Still, the legacy of fear it might happen again, guilt for having brought on the attack with my drunkenness and dancing and the humiliation of losing control, not to mention saying 'please' to a rapist followed me for years. It was this event and those feelings that I chose to write about in my first story—"Goodly Creatures, a Pride and Prejudice Deviation.’
Each one of my four published novels, have all raised women’s issues just as Austen did 200 plus years ago. Luckily I am free to tell her character’s stories in a much more open way than she was in 1812.
My fifth novel (“Lizzy”) will be out before the end of the year. It Is a mystery attempting to solve the murder of a popular young woman returning home after her very successful first Season. My team of detectives will uncover not only who, but why she was viciously shot in the face. I hope it will become the first in a series of Regency crime novels.
My second novel (Mr Darcy’s Cottage of Earthly Delights, Shades of Pride and Prejudice) explored sex between Darcy and Lizzy. It was extremely shocking—at least a number of reviewers had that complaint. They knew for a fact that Jane Austen never even thought about carnal relations between humans much less would she write about anything so unsavory. I did and it is my best seller. My next blog post will be my take on sex. I promise it will be shocking--and funny.
I am also developing a modern series. These stories will leave the world of Jane Austen Fan Fiction (JAFF). I want to take on the issues that face women and men in the 21st century—things like war, racism, same sex marriage, transgender rights, lack of healthcare, debt... I plan to include characters who are participants in the struggle to change the world. This is truly what I know, and I plan to write about it.
If you would like to ask me questions or comment in private, my email address is bethmassey68@gmail.com.
Happy International Women's Day
In 1908, on the last Sunday in February, socialist women in the United States initiated the first Women's Day. Large demonstrations took place calling for the vote, as well as political and economic rights for women. The following year another demonstration took place in Manhattan, its ranks swelled by striking shirtwaist workers.
In 1910, inspired by the actions of US women, Clara Zetkin (German Marxist theorist, activist, and advocate for women’s rights) proposed the establishment of a working women’s day to be celebrated throughout the world. Working women would be able to press their demands on the same day each year in concert with their sisters all over the world. This proposal was made at the second International Conference of Working Women. The gathering of over 100 women from 17 countries, representing unions, socialist parties and working women's clubs greeted Zetkin's suggestion with unanimous approval and International Women's Day was the result.
The date chosen at the conference for International Women’s Day was March 8. It was picked because it was the day in 1857 that a protest was staged by women from clothing and textile factories in New York City. Those garment workers, who were struggling against very poor conditions and low wages were attacked and dispersed by the police. Those same women established their first labor union in the same month two years later.
A few weeks after the first official International Women’s Day in 1911, a deadly fire took place in the Triangle shirtwaist factory in Manhattan killing 146. Subsequent marches and commemorations of March 8th in New York City paid tribute to the dead of that disaster and the militancy of women garment workers.
In 1917, the great February revolution broke out in Russia at a time when preparations were being made for International Women’s Day. The working women of Petersburg were the first to organize opposition to the Czar. By the following year when the next International Women’s Day was due to be celebrated the Socialist Revolution had taken place and it became a double celebration of those actions that began the fight for full liberation.
Today, 100 years after women won the right to vote in the US, we are bombarded by myriad evidence of the daily attacks on women and their rights. Still, for the first time in many years the fight for women’s rights has reignited. Millions of women and their male allies came out to large marches in the wake of Trump’s election. The MeToo Movement of survivors of sexual violence has encouraged multitudes of women to talk about what happened to them and to bring attention to the magnitude of the problem.
It becomes more and more evident that full and absolute liberation for women will only happen when the working class with women at the forefront of the struggle takes power and determines their own destiny.
But you ask, how does this bit of history impact Beth Massey, author?
In March of 2012, I self-published my first novel. It was my intention to commemorate International Women’s Day when I chose the date for releasing ‘Goodly Creatures.’ It seemed appropriate considering the content.
I spent my childhood learning to be an actress. From eight on I played many different roles for the Chattanooga Little Theater, at school and in college. I played everything from the sociopath child killer, Rhoda in ‘The Bad Seed,’ to Annie Sullivan the teacher of the blind and deaf Helen Keller in ‘The Miracle Worker.’ I played a drunken sailor in Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’ and Solange in Jean Genet’s ‘The Maids’ where the two title characters spend their free time enacting sadomasochistic rituals that always end with the ceremonial killing of their employer.
But as Bob Dylan sang the times they were a changing. When I transferred in 1967 to Barnard College, to get a degree in literature, the campus was alive with struggles against the war in Vietnam and against the racism of the University that was encroaching into Harlem to build a gym. I forgot about acting and became involved in the movement.
It was during the strike that shut down Barnard and Columbia's campuses in the spring of 1968 that I first became involved in the struggle against women’s oppression. Along with other female participants, I resented the tasks relegated to us by the male members of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS)—make coffee, type up news releases and run the mimeograph machine. We often met to have consciousness raising sessions discussing the inequalities we faced. Soon these speak bitterness sessions led us to the streets demanding reproductive rights, equal pay for equal work and free childcare.
For 51 years I have been an activist, a socialist and for many of those years a worker. It quickly became obvious to me that the only way the oppression, racism and war that I objected to could be overcome was by getting rid of capitalism.
During my working life, I created payroll checks for workers—first as a clerk and later as a department manager. Before I was laid off in 2009, I found myself with a significant amount of free time. It was time to steal back some of the surplus value that had been stolen from me. My goal was to teach myself to write and get back to the creativity I had enjoyed as an actress.
Sitting in front of a computer all day, I found the world of Jane Austen Fan Fiction (JAFF). I had studied her works at Barnard as a literature major. Her ironic style and women’s issues subject matter seemed a fit for me. In addition, writing something and posting it online to receive comments that critique was very appealing,
While investigating writing as a craft, I kept coming upon the axiom: Write what you know. Still as an actor, I knew it was sometimes necessary to play roles you are not. When I was nine and attempting to play Rhoda the child killer, my director, who had studied method acting, had some great advice. His words of advice to me were If I wanted to play a killer, I should remember the most homicidal feeling I had ever had. Mine was recalling how I felt when I saw a bigger, older boy sitting atop my brother and beating him. I had attacked him with a garden claw in an all-consuming rage.
This direction I received at nine became important as I tried to understand the true meaning of ‘write what you know.’
I had absolutely no experience with early 19th century England, but I could empathize with the limited options for women in Austen’s novels. Most importantly, in ‘Sense and Sensibility’ she wrote about a mother and a daughter whose stories horrified me. The mother was an orphan with an inheritance. Her guardian coerced her to marry his son making her fortune his. He treated her cruelly and after a time she turned to another for affection. This act justified her husband to kick her out without a penny and divorce her. It infuriated me he was legally able to keep her money. She died on the streets after giving birth to a daughter. That young woman was put into a seminary by her much kinder male guardian. At fifteen, she travels to Bath where she and a school friend are allowed by her friend’s father to go about poorly chaperoned. She ends up pregnant and abandoned by an older man. This was the tale that truly inspired me. Austen does not tell her readers the particulars of how the teenager ended up disgraced with her life ruined, so I decided I would come up with a probable scenario to give her a happy ending as my first fan fiction.
While I was at Columbia, I had been raped. It was far from the ‘legitimate’ kind—you know—one where an innocent woman is brutally attacked by some lowlife ruffian. What happened to me was more like date rape, which was not even considered something that could be prosecuted in 1968. It was those consciousness raising sessions of the early days of the movement that had women sharing their experiences that began changing attitudes about the complexity of violations—ones that were more ambiguous but still should be labeled rape because women are denied the right to decide—what they want to do or not to do.
As I explained in my last blog post, my roommates and I had a party. I drank too much to overcome social anxiety and ended up dancing a bit too provocatively. I went into the back bedroom where we were keeping the coats for our guests to crash. A guest I did not know came in and proceeded to assault me. I kept asking him to please stop, but I was too drunk to fight him off. More than anything, I was humiliated that I could not make him stop and it was my fault he had been provoked by me to do what he did. My first thought was to hide the event—not tell anyone and pretend it never happened. Still, the legacy of fear it might happen again, guilt for having brought on the attack with my drunkenness and dancing and the humiliation of losing control, not to mention saying 'please' to a rapist followed me for years. It was this event and those feelings that I chose to write about in my first story—"Goodly Creatures, a Pride and Prejudice Deviation.’
Each one of my four published novels, have all raised women’s issues just as Austen did 200 plus years ago. Luckily I am free to tell her character’s stories in a much more open way than she was in 1812.
My fifth novel (“Lizzy”) will be out before the end of the year. It Is a mystery attempting to solve the murder of a popular young woman returning home after her very successful first Season. My team of detectives will uncover not only who, but why she was viciously shot in the face. I hope it will become the first in a series of Regency crime novels.
My second novel (Mr Darcy’s Cottage of Earthly Delights, Shades of Pride and Prejudice) explored sex between Darcy and Lizzy. It was extremely shocking—at least a number of reviewers had that complaint. They knew for a fact that Jane Austen never even thought about carnal relations between humans much less would she write about anything so unsavory. I did and it is my best seller. My next blog post will be my take on sex. I promise it will be shocking--and funny.
I am also developing a modern series. These stories will leave the world of Jane Austen Fan Fiction (JAFF). I want to take on the issues that face women and men in the 21st century—things like war, racism, same sex marriage, transgender rights, lack of healthcare, debt... I plan to include characters who are participants in the struggle to change the world. This is truly what I know, and I plan to write about it.
If you would like to ask me questions or comment in private, my email address is bethmassey68@gmail.com.
Happy International Women's Day
February 19, 2019
Laughter
“So it’s the laughter we will remember.” That lyric written by Marilyn and Alan Bergman for Barbra Steisand’s song and movie “The Way We Were” has always been a favorite. Years later as I indulged in writing Jane Austen Fan Fiction (JAFF), I likened it to a line in “Pride and Prejudice” that also resonated as a sensible way to approach the personal traumas I have endured. Austen’s line is: “Think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure." Elizabeth Bennet mentions both of these thoughts as a coping mechanism in my JAFF novel “Goodly Creatures,” because it has been used by me many times for that purpose.
Currently, I am experiencing the greatest tragedy of my life—my partner of almost, but not quite, fifty years died last April. His life’s celebration in July was filled with all the humorous times my friends and I could recollect. The young people in the room were allowed to see another side to their aging comrade they knew as someone confined to a wheelchair. They too are now allowed to remember him with laughter thanks to the video his friend Gloria LaRiva shared.
Unfortunately, neither of those favorite words of wisdom always proved enough this past year. Remembering the laughter took on a far darker meaning for both me and millions of others—particularly women. Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s words: “Indelible in the Hippocampus is the laughter” has been reverberating about my brain since I heard her testimony last September.
As many of you know, I am a very vocal rape survivor. I decided early to talk about—rather than hiding—my assault from others. In the beginning, it was only my eventual partner, Bill Massey, my roommates, and a few others who heard my tale. Later I would tell my sisters, my brother, my co-workers, and comrades as the situation warranted. My final revelation was to readers as I developed my first novel. My parents were already deceased at the time I was raped but that was not the case for Elizabeth Bennet in “Goodly Creatures.” Unlike her, I did not have to worry about parental disappointment as part of my healing process.
It is time to tell the details of my rape as I remember them. As you will notice many are lost—something so many refused to believe possible in the testimony of Dr. Ford. I do not have that same lack of understanding.
The year was 1968. It was autumn, and I was a student at Barnard who was in the process of dropping out of school and getting a job. My second parent, my mother, had died the previous December. Being seriously depressed and anxious about not having a security net any more was my reality. Proof that I could support myself was my priority. My senior year would have to wait.
Shortly after my mother’s death, I joined a socialist organization. I have remained a socialist to this day. My summer had been spent in Chattanooga, Tennessee selling my family home, storing my parent’s belongings, and moving my fifteen-year-old sister to an aunt and uncle’s home in Texas. Despite all that trauma, I was trying to look to the future and learn all manner of new ideas.
My roommates were also Barnard students and belonged to the same socialist organization. Since it was the beginning of the new term and we were still exhilarated by having participated in the Columbia strike the previous spring, we decided to celebrate and socialize with our comrades by having a party. One of my roommates had brought a bottle of scotch from her parents’ stock to get us ready to be good hostesses. I think it was a bottle of Pinch. Please note the selective memory I have of that night—Pinch yes, but the exact date and so many other facts, no.
I was buzzed by the time the first guest arrived. Other than my roommates and the man who would be my rapist I can remember none of the names or faces of those who attended the party. I do not remember his name, but if needed I would be able to find him… if he is still alive. Someone told me his name at the time, but somehow it fell into the bin of useless facts.
Bill Massey was not there during the music and dancing part of the evening. At the time, he was doing public relations and media work for our group’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates. He often worked long hours securing time on shows like “Firing Line” and the “Joey Bishop Show.” He was very talented, but most importantly the laws were much more favorable toward third party candidates than they are today.
The music I remember was Big Brother and the Holding Company’s “Cheap Thrills.” Later someone put on The Doors album. I was not dressed provocatively. I was way too preppy for that. The booze had diminished my inhibitions and I was enjoying dancing—often by myself. When “Light My Fire” came on, I was at the peak of my performance. Soon, the alcohol pushed me into exhaustion. I went into my roommate’s bedroom at the back of the apartment and crashed. This room is where coats were being kept. That makes me think it must have been October rather than September.
At some point, a man came in to collect his coat. I assume that is what brought him there. He proceeded to take my jeans down. I just kept saying over and over “no, I don’t want to do this. Please leave me alone.” He ignored me, and I was too drunk to be able to fight. I also did not scream. What was happening was very embarrassing and I hoped I could make him stop by appealing to his morality My pride was at stake. Surely a political person could be reasoned with. It did not work. He was physically superior.
My mother had sent me to New York the previous year with birth control pills. I was sexually naïve and kept asking her why. Wise woman in the process of dying that she was, she told me the pills were “good for my skin.” By the time of my rape I was no longer a virgin, though I hardly had much in the way of experience. Thanks to my mother, I did not have to worry about pregnancy.
When he left, I tried to think what to do. Finally, I took a shower and I remember with some disgust I had to put the same clothes back on because my room was part of the festivities. The party was down to about six people sitting on the kitchen floor talking politics. One of my roommates was not among the group. The only two I remember from that group were Bill Massey and my other roommate. Bill and I were not a couple, but he was a mentor who was always willing to explain things to me. In fact, unbeknownst to me, he was in the process of ending his marriage.
I told the group what had happened. My roommate, a much more sexually experienced young woman, was cynical in her response. To me it seemed as though she was saying it was something you had to expect as a woman. She also said the best thing to do in those situations was just lie back and enjoy it. I was horrified. This was 1968 and “date rape” and “acquaintance rape” were not concepts in people’s consciousness. Bill became enraged, mainly at my roommate’s words, and said I had been raped. He likened what had happened to nations being denied self-determination. That was a topic I had discussed with him. He said my rights had been violated.
There are no other recollections for that evening. From the minute Bill defended me, I felt validated and the healing process was jump started. However, that did not mean I walked away unscathed. Liquor should be avoided at all costs. Losing control is something women should never do. However, I refused to allow the event to keep me from going places. I spent a great deal of time developing street smarts so I could do political work. Despite my precautions, I have experienced several additional lesser sexual assaults over the years. Exposing genitals and masturbating in front of women seems to be quite popular. Talking about the events doesn’t make it okay, but it does allow women to know they are not alone. “Me Too” has been very empowering for so many.
For me it wasn’t the laughter of my rapist that is remembered, but the fact that I said please numerous times. Why would a fighter for women’s liberation say “please” to a man who is violating her? I wrote this into “Goodly Creatures.”
It was never my intention to take my assault to the police. Like so many other women, I just wanted to get on with my life. As one who had a great deal of hostility toward the justice system, skepticism was my state of mind. Instead, I chose to confront my rapist. Unlike the vast majority of sexual assaulters, he called to apologize and asked for a meeting. I agreed and chose a very busy bar near Columbia’s campus. Bill disagreed with this plan, but I prevailed. My soon to be partner said he was going to hang out at the bar—just in case—and I said that was his right. As bizarre as this scenario sounds, it worked for me. One door was shut and my life continued.
Listening to the Kavanaugh hearing was very painful. At first Dr. Ford was treated with some semblance of respect, but that soon faded in the wake of the political goals of the other players. By the time the confirmation vote was imminent, the gloves were off. Her lack of memory was ridiculed by no other than our president. Of course, he had just been laughed at when he visited the UN. At least, I have that as a consolation. It was enjoyable on many levels to watch the world laugh at him over and over again.
As a writer, I bring my sensibilities and life experiences to the page. Perhaps my feelings on the ambiguity of laughter will make it into a novel. I am not certain it will be in my next, but perhaps soon. My current writing project is a Pride and Prejudice mystery entitled “Lizzy.” As with all of my stories, the role and oppression of women will be a major aspect of any plot. “Lizzy” is no exception. Who killed a lively young woman who was taking the Season by storm?
If you would like to communicate with me, my email address is bethmassey68@gmail.com. I plan to write a blog here on Goodreads once a month in the coming period. Become a follower if you would like to know what I have to say. My books are available at most eBook vendors. Here is the link to my Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...
Currently, I am experiencing the greatest tragedy of my life—my partner of almost, but not quite, fifty years died last April. His life’s celebration in July was filled with all the humorous times my friends and I could recollect. The young people in the room were allowed to see another side to their aging comrade they knew as someone confined to a wheelchair. They too are now allowed to remember him with laughter thanks to the video his friend Gloria LaRiva shared.
Unfortunately, neither of those favorite words of wisdom always proved enough this past year. Remembering the laughter took on a far darker meaning for both me and millions of others—particularly women. Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s words: “Indelible in the Hippocampus is the laughter” has been reverberating about my brain since I heard her testimony last September.
As many of you know, I am a very vocal rape survivor. I decided early to talk about—rather than hiding—my assault from others. In the beginning, it was only my eventual partner, Bill Massey, my roommates, and a few others who heard my tale. Later I would tell my sisters, my brother, my co-workers, and comrades as the situation warranted. My final revelation was to readers as I developed my first novel. My parents were already deceased at the time I was raped but that was not the case for Elizabeth Bennet in “Goodly Creatures.” Unlike her, I did not have to worry about parental disappointment as part of my healing process.
It is time to tell the details of my rape as I remember them. As you will notice many are lost—something so many refused to believe possible in the testimony of Dr. Ford. I do not have that same lack of understanding.
The year was 1968. It was autumn, and I was a student at Barnard who was in the process of dropping out of school and getting a job. My second parent, my mother, had died the previous December. Being seriously depressed and anxious about not having a security net any more was my reality. Proof that I could support myself was my priority. My senior year would have to wait.
Shortly after my mother’s death, I joined a socialist organization. I have remained a socialist to this day. My summer had been spent in Chattanooga, Tennessee selling my family home, storing my parent’s belongings, and moving my fifteen-year-old sister to an aunt and uncle’s home in Texas. Despite all that trauma, I was trying to look to the future and learn all manner of new ideas.
My roommates were also Barnard students and belonged to the same socialist organization. Since it was the beginning of the new term and we were still exhilarated by having participated in the Columbia strike the previous spring, we decided to celebrate and socialize with our comrades by having a party. One of my roommates had brought a bottle of scotch from her parents’ stock to get us ready to be good hostesses. I think it was a bottle of Pinch. Please note the selective memory I have of that night—Pinch yes, but the exact date and so many other facts, no.
I was buzzed by the time the first guest arrived. Other than my roommates and the man who would be my rapist I can remember none of the names or faces of those who attended the party. I do not remember his name, but if needed I would be able to find him… if he is still alive. Someone told me his name at the time, but somehow it fell into the bin of useless facts.
Bill Massey was not there during the music and dancing part of the evening. At the time, he was doing public relations and media work for our group’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates. He often worked long hours securing time on shows like “Firing Line” and the “Joey Bishop Show.” He was very talented, but most importantly the laws were much more favorable toward third party candidates than they are today.
The music I remember was Big Brother and the Holding Company’s “Cheap Thrills.” Later someone put on The Doors album. I was not dressed provocatively. I was way too preppy for that. The booze had diminished my inhibitions and I was enjoying dancing—often by myself. When “Light My Fire” came on, I was at the peak of my performance. Soon, the alcohol pushed me into exhaustion. I went into my roommate’s bedroom at the back of the apartment and crashed. This room is where coats were being kept. That makes me think it must have been October rather than September.
At some point, a man came in to collect his coat. I assume that is what brought him there. He proceeded to take my jeans down. I just kept saying over and over “no, I don’t want to do this. Please leave me alone.” He ignored me, and I was too drunk to be able to fight. I also did not scream. What was happening was very embarrassing and I hoped I could make him stop by appealing to his morality My pride was at stake. Surely a political person could be reasoned with. It did not work. He was physically superior.
My mother had sent me to New York the previous year with birth control pills. I was sexually naïve and kept asking her why. Wise woman in the process of dying that she was, she told me the pills were “good for my skin.” By the time of my rape I was no longer a virgin, though I hardly had much in the way of experience. Thanks to my mother, I did not have to worry about pregnancy.
When he left, I tried to think what to do. Finally, I took a shower and I remember with some disgust I had to put the same clothes back on because my room was part of the festivities. The party was down to about six people sitting on the kitchen floor talking politics. One of my roommates was not among the group. The only two I remember from that group were Bill Massey and my other roommate. Bill and I were not a couple, but he was a mentor who was always willing to explain things to me. In fact, unbeknownst to me, he was in the process of ending his marriage.
I told the group what had happened. My roommate, a much more sexually experienced young woman, was cynical in her response. To me it seemed as though she was saying it was something you had to expect as a woman. She also said the best thing to do in those situations was just lie back and enjoy it. I was horrified. This was 1968 and “date rape” and “acquaintance rape” were not concepts in people’s consciousness. Bill became enraged, mainly at my roommate’s words, and said I had been raped. He likened what had happened to nations being denied self-determination. That was a topic I had discussed with him. He said my rights had been violated.
There are no other recollections for that evening. From the minute Bill defended me, I felt validated and the healing process was jump started. However, that did not mean I walked away unscathed. Liquor should be avoided at all costs. Losing control is something women should never do. However, I refused to allow the event to keep me from going places. I spent a great deal of time developing street smarts so I could do political work. Despite my precautions, I have experienced several additional lesser sexual assaults over the years. Exposing genitals and masturbating in front of women seems to be quite popular. Talking about the events doesn’t make it okay, but it does allow women to know they are not alone. “Me Too” has been very empowering for so many.
For me it wasn’t the laughter of my rapist that is remembered, but the fact that I said please numerous times. Why would a fighter for women’s liberation say “please” to a man who is violating her? I wrote this into “Goodly Creatures.”
It was never my intention to take my assault to the police. Like so many other women, I just wanted to get on with my life. As one who had a great deal of hostility toward the justice system, skepticism was my state of mind. Instead, I chose to confront my rapist. Unlike the vast majority of sexual assaulters, he called to apologize and asked for a meeting. I agreed and chose a very busy bar near Columbia’s campus. Bill disagreed with this plan, but I prevailed. My soon to be partner said he was going to hang out at the bar—just in case—and I said that was his right. As bizarre as this scenario sounds, it worked for me. One door was shut and my life continued.
Listening to the Kavanaugh hearing was very painful. At first Dr. Ford was treated with some semblance of respect, but that soon faded in the wake of the political goals of the other players. By the time the confirmation vote was imminent, the gloves were off. Her lack of memory was ridiculed by no other than our president. Of course, he had just been laughed at when he visited the UN. At least, I have that as a consolation. It was enjoyable on many levels to watch the world laugh at him over and over again.
As a writer, I bring my sensibilities and life experiences to the page. Perhaps my feelings on the ambiguity of laughter will make it into a novel. I am not certain it will be in my next, but perhaps soon. My current writing project is a Pride and Prejudice mystery entitled “Lizzy.” As with all of my stories, the role and oppression of women will be a major aspect of any plot. “Lizzy” is no exception. Who killed a lively young woman who was taking the Season by storm?
If you would like to communicate with me, my email address is bethmassey68@gmail.com. I plan to write a blog here on Goodreads once a month in the coming period. Become a follower if you would like to know what I have to say. My books are available at most eBook vendors. Here is the link to my Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...
June 2, 2018
Rational Creature
A few years ago, I wrote an essay to introduce my third novel. The piece showcased Jane Austen's use of the expression 'rational creature' in "Pride and Prejudice." I am sharing that preface here. I understand an anthology with the title "Rational Creature" is soon to be released. #RationalCreature I am not one of the writers represented in the anthology, but it will be on my list to explore. It definitely was an inspiration for "Mr Darcy Likes it Wild."
My situation has changed drastically since this essay was written. My partner of almost 50 years died six weeks ago. Since I am no longer his caregiver, I am starting to write again. I am writing a blog post to discuss how Jane Austen novels end at the altar and love and partnership exist much beyond that point. As Shakespeare said in his Sonnet 116, "but bears it out even to the edge of doom."
This preface to "Mr Darcy Likes it Wild" was written in 2013.
"Mr Darcy Likes It Wild, A Pride and Prejudice Diversion" is my imagining of what might happen if Mr Bennet insisted Elizabeth marry Mr. Collins. What would my favorite literary character do? Would she obediently submit to save her mother and sisters; or would she do all in her power to find an alternative to life shackled to a silly man.
Eight years ago as I began dabbling in the world of Jane Austen fan fiction, my life simultaneously became increasingly stressful. It was not cause and effect, just happenstance. My husband of forty plus years became triply disabled, and I was needed as a full time caregiver. Luckily my Bill’s mind is not impaired. Though much activity is curtailed, he is still my well-informed best friend and we are free to engage in a great deal of conversation. We debate ideas, we remember the past, we research entirely too many medical issues, but through it all, we laugh.
Humor has always been important to our partnership. While rubbing along together, I have often been reminded of the line in "The Way We Were:" ‘So it's the laughter, we will remember.’ It echoes the philosophy expressed by the more mature Elizabeth Bennet at the end of Pride and Prejudice: ‘Think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure.’
I have dubbed this period in our life as the happiness of a sad time. It is painfully evident where we are headed, but I am determined to wring as much enjoyment as possible out of this final leg of our journey. My writing is an integral part in achieving this goal. Much of what I read to my love, who is blind due to macular degeneration, revolves around preparing for my next creative endeavor.
The reason I first became involved in the fan fiction world was a desire to teach myself to write. In an online forum, you put your offering on view, see if it inspires, listen to readers’ reactions and learn from your audience what works and what doesn’t. I chose to try the Austenesque genre because to me Jane produced witty, incisive analysis of her age, class and most importantly her sex—exactly what I would like to eventually accomplish.
Each of my stories has had a purpose. With my first novel ("Goodly Creatures"), I wanted to learn how to blend historical, political and serious social issues into an entertaining story. Though mostly successful, it unfortunately traumatized a significant percentage of those in the Jane Austen community who thought an unsentimental portrayal of rape and its realistic aftermath inappropriate. With my second ("Mr Darcy’s Cottage of Earthly Delights"), I aspired to create credible erotica. The jury is still out on whether I was successful. Once again, I drew the ire of a JAFF faction—those who insist literature honoring Jane must be ‘clean.’ As I began my third foray, my desire was to write comedy—not sophisticated witty humor like my beloved Ms Austen, but the sort that causes the reader to choke and spit out any beverage they are sipping. This particular goal also fit in with my increasing need for humor as a coping mechanism.
Bill serves as my sounding board, my test audience and my go to guy. When I need to do some research, he comes up with excellent suggestions. As I was editing "Mr Darcy Likes it Wild" for self-publication, he suggested I check out Annette Rubinstein’s English Literature from Shakespeare to Shaw. He had heard her speak back in the 60’s and remembered she greatly admired Jane Austen.
As we read her analysis, I was struck by her admiration of the scene portraying Elizabeth’s rejection of Mr. Collins’ proposal. My favorite Austen character is resolute in her refusal despite his reminder that, in view of her small fortune: “It is by no means certain that another offer of marriage will ever be made.” This wonderful scene comes to a climax with a statement of one of the author’s favorite themes: “Do not consider me now as an elegant female… but as a rational creature.”
I adore "Pride and Prejudice," not because of Mr. Darcy, but because of the woman he falls in love with. She was the character I most wanted to explore when I first began writing Austen inspired fiction. I have read that my favorite author felt great affection for her Lizzy. Whether a resemblance between Elizabeth and her creator existed, we will probably never know; but she certainly works for me as a self-portrait. To my mind, both are complex individuals, profoundly aware and capable of choice.
Ms Austen depicts Lizzy’s pride in her ability to observe, to analyze and to decide. Her prejudice comes through when she forgets that, even for her, there is only one area of selection—marriage. Throughout all her novels, the author’s witty prose roots this singular choice for women of her class in the numbing pressures of her acquisitive society. Irony is used to discover and illuminate; and though Pride and Prejudice’s setting is the same stratified, materialistic and severely regulated culture, she imbues Elizabeth Bennet with a fierce longing to be a free individual.
Now that I have told you the inspiration for my story’s underlying serious theme, I need to remind you that my goal was to write a comedy. Georgette Heyer, a prolific writer with a great admiration for Austen, has provided me with some excellent belly laughs over the years. She is the author I go to when I want to forget my woes with hilarity. When I read her The Corinthian, I began imagining a fiction featuring Elizabeth Bennet who under the pressure of being forced to marry Mr. Collins takes desperate measures. What would my favorite rational creature do if her beloved father became set on forcing her to relinquish her freedom by tying her to a ridiculous man?
I was further inspired by a soupçon of Shakespeare and an even heavier dose of Billy Wilder. Both wrote great road trip comedies ("As You Like It" and "Some Like it Hot") with the added twist of cross dressing. I must also give credit to the Fielding brothers. They inspired me on numerous levels. One brother wrote a delightful comic journey for the foundling Tom Jones and later joined his brother to create Britain’s first attempt at a national police force.
The final thing I wanted to accomplish with my third story was to force myself to write from one character’s point of view. Obviously it would have made sense to choose to tell Lizzy’s tale from her perspective, but instead I chose to see things as Darcy—with the exception of one piece of a chapter.
Early in my research for "Mr Darcy Likes It Wild," I stumbled upon the speculation that Lord Byron coined the phrase ‘truth is stranger than fiction.' The concept is definitely featured in his Don Juan.
"Tis strange - but true; for truth is always strange; Stranger than fiction; if it could be told,"
Upon further investigation of Byron’s ‘Epic Satire,’ I was pleased to find that the most famous of all the romantic poets created a female character who indulged in cross dressing. The Black Friar is an enigmatic ghostly character that Juan sees while staying with Lady Adeline Amundeville and her husband Lord Henry Amundeville. The following night he is visited in his bedroom by the spectre. As the monk’s hood falls down, the "friar" is revealed to be the voluptuous Duchess of Fitz-Fulke. Soon my epilogue for "Mr Darcy Likes It Wild" began to take shape with this gender bending revelation.
I hope I succeed in making you laugh.
Here is a PS for the current period:
I adore Elizabeth Bennet. Mr. Darcy is a fine man, but Austen doesn’t tell me enough about him to be certain he is my ideal man. Ah but her Lizzy is fully fleshed out as a character and is filled with intriguing complexities as well as the requisite ability to grow. Every time I read her story, I see something new and inspiring in my favorite literary character. So far Austen’s impertinent witty ‘rational creature’ has been the stimulation for my journey in writing.
My situation has changed drastically since this essay was written. My partner of almost 50 years died six weeks ago. Since I am no longer his caregiver, I am starting to write again. I am writing a blog post to discuss how Jane Austen novels end at the altar and love and partnership exist much beyond that point. As Shakespeare said in his Sonnet 116, "but bears it out even to the edge of doom."
This preface to "Mr Darcy Likes it Wild" was written in 2013.
"Mr Darcy Likes It Wild, A Pride and Prejudice Diversion" is my imagining of what might happen if Mr Bennet insisted Elizabeth marry Mr. Collins. What would my favorite literary character do? Would she obediently submit to save her mother and sisters; or would she do all in her power to find an alternative to life shackled to a silly man.
Eight years ago as I began dabbling in the world of Jane Austen fan fiction, my life simultaneously became increasingly stressful. It was not cause and effect, just happenstance. My husband of forty plus years became triply disabled, and I was needed as a full time caregiver. Luckily my Bill’s mind is not impaired. Though much activity is curtailed, he is still my well-informed best friend and we are free to engage in a great deal of conversation. We debate ideas, we remember the past, we research entirely too many medical issues, but through it all, we laugh.
Humor has always been important to our partnership. While rubbing along together, I have often been reminded of the line in "The Way We Were:" ‘So it's the laughter, we will remember.’ It echoes the philosophy expressed by the more mature Elizabeth Bennet at the end of Pride and Prejudice: ‘Think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure.’
I have dubbed this period in our life as the happiness of a sad time. It is painfully evident where we are headed, but I am determined to wring as much enjoyment as possible out of this final leg of our journey. My writing is an integral part in achieving this goal. Much of what I read to my love, who is blind due to macular degeneration, revolves around preparing for my next creative endeavor.
The reason I first became involved in the fan fiction world was a desire to teach myself to write. In an online forum, you put your offering on view, see if it inspires, listen to readers’ reactions and learn from your audience what works and what doesn’t. I chose to try the Austenesque genre because to me Jane produced witty, incisive analysis of her age, class and most importantly her sex—exactly what I would like to eventually accomplish.
Each of my stories has had a purpose. With my first novel ("Goodly Creatures"), I wanted to learn how to blend historical, political and serious social issues into an entertaining story. Though mostly successful, it unfortunately traumatized a significant percentage of those in the Jane Austen community who thought an unsentimental portrayal of rape and its realistic aftermath inappropriate. With my second ("Mr Darcy’s Cottage of Earthly Delights"), I aspired to create credible erotica. The jury is still out on whether I was successful. Once again, I drew the ire of a JAFF faction—those who insist literature honoring Jane must be ‘clean.’ As I began my third foray, my desire was to write comedy—not sophisticated witty humor like my beloved Ms Austen, but the sort that causes the reader to choke and spit out any beverage they are sipping. This particular goal also fit in with my increasing need for humor as a coping mechanism.
Bill serves as my sounding board, my test audience and my go to guy. When I need to do some research, he comes up with excellent suggestions. As I was editing "Mr Darcy Likes it Wild" for self-publication, he suggested I check out Annette Rubinstein’s English Literature from Shakespeare to Shaw. He had heard her speak back in the 60’s and remembered she greatly admired Jane Austen.
As we read her analysis, I was struck by her admiration of the scene portraying Elizabeth’s rejection of Mr. Collins’ proposal. My favorite Austen character is resolute in her refusal despite his reminder that, in view of her small fortune: “It is by no means certain that another offer of marriage will ever be made.” This wonderful scene comes to a climax with a statement of one of the author’s favorite themes: “Do not consider me now as an elegant female… but as a rational creature.”
I adore "Pride and Prejudice," not because of Mr. Darcy, but because of the woman he falls in love with. She was the character I most wanted to explore when I first began writing Austen inspired fiction. I have read that my favorite author felt great affection for her Lizzy. Whether a resemblance between Elizabeth and her creator existed, we will probably never know; but she certainly works for me as a self-portrait. To my mind, both are complex individuals, profoundly aware and capable of choice.
Ms Austen depicts Lizzy’s pride in her ability to observe, to analyze and to decide. Her prejudice comes through when she forgets that, even for her, there is only one area of selection—marriage. Throughout all her novels, the author’s witty prose roots this singular choice for women of her class in the numbing pressures of her acquisitive society. Irony is used to discover and illuminate; and though Pride and Prejudice’s setting is the same stratified, materialistic and severely regulated culture, she imbues Elizabeth Bennet with a fierce longing to be a free individual.
Now that I have told you the inspiration for my story’s underlying serious theme, I need to remind you that my goal was to write a comedy. Georgette Heyer, a prolific writer with a great admiration for Austen, has provided me with some excellent belly laughs over the years. She is the author I go to when I want to forget my woes with hilarity. When I read her The Corinthian, I began imagining a fiction featuring Elizabeth Bennet who under the pressure of being forced to marry Mr. Collins takes desperate measures. What would my favorite rational creature do if her beloved father became set on forcing her to relinquish her freedom by tying her to a ridiculous man?
I was further inspired by a soupçon of Shakespeare and an even heavier dose of Billy Wilder. Both wrote great road trip comedies ("As You Like It" and "Some Like it Hot") with the added twist of cross dressing. I must also give credit to the Fielding brothers. They inspired me on numerous levels. One brother wrote a delightful comic journey for the foundling Tom Jones and later joined his brother to create Britain’s first attempt at a national police force.
The final thing I wanted to accomplish with my third story was to force myself to write from one character’s point of view. Obviously it would have made sense to choose to tell Lizzy’s tale from her perspective, but instead I chose to see things as Darcy—with the exception of one piece of a chapter.
Early in my research for "Mr Darcy Likes It Wild," I stumbled upon the speculation that Lord Byron coined the phrase ‘truth is stranger than fiction.' The concept is definitely featured in his Don Juan.
"Tis strange - but true; for truth is always strange; Stranger than fiction; if it could be told,"
Upon further investigation of Byron’s ‘Epic Satire,’ I was pleased to find that the most famous of all the romantic poets created a female character who indulged in cross dressing. The Black Friar is an enigmatic ghostly character that Juan sees while staying with Lady Adeline Amundeville and her husband Lord Henry Amundeville. The following night he is visited in his bedroom by the spectre. As the monk’s hood falls down, the "friar" is revealed to be the voluptuous Duchess of Fitz-Fulke. Soon my epilogue for "Mr Darcy Likes It Wild" began to take shape with this gender bending revelation.
I hope I succeed in making you laugh.
Here is a PS for the current period:
I adore Elizabeth Bennet. Mr. Darcy is a fine man, but Austen doesn’t tell me enough about him to be certain he is my ideal man. Ah but her Lizzy is fully fleshed out as a character and is filled with intriguing complexities as well as the requisite ability to grow. Every time I read her story, I see something new and inspiring in my favorite literary character. So far Austen’s impertinent witty ‘rational creature’ has been the stimulation for my journey in writing.
September 6, 2017
The Happiness of a Sad Time
Today is my 31st anniversary (legal), but it is actually the 49th year of my partnership with Bill Massey. Besides love, friendship and a Shakespearean meeting of the minds, we have always shared participation in the struggle against racism, war, misogyny, LGBTQ discrimination, environmental destruction and for socialism. Six years ago, I did not think we would be allowed to celebrate another year. Despite my protestation, he insisted he had to go to Madison in solidarity with Wisconsin workers. It was a bitter cold day, and when we got there he could barely breathe or walk. Instead, he sat by the PSL (Party for Socialism and Liberation) table and passed out leaflets to passers-by. Thankfully, his younger comrades took care of him and got him home that day. I prepared myself for the worst while trying to figure out how to buy a bit more happiness.
My love is triply disabled—age related macular degeneration has left him legally blind and unable to read or watch movies anymore; his lungs are destroyed from smoking and he has been on 5 liters of oxygen 24/7 since 2005 after a second hospitalization for pneumonia. In addition, he has a cruel essential tremor that makes it difficult to even do the simplest tasks like eat or operate the remote. Despite these difficulties he still has a very sharp mind, and I have been lucky since June of 2009 (layoff with generous package) to be able to stay home with him rather than going to work.
For six years, none of the tests the doctors did were showing a physiological reason for the fact that Bill can barely get out of bed most days. He feels robbed of what he loved—learning and fighting for a better life for humanity. You work with what you have, and my love is still surviving. When I first became his caregiver, I called our life the happiness of a sad time. Each year it gets harder to call it happiness, but still we go on.
As I went through these past years, one refrain that kept popping into my mind was that Jane Austen did not prepare me for this. Hers are stories that end at the altar. A good marriage and true happy-ever-after is so much more about what happens after one commits than before. However, I am being unfair to my favorite author. She allows us to see the humor in those delightful flawed people who populate her novels and our lives. That laughter is what keeps us going.
The thirteen-year age difference between myself and my husband is more like Col Brandon and Marianne than Darcy and Elizabeth. In fact, my beloved has very little in common with Darcy other than a willingness to change, being a good listener and a prolific reader. He is not particularly handsome. He was a poor kid, one of seven children from a five room apartment in the Bronx. Born during the depression, by the time I met him when he was 33 and I was 20, he had served two tours in the Marines, six months in an Irish Christian Brothers seminary (he likes to say he meditated right out of there one evening during the walk they took after dinner) and had been in jail with Dr. Martin Luther King as a participant in the Civil Rights Movement.
Like Emma and Knightley, we also were very good friends before we became a couple and in Henry Tilney style, he has always made me laugh. In our earliest days together, he read poetry and sang to me, but he was not at all like John Willoughby.
He has a fierce notion of right and wrong and fighting for his beliefs is the most important thing in his life. He was utterly fearless when I met him, and to a 20-year-old orphan from Chattanooga, Tennessee, that made him a very romantic figure.
When I was the victim of date rape, the word had not been coined nor the concept understood or even believed—it must be something the woman did that caused the misunderstanding. Bill was the only one of my friends (we were not yet a couple) who unequivocally validated my plight. In his best political speak, he declared my right of self-determination had been violated. No foolish duel fought for my honor, just friendship, a sympathetic ear and the belief I had been wronged. Most importantly, despite being drunk, it wasn’t my fault!
These past years, it has been Mr. Woodhouse who has been my constant companion. In a comment thread on one of the Jane Austen Fan Fiction (JAFF) sites about Our Favorite JA Heroes, someone said of Mr. Knightley, ‘is there any other JA hero who would be heroic enough to live with Mr. Woodhouse for the sake of love?’ I can’t speak for anyone else, but I can answer for myself with a resounding, YES!!!!.
The aging process robs one of so much that those who are younger and able-bodied take for granted. This fearless man I have lived with for 49 years, like Mr. Woodhouse, is now filled with anxiety and often slips into the blues and even sometimes anger at his loss of control and dignity—not to mention what capitalism does to the elderly in the United States. Bill worries when I go out that I will be hit while crossing a street—or get caught in a storm and catch a chill—or that someone will rob me of my phone—or I will get colon cancer if I eat a hotdog. He frets over my blood sugar going low to the point of complete distraction. That all sounds so romantic doesn’t it—he cares. It is until I hear, don’t I know I am his caregiver and must stay healthy for him. Most times he is totally without sentimentality when he worries about me. Sometimes, he throws in an occasional, “I love you,” but truth be told it is the material reality of self-interest speaking. Still, his fears and phobias are as rich and complex and, yes, even as loving as he was before. Catching a chest cold or losing a caregiver could be disastrous for both Bill and Mr. Woodhouse—it is not just a silly selfish notion. On a regular basis these days, once I step back from the annoyance, I am able to see the humor. Someday, I will write about this part of my life.
‘Goodly Creatures’ included my take on rape. Jane Austen had created a character who was seduced, impregnated and abandoned at fifteen. After reading ‘Sense and Sensibility,’ I wanted to vindicate Eliza Williams. As I entered the world of JAFF, I wrote a variation of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ with a similar event happening to Elizabeth Bennet. Ambiguous rape had been such an important part of my life and learning to love, particularly the way Bill responded. His attitude had been crucial in my ability to heal. I wanted to write a Darcy who could overcome prevailing opinions to gain a prejudiced Elizabeth’s trust. Many who only wanted a fluffy happy-ever-after, were incensed I would treat Lizzy as I had been treated. Check out my reviews, if you do not believe me. I even had one that insinuated I was advocating rape and pedophilia. On the other hand, some of ‘Goodly Creatures’ reviews were beautiful in their heartfelt emotions.
I also took my tale of Elizabeth and Darcy to the end. Death is real and in my book true love acknowledges all the stages of life. To show my commitment, to that thought: I am needed to dispense meds and help Bill to the commode.
Tune in next year, our 50th, to see if I am still trying to make happiness out of a sad time.
My love is triply disabled—age related macular degeneration has left him legally blind and unable to read or watch movies anymore; his lungs are destroyed from smoking and he has been on 5 liters of oxygen 24/7 since 2005 after a second hospitalization for pneumonia. In addition, he has a cruel essential tremor that makes it difficult to even do the simplest tasks like eat or operate the remote. Despite these difficulties he still has a very sharp mind, and I have been lucky since June of 2009 (layoff with generous package) to be able to stay home with him rather than going to work.
For six years, none of the tests the doctors did were showing a physiological reason for the fact that Bill can barely get out of bed most days. He feels robbed of what he loved—learning and fighting for a better life for humanity. You work with what you have, and my love is still surviving. When I first became his caregiver, I called our life the happiness of a sad time. Each year it gets harder to call it happiness, but still we go on.
As I went through these past years, one refrain that kept popping into my mind was that Jane Austen did not prepare me for this. Hers are stories that end at the altar. A good marriage and true happy-ever-after is so much more about what happens after one commits than before. However, I am being unfair to my favorite author. She allows us to see the humor in those delightful flawed people who populate her novels and our lives. That laughter is what keeps us going.
The thirteen-year age difference between myself and my husband is more like Col Brandon and Marianne than Darcy and Elizabeth. In fact, my beloved has very little in common with Darcy other than a willingness to change, being a good listener and a prolific reader. He is not particularly handsome. He was a poor kid, one of seven children from a five room apartment in the Bronx. Born during the depression, by the time I met him when he was 33 and I was 20, he had served two tours in the Marines, six months in an Irish Christian Brothers seminary (he likes to say he meditated right out of there one evening during the walk they took after dinner) and had been in jail with Dr. Martin Luther King as a participant in the Civil Rights Movement.
Like Emma and Knightley, we also were very good friends before we became a couple and in Henry Tilney style, he has always made me laugh. In our earliest days together, he read poetry and sang to me, but he was not at all like John Willoughby.
He has a fierce notion of right and wrong and fighting for his beliefs is the most important thing in his life. He was utterly fearless when I met him, and to a 20-year-old orphan from Chattanooga, Tennessee, that made him a very romantic figure.
When I was the victim of date rape, the word had not been coined nor the concept understood or even believed—it must be something the woman did that caused the misunderstanding. Bill was the only one of my friends (we were not yet a couple) who unequivocally validated my plight. In his best political speak, he declared my right of self-determination had been violated. No foolish duel fought for my honor, just friendship, a sympathetic ear and the belief I had been wronged. Most importantly, despite being drunk, it wasn’t my fault!
These past years, it has been Mr. Woodhouse who has been my constant companion. In a comment thread on one of the Jane Austen Fan Fiction (JAFF) sites about Our Favorite JA Heroes, someone said of Mr. Knightley, ‘is there any other JA hero who would be heroic enough to live with Mr. Woodhouse for the sake of love?’ I can’t speak for anyone else, but I can answer for myself with a resounding, YES!!!!.
The aging process robs one of so much that those who are younger and able-bodied take for granted. This fearless man I have lived with for 49 years, like Mr. Woodhouse, is now filled with anxiety and often slips into the blues and even sometimes anger at his loss of control and dignity—not to mention what capitalism does to the elderly in the United States. Bill worries when I go out that I will be hit while crossing a street—or get caught in a storm and catch a chill—or that someone will rob me of my phone—or I will get colon cancer if I eat a hotdog. He frets over my blood sugar going low to the point of complete distraction. That all sounds so romantic doesn’t it—he cares. It is until I hear, don’t I know I am his caregiver and must stay healthy for him. Most times he is totally without sentimentality when he worries about me. Sometimes, he throws in an occasional, “I love you,” but truth be told it is the material reality of self-interest speaking. Still, his fears and phobias are as rich and complex and, yes, even as loving as he was before. Catching a chest cold or losing a caregiver could be disastrous for both Bill and Mr. Woodhouse—it is not just a silly selfish notion. On a regular basis these days, once I step back from the annoyance, I am able to see the humor. Someday, I will write about this part of my life.
‘Goodly Creatures’ included my take on rape. Jane Austen had created a character who was seduced, impregnated and abandoned at fifteen. After reading ‘Sense and Sensibility,’ I wanted to vindicate Eliza Williams. As I entered the world of JAFF, I wrote a variation of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ with a similar event happening to Elizabeth Bennet. Ambiguous rape had been such an important part of my life and learning to love, particularly the way Bill responded. His attitude had been crucial in my ability to heal. I wanted to write a Darcy who could overcome prevailing opinions to gain a prejudiced Elizabeth’s trust. Many who only wanted a fluffy happy-ever-after, were incensed I would treat Lizzy as I had been treated. Check out my reviews, if you do not believe me. I even had one that insinuated I was advocating rape and pedophilia. On the other hand, some of ‘Goodly Creatures’ reviews were beautiful in their heartfelt emotions.
I also took my tale of Elizabeth and Darcy to the end. Death is real and in my book true love acknowledges all the stages of life. To show my commitment, to that thought: I am needed to dispense meds and help Bill to the commode.
Tune in next year, our 50th, to see if I am still trying to make happiness out of a sad time.
February 22, 2017
John Willoughby Made Me Do It
These days, I spend way too much of my time observing the behavior of our president, Donald Trump. Last week during his 77 minute new conference I was reminded of an essay I wrote about Jane Austen's contribution to the literary world. If you see the similarity let me know in the comments.
I am an oddity in the world of Jane Austen inspired literature. To me, my favorite author neither wrote nor began the genre of romance novels. Yes, she felt the need to provide a happy ending for her women protagonists. Happy, if you assume marriage is the most fortuitous life for gently-bred females. In real life, Jane did the unthinkable and followed a different drummer and has been inspiring many for the last 200 years to take another path—even when it was so very difficult. Still I am no fool. It is a truth universally acknowledged that the majority of her female devotees spend their time repining for Mr. Darcy and his many film iterations and pay scant attention to her literary legacy.
Jane’s plots often explore the traits a lady should consider as she accepts (one of the few instances of power for a woman of her time) a gentleman’s proposal. What I admire most is that she set forth her musings in a most innovative style—almost completely devoid of any of the romantic trappings all the rage during her age (nature, the past, heroic emotions, the mystical or the gothic).
So you ask me, if it wasn’t romance, what was her intent? Was she lampooning society like Jonathon Swift or rewarding virtue and punishing evil like Samuel Richardson? There is a case to be made she was influenced by Henry Fielding with his tongue-in-cheek blend of satire and principles, and I definitely see an appreciation for dramatist Richard Sheridan’s ‘The Rivals’ reflected in her outrageous characterization of Lydia Bennet. How many young women in literature could there be who are both named Lydia and enthralled with the idea of eloping with a soldier?
Though there is a bit of poking fun, she brings something much more realistic to her readers with regard the human condition than mere spoof. As for punishment, she clearly says in ‘Mansfield Park’ chapter 48: “Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery. I quit such odious subjects as soon as I can, impatient to restore everybody, not greatly in fault themselves, to tolerable comfort, and to have done with all the rest.”
It is my decided opinion that she was the mother of the modern psychological novel. Austen uniquely crafted characters whose motives, circumstances and aspirations move the action. Austen brought to life a variety of vibrant personages and allowed their lively interactions to enlighten her readers as to what values she thought important to her class and sex. None are particularly exotic and their mundane domestic activities are quite tame, but oh so familiar. She makes us think of actual people in our lives—and that remains true two hundred years later. The first time I read ‘Pride and Prejudice’ at seventeen, I saw my mother in Mrs. Bennet—though her 20th century obsession was not marriage but getting me into a seven sisters college and enjoying the bragging rights my accomplishment would win for her. As I devoured Jane’s other novels, I met some of the most memorable characters who had ever whet my literary appetite—Elizabeth Bennet, Mary and Henry Crawford, Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Emma Woodhouse and her quirky father to name just a few. Mr. Woodhouse, who is alternately funny and maddening, is my current favorite. He reminds me of my dear husband who develops a new phobia each time his aging body betrays him.
Today, Austen’s most popular character is one she spent very few words putting flesh on his bones. We know so little about Mr. Darcy. Our dear author did condescend to say he was tall and handsome—not to mention rich. That has been just shallow enough to appeal to numerous generations of women as maleness perfected. To give him and my sisters their due, I must also admit that he loved Elizabeth ardently, his character was upright and he was willing to change when confronted with his failings. Those latter characteristics probably have had something to do with his enduring popularity as well.
I am unsure what Dickens thought about Jane, but I can see her influence in the characters he crafted—though he credits Balzac who published his first entry in La Comédie Humaine twenty years after ‘Sense and Sensibility.’ All three write people with flaws in a realistic way, but Ms Austen was first. Mr. Collins pops to mind every time I encounter Uriah Heap in ‘David Copperfield.’ Mark Twain, though vociferous in proclaiming his dislike of Jane, also admits to reading her more than once. “Every time I read 'Pride and Prejudice' I want to dig her up and beat her over the skull with her own shin-bone.” The important phrase here is “every time I read.” After sixty years of devouring the printed word, I assure you that one does not reread books because of dislike.
The creature Jane penned that leaves me most in awe of her talent is John Willoughby. Twain said of him: “Willoughby is a frankly cruel, criminal and filthy society-gentleman.” I agree. After I read ‘Sense and Sensibility,’ I felt the need to act and, unlike Jane, the need to punish.
Austen’s development of her rogue was brilliant and filled from the very beginning with her sly humor and ambiguity. He is the definitive romantic hero as he enters the stage. He rides forth on his steed in the midst of a menacing storm to save the injured maiden. He throws rigid behavior to the wind—with all the honor of a knight of old—to return a young lady in pain to the bosom of her family. Margaret Dashwood calls him her sister’s ‘preserver.’
Once he is on the scene, Ms Austen enhances his romantic trappings. He reads with passion, he prefers wild flowers to those from a hot house and finally our dear author makes a wry literary joke. Willoughby purloins a lock of Marianne’s hair as a keepsake with a nod to Mr. Pope. Is he swoon-worthy or humorous, Ms Austen?
Promoting confusion about her character starts soon after he begins paying attention to Marianne. Willoughby publicly makes fun of Colonel Brandon for leaving on an important errand and ruining a day of festivities. He takes Marianne Dashwood about unchaperoned and gives her the inappropriate gift of a horse. We are not too concerned because all this will be forgiven when he makes an offer of marriage. Elinor tries to make sense of the man to whom her sister is becoming attached. Sir John knows almost nothing of Willoughby (in stark contrast to Colonel Brandon whose upright character is well known in the neighborhood) but instead shares that he possesses a pretty black bitch pointer. We laugh, relax and believe we should not be overly worried. This is after all a romance is it not? But humorous hints like this foreshadow the truth our dear author wants us to question.
In chapter 28, we have the cut of Marianne by Willoughby at the London assembly. In chapter 29, we are privy to his letter breaking all ties, albeit with very ‘pretty’ words, with the woman we had persuaded ourselves he adored. He even returned her letters and the lock of her hair to confirm there was nothing, and never had been, anything substantial between them. Our hearts are broken along with Marianne’s. Finally in chapter 31, Colonel Brandon reveals devastating information about our hero. His words are ‘plain’ in their condemnation of Willoughby: “which no man who can feel for another would do. He had left the girl whose youth and innocence he had seduced, in a situation of the utmost distress… with… no help, no friends, ignorant of his address! He had left her, promising to return; he neither returned, nor wrote, nor relieved her."
In complete denial, we wonder whether Willoughby just suffers from an abominably poor memory. Not only did he forget that he neglected to give Miss Williams his direction; but when directly confronted by Elinor, he claims he is unable to recall whether he told Marianne he would return soon from town or not. Still there are readers (I read a piece by one very recently) who prefer to believe that he was forced by economic circumstances to act in a most uncharacteristic way. The need to believe in the ‘power of love’ must be very strong for some. The plain truth is printed on the page, spoken by a most honorable man, but still it can’t be true. Willoughby must love Marianne until the end of time—it is the romantic way and he even confessed to Elinor he did.
Ms Austen pulls the rug out from her reader’s sensibilities in chapter 44. To me she paints a ‘sociopath’ long before the word was coined. Her romantic rogue is all over the place trying different tactics to salvage his reputation with the friends and relatives of the young woman with whom he trifled. The reasons for his riding from London remain ever shifting throughout the chapter. Was he drunk, fearing Marianne was at death’s door or had business at Combe Magna? If he had known she was to survive would he have bothered? Nothing is conclusive, but our author is throwing so many disparate bits to ponder.
Our romantic hero resorts often to the blame game during this masterfully written chapter. Willoughby, in stark contrast to both Colonel Brandon and Edward Ferrars, is loyal to no one—except himself. After casting aspersions on the Colonel’s ability to tell the truth, he segues into questioning the man’s fifteen-year-old ward’s morality—“that because she was injured, she was irreproachable; and because I was a libertine, she must be a saint.” The next object of his disloyalty is his cousin Mrs. Smith. “The purity of her life, the formality of her notions, her ignorance of the world—everything was against me.” His strong affection for Marianne (she too must share in the blame for his bad behavior) caused him to cross the ‘rigidly proper’ Mrs. Smith when she gave him an ultimatum that he must do the honorable thing and marry the pregnant Eliza Williams in order to inherit her fortune.
His most egregious act of disloyalty, in my opinion, is to his new wife. After telling Elinor it was his ‘strong affection’ for her sister that prompted his decision not to comply with Mrs. Smith’s ultimatum, he proposed to Miss Grey within weeks of leaving Marianne. He chose her to compensate for the inheritance he lost when he refused to marry the fifteen-year-old he had ruined. Upon reading this, I was both confused and horrified. These were not the principles I was given as a child. We next learn Miss Grey dictated the letter he sent to Marianne. Her sister is appalled at his words accusing Mrs. Willoughby of jealousy when she found Marianne’s notes. It was she who insisted her fiancé write to sever all ties. Elinor says: “you ought not to speak in this way, either of Mrs. Willoughby or my sister.” He replies: “Do not talk to me of my wife… She knew I had no regard for her when we married.” I, for one, completely agree with Elinor. Speaking poorly of one’s wife in public—regardless of the reason for the marriage—is most improper behavior and much more despicable than Wickham’s spreading tales of Darcy. Only a reader wearing rose-colored romantic spectacles could fail to see the complete lack of moral fiber in this character. He is as Mark Twain said: “a filthy society-gentleman.”
“Domestic happiness is out of the question.” Marianne’s ‘preserver’ concludes his damage control meeting with Elinor spouting that bit of dramatic prosing. As I said earlier, Jane Austen was a master of foreshadowing and that same sentiment crops up again in her summary for Willoughby in the final chapter. Yes, she says “that he long thought of Colonel Brandon with envy, and of Marianne with regret.” However those were not her final words on the subject. They were: “But that he was forever inconsolable -- that he fled from society, or contracted an habitual gloom of temper, or died of a broken heart, must not be depended on -- for he did neither. He lived to exert, and frequently to enjoy himself. His wife was not always out of humour, nor his home always uncomfortable! and in his breed of horses and dogs, and in sporting of every kind, he found no inconsiderable degree of domestic felicity.” Eliza Williams’ fate is not even mentioned nor that of her child. With biting irony Ms Austen exposes a very sad reality for her sex.
Two hundred years later the theme of loyalty and integrity toward women (and the men who truly love them) in ‘Sense and Sensibility’ still resonates with me. I blame Jane for making me despise Willoughby as a man not worthy of her reader’s admiration. Still, I love the way she crafted his persona—the masterful blending of his meaningless heroic words with his cruel actions. Ms Austen forces her readers to use ‘sense’ not ‘sensibility’ as they sketch his character.
Her powerful profile of an amoral profligate prompted my desire to bring to reckoning such a man who would ruin the life of a fifteen-year-old with nary a thought for her as a person. Along with punishing the perpetrator, I wanted to vindicate such a young woman and allow her and her child a ‘degree of domestic felicity.’ Those two needs compelled the writing of ‘Goodly Creatures, a Pride and Prejudice Deviation.’ In the fanfiction world, I have been accused of deviating too far afield from Austen’s romantic sensibilities and bringing to light some uncomfortable realities for women she would never have considered proper topics and some even hinted I might advocate rape and pedophilia. I disagree. To me, Jane Austen’s most enduring legacy is not romantic novels of little substance but brilliantly complex characters populating witty sensible social commentary highlighting women’s dependence on marriage to gain social standing and economic security.
Check 'Goodly Creatures' out and let me know your opinion. https://www.amazon.com/Goodly-Creatur...
I am an oddity in the world of Jane Austen inspired literature. To me, my favorite author neither wrote nor began the genre of romance novels. Yes, she felt the need to provide a happy ending for her women protagonists. Happy, if you assume marriage is the most fortuitous life for gently-bred females. In real life, Jane did the unthinkable and followed a different drummer and has been inspiring many for the last 200 years to take another path—even when it was so very difficult. Still I am no fool. It is a truth universally acknowledged that the majority of her female devotees spend their time repining for Mr. Darcy and his many film iterations and pay scant attention to her literary legacy.
Jane’s plots often explore the traits a lady should consider as she accepts (one of the few instances of power for a woman of her time) a gentleman’s proposal. What I admire most is that she set forth her musings in a most innovative style—almost completely devoid of any of the romantic trappings all the rage during her age (nature, the past, heroic emotions, the mystical or the gothic).
So you ask me, if it wasn’t romance, what was her intent? Was she lampooning society like Jonathon Swift or rewarding virtue and punishing evil like Samuel Richardson? There is a case to be made she was influenced by Henry Fielding with his tongue-in-cheek blend of satire and principles, and I definitely see an appreciation for dramatist Richard Sheridan’s ‘The Rivals’ reflected in her outrageous characterization of Lydia Bennet. How many young women in literature could there be who are both named Lydia and enthralled with the idea of eloping with a soldier?
Though there is a bit of poking fun, she brings something much more realistic to her readers with regard the human condition than mere spoof. As for punishment, she clearly says in ‘Mansfield Park’ chapter 48: “Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery. I quit such odious subjects as soon as I can, impatient to restore everybody, not greatly in fault themselves, to tolerable comfort, and to have done with all the rest.”
It is my decided opinion that she was the mother of the modern psychological novel. Austen uniquely crafted characters whose motives, circumstances and aspirations move the action. Austen brought to life a variety of vibrant personages and allowed their lively interactions to enlighten her readers as to what values she thought important to her class and sex. None are particularly exotic and their mundane domestic activities are quite tame, but oh so familiar. She makes us think of actual people in our lives—and that remains true two hundred years later. The first time I read ‘Pride and Prejudice’ at seventeen, I saw my mother in Mrs. Bennet—though her 20th century obsession was not marriage but getting me into a seven sisters college and enjoying the bragging rights my accomplishment would win for her. As I devoured Jane’s other novels, I met some of the most memorable characters who had ever whet my literary appetite—Elizabeth Bennet, Mary and Henry Crawford, Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Emma Woodhouse and her quirky father to name just a few. Mr. Woodhouse, who is alternately funny and maddening, is my current favorite. He reminds me of my dear husband who develops a new phobia each time his aging body betrays him.
Today, Austen’s most popular character is one she spent very few words putting flesh on his bones. We know so little about Mr. Darcy. Our dear author did condescend to say he was tall and handsome—not to mention rich. That has been just shallow enough to appeal to numerous generations of women as maleness perfected. To give him and my sisters their due, I must also admit that he loved Elizabeth ardently, his character was upright and he was willing to change when confronted with his failings. Those latter characteristics probably have had something to do with his enduring popularity as well.
I am unsure what Dickens thought about Jane, but I can see her influence in the characters he crafted—though he credits Balzac who published his first entry in La Comédie Humaine twenty years after ‘Sense and Sensibility.’ All three write people with flaws in a realistic way, but Ms Austen was first. Mr. Collins pops to mind every time I encounter Uriah Heap in ‘David Copperfield.’ Mark Twain, though vociferous in proclaiming his dislike of Jane, also admits to reading her more than once. “Every time I read 'Pride and Prejudice' I want to dig her up and beat her over the skull with her own shin-bone.” The important phrase here is “every time I read.” After sixty years of devouring the printed word, I assure you that one does not reread books because of dislike.
The creature Jane penned that leaves me most in awe of her talent is John Willoughby. Twain said of him: “Willoughby is a frankly cruel, criminal and filthy society-gentleman.” I agree. After I read ‘Sense and Sensibility,’ I felt the need to act and, unlike Jane, the need to punish.
Austen’s development of her rogue was brilliant and filled from the very beginning with her sly humor and ambiguity. He is the definitive romantic hero as he enters the stage. He rides forth on his steed in the midst of a menacing storm to save the injured maiden. He throws rigid behavior to the wind—with all the honor of a knight of old—to return a young lady in pain to the bosom of her family. Margaret Dashwood calls him her sister’s ‘preserver.’
Once he is on the scene, Ms Austen enhances his romantic trappings. He reads with passion, he prefers wild flowers to those from a hot house and finally our dear author makes a wry literary joke. Willoughby purloins a lock of Marianne’s hair as a keepsake with a nod to Mr. Pope. Is he swoon-worthy or humorous, Ms Austen?
Promoting confusion about her character starts soon after he begins paying attention to Marianne. Willoughby publicly makes fun of Colonel Brandon for leaving on an important errand and ruining a day of festivities. He takes Marianne Dashwood about unchaperoned and gives her the inappropriate gift of a horse. We are not too concerned because all this will be forgiven when he makes an offer of marriage. Elinor tries to make sense of the man to whom her sister is becoming attached. Sir John knows almost nothing of Willoughby (in stark contrast to Colonel Brandon whose upright character is well known in the neighborhood) but instead shares that he possesses a pretty black bitch pointer. We laugh, relax and believe we should not be overly worried. This is after all a romance is it not? But humorous hints like this foreshadow the truth our dear author wants us to question.
In chapter 28, we have the cut of Marianne by Willoughby at the London assembly. In chapter 29, we are privy to his letter breaking all ties, albeit with very ‘pretty’ words, with the woman we had persuaded ourselves he adored. He even returned her letters and the lock of her hair to confirm there was nothing, and never had been, anything substantial between them. Our hearts are broken along with Marianne’s. Finally in chapter 31, Colonel Brandon reveals devastating information about our hero. His words are ‘plain’ in their condemnation of Willoughby: “which no man who can feel for another would do. He had left the girl whose youth and innocence he had seduced, in a situation of the utmost distress… with… no help, no friends, ignorant of his address! He had left her, promising to return; he neither returned, nor wrote, nor relieved her."
In complete denial, we wonder whether Willoughby just suffers from an abominably poor memory. Not only did he forget that he neglected to give Miss Williams his direction; but when directly confronted by Elinor, he claims he is unable to recall whether he told Marianne he would return soon from town or not. Still there are readers (I read a piece by one very recently) who prefer to believe that he was forced by economic circumstances to act in a most uncharacteristic way. The need to believe in the ‘power of love’ must be very strong for some. The plain truth is printed on the page, spoken by a most honorable man, but still it can’t be true. Willoughby must love Marianne until the end of time—it is the romantic way and he even confessed to Elinor he did.
Ms Austen pulls the rug out from her reader’s sensibilities in chapter 44. To me she paints a ‘sociopath’ long before the word was coined. Her romantic rogue is all over the place trying different tactics to salvage his reputation with the friends and relatives of the young woman with whom he trifled. The reasons for his riding from London remain ever shifting throughout the chapter. Was he drunk, fearing Marianne was at death’s door or had business at Combe Magna? If he had known she was to survive would he have bothered? Nothing is conclusive, but our author is throwing so many disparate bits to ponder.
Our romantic hero resorts often to the blame game during this masterfully written chapter. Willoughby, in stark contrast to both Colonel Brandon and Edward Ferrars, is loyal to no one—except himself. After casting aspersions on the Colonel’s ability to tell the truth, he segues into questioning the man’s fifteen-year-old ward’s morality—“that because she was injured, she was irreproachable; and because I was a libertine, she must be a saint.” The next object of his disloyalty is his cousin Mrs. Smith. “The purity of her life, the formality of her notions, her ignorance of the world—everything was against me.” His strong affection for Marianne (she too must share in the blame for his bad behavior) caused him to cross the ‘rigidly proper’ Mrs. Smith when she gave him an ultimatum that he must do the honorable thing and marry the pregnant Eliza Williams in order to inherit her fortune.
His most egregious act of disloyalty, in my opinion, is to his new wife. After telling Elinor it was his ‘strong affection’ for her sister that prompted his decision not to comply with Mrs. Smith’s ultimatum, he proposed to Miss Grey within weeks of leaving Marianne. He chose her to compensate for the inheritance he lost when he refused to marry the fifteen-year-old he had ruined. Upon reading this, I was both confused and horrified. These were not the principles I was given as a child. We next learn Miss Grey dictated the letter he sent to Marianne. Her sister is appalled at his words accusing Mrs. Willoughby of jealousy when she found Marianne’s notes. It was she who insisted her fiancé write to sever all ties. Elinor says: “you ought not to speak in this way, either of Mrs. Willoughby or my sister.” He replies: “Do not talk to me of my wife… She knew I had no regard for her when we married.” I, for one, completely agree with Elinor. Speaking poorly of one’s wife in public—regardless of the reason for the marriage—is most improper behavior and much more despicable than Wickham’s spreading tales of Darcy. Only a reader wearing rose-colored romantic spectacles could fail to see the complete lack of moral fiber in this character. He is as Mark Twain said: “a filthy society-gentleman.”
“Domestic happiness is out of the question.” Marianne’s ‘preserver’ concludes his damage control meeting with Elinor spouting that bit of dramatic prosing. As I said earlier, Jane Austen was a master of foreshadowing and that same sentiment crops up again in her summary for Willoughby in the final chapter. Yes, she says “that he long thought of Colonel Brandon with envy, and of Marianne with regret.” However those were not her final words on the subject. They were: “But that he was forever inconsolable -- that he fled from society, or contracted an habitual gloom of temper, or died of a broken heart, must not be depended on -- for he did neither. He lived to exert, and frequently to enjoy himself. His wife was not always out of humour, nor his home always uncomfortable! and in his breed of horses and dogs, and in sporting of every kind, he found no inconsiderable degree of domestic felicity.” Eliza Williams’ fate is not even mentioned nor that of her child. With biting irony Ms Austen exposes a very sad reality for her sex.
Two hundred years later the theme of loyalty and integrity toward women (and the men who truly love them) in ‘Sense and Sensibility’ still resonates with me. I blame Jane for making me despise Willoughby as a man not worthy of her reader’s admiration. Still, I love the way she crafted his persona—the masterful blending of his meaningless heroic words with his cruel actions. Ms Austen forces her readers to use ‘sense’ not ‘sensibility’ as they sketch his character.
Her powerful profile of an amoral profligate prompted my desire to bring to reckoning such a man who would ruin the life of a fifteen-year-old with nary a thought for her as a person. Along with punishing the perpetrator, I wanted to vindicate such a young woman and allow her and her child a ‘degree of domestic felicity.’ Those two needs compelled the writing of ‘Goodly Creatures, a Pride and Prejudice Deviation.’ In the fanfiction world, I have been accused of deviating too far afield from Austen’s romantic sensibilities and bringing to light some uncomfortable realities for women she would never have considered proper topics and some even hinted I might advocate rape and pedophilia. I disagree. To me, Jane Austen’s most enduring legacy is not romantic novels of little substance but brilliantly complex characters populating witty sensible social commentary highlighting women’s dependence on marriage to gain social standing and economic security.
Check 'Goodly Creatures' out and let me know your opinion. https://www.amazon.com/Goodly-Creatur...
July 14, 2016
What's Love Got to Do With It.
The reason I first became involved in the fan fiction world was a desire to teach myself to write. In an online forum, you put your offering on view, see if it inspires, listen to readers’ reactions and learn from your audience what works and what doesn’t. I chose to try the Austenesque genre because to me as a former literature major, Jane produced witty, incisive analysis of her age, class and most importantly her sex—exactly what I would like to eventually accomplish. I never saw her as the mother of the romance novel and had read very few examples of the genre over the years. Instead I saw her as the mother of the modern realist/psychological novel and felt annoyed that Balzac is often credited with starting that type of novel knowing full well she preceded him. I admire ‘La Comedie Humane,’ but in my opinion Jane Austen really deserves the literary acknowledgement for first writing multifaceted characters with moral ambiguity that so many authors have emulated and credited the French novelist as their inspiration.
As I was editing ‘Mr Darcy Likes it Wild’ for self-publication, my husband suggested I check out Annette Rubinstein’s 'English Literature from Shakespeare to Shaw.' He had heard her speak back in the 60’s and remembered she greatly admired Jane Austen.
Upon reading her analysis, I was struck by her admiration of the scene portraying Elizabeth’s rejection of Mr. Collins’ proposal. My favorite Austen character is resolute in her refusal despite his reminder that, in view of her small fortune: “It is by no means certain that another offer of marriage will ever be made.” This wonderful scene comes to a climax with a statement of one of the author’s favorite themes: “Do not consider me now as an elegant female… but as a rational creature.”
I adore ‘Pride and Prejudice,’ not because of Mr. Darcy, but because of the object of his affection. She was the character I most wanted to explore when I first began writing Austen inspired fiction. I have read that my favorite author felt great affection for her Lizzy. Whether a resemblance between Elizabeth and her creator existed, we will probably never know; but she certainly works for me as a self-portrait. To my mind, both are complex individuals, profoundly aware and capable of choice.
Ms Austen depicts Lizzy’s pride in her ability to observe, to analyze and to decide. Her prejudice comes through when she forgets that, even for her, there is only one area of selection—marriage. Throughout all her novels, the author’s witty prose roots this singular choice for women of her class in the numbing pressures of her acquisitive society. Irony is used to discover and illuminate; and though ‘Pride and Prejudice’s’ setting is the same stratified, materialistic and severely regulated culture, she imbues Elizabeth Bennet with a fierce longing to be a free individual.
With regards to the genre I chose, I am compelled to ask: “what does love have to do with it?” I do not believe Austen was exploring love (it wasn’t much of a factor in marriage at the time) as much as how to evaluate (sketch) characters when making that one choice women were allowed. Yes, all her plots lead to marriage and an assumed happy ever after. It is that HEA that she shares with romance novels and seems to lead to the confusion.
Jane wrote during the romantic period (which had absolutely nothing to do with love) but her style was the antithesis of its conventions. She was new and different and the most famous romanticist, Sir Walter Scott, admired her novels that were not set in the past or in a land far away. She did not utilize strong emotions or heroic deeds. I personally feel the scene after the final proposal in P & P is a bit of a letdown. They both seem so needy to be reassured they have made the right decision. When JA wrote a parody (‘Northanger Abbey’) of the romantic genre, instead of the horror so adored at the time, she gave us instead two of the best examples of venal characters in the Thorpe siblings. Two hundred years later, we are still able to observe qualities she exposed in her mundane rendering of personalities within ourselves and those we meet. My mother was like Mrs. Bennet, but her mission was not marriage but to get her children into ivy league and seven sister schools so she could brag about us.
After being initially drawn to JAFF due to a misunderstanding, I decided to embrace romance novels in my own quest to write. Thoroughly convinced happy ever afters are a good thing, I explored the genre. One of the first who wrote historic romance was Georgette Heyer. I adore her novels. Heyer was definitely influenced by Austen, but she decided to stress the love aspect of marriage and coupling while still creating many heroines who desire to move beyond their boundaries and be rational creatures much like Elizabeth Bennet in ‘Pride and Prejudice.’
In my own novels, I have chosen to land squarely between the two authors. I have also decided to explore sensibilities that the 21st century allows and even seems to demand. The first theme I chose to explore was rape. I was totally unprepared for the ‘blow back’ once I self-published. The anger over my choice has ranged from—not true to Austen, not respecting the need for ‘trigger warnings,’ and even suggesting that I was soft on rape and pedophilia. After several years of analyzing the hostility, I have determined most was a form of denial about what Austenesque readers choose to explore. Despite being a common occurrence both then and now, rape is a painful reality than many prefer to avoid. I choose to disagree. If rape culture is to be changed, those of us who have experienced sexual assault need to try to tell our stories. The letter written by the victim of the Stanford rape is a powerful example of courage and a case in point. https://www.buzzfeed.com/katiejmbaker...
It was definitely Jane Austen who inspired my plot. I read ‘Sense and Sensibility’ for the first time in 1968 as a literature student, it was shortly after I lost my second parent and was becoming accustomed to my status as an orphan. While still dealing with that life altering event, I became the victim of the still unacknowledged crime of ‘date rape.’ Austen’s stories of the two Elizas (mother and daughter) prompted a powerful rage in me for what they endured at the hands of men. It was the beginning of the Women’s Movement of the 60’s and 70’s and I was to become a participant. Forty years later, I created ‘Goodly Creatures,’ as a vindication for those two women who had aroused empathy in me so many years before. I chose to use Elizabeth Bennet and a character of my own creation to represent the two Elizas, but most importantly I gave them a romance novel happy ever after.
Check 'Goodly Creatures' out and let me know your opinion. https://www.amazon.com/Goodly-Creatur...
Beth Massey
As I was editing ‘Mr Darcy Likes it Wild’ for self-publication, my husband suggested I check out Annette Rubinstein’s 'English Literature from Shakespeare to Shaw.' He had heard her speak back in the 60’s and remembered she greatly admired Jane Austen.
Upon reading her analysis, I was struck by her admiration of the scene portraying Elizabeth’s rejection of Mr. Collins’ proposal. My favorite Austen character is resolute in her refusal despite his reminder that, in view of her small fortune: “It is by no means certain that another offer of marriage will ever be made.” This wonderful scene comes to a climax with a statement of one of the author’s favorite themes: “Do not consider me now as an elegant female… but as a rational creature.”
I adore ‘Pride and Prejudice,’ not because of Mr. Darcy, but because of the object of his affection. She was the character I most wanted to explore when I first began writing Austen inspired fiction. I have read that my favorite author felt great affection for her Lizzy. Whether a resemblance between Elizabeth and her creator existed, we will probably never know; but she certainly works for me as a self-portrait. To my mind, both are complex individuals, profoundly aware and capable of choice.
Ms Austen depicts Lizzy’s pride in her ability to observe, to analyze and to decide. Her prejudice comes through when she forgets that, even for her, there is only one area of selection—marriage. Throughout all her novels, the author’s witty prose roots this singular choice for women of her class in the numbing pressures of her acquisitive society. Irony is used to discover and illuminate; and though ‘Pride and Prejudice’s’ setting is the same stratified, materialistic and severely regulated culture, she imbues Elizabeth Bennet with a fierce longing to be a free individual.
With regards to the genre I chose, I am compelled to ask: “what does love have to do with it?” I do not believe Austen was exploring love (it wasn’t much of a factor in marriage at the time) as much as how to evaluate (sketch) characters when making that one choice women were allowed. Yes, all her plots lead to marriage and an assumed happy ever after. It is that HEA that she shares with romance novels and seems to lead to the confusion.
Jane wrote during the romantic period (which had absolutely nothing to do with love) but her style was the antithesis of its conventions. She was new and different and the most famous romanticist, Sir Walter Scott, admired her novels that were not set in the past or in a land far away. She did not utilize strong emotions or heroic deeds. I personally feel the scene after the final proposal in P & P is a bit of a letdown. They both seem so needy to be reassured they have made the right decision. When JA wrote a parody (‘Northanger Abbey’) of the romantic genre, instead of the horror so adored at the time, she gave us instead two of the best examples of venal characters in the Thorpe siblings. Two hundred years later, we are still able to observe qualities she exposed in her mundane rendering of personalities within ourselves and those we meet. My mother was like Mrs. Bennet, but her mission was not marriage but to get her children into ivy league and seven sister schools so she could brag about us.
After being initially drawn to JAFF due to a misunderstanding, I decided to embrace romance novels in my own quest to write. Thoroughly convinced happy ever afters are a good thing, I explored the genre. One of the first who wrote historic romance was Georgette Heyer. I adore her novels. Heyer was definitely influenced by Austen, but she decided to stress the love aspect of marriage and coupling while still creating many heroines who desire to move beyond their boundaries and be rational creatures much like Elizabeth Bennet in ‘Pride and Prejudice.’
In my own novels, I have chosen to land squarely between the two authors. I have also decided to explore sensibilities that the 21st century allows and even seems to demand. The first theme I chose to explore was rape. I was totally unprepared for the ‘blow back’ once I self-published. The anger over my choice has ranged from—not true to Austen, not respecting the need for ‘trigger warnings,’ and even suggesting that I was soft on rape and pedophilia. After several years of analyzing the hostility, I have determined most was a form of denial about what Austenesque readers choose to explore. Despite being a common occurrence both then and now, rape is a painful reality than many prefer to avoid. I choose to disagree. If rape culture is to be changed, those of us who have experienced sexual assault need to try to tell our stories. The letter written by the victim of the Stanford rape is a powerful example of courage and a case in point. https://www.buzzfeed.com/katiejmbaker...
It was definitely Jane Austen who inspired my plot. I read ‘Sense and Sensibility’ for the first time in 1968 as a literature student, it was shortly after I lost my second parent and was becoming accustomed to my status as an orphan. While still dealing with that life altering event, I became the victim of the still unacknowledged crime of ‘date rape.’ Austen’s stories of the two Elizas (mother and daughter) prompted a powerful rage in me for what they endured at the hands of men. It was the beginning of the Women’s Movement of the 60’s and 70’s and I was to become a participant. Forty years later, I created ‘Goodly Creatures,’ as a vindication for those two women who had aroused empathy in me so many years before. I chose to use Elizabeth Bennet and a character of my own creation to represent the two Elizas, but most importantly I gave them a romance novel happy ever after.
Check 'Goodly Creatures' out and let me know your opinion. https://www.amazon.com/Goodly-Creatur...
Beth Massey
