Jane Austen THE FEMALE PHILOSOPHER reading-Jane Austen Juvenilia Writing-18th Century Literature

[@DrOctaviaCox]

Is there something of Mary Bennet about “amiable Moralist” Julia?

[@tonyausten2168]

Julia is more like the eldest Miss Dashwood.

[@dorothywillis1]

I first laughed when it became apparent the writer was describing to Louisa people Louisa knew well, so most of the letter was a waste of time, paper, and ink. Then the amiable Julia's conversation -- and all within the space of half an hour -- had me chuckling, reminding me of passages in so many 18th century letters, essays, and novels. But the final joke, when dear Isabella (Note the name!) blandly hands on the amiable remarks and reflections of the entire company on poor Louisa was the twist at the end a story needs. How many girls of 18 years could come close to it?

[@vineethg6259]

I missed the part about how the description of the two sisters to Louisa (who likely knew them well) was essentially pointless. 😃 By the way, the name of the letter writer appears to be Arabella.

[@dorothywillis1]

@@vineethg6259 Oops! (I wonder how I happened to think it was Isabella? ;-)

[@lakemichigan6598]

How many girls (or boys) of 18 could come close to it? Besides our dearest Jane, I'd say pretty close to none.

[@meretchen]

Arabella, Isabella, Annabella- same soup.

[@Katherine_The_Okay]

The Snarkmaster General strikes again! 🤣 It's weird, but the more I'm exposed to Austen's juvenilia, the more I am reminded of the late, great Terry Pratchett (or perhaps the more he reminds me of the late great Jane Austen). I especially love the priceless bit in one of her early works that a mother "by reason of their having bitten off two of her fingers, began to perceive that the children might be hungry." Austen is just wonderful and ridiculous and gloriously sarcastic throughout her body of work. The only difference with her well-known novels is that she puts just enough varnish over top of all that snark and sarcasm to fool casual readers.

[@mollygordon8722]

This is delightful! I really wish you would put out a video about Frank Churchill and Jane Fairfax. Their relationship & Frank’s character spark many heated debates on JA sites and we desperately need your keen eye and insights into this matter!

[@Katherine_The_Okay]

Having been shouted down more than once for my own views on Frank's character, I second this. If ever a topic needed a close reading, it is that one.

[@Khatoon170]

How are you doing dr octavia thank you for your wonderful cultural channel we appreciate your efforts as foreigners subscribers as overseas students want to increase our cultural level improve our English language as well literature lovers too indeed Jane Austen was great novelist even in her beginnings but unfortunately she didn’t live long life time to produce more valuable works actually meaning of juvenilia is childhood writing work by author or an artist Jane Austen published her juvenilia in year 1790 and female philosopher made up of just one fictional letter of few hundred words love and friendships also epistolary format fiction made up of letters consisted of epistles Catherine or bower longer works is usually described as sort of bridge between early writing and her six novels Austen juvenilia consisted of threee notebooks nearly organized labeled as volume first and second and third thank you again for giving us chance to read learn new information improve our English language as well stay safe blessed good luck to you your family friends

[@armchairwarrior963]

Did she call that younger sister fat but in a nicer words lol?

[@elizabethamandahead3958]

Thanks

[@angelalewis3645]

A precursor of Kitty!

[@kryscall4544]

is this the most shortest-spoken unreliable narrator?

[@vineethg6259]

I wonder if Julia in this work is a proto-Mary Bennet, with all her moralizing and philosophical reflections. The final part of the letter was quite unexpected and hilarious. I can visualize the sudden transformation of Louisa's expression as she reached that part (and subsequently tore up the letter? 😉). On a different note, the lady in the thumbnail somehow reminded me of Lady Bertram from Mansfield Park 2007. Did a quick reverse image search and found out that it is a portrait of Lady Elizabeth Hamilton, Countess of Derby (who notably organized a cricket match for ladies in 1777! 🤓)

[@mch12311969]

I too was amused by the fact that the writer is describing people with whom the intended reader is at least acquainted.

[@DrOctaviaCox]

I definitely think so! - Mary Bennet, after all, "piqued herself upon the solidity of her reflections" (ch.5).

[@sheva1693]

As a female philosopher I enjoy this quite a bit

[@Tevildo]

The prototype of many of Austen's anti-heroines - Caroline Bingley comes immediately to mind. :) One technical question - what word did Jane replace with "estimable" in her description of Caroline? I can't quite make it out.

[@ju2500]

I think it's "pleasing".

[@chesterbennie5295]

Please make a video on Keats' ode to autumn,ode on Grecian urn and ode to a nightingale

[@meretchen]

Priceless :-D