Sense and Sensibility Week Tag Questions

To those who were unaware, Maria Elisabeth (a.k.a. Miss Georgiana Darcy) from Miss Georgiana Darcy is currently hosting a Sense and Sensibility Week. It'll end in a day or so—you'll have to forgive me for not informing you sooner about this. You'll have to visit Miss Georgiana's blog by clicking on the button above to learn more about the Sense and Sensibility Week. Miss Georgiana made some special posts, which are interesting to read, and fun activities specifically for this event. As a matter of fact, you can participate in some of them.

I decided to participate in the Sense and Sensibility Week Tag Questions since it's rather short and quite easy to answer. So without further ado, I give you my answers. Enjoy reading!

1: When did you first read Sense and Sensibility? Have you reread it since? (If you're so dreadfully un-bookwormish as to have never read the book just go on to the next question.)

I never read Sense and Sensibility until just this last summer after I purchased it at a local bookstore, along with Persuasion and Northanger Abbey. Upon arriving home, now the "owner" of all Jane Austen's six novels, I quickly lost myself into the perusal of the book. But since then, I have not tried to read it again.

2: When did you first watch Sense and Sensibility? Which adaptation was it?

Although I have this certain "standard" to always read books (especially classic books) before watching their movie adaptations, I did watch Sense and Sensibility long before reading the book—a rather unavoidable scenario. The movie happened to be the 1995 version, thus ruining my imagination when it came to the book. Oh, you'll see why below...

3: If you have watched/heard of more than one adaptation which one was your favorite? (Rants allowed)

The words in the parentheses look somewhat comforting. At least I'm allowed to rant, for I fear I shall be doing plenty of that here.

Anyway, the 1995 movie adaptation of Sense and Sensibility is the one and only version that I have seen. But other than that, I've heard—though I've never seen it yet—about the 2008 version most. I don't think I am in liberty to state my thoughts on the latter version. That would be prejudiced. Which leaves Sense and Sensibility (1995) to be my favorite rendition of the book. Well, quite so. After all, it's the only version I've seen. And I did like it. Some of it. Other things in the movie bothered me.

Remember I said above that the movie ruined my imagination when it came to the book? Not all the characters in the 1995 movie were portrayed by idealistic actors. For instance, age seemed to be a prevalent problem...and Elinor Dashwood (acted by Emma Thompson) and Colonel Brandon (acted by Alan Rickman) seemed too old in comparison to their respective ages. It was almost as though they should have ended up together. There were also some parts in the movie that went quite differently from the book. So when I read the book, I realized what flaws and mistakes the movie had (but don't all movies have them?). But the movie did follow closely after the book, and most of the characters were just fine, such as Marianne Dashwood, Edward Ferrars, John Willoughby, Lucy Steele, et cetera. In other words, I like S&S (1995), but not everything about it.

4: Which three S&S characters drive you crazy?

Aha! Easy question. I can name the top three S&S characters who drive me to insanity. Then again, there was a great deal of characters who drove me crazy in that book. I'll have to choose...

Fanny Dashwood - She's a snooty, feeling superior, uncaring relative. I wouldn't want her to be mine!
John Willoughby - He's a rogue, a heartbreaker, a money-hungry lover. There's no way I could fall in love with this scoundrel.
Edward Ferrars - He's so immobile, so inanimate, not even heroic. And worst of all, he gets engaged with a woman he doesn't even love. Enough said. Seriously.

5: Which heroine are you most like: Elinor or Marianne?

Elinor and Marianne Dashwood. Sense and sensibility. Two entirely different characters with such diverse qualities. Elinor is quiet and reserved; Marianne is dramatic and emotional. I do believe I'm a mix of both...I can be both. But more often than not, I am Marianne—the dramatic, emotional girl. But I did not "inherit" Marianne's romantic side. I detest Willoughbys.

6: Who would be most enjoyable: (or bearable) Mr. Palmer or Mrs. Palmer?

Oh my. I seem to have forgotten who these characters are. All I know, Mrs. Palmer is the daughter of Mrs. Jennings. As far as my memory goes, both of them were enjoyable and bearable. Definitely, they did not reach my list of "annoying characters."

7: What would be your reaction if you saw a re-write of Sense and Sensibility where it was Elinor who married Colonel Brandon?

Well, obviously, I already played with the idea of them as a couple. I don't exactly think Edward Ferrars and Elinor Dashwood deserve each other, mainly because of Edward's doings. But shall I wish Elinor and Colonel Brandon to marry each other? What about Marianne? No, I'd rather leave literature as it is.

8: Where does Sense and Sensibility rank in your list of favorite Austen novels?

Probably at the bottom, I'm sorry. It's a great novel by Jane Austen, but I prefer some of her other novels better.

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