Mrs Jennings is a great character and I love reading that switch in Elinor's head during Mariannes' illness about her, how Mrs Jennings is a real friend to them and when times are hard she is still there and helping in anyway she can.
Yes I loved the way Mrs Jennings did not not just focus on the needs of her own family but saw the needs of others and really tried to help in a practical way - ie show real kindness. And so funny - what about her “Lord” exclamations. Rosamund Pyke does her so well.
Thank you, Katie. My favourite aunt had something of Mrs Jennings about her, which is to say that she was no shrinking violet; took pleasure in other people's happiness, and understood a great deal more than she was usually given credit for. Therefore I'm a fan.
Thank you, Katie, for your defence of Mrs Jennings. I totally agree: she is intelligent, self-aware and very much her own person, but above all she's so very kind-hearted. Perhaps the Dashwoods have to learn to be a little less sensitive.
This is a great exploration of Mrs Jennings' character! I enjoy your defence of her because I think she is a caring and underrated character. I think I have been a bit like Eleanor/Marianne myself - I meet someone who's quite outspoken or whatever and get a bit overwhelmed, but then eventually I realise they're actually really kind and they just express themselves differently to me. I think you have mentioned the modern retelling of S&S called Marianne and Eleanor Take Barton. In that RU-vid retelling, Mrs Jennings becomes Marianne and Eleanor's overenthuastic roommate Charlotte and I think she is really good interpretation of Mrs Jennings because she is gossipy, talkative, nosy, blunt, and Marianne and Eleanor find her a bit much, but then she is so supportive and kind and loyal so as the story goes on you really come to love her. She is one of favourite character's in MAETB.
Thank you so much for this video! I actually found it because I was looking for a character analysis of Mrs. Jennings. (Even though S&S is one of my favorite novels, I had to pause re-reading my annotated copy. I’m currently in rehearsal to portray her for a local production of Ashley J. Barnard’s adaptation.) I plan on sharing your analysis of John Willoughby with my cast mate as well!
I have to agree, though I didn't like Mrs. Jennings at first, she's underrated. She won me over for good when she defended Edward's behavior straight up to John Dashwood's face. I guess that might be called vulgar back then, a lady flat-out contradicting a gentleman, and even taking sides against his family's view of the issue, but for us (and for JA) she's just telling the truth.
Thank you Katie. Very interesting analysis. A long time after reading the book Mrs Jennings' kindness and selflessness is what lingers in my mind (esp when Marianne is ill) I confuse her character sometime with the film! I would like to have a Mrs Jennings as an aunt or friend!
Mrs Jennings is one of my favorite characters in Jane Austen. As much as some of the things she says make me cringe, her kindness warms my heart! ♥️ Great video!
Yess!!! I've been hoping you were still going to do this video! I've been thinking a lot about the comparison between Mrs. Jennings and Mrs. Bennet on this read of S&S. I also feel like it could be interesting to think about Mrs. Jennings in the context of gossip and Miss Bates. The idea of Mrs. Jennings' social class and upward mobility is fascinating to think about as are her views on promoting marriage. So much to talk about! She is such a fantastic character and this is a brilliant video!
Love this series and love Mrs Jennings! I always remember thinking she sounds like someone I'd want to be friends with. Never picked up on her upwards social mobility so very interesting to think about how that places her in everyone else's minds.
I have definitely known ladies in real life similar to Mrs. Jennings. I have learned to appreciate their good qualities and minimize my annoyance of their shallow scope of life. They are good and kind and generous people, and that is something to be cherished! Even if I don’t exactly enjoy their company. 😅
Thank you very much for the video, Katie! You put so much effort into it and it is brilliant. My view of Mrs Jennings was very much influenced by the portrayal in the Emma Thompson 's adaptation but it changed a lot when I read the book and realised how much her sense of what is wrong and what is right is better than all other people around Dashwood sisters. Your look at her social position is so interesting. She is one of the little group of truly independent women in Jane Austen 's novel along with Lady Catherine de Burgh and Lady Russell. Emma Woodhouse planned similar future for herself, rich and alone. I feel Jane Austen could have dreamed about same destiny for herself.
I think that Jane Austen had the uncanny ability to observe personality traits before there was such a word to describe them. In the case of Mrs. Jennings, she is so cheerful and wants the best for everyone. She's very much an extrovert with only the best of intentions. She says what others might only dare think and doesn't see what the big deal is or why it should be so shocking. It's the truth, after all! I think she has real affection for the Dashwoods and given her own life experiences, has a unique understanding of their circumstances--AND how to help them. Comedian Josh Johnson has a bit about Nouveau Riche vs. Nouveau Poor, that's really good. That's where the Dashwoods find themselves, feeling so deprived with everything taken away from them. Mrs. Jennings brings levity and assistance to their situation and helps them as a stranger, really, when they're own family put them in their unfortunate position. I think Jane must have had a lot of fun creating her dialogue and the outrageous things she says.
Greetings from Atlanta Georgia USA - Your effortless presentations are always enjoyable and informative - I never read victorian literature without hearing from you your valuable insights - I love the way the color comes and goes with your quotations, even for “favorites” and “hearts” - your enthusiasm is contagious and listening to you is quite the cure for a dark mood - it’s nice to know that books n things is always there - cheers
Hey Kate: Just about done with Mrs Hurst and now thinking about the relationship between the story's twist and the villain's evil plot. OTOH the cause and effect connecting them seem tenuous while on the other that lack adds a new dimension to the novel, somewhat reminiscent of Hartwick Hall's denouement (that I thought brilliant). In general I'm loving the book and really haven't put it down for four days. Thx! and enjoy
The scene (in Ch 37) where John Dashwood tells Elinor, Marianne and Mrs Jennings of Edward's refusal to break his engagement to Lucy despite Mrs Ferrars' threats, shows us Mrs J's true character: "'Then' cried Mrs Jennings..... 'he has behaved like an honest man'....". Neither Elinor nor Marianne say as much, although both know (as Mrs J cannot know) just how great Edward's sacrifice is. Yes, she is overbearing (more than somewhat!), yes she is an old gossip, yes, she can be - unintentionally - insensitive, but there is a decency and honesty there from which some of JA's "serious" characters could learn.
Thanks Katie, I so agree with you, I always loved Mrs Jennings, she was kind and fun loving. And really all she wanted to do was help the all the young women. Personally I think Lucy Steele could have been left at home but that was Mrs. Jennings big heart.
A thorough examination of an important minor character, Katie. Yes, Mrs. Jennings IS vulgar (common), because she is not upper crust. That doesn't mean she is stupid; she is much more aware of herself and inter-relations of others than Mrs. Bennet, for example. I'm not certain that JA unreservedly likes Mrs. Jennings, however. We see characters of her type (with variations) in several of Austen's novels, she is lovingly created (just like many of her villainesses and rakes) and she must have known people like her. Jane wrote what she knew, and she may have been somewhat of a snob herself. For example, how many yokels, day laborers, or peasants make appearance as characters in her novel? None; they only appear as spear carriers and supernumeraries. As someone who has a good deal of Mrs. Jennings in my make-up, I can report I was always considered a tease by my brothers, my mother often said "Kevin, you are so full of it", and my grandmother one time labelled me a contrary child. Since I'm also not nearly as kind or considerate as Mrs. Jennings, I don't want to push this too far, but perhaps Jane had a good bit of Mrs. Jennings in her make up, too?
I’ve always thought that Mrs Jennings seemed like actually such a nice and well-meaning person, compared to the way she is viewed. But your comments on the Class distinctions and fluidity are making sense. I would defend Eleanor‘s thoughts on having to spend time with her in close quarters in London, because perhaps we’ve all known that sort of person in life who you cannot deny is the nicest person in the world but for whatever grate on your nerves! And I think this was the case with Eleanor and meant that she would have to exert herself continually to counteract this and that must’ve Seemed like an exhausting idea. I’m glad that in the end they came around to her (Mrs J) completely.
