Margaret Dashwood, What part does she play? |
 Jan 2 2009, 07:56 PM
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One Half of the DDD  Posts: 8,952 Joined: 5:31pm August 30, 2006 Location: Siriusly Dreaming Somewhere   |
Margaret Dashwood is the youngest, aged 13 at the beginning of the story, of the three Dashwood sisters. She's a likeable child, although she seems to need to be held back by her mother and sisters occasionally when she tends to say too much about her family.
Why do you think Jane Austen included her in this story? What does she show us about the other characters? Is she necessary to the plot, or does her presence just make a more rounded story? This post has been edited by Dreamteam: Jan 2 2009, 07:59 PM --------------------  March's Book Nook: The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge/Skellig by David Almond "THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED!" roared Black. "DIED RATHER THAN BETRAY YOUR FRIENDS, AS WE WOULD HAVE DONE FOR YOU!" |
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Jan 4 2009, 04:23 AM
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Just Through the Brick Wall Posts: 10 Joined: 11:24am March 19, 2007 Location: Ukraine, Odessa |
Well, there are always younger brothers and sisters aplenty in Jane Austen novels and I think it firstly reflects what Jane herself was used to. And while Margaret doesn’t seem to carry any necessity to the plot, she does bring an endearing sort of charm to the story: I’m sure lots of people can identify her with a younger sister of their own, who wants to be a part of the adult world and often says the wrong thing.
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Jan 4 2009, 06:39 AM
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Doctor Filibuster's Junior Assistant Posts: 1,963 Joined: 8:57am March 12, 2005 Location: at Home or somewhere in between |
I think Margaret is possibly the character most in touch with reality, actually. She is still not yet initiated or motivated to partake in the dance of double entendres and couched language of the social parlors. She wants to know the world for what it really is, in concrete terms- her treasured possession is her atlas and not the flowery poetry of Marianne. Elinor acts as a mediator between both of these worlds, as when she explains to Margaret that after their father's death, the property and everything else in the estate, and in Margaret's correct assessment...her Atlas, now belongs to their brother and his wife, to do with as they wish. In a large way, the Dashwood ladies are liabilities/property to be disposed of, and Margaret sums that up in bluntly stating that "It is no longer [her] atlas, it is now John and Fanny's atlas" making clear in no uncertain terms (ie. impolitely) that anything that was hers, even something that meant nothing to its new owners - down to herself - (certainly Fanny wouldn't take pleasure in a dusty Atlas - let alone be gracious in seeing to the comfortable welfare of the former mistresses of her newly acquired inheritance!), now belonged to someone else.
The social standards of that time dictated that "children should be seen and not heard" makes special sense  in this light, as a child's candor and grasp of what is the reality of the situation can often put "polite" intercourse at an uncomfortable disadvantage, when the unfairness of the situation is made abundantly clear.
This post has been edited by momwitch: Jan 4 2009, 06:41 AM -------------------- Avatar made with Poser 6 and Photoshop Elements
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Jan 4 2009, 05:35 PM
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One Half of the DDD Posts: 8,952 Joined: 5:31pm August 30, 2006 Location: Siriusly Dreaming Somewhere |
Momwitch I think you're right about her place in the Norland setting. Everyone else is being very correct and polite about the fact that John and Fanny want Mrs Dashwood and her daughters out of their home, not to mention without a penny of the late Mr Dashwood's fortune. Margaret is the one who gets down to the nitty gritty, just in case anyone had any doubts, and lays out bare the fact that everything in the house now belongs to John and Fanny.
I think Margaret is often used to subtly highlight characteristics in others in the story, such as Mrs Jennings love of gossip. Instead of just keeping quiet about Elinor's regard for Edward she says "I must not tell, may I, Elinor?" which only serves to increase Mrs Jennings' curiosity about Elinor's "favourite". -------------------- March's Book Nook: The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge/Skellig by David Almond "THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED!" roared Black. "DIED RATHER THAN BETRAY YOUR FRIENDS, AS WE WOULD HAVE DONE FOR YOU!" |
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Jan 4 2009, 11:26 PM
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Cauldron Bottom Measurer Posts: 108 Joined: 4:41pm July 26, 2008 Location: Walking down Diagon Alley with Ginny and Hermione |
QUOTE(Dreamteam @ Jan 2 2009, 07:56 PM)  Margaret Dashwood is the youngest, aged 13 at the beginning of the story, of the three Dashwood sisters. She's a likeable child, although she seems to need to be held back by her mother and sisters occasionally when she tends to say too much about her family. Why do you think Jane Austen included her in this story? Most of her stories do include younger siblings, well I mean Pride and Prejudice, but i feel imho that Margaret was included just to give a different view point. She had a very impetuous tongue and was constantly hushed think Lydia and Kitty. What does she show us about the other characters? she shows their secret side, and their behind closed door selves imho. Is she necessary to the plot, or does her presence just make a more rounded story? she really rounds out the story, not really necessary i do believe. -------------------- I got my cute avatar from the Leaky Galleries!
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Jan 5 2009, 01:07 PM
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Doctor Filibuster's Junior Assistant Posts: 1,963 Joined: 8:57am March 12, 2005 Location: at Home or somewhere in between |
QUOTE(momwitch @ Jan 4 2009, 06:39 AM) I think Margaret is possibly the character most in touch with reality, actually. She is still not yet initiated or motivated to partake in the dance of double entendres and couched language of the social parlors. She wants to know the world for what it really is, in concrete terms- her treasured possession is her atlas and not the flowery poetry of Marianne. Elinor acts as a mediator between both of these worlds, as when she explains to Margaret that after their father's death, the property and everything else in the estate, and in Margaret's correct assessment...her Atlas, now belongs to their brother and his wife, to do with as they wish. In a large way, the Dashwood ladies are liabilities/property to be disposed of, and Margaret sums that up in bluntly stating that "It is no longer [her] atlas, it is now John and Fanny's atlas" making clear in no uncertain terms (ie. impolitely) that anything that was hers, even something that meant nothing to its new owners - down to herself - (certainly Fanny wouldn't take pleasure in a dusty Atlas - let alone be gracious in seeing to the comfortable welfare of the former mistresses of her newly acquired inheritance!), now belonged to someone else. The social standards of that time dictated that "children should be seen and not heard" makes special sense in this light, as a child's candor and grasp of what is the reality of the situation can often put "polite" intercourse at an uncomfortable disadvantage, when the unfairness of the situation is made abundantly clear.I'm getting my movie watchings and readings overlapped in my interpretations! lol  I'm reading the book through and until I'm done, won't contribute to the discussions so as not to confuse the adaptations with the original works, but I did want to point out some things about what I've stated above.  In re-reading the first few chapters, most of the descriptions of the "titled" children portray them as being noisy and unruly. I've had discussions with my husband on the "children should be seen and not heard" issue before (in regards to bringing up our own children) and he said that it isn't the members of "High Society" that keep their children under a firm leash, it has been most often the "Middle Class", in trying to prove themselves, that have often placed the most restrictions on their children being children, in an attempt to prime them to be respectable adults. I found this interesting in thinking of the question of Margaret's demeanor. Margaret, who for the most part was brought up for much of her life with the privileges of Norland assumed what was expected as a child born into the Upper Class. Her being held back by her mother and sisters seems to be a reflection, therefore, of their feelings of inadequacy, and what was expected of them as children who were in the Noble periphery. It seems that the children of the noble-types are indulged as children, and they actually provided a much needed diversion from the tedious social rituals of receiving and attending to one's guests. We are told that the only time Lady Middleton lost some of her cold veneer is when her four children were brought into the party at Barton Park: QUOTE Lady Middleton seemed to be roused to enjoyment only by the entrance of her four noisy children after dinner, who pulled her about, tore her clothes, and put an end to every kind of discourse except what related to themselves. What do you think this says about the ideas of Noble pretensiousness expected to be exercised by those of the Upper Classes? It seems to me that although Lady Middleton was a matron with four children, she was still only about "six or seven and twenty" years old...perhaps she wasn't cold herself, but the ice queen perception was socially demanded for a lady of her stature, when all she really wanted was to be able to play with her children as a child. What does this say about the distinctions of class structure? Who actually sets these precedents to begin with? This post has been edited by momwitch: Jan 5 2009, 01:08 PM -------------------- Avatar made with Poser 6 and Photoshop Elements
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 Jan 6 2009, 12:22 PM
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Being Eaten by the Pea Soup Posts: 26 Joined: 7:01am December 12, 2007 Location: The Forest of Dean, searching for Nargles and a Silver Doe |
Another idea of Magaret's importance as a character could also be this:
Margaret is the reader's voice - she asks the questions no one esle can ask - she often clarifies the intricate social details through her innocence. With Marianne being the middle child, she will often act in a child-like way and becomes closer in behaviour to Magaret, but aspires to Elinor. By there being three children, Magaret balances it out - Marianne is neither the elder nor the younger, despite that she desires to be first in everything - i.e fall in love only once forever, but she is the child of a second marriage, the second child, and the second love of colonal brandon. Maragaret highlights this - she is the balance between the sisters - she is both sense and sensibility. 
-------------------- Harry - "No," said Harry firmly, "you and Al will share a room only when I want the house demolished."
Ron - "We'll just have to wing it, mate." Hermione - "You know, I think I will take Hogwarts: A History. Even if we're not going back there, I don't think I'd feel right if I didn't have it" |
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Jan 8 2009, 04:34 PM
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Shopping for a New Firebolt Posts: 842 Joined: 11:50am February 2, 2006 Location: Splinched between St Louis and 'Harry's World' |
My take on Margaret has always been that she is the embodiment of innocence. She played in and around her home, truly knew every inch of the trees, the grounds, the house, etc. So when the family is forced to move she has the hardest time facing it. The "innocence" of their way of life, the comfort that was their home was taken away. She represents the tumult that exists until the time their little family can find happiness again.
-------------------- "It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." Dumbledore
"In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. And you may quote me." Elwood P. Dowd  You're the BEST Debbie!!avatar nod to Ellanara |
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Jan 16 2009, 08:55 AM
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Just Through the Brick Wall Posts: 12 Joined: 8:17am January 16, 2009 |
I'll agree with your estimate as a representation of innocence, but also I think she represents a constant reminder of Elinor and Marianne are grown women and need to get married because of the new situation. While they are at Norland Margaret dances, climbs tree's and watches adult interactions from under tables. At 13, this is what you would expect a child to do. But when the move to the Cottage at Barton Margaret is more frequently into the dillema's and discussions of her older sisters and mother. What to purchase, why we must do this rather than that, what not to say in the company of Mrs. Jennings because it will come back to haunt. She's being groomed into a woman through the book and that younger sister coming up pushes her older sisters further into get out of the house and on with it so I (Margaret) can fall in love like Marianne did.
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