Do you see your life reflected in works by Jane Austen?

I enjoyed the movie but haven't read the book. I should. In a general sense I can relate to Bernadette, probably because hers was the character I liked the most. She was rather charming, showing humor mixed with a certain pragmatism. Maybe it's more accurate to say she had a "been there, done that" type of wisdom.

As far as Jane Austen's characters go: my life parallels some of them...in my dreams.

It's a pretty good dream: I have the wit and humor of Elizabeth Bennet, the patience and kindness of Anne Eliot, the goodness but none of the insipidity of Fanny Price, the sense of Elinor Dashwood, the beauty of Jane Bennet and the wealth of Emma Woodhouse. The problem with dreams is they are slippery customers. I wake up and find...me. Fancy that!

Truly I can recognize things in the various characters in Jane Austen's books. Some of the things with which I'm familiar include making a judgment before having all the facts (Elizabeth Bennet), refusing to back down when I know something is wrong even if everyone else thinks it's foolishness (Fanny Price), daydreaming (Catherine Morland), trying to use reason when coming to a conclusion (Elinor Dashwood) instead of emotion (Marianne Dashwood) and more. Jane Austen knew human nature, which is probably one of the reasons her books are considered classics and people can still appreciate the emotions and reactions of the characters.

While watching the movie, I found myself wishing I had a group of friends around me with whom I could start a Jane Austen book club. It seemed like so much fun!

I apologize for the rambling nature of this answer. Maybe I should say I can relate to Miss Bates from Emma! :)

***Edit: Very good question. I enjoyed it, even though my answer is boring compared to reader's. Could I be more like Fanny Price than I'd care to admit? Yikes!

***Edit2: Dixie Woman and reader, you are both too kind. Dixie Woman, I believe it about the charm where you are concerned - it comes through in your answers and your questions! If I ever get around to reading it, I'll let you know. Here's my problem: so many books, so little time! reader, your answers are always a pleasure to read, and I love your humor. I'd like to know what follows your "I digress" as well as meet the "pusillanimous little sycophant," at least for a moment.

I haven't seen that movie, but you should read a book. They are little more of a downer to me than the movies that the mask with charm. While she is a good author, in my opinion she makes poor choices and has bad judgment. Her stories all have very similar themes. Jane has a chance to be with a good guy, but she likes the bad guy, so she chooses neither. That's okay, but I don't want to read it time and time again. How many times can you read about a bunch of indecisive women who want the jerk and have an opportunity to be with a good guy but he's boring because he isn't mean to her lol. Then when it's all said and done she never makes a choice.

She is a good writer, and I like the way she words things, but I don't care for the stories... if that makes any sense.

*Pardon my grammar and run ons above.*

This is just my two cents, you may take them or leave them. :) Either way, hooray for literacy and people still reading quality literature and not just TMZ.

Hmm, let me see . . . umm, no, I guess not.

I did grow up poor as a churchmouse, but there has never been any expectation of inheritance and my parents possessed enough sense to know that I wasn't the sort to be married off to anyone eligible. They counted themselves as fortunate that I didn't hitchhike across the country with a dog, or join the Merchant Marine at the age of sixteen. They still don't know what I did do... but I digress.

No one story in my life has ever been neatly and satisfactorily tied up, leaving a happy little symmetrical package either. I can't dance, or play the pianoforte, and don't ever, ever look at the back of my needlework! I can write a decent letter, but my acerbic wit never seems to make people fall head over heels in love with me. It did get me fired from a job once, but again, I digress. That's a talent of mine, or so I've been told. Repeatedly.

I have met real people, on a few occasions, who bear a remarkable resemblance to Austen characters. I once worked with a pusillanimous little sycophant with the last name of Collins. I derived a disproportionate inner satisfaction from drawing mental paralells between him and his eponymous character. I also once had a friend with several sisters, all of whom I infuriated and amused by referring to their mother as Mrs. Bennett.

Beyond that, nope, I can see no way in which I am reflected in Austen's works, a fact which I'm sure would afford her great relief. That doesn't stop me from thoroughly enjoying her novels though, and she'd probably be happy enough about that too.

On a side note, I've found it doesn't really pay to listen to reviews. I read them, for books and movies and music, and then I blithely disregard them and do what looks like fun to me. It's the only way to go, don't you think? I'll check that movie out, if it ever comes my way. It sounds kind of entertaining to me.

Cool question, thanks for asking.

***Edit) I know better than to accuse you of false modesty, ck1, but really, when it comes to Austen you are, and will remain, the queen. I loved your answer, and I anticipated its depth and quality, with which I knew better than to compete. That's why I chickened out and went the silly route. Alas, as usual, you trump me, both for insight and for wit. Fanny Price, my eye!

My life at the moment seems to reflect Jane Austen's real life. Had the chance to run off and marry right off the bat in a relationship, that ended after a dragged out period. Other little things, I seem to be like Elizabeth from Pride & Predjudice in the sense that I support everyone in their quests of love and their marriages, etc. I just need that Mr. Darcy to complete it.

No. Maybe it's a guy thing, but I've tried to read her works, and while I recognize her talent as an author she simply doesn't speak to me at all. It's like Victorian Sex in the City.

Hey Dix, I almost didn't recognize you with that new avatar.

Does my life compare to a Jane Austin novel? No. Much too messy! Maybe if you combine them all, it would come close.

No, but I wish it were so. My early life was more like the Betty McDonald book The Egg and I. Hahahahahahaha...~M~

Not really, though I relate to some things in her books.