tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790614306320534072.post4409093833027708321..comments2024-03-28T14:20:08.699-04:00Comments on The Book Rat: Mansfield Park Read Along Discussion Questions, part 3Mistyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11436497955518156688noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790614306320534072.post-74102891060610847012013-09-03T07:35:51.740-04:002013-09-03T07:35:51.740-04:00I interpreted the 'because he couldn't hel...I interpreted the 'because he couldn't help it' as because he couldn't resist it, even though he knew even at the time that he shouldn't be doing it. So vain!<br /><br />I think it's probably better that she ended up with Edmund. She's quite a harsh judge of character and Henry often behaves in ways she wouldn't like so I wonder how happy she'd be, plus long term I can't help but feel that he might've got bored with her. However, I quite like Henry, so in my mind he now knows what he's looking for in a woman and he will find somebody else to become a better man with :)Cerihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01908542708518435282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790614306320534072.post-29275028583743932212013-09-01T01:11:12.774-04:002013-09-01T01:11:12.774-04:00Re the Henry Crawford fiasco: Here is a sentence n...Re the Henry Crawford fiasco: Here is a sentence near the end of MP which confuses me, in part:<br /><br />"All that followed was the result of her imprudence; and he went off with her at last, because he could not help it, regretting Fanny even at the moment, but regretting her infinitely more when all the bustle of the intrigue was over, and a very few months had taught him, by the force of contrast, to place a yet higher value on the sweetness of her temper, the purity of her mind, and the excellence of her principles."<br /><br />Could anyone explain to me the part about "because he could not help it"?? Did Maria hold a gun to his head? Why did he have to run off with her? I understand how he "could not help" sleeping with her, if one could use such a characterization of having no willpower. But how could he "not help" running off with her? Anyone have a clue as to this one? Thanks!<br /><br />Also interesting about this sentence is what Austen says about Henry's character. She is saying that he really does regret what he has done and what he has lost. I think she feels sorry for him and his weaknesses. As do I. I still wish Fanny had ended up with him instead of Edmund. <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07506157671976391069noreply@blogger.com