How "The Other Bennet Sister" subverts narrative convention

We've seen it countless times in romance films. The unassuming heroine who never thought of herself as a beauty gets a makeover that makes her the most stunning woman at the ball. 

What we've been conditioned to expect 

Disney has practically patented this plain to princess trope from the time that it showed the magical transformation of Cinderella's torn dress into a sparkling gown to the depiction of beauty professionals smoothing the bushy-browed, curly-haired, bespectacled Mia into the general beauty standard  ahead of dressing her in her ball gown. 

In the conventions of such films,  a heroine who does not shed her ugly duckling veneer and become the graceful swan we expect to see is unthinkable. And that is what makes The Other Bennet Sister so  daring in challenging it.  

Being the odd one out

The Other Bennet Sister is Mary's story of how she comes into her own identity and happiness. Of course, growth and change is part of that story. But the usual account of a girl's metamorphosis into a beautiful woman who only gets her due after removing her glasses, doing her hair, and wearing the right clothes is replaced by the confidence that allows Mary to be herself instead of trying to impress others and win parental approval. 

In the book, Mary keeps applying herself to books largely to try to win her father's notice and affection. That is not really shown in the adaption, which highlights more of her awareness of constantly disappointing her mother because she is not pretty enough or lively enough and has the gall to wear spectacles. In her parental home, where her sisters have paired up without her and her parents either ignore or criticize her, Mary has no one to turn to.

But that all changes when the Gardiners take her in. Her aunt does everything possible to make Mary feel at home and to build up her confidence that Mrs. Bennet's constant criticisms have undermined. And we have the requisite new wardrobe for the heroine as she makes a switch from her usual drab colors, though it's all about Mary's self-esteem rather than the usual makeover.

Though she never blossoms into beauty, Mary with her glasses and unfashionable clothes manages to attract two suitor. Tom Hayward and Will Ryder enjoy her company and conversation because she is so different from other women they've encountered and says what she really thinks.   

Clothes do not make the woman, but choosing them does

Mary's new  spring green gown

Mary's new clothes are handled very differently in the book and in the adaption. The novel gave greater weight to Mary's feelings of guilt concerning Mr. Sparrow at the Assembly ball. Associating that with a becoming cream and gold gown that she had treated herself to for the occasion make her deny herself pretty dresses afterwards. Wanting to boost her nieces confidence, Mrs. Gardiner makes the argument her that she deserves to dress in smart clothes as a reflection of how she values herself and even persuades her to allow Elizabeth -- who wishes to make amends for having played a part in Mary's embarrassment when told to stop playing piano --to pay for it. 

In contrast, in the adaption, Mary has come to the Gardiners as an interim governess, and her aunt convinces her that the position includes a dress allowance. She urges Mary to choose the fabrics she wants on her own and refuses to direct her in any way. The resulting gowns are not what would have been called "smart" at the time. The spring green gown red gown is particularly unflattering. 

Yet, as she tells Miss Baxter, it makes her feel bold. That statement proves that Mrs. Gardiner achieved her aim of bolstering her niece's confidence in herself and her ability to choose for herself, regardless of how fashionable she may appear.  

Mrs. Bennet attempts to undermine that when she offers her own commentary on the red dress and forces Mary to wear Elizabeth's gown at dinner to look more attractive to Mr. Ryder. (None of this occurs in the book.) Mary wears the blue gown that her sister wore to the ball some 2-3 years and shows her discomfort by fidgeting with the neckline. 

Elizabeth selecting her gown for the ball

This dress is the one that Elizabeth selected over a yellow one in order to disassociate herself form her mother who was wearing a similar color. Mary will echo making that choice when it comes to deciding what to wear for the hike up Scafell Pike. 

Mary chooses her blue plaid gown

Narrating her actions, Mary declares, "I had made my choice!" when she selects her own blue gown -- the plaid one she has worn many times before, though she pairs it with a fuchsia spencer. She wears the same combination when she is reunited with Tom Hayward and finally gets the romantic resolution she had hoped for.

The choice she had made was not just about her clothes but about taking control of her own life. One was marrying Tom rather than much richer Ryder. The other -- an invention of the adaption -- was to put all her learning to use as a kind of tutor/governess and pursue a career even as a statement of valuing herself beyond attaining the position of wife. That is Mary declaring her own independence from conventional standards as she pursues her own form of happiness. 

Related: 

The Other Bennet Sister: Celebrating Mary Bennet
by Totally_Jane_Austen

"The Other Bennet Sister" is Closer to Jane Eyre than Jane Austen

Jane Austen and Autism

Jane Austen: Love and Money
Jane Austen at the Morgan
Love and Limerence in Jane Austen
Observations on Jane Austen's Emma
Pride, Prejudice and Persuasion: Obstacles to Happiness in Jane Austen's Novels
Three Janes, Two Governesses, and the Abolitionist Movement
The Big Bow-wow & Bit of Ivory
Jane Austen's Heroines
Jane Austen and Capability Brown
Pride and Prejudice in Job Applications
Jane Austen at 250
Many Happy Returns, Jane Austen

Valuing kindness above cleverness: Emma's lesson

 

This blanket is one of the hundreds of themed  products available at Totally_Jane_Austen 

Facebook brought this New Yorker cartoon into my feed. I immediately thought of Jane Austen's Emma. She thought the same way the father in this cartoon does that saying something clever but devastating is an irresistible temptation, but she comes to regret the hurt she has caused. 

While the group is seated for their picnic, Frank Churchill stirs things up by declaring a demand from Miss Woodhouse: 

" 'she only demands from each of you either one thing very clever, be it prose or verse, original or repeated--or two things moderately clever--or three things very dull indeed, and she engages to laugh heartily at them all."

"Oh! very well," exclaimed Miss Bates, "then I need not be uneasy. 'Three things very dull indeed.' That will just do for me, you know. I shall be sure to say three dull things as soon as ever I open my mouth, shan't I? (looking round with the most good-humoured dependence on every body's assent)--Do not you all think I shall?"

Emma could not resist.

"Ah! ma'am, but there may be a difficulty. Pardon me--but you will be limited as to number--only three at once."

Miss Bates, deceived by the mock ceremony of her manner, did not immediately catch her meaning; but, when it burst on her, it could not anger, though a slight blush shewed that it could pain her.

"Ah!--well--to be sure. Yes, I see what she means, (turning to Mr. Knightley,) and I will try to hold my tongue. I must make myself very disagreeable, or she would not have said such a thing to an old friend."

Silver Emma quote pendant  

There is some additional dialog and a bit of narrative until Mr. Knightley is able to confront Emma alone and take her to task:

While waiting for the carriage, she found Mr. Knightley by her side. He looked around, as if to see that no one were near, and then said,

"Emma, I must once more speak to you as I have been used to do: a privilege rather endured than allowed, perhaps, but I must still use it. I cannot see you acting wrong, without a remonstrance. How could you be so unfeeling to Miss Bates? How could you be so insolent in your wit to a woman of her character, age, and situation?--Emma, I had not thought it possible."

Emma recollected, blushed, was sorry, but tried to laugh it off.

"Nay, how could I help saying what I did?--Nobody could have helped it. It was not so very bad. I dare say she did not understand me."

"I assure you she did. She felt your full meaning. She has talked of it since. I wish you could have heard how she talked of it--with what candour and generosity. I wish you could have heard her honouring your forbearance, in being able to pay her such attentions, as she was for ever receiving from yourself and your father, when her society must be so irksome."

"Oh!" cried Emma, "I know there is not a better creature in the world: but you must allow, that what is good and what is ridiculous are most unfortunately blended in her."

"They are blended," said he, "I acknowledge; and, were she prosperous, I could allow much for the occasional prevalence of the ridiculous over the good. Were she a woman of fortune, I would leave every harmless absurdity to take its chance, I would not quarrel with you for any liberties of manner. Were she your equal in situation--but, Emma, consider how far this is from being the case. She is poor; she has sunk from the comforts she was born to; and, if she live to old age, must probably sink more. Her situation should secure your compassion. It was badly done, indeed! You, whom she had known from an infant, whom she had seen grow up from a period when her notice was an honour, to have you now, in thoughtless spirits, and the pride of the moment, laugh at her, humble her--and before her niece, too--and before others, many of whom (certainly some,) would be entirely guided by your treatment of her.--This is not pleasant to you, Emma--and it is very far from pleasant to me; but I must, I will,--I will tell you truths while I can; satisfied with proving myself your friend by very faithful counsel, and trusting that you will some time or other do me greater justice than you can do now."

You can judge for yourself which adaption of the picnic at Box Hill, showed this lesson best, thanks to the compilation here:

 

With great status comes great responsibility 

The first line of Emma is not nearly as famous as the opening line of Pride and Prejudice, though it also archly conveys the essence of the story: "Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence; and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her."

Emma seems to have all that is necessary for happiness. Out of those three attributes, she takes the most pride in her cleverness, taking her wealth for granted and lacking vanity for her appearance, as Mr. Knightley reveals in conversation with Mrs. Weston. 

Like a tragic hero, Emma's great strengths are also what lead to her undoing -- or rather some misjudgments and hurt feelings that the good-hearted Emma never intended. Austen's novels follow the conventions of Shakespeare's comedies rather than the tragedies, so everything works out fine in the end with the main characters properly paired off. 

Jane Austen Mugs
by Totally_Jane_Austen

However, along the way, our heroine has to admit her faults and mistakes and learn to be better, which she does. Now that I think about it, Emma's lesson is similar to Darcy's who responded to Bingley's suggestion that he ask Elizabeth to dance with "She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men."

 Darcy came to regret that quip as much as Emma regretted what she said to Miss Bates. Like Darcy, Emma learns that kindness and consideration for the feelings of others is a greater measure of worth than attempt to manipulate others -- for their own good -- and clever remarks.  

P.S. The value of kindness is one of the Austen themes that The Other Bennet Sister gets right. Mrs. Bennet's lack of kindness to her middle daughter destroys her self-esteem. Her mother's foil is her Aunt Gardiner who is kindness herself. Mary also comments on feeling really bad about having to refuse to dance again with Mr. Sparrow whose only fault was having been kind to her and describes Tom Hayward as "the kindest man."  

Related:

Observations on Jane Austen's Emma 

"The Other Bennet Sister" is Closer to Jane Eyre than Jane Austen        How "The Other Bennet Sister" subverts narrative convention     

Jane Austen: Love and Money
Love and Limerence in Jane Austen

Jane Austen at the Morgan
Jane Austen and Autism
Jane Austen's Heroines
Pride, Prejudice and Persuasion: Obstacles to Happiness in Jane Austen's Novels
Three Janes, Two Governesses, and the Abolitionist Movement