Jane Austen's Heroines

                                                                     



HEROINES:
first row L. to R. Marianne Dashwood, Jane Bennet, Anne Elliot
second row L. to R. Elinor Dashwood, Elizabeth Bennet, Catherine Morland



I spent an inordinate amount of time at the public library this past summer.  Hot summer days/nights are more conducive to reading than almost anything else, and I was determined to read a fair amount of classics (as opposed to trash, news, or non-fiction). 

I ended up reading almost all of Jane Austen's literature.  I also viewed most of these versions in film.  I found that if I watched the film first, I ended up having to read the book to capture the true essence of the characters.  Discussing Jane Austen is it's own genre, and not what I intend to do in this post.  As I've said before, I'm always thinking about and noticing jewelry, and my mind began to create adornments for these characters.

Sense And Sensibility


Elinore Goes to London



Elinor and Marianne Dashwood are sisters who lose their father

and thus their home and their inheritance at the ages of Seventeen(Marianne) and Early Twenties (Elinor).  Unless you watch Ang Lee's film version (1995) and then Elinor appears to be a spinster in her 30's---or older because she is played by Emma Thompson.  At any rate, Elinor is the sensible one, and Marianne is the emotional one, and their story chronicles their journeys to love.

I used sterling earrwires, Swarovki crystal light grey pearls, crystal studded bead caps, large gem-cut Windsor blue crystals, and  an aurora borealis Swarovki crystal on a decorative headpin.

Marianne and Elinor

Marianne is a romantic, strong-willed but impressionable young girl.  Swarovki crystals adorn tiny teardrop chandeliers; lever-back ear wires.




Delicate Marianne measures only 1 3/4 inches long

 

Pride And Prejudice

Jane and Elizabeth Bennet are the eldest in a family of 5 daughters.  Their mother's life revolves around marrying off her daughters'  Much hilarity and drama ensues.  Elizabeth (Lizzy, Eliza) as the second daughter, is the main character.  Early in the story, she meets Mr. Darcy, whom she perceives as arrogant and proud.  He is not very impressed with her (or her family) either, but things change, and that is what the story is about.



Antique brass bead cones top large pink crystals.  Pale pink pearls are cradled by antique brass bead caps. Tiny pink crystals dangle.



'Lizzie At The Ball'

Based on 'Pride And Prejudice' 2004

Lizzy goes to a ball in Netherfield, given by the eligible and amiable Mr. Bingly.  She has her hopes set on a military man, Mr. Wickham, who does not show up at the dance as promised.  She does, however, begin to bewitch Mr. Darcy without intending to.

Jane, the beautiful, but shy eldest daughter and Mr. Bingly are in love.  Friends conspire to keep them apart for various reasons.

Baroque Swarovki crystals are suspended on delicate silver plated chain.  They are offset bySwarovki bicone crystals. 

'Modern Jane'

Persuasion

As a young woman Anne Elliot becomes engaged to an intelligent and ambitious man of the English Navy.  Her family and close circle of friends however think she is beneath the match as Captain Wentworth is not wealthy.  She is persuaded to break off the match.  Seven years later, he re-enters her life, but he still cannot forgive her for the past.  Anne has never married, and at a young age, she 'loses her bloom'.  However, after Wentworth's reappearance, she begins to grow beautiful again...

'Anne In Bloom'

Gold pearls encased in antique brass bead-caps, dangling olivine crystal and tiny golden pearls.  'Vintaj' antique brass ear wires.

Northanger Abbey

Family friends invite 17 year-old Catherine Morland to accompany them to Bath for a long holiday.  There she meets many new friends, including some that share her passion for Gothic novels.  She also meets the witty and accomplished Henry Tilney, who believes she is too influenced by the literature that she exposes herself too...

'Catherine Visits Bath'

Black nickle lever backs and bead caps with gem-cut garnet crystals.  Wrapped wire globes finished with tiny garnet crystals.



Breezy day, and about 34 degrees when I was outside shooting these photos.  However, I always like to get a shot in natural light





Literary Heroines, All Together

200 hundred years after publication, these books, and these characters remain vibrant in our culture, thru their original publisher and particularly in film.  During Austen's time, British culture was considered advanced, and yet women were still subjugated to men, whether it be their father, brother or husband.  And yet, they still had the same universal hopes and dreams that we cherish today.  This is what makes Jane Austen's literature timeless.  Her books are a  testimony to the human spirit.

Thank you for stopping by!

These items are available for purchase at my Artfire Studio