At the beginning of Chapter 10, Isabella refuses to speak to Mr. Morland for the rest of the evening at the theatre, "'Now, Mr. Morland,' for he was close to her on the other side, 'I shall not speak another word to you all the rest of the evening; so I charge you not to expect it.'" (Austen 55). Just a few moments later, however, "Isabella smiled incredulously, and talked t rest of the evening to James" (Austen 56).
The next day, at the pump-room Catherine had one experience she didn't enjoy. "Catherine immediately took her usual place by the side of her friend. James, who was now in constant attendance, maintained a similar position, and separating themselves from the rest of their party, they walked in that manner for some time, till Catherine began to doubt the happiness of a situation which confining her entirely to her friend and brother, gave her very little share in the notice of either" (Austen 56).
The new goal of conversing with Ms. Tilney was finally reached when Catherine was able to talk to her for a little while and find out a little about Mr. Tilney. "They parted – on Miss Tilney's side with some knowledge of her new acquaintance's feelings, and on Catherine's without the smallest consciousness of having explained them" (Austen 58).
Ms. Austen interrupts her plot once again to inject a thought: "Every young lady may feel for my heroine in this critical moment, for every young lady has at some time or other known the same agitation. All have been, or at least all have believed themselves to be, in danger of pursuit of some one whom they wished to avoid; and all have been anxious for the attentions of some one whom they wished to please" (Austen 59). In Catherine's case the person to avoid was John Thorpe, and the person to whom she had certain affection was Mr. Tilney.
Thankfully Miss Morland was able to dance with Mr. Tilney that evening. This caused her such joy that "she danced in her chair all the way home" (Austen 64).
Because Catherine does not agree with John, she must not speak with him. Her childness shows here, she's not getting her way so she'll show him up and just not speak to him.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that Austen puts this scene here, it's as if she wants to remind the audience of the immature way of thinking when it comes to Catherine. She's been putting her self out into society so much that we just see her in a progressive stage, it's like we forget that she has been sheltered for so long. Catherin is just oblivious to anything and everything going on around- even the budding relationship between her friend and brother. She finds there flirtations and exchanges for bothersome than anything and cant see it for what it really is.
Catherine even reveals the fact that she like Henry- yet this does not come past her, she has no idea what she has revealed and her innocence of the fact consumes it all.