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Jane Austen and Rom Coms: Sense and Sensibility (“Love Triangles”)

Posted in Inspired by Jane Austen, Jane Austen Fan Fiction, Jane Austen Films, Jane Austen's World, Popular culture, Themes in Jane Austen's Novels on October 10, 2023| 8 Comments »

Over the last few months, we’ve explored timeless romantic themes in Jane Austen’s novels that are still frequently used in today’s popular books, movies, and television shows. Thus far, we’ve covered the following themes in this series: “Enemies to Lovers” in Pride and Prejudice, the “Slow Burn” Romance in Emma, “Best Friends to Lovers” in Mansfield Park, “Second-Chance” Love in Persuasion, and “The Meet-Cute” in Northanger Abbey.

Last but certainly not least, this brings us to Sense and Sensibility and one of Austen’s most mature and intricate plots. Sense and Sensibility is unique in that it contains two main love stories with its sister-heroines, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood. Though Elinor is the main protagonist of the novel, Marianne’s romantic life is often front-and-center with its high drama and plot impact.

Love Triangles

In the world of storytelling, love triangles provide a potent plot device. There’s the age-old King Arthur-Guinevere-Lancelot story that’s been told again and again; the love triangle/identity mix-up in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night; and the explosive Heathcliff-Cathy-Edgar triangle in Wuthering Heights. And this is only the tip of the iceberg. We could add dozens of other famous triangular love stories to this list.

In Sense and Sensibility, Austen provides her readers with not one, but two separate love triangles to untangle between Elinor-Edward-Lucy Steele and Marianne-Willoughby-Colonel Brandon.

In each of these triangles, there is one “wrong” person standing in the way of true love with Mr./Ms. Right. For Colonel Brandon, Willoughby takes the spotlight and all of Marianne’s attention. For Elinor, Lucy stands in the way of her happiness with Edward, due to an unfortunate youthful promise made by Edward.

LitJoy Classics, Wuthering Heights

Falling for Mr./Ms. Wrong, Finding Mr./Ms. Right

In both of these love triangles, a character falls for Mr./Ms. Wrong first and later finds Mr./Ms. Right. Elinor and Colonel Brandon both wait in the wings and watch to see if Edward and Marianne will break free from their previous attachments. They both must wait and wonder; they both feel the pain and angst of separation; and they both know that they may never find their personal happy ending.

The only difference is, Edward and Elinor have a mutual attachment to one another, while Marianne does not develop romantic feelings toward Colonel Brandon until far later in the novel. She thinks he’s far too old for romance and “thirty-five has nothing to do with matrimony”:

Colonel Brandon is certainly younger than Mrs. Jennings, but he is old enough to be my father; and if he were ever animated enough to be in love, must have long outlived every sensation of the kind. It is too ridiculous! When is a man to be safe from such wit, if age and infirmity will not protect him?

Sense and Sensibility

Thus, Colonel Brandon must wait in the wings, ever true and ever patient, caring deeply for Marianne and wanting the best for her, even if it means watching her break her heart and health over Willoughby.

Mr. Wrong: The Problem with Willoughby

As in life, Jane Austen’s characters often have to fall for Mr./Ms. Wrong before they can appreciate Mr./Ms. Right. In some of her novels, she even uses a “red herring” to keep her readers distracted (Frank Churchill is one such example). In Sense and Sensibility, Marianne Dashwood falls for a young, dashing, handsome, attractive man who appears to be everything she’s ever hoped for in a man.

To make matters even more exciting, their “meet-cute” involves an intoxicating rescue scene where Willoughby lifts Marianne and carries her home after she falls down and is hurt. How could a young lady, especially a young romantic woman like Marianne, not fall for a strong, handsome man who literally sweeps her off her feet and carries her through the rain to safety.

The problem is, no matter how dashing, friendly, attractive, romantic, or exciting Willoughby might appear, he is not who he seems. As we later find out from Colonel Brandon, Willoughby has a checkered past and has impregnated (at least) one young woman out of wedlock, without taking any responsibility for her care, sufficiently ruining her reputation and her chances (in that time/culture) of a happy future.

But, you might ask, how could anyone have known, since the fate of Colonel Brandon’s ward was unknown to any of the Dashwoods until much later? Though no one could believe just how bad he is, Austen does provide clues about Willoughby’s character through her descriptions of his conduct. He frequently crosses lines of propriety (usually a red flag in Austen’s novels) and makes himself far too cozy and familiar with Marianne without making any firm promises.

Today, dozens of movies and books follow a similar script. We often see characters like Mr. Willoughby, Mr. Wickham, and Mr. Crawford who are just a little bit too handsome, too dashing, and too perfect to actually be Mr. Right.

Ms. Wrong: The Problem with Lucy Steele

The problem with Lucy Steele is more a matter of youthful ignorance and inexperience. Edward Ferrars is captivated by Lucy’s beauty and, due in part to forced proximity, experiences young love and makes a commitment to someone who does not match his personality, intelligence, values, or interests in life. Austen describes her as “illiterate, artful, and selfish” – certainly no match for a thoughtful, principled man like Edward.

Not surprisingly, he soon regrets committing himself to a woman like Lucy:

The youthful infatuation of nineteen would naturally blind him to every thing but her beauty and good nature; but the four succeeding years—years, which if rationally spent, give such improvement to the understanding, must have opened his eyes to her defects of education, while the same period of time, spent on her side in inferior society and more frivolous pursuits, had perhaps robbed her of that simplicity which might once have given an interesting character to her beauty.

Sense and Sensibility

And while Lucy at first only appears to be an ignorant, vapid girl without much sense, we quickly realize she is far less sweet and far more dangerous than meets the eye. She’s not in love with Edward; she merely sees him as a “way up.” We later find out that she’s a conniving “gold digger” (to use today’s terms) who is looking for any way to climb the social ladder and make the best match she can, regardless of who she hurts or what anyone thinks.

This type of female red herring shows up in many popular romantic movies and books today as well. However, in many of today’s plot lines, this type of female character tends to be some kind of shark in the business world who cares more about appearances and getting ahead than building a loving relationship and happy life with the handsome main character.

Finding Mr. (Colonel) Right

Marianne must go through heartache before she can appreciate or fall in love with Colonel Brandon. He watches and waits, hoping against hope, until she begins to blossom and heal from her broken heart. His steadiness, thoughtfulness, and gentlemanlike manner is a welcome change from the high drama and passion of her first attachment, and soon an attachment forms:

Instead of falling a sacrifice to an irresistible passion, as once she had fondly flattered herself with expecting,—instead of remaining even for ever with her mother, and finding her only pleasures in retirement and study, as afterwards in her more calm and sober judgment she had determined on,—she found herself at nineteen, submitting to new attachments, entering on new duties, placed in a new home, a wife, the mistress of a family, and the patroness of a village.

Colonel Brandon was now as happy, as all those who best loved him, believed he deserved to be;—in Marianne he was consoled for every past affliction;—her regard and her society restored his mind to animation, and his spirits to cheerfulness; and that Marianne found her own happiness in forming his, was equally the persuasion and delight of each observing friend. Marianne could never love by halves; and her whole heart became, in time, as much devoted to her husband, as it had once been to Willoughby.

Sense and Sensibility

In today’s popular movies and books, a character like Colonel Brandon is sometimes the childhood best friend or the nerdy next door neighbor that suddenly turns handsome. It’s usually a matter of the main character being blinded at first by a passionate but unhealthy relationship and then “coming to their senses” and noticing the quality person that’s been there all along.

As far as the age-gap between Brandon and Marianne (which was quite common during Austen’s day and culture), many of today’s romantic storylines, such as As Good as It Gets, Crazy Heart, and Autumn in New York, feature a May-December romance.

Finding Ms. Right

From the moment they meet, it’s clear that Elinor and Edward are perfect for one another in every way. For Edward, once he meets a woman of Elinor’s caliber, there is no question that she is far superior to Lucy Steele.

However, Edward is a man of his word and refuses to do wrong by Lucy Steele. This honorable choice only serves to make Edward more attractive, even though Elinor is pained deeply by the knowledge that he must marry an ignorant woman he does not love. Like Brandon, Elinor waits patiently, enduring much pain, until Edward is finally set free.

Dozens of movies and televisions shows use this type of plot line where the main character must come to the realization that their current relationship is all wrong and someone else is a much better fit. Sweet Home Alabama is one mainstream movie example of this type of love affair.

Love Triangles in Popular Media

More romantic comedies feature a love triangle of some kind in today’s world of romantic writing.

The following are some popular movies (and/or books) with this theme: Pretty in Pink, While You Were Sleeping, The Notebook, Beauty and the Beast, Spider-Man, The Hunger Games, Titanic, Twilight (Team Edward v. Team Jacob), My Best Friend’s Wedding, Bridget Jones’s Diary, Sabrina, Reality Bites, Gone with the Wind, Something Borrowed, Pearl Harbor, Pirates of the Caribbean, and The Princess Bride.

Some well-known television love triangles include: Dawson’s Creek, Friends, Gilmore Girls, The Office, Beverly Hills 90210, Sex & The City, How I Met Your Mother, Felicity, Outlander, The Summer I Turned Pretty, Never Have I Ever, Friday Night Lights, Lost, and Grey’s Anatomy.

Though none of these shows or movies holds a candle to Austen’s writing, it’s clear that love triangles and plot twists about finding and/or waiting for Mr./Ms. Right continue to keep audiences coming back for more.

Happily Ever After

In the end, everyone lives happily ever after. (Except, of course, those characters whom Austen deems foolish or undeserving of true happiness.) As always, Austen provides her reader’s with a satisfying ending: “Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery. I quit such odious subjects as soon as I can, impatient to restore everybody not greatly in fault themselves to tolerable comfort, and to have done with all the rest.”

As we close this pop culture series on Jane Austen and Rom Coms, I’d love to know which couples and romantic themes are your favorite(s) in her novels!

RACHEL DODGE teaches college English classes, gives talks at libraries, teas, and book clubs, and writes for Jane Austen’s World blog. She is the bestselling author of The Little Women Devotional, The Anne of Green Gables Devotional and Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen. Now Available: The Secret Garden Devotional! You can visit Rachel online at www.RachelDodge.com.

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Jane Austen and Rom Coms: Northanger Abbey (“The Meet-Cute”)

Posted in Bath, Catherine Morland, Jane Austen's enduring popularity, Jane Austen's World, Northanger Abbey, Popular culture, Regency, Regency Etiquette, Regency society on August 15, 2023| 6 Comments »

It’s time for the next installment in this series devoted to examining the enduring romantic themes in Jane Austen’s novels, many of which are used over and over again in today’s most popular “rom com” movies and books.

So far in this series, we’ve explored popular themes in Jane Austen’s other novels: “Enemies to Lovers” in Pride and Prejudice, the “Slow Burn” Romance in Emma, “Best Friends to Lovers” in Mansfield Park, and “Second-Chance” Love in Persuasion.

This month, we’re taking a closer look at the romantic themes Jane Austen used in Northanger Abbey (NA) and tracking the themes that are still used today.

Defining the “Meet-Cute”

Every rom com has a meet-cute, the moment when two characters meet each other in a “cute” and memorable way. In The Holiday, Arthur (Eli Wallach) defines a meet-cute like this:

Say a man and a woman both need something to sleep in, and they both go to the same men’s pajama department. And the man says to the salesman, ‘I just need bottoms.’ The woman says, ‘I just need a top.’ They look at each other, and that’s the meet-cute.”

The Holiday

While every story has a meet-cute, some are cuter than others. Sometimes the two characters cannot stand one another, sometimes there is a misunderstanding, and sometimes there is a clash. But sometimes, as in NA, the two characters meet and are immediately drawn to one another.

Introducing Mr. Tilney

In NA, not only do Catherine Morland and Henry Tilney have a clever first meeting, we also learn a lot about social etiquette during that era.

When Catherine arrives in Bath, she knows no one and her chaperone, Mrs. Allen, has no immediate acquaintances. On their first night in the Upper Rooms, they move through a crowded ballroom, but because Mrs. Allen does not see anyone she knows, Catherine cannot dance:

[S]he longed to dance, but she had not an acquaintance in the room. Mrs. Allen did all that she could do in such a case by saying very placidly, every now and then, “I wish you could dance, my dear—I wish you could get a partner.”

Northanger Abbey

However, when they visit the Lower Rooms, “fortune” is “more favourable to our heroine” (Ch. 3). It’s there that the master of ceremonies makes an introduction: “The master of the ceremonies introduced to her a very gentleman-like young man as a partner; his name was Tilney.”

After dancing they strike up a lively conversation and the meet-cute is on.

Northanger’s Meet-Cute

Henry is described by Austen in highly favorable terms: “He seemed to be about four or five and twenty, was rather tall, had a pleasing countenance, a very intelligent and lively eye, and, if not quite handsome, was very near it. His address was good, and Catherine felt herself in high luck.”

As they talk, Mr. Tilney teases Catherine and is clearly a good-humored man: “He talked with fluency and spirit—and there was an archness and pleasantry in his manner which interested, though it was hardly understood by her.”

Mr. Tilney flirts with Catherine when he questions her about her journal and even tells her what she “ought” to write in it after their meeting:

“I danced with a very agreeable young man, introduced by Mr. King; had a great deal of conversation with him—seems a most extraordinary genius—hope I may know more of him. That, madam, is what I wish you to say.”

For the remainder of the chapter, Austen is at her absolute best with light-hearted, quick-paced dialogue and witty banter. Rarely do any of her characters talk quite so much upon first meeting one another, and we, her readers, find ourselves as charmed by Henry as Catherine herself:

They danced again; and, when the assembly closed, parted, on the lady’s side at least, with a strong inclination for continuing the acquaintance. Whether she thought of him so much, while she drank her warm wine and water, and prepared herself for bed, as to dream of him when there, cannot be ascertained; but I hope it was no more than in a slight slumber, or a morning doze at most; for if it be true, as a celebrated writer has maintained, that no young lady can be justified in falling in love before the gentleman’s love is declared, it must be very improper that a young lady should dream of a gentleman before the gentleman is first known to have dreamt of her.

Northanger Abbey

Love at First Sight, Conflict Ahead

In a book with a quick mutual connection between characters, there must be some kind of problem or conflict to keep the story going. Otherwise, it would be over in the first few pages. In many popular movies today, writers add in misunderstandings, timing issues, geographical hurdles, age differences, and other road blocks to make things interesting.

The same is true for NA. After their first meeting, Catherine develops an immediate first major crush, and it’s clear that Mr. Tilney is hoping to see more of her as well. Both are charmed and interested. Both hope to see one another again. However, as with most stories that start with immediate attraction, Catherine and Henry don’t live happily ever after–at least not right away.

For the remainder of the novel, Austen uses a variety of plot devices to create conflict for her two young lovers, unfold a larger plot with its own major themes, and build a multi-layered story arc for Catherine and Henry.

C.E. Brock illustration, Northanger Abbey, “Pray, pray, Stop Mr. Thorpe”

Popular “Meet-Cute” Examples

No romantic comedy can hold a candle to Jane Austen’s complex plots, characters, and novels. However, it’s interesting to think about the devices she used to create the meet-cute in NA versus the devices writers must use today. While people don’t need a master of ceremonies to introduce them anymore, writers still must find ways to “match-make” their characters. Here are some popular movies that fall into the “meet-cute” category:

In The Holiday, there are several meet-cutes: When Iris and Amanda switch houses for Christmas, Iris ends up meeting Miles when he comes to drop something off at Amanda’s house on a windy day in Los Angeles. Miles and Iris immediately hit it off, while Miles’ girlfriend sits in his car waiting. Amanda meets Graham when he shows up on her doorstep (Iris’ doorstep), hoping to crash at his sister’s house after a night out.

In Serendipity, the two main characters meet in a busy department store at Christmas time. They each grab for the last pair of black gloves and strike up a conversation.

In Notting Hill, Will spills orange juice on Anna, a popular movie star, when they crash into one another on the sidewalk near his apartment. She agrees to go to his place to change into clean clothes and they share a delightful first conversation and an unexpected first kiss.

In 50 First Dates, Henry must create a series of meet-cutes to gain the attention of Lucy each day because she has lost her short-term memory and forgets who he is every time they meet.

And in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, we find a refreshing twist on the meet-cute when Toula meets and falls in love with Ian. As she serves him at her family’s restaurant, she can’t even speak to him. However, that meeting pushes Toula to change her life, go to school, (get a makeover – of course), and become the confident woman Ian later notices through the window of a travel agency.

Clever Introductions

Jane Austen created her stories in a world where men and women could only meet under certain circumstances. The social rules of her time necessarily set up parameters that she had to follow, which provided for some very creative inspiration. Today, people don’t have to follow those same rules, but they still need to find a way to meet and introduce themselves, either in person, online, at church, work, or school, or through a mutual friend.

What are some of your favorite “meet-cute” moments in literature or film? If you have a “meet-cute” story of your own, we’d love to hear about it in the comments!

RACHEL DODGE teaches college English classes, gives talks at libraries, teas, and book clubs, and writes for Jane Austen’s World blog. She is the bestselling author of The Little Women Devotional, The Anne of Green Gables Devotional and Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen. Now Available: The Secret Garden Devotional! You can visit Rachel online at www.RachelDodge.com.

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Jane Austen and Rom Coms: Persuasion (“Second-Chance Love”)

Posted in Film adaptation, Jane Austen Films, Jane Austen Novels, Jane Austen TV adaptation, Jane Austen's World, Persuasion, Popular culture on July 11, 2023| 9 Comments »

As we continue our investigation into Jane Austen’s irresistible romantic themes and plots, we now come to one of my favorite Austen novels, Persuasion.

In this series, we’ve looked at “Enemies to Lovers” in Pride and Prejudice, the “Slow Burn” Romance in Emma, and “Best Friends to Lovers” in Mansfield Park.

Now we turn our attention to the love story that many Austen fans love as much as (or more than) Pride and Prejudice. It’s the story of Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth and the one that got away.

The 1995 film adaptation of Persuasion with Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds.

Second-Chance Love

Persuasion is a second-chance story because Anne Elliot receives another chance at love with Captain Wentworth and another chance at living her own life and choosing her own happiness.

When the story opens, she’s somewhat of a faded, wilted flower:

A few years before, Anne Elliot had been a very pretty girl, but her bloom had vanished early; and as even in its height, her father had found little to admire in her, (so totally different were her delicate features and mild dark eyes from his own), there could be nothing in them, now that she was faded and thin, to excite his esteem.

Persuasion

However, her true beauty and worth go far beyond her exterior, and Captain Wentworth quickly notices that she’s still the same Anne:

She was looking remarkably well; her very regular, very pretty features, having the bloom and freshness of youth restored by the fine wind which had been blowing on her complexion, and by the animation of eye which it had also produced. It was evident that the gentleman . . . admired her exceedingly. Captain Wentworth looked round at her instantly in a way which shewed his noticing of it. He gave her a momentary glance, a glance of brightness, which seemed to say, ‘That man is struck with you, and even I, at this moment, see something like Anne Elliot again.’

Persuasion

The One That Got Away

Beyond a second chance at love, Persuasion is a picture-perfect model of “The One That Got Away” (or “Long-Lost Love”) romantic theme that has become so popular in romantic movies and books. Austen knew what she was doing when she created a storyline about passionate, young love; years of separation, heartache, and regret; and a long, drawn-out rekindling of a long-lost love that has only grown deeper and more mature with time.

But one of the reasons Persuasion is so intriguing is that Austen doesn’t instantly rekindle the relationship when Anne and Wentworth meet again. Instead, Austen builds a storyline that creates questions, heartache, and angst for Anne (and Austen’s readers).

While Anne never stopped pining for Wentworth, it seems as though he has moved on completely and has not forgiven Anne. There is no quick thrill, instant reignite, or swift rekindle. He acts almost as though they’ve never met.

Anne’s only recourse is to patiently, achingly watch the love of her life search for a wife, flirt with other women, and essentially ignore her (or so she thinks). She remains humble, quiet, and ever-patient, though each day brings fresh torture.

Forced Proximity

One romantic device Austen uses expertly in Persuasion (and in most of her novels) is what we now term “forced proximity.” This is when an author places two characters in a situation where they are forced to spend extra time together in close quarters. It might be a stalled elevator, a shared school or work project, a single bed in a hotel room, or a small car on a long road trip.

In Persuasion, Austen brings Wentworth right into Anne’s neighborhood, places him among the families she and her family socialize with, and even has them travel in the same group to Lyme. Austen also creates situations where Anne and Wentworth are even in close physical proximity:

They were actually on the same sofa, for Mrs Musgrove had most readily made room for him; they were divided only by Mrs Musgrove.

Persuasion

In another moment, however, she found herself in the state of being released from him; some one was taking him from her, though he had bent down her head so much, that his little sturdy hands were unfastened from around her neck, and he was resolutely borne away, before she knew that Captain Wentworth had done it. Her sensations on the discovery made her perfectly speechless.

Persuasion

In Bath, there are more opportunities for the two of them to cross paths, including the day when Wentworth overhears Anne’s conversation with Captain Harville and writes her his letter.

Love Stories Like Persuasion

Many popular romantic movies make use of these similar themes, such as The Notebook, Serendipity, The Princess Bride, Sweet Home Alabama, Before Sunset, 13 Going on 30, The Best of Me, The Parent Trap, Grosse Pointe Blank, Ticket to Paradise, Pearl Harbor, Love Actually, The Story of Us, Crazy, Stupid Love, When Harry Met Sally, and An Affair to Remember.

Television shows such as Friends (Ross Geller and Rachel Green) and As Time Goes By (Jean Pargetter and Lionel Hardcastle) also utilize the rekindled love or long-lost love theme.

Geoffrey Palmer and Judi Dench in As Time Goes By

Stories We Love

I’m sure you can add other books, shows, or movies to this list with similar themes. I personally think that many of us can relate to Anne Elliot and a desired second chance, whether it’s in love or some other passion or pursuit. Though none of these popular rom coms hold a candle to Jane Austen’s masterpiece, it’s clear that the themes she employed have stood the test of time.

RACHEL DODGE teaches college English classes, gives talks at libraries, teas, and book clubs, and writes for Jane Austen’s World blog. She is the bestselling author of The Little Women Devotional, The Anne of Green Gables Devotional and Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen. Now Available: The Secret Garden Devotional! You can visit Rachel online at www.RachelDodge.com.

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Jane Austen and Rom Coms: Mansfield Park (“Friends to Lovers”)

Posted in Film adaptation, Jane Austen Fan Fiction, Jane Austen Films, Jane Austen Novels, Jane Austen TV adaptation, Jane Austen's World, Mansfield Park, Popular culture, Regency on June 13, 2023| 9 Comments »

As we continue to analyze Jane Austen’s novels and identify the best romantic tropes used in each one, we’re well on our way to proving that Austen not only used romantic themes ingeniously but also played an important role in developing several key plot devices that are regularly used in modern filmmaking today.

Last month, I wrote about Rom Coms and Emma. This month, I’m delving into Mansfield Park and finding the romantic themes found in the novel that are commonly found in romantic movies today.

Mansfield Park, 1st Edition, 1814, Swann Auction Galleries

Romantic Themes in Mansfield Park

In Mansfield Park, there are several themes that ring true as romantic tropes we’re familiar with today:

The Ugly Duckling-Turned-Swan (aka the “Make-over”)

Following this train of thought, we see Fanny Price blossom and come into her own in MP. Her transformation isn’t necessarily outward. She doesn’t exactly go to the mall and get a makeover, but she does come out of her shell and begin to stand on her own two feet.

The “makeover” in this novel is actually a bit inverted because while Fanny later gains some of her own agency and confidence, the real change that occurs is that the people around her finally see her for who she really is and start to value her!

The Diamond-in-the-Rough

Adjacent to the “ugly duckling” theme, many rom coms play with the idea that the main character is wonderful just as she is, but she is overlooked, shy, or overshadowed by other characters. There’s usually an “a-ha” moment where one or more characters finally see the main character in a new way.

In MP, Edmund and his family members finally wake up and see Fanny for her true worth. Miss Crawford is the shiny object that distracts Edmund from much of the novel from seeing Fanny’s quieter brilliance.

Mansfield Park (1983)

Red Herring (aka, the Shiny Object)

Similar to the chemistry and relationship between Emma and Mr. Knightley (and the Frank Churchill distraction), there’s a red herring (or several) in Mansfield Park as well.

In The Take’s “The Rom Com Explained,” we find this explanation of the red herring theme: “Rom-com leads often start out with a red herring love interest who seems very appealing but turns out to be all wrong. Meanwhile, as the protagonist spends time with someone they aren’t actively trying to impress, they can be their unfiltered self and get to know the other person in a real way. This long-developing chemistry leads to a moment of epiphany, where the character suddenly realizes the feelings that have been crystal-clear to the viewer all along.”

In Mansfield Park, the arrival of Henry and Mary Crawford (siblings) is the pebble thrown into the pond at Mansfield. This disrupts the regular rhythm of life for Fanny and Edmund and the rest of the Bertram family and sets the plot spinning.

Henry throws a wrench into several plot lines, while Mary comes between Fanny and Edmund. Edmund, dazzled by Mary’s beauty, is blinded by Mary and only sees her through rose-colored glasses. Fanny waits in the wings, heart aching, as he falls for Mary.

Mary, similar to Wickham, Willoughby, and others, is the “shiny object” that keeps Edmund distracted and causes havoc for Fanny. Fanny cannot prove what she thinks is wrong with either of the Crawfords. She has no other recourse but to wait patiently until Mary and Henry both show their true colors.

Mansfield Park (2007)

Best Friends-to-Lovers

Of all the themes in rom coms used today, Best Friends-to-Lovers is one of the most popular and it fits Mansfield Park beautifully. While Emma and Mr. Knightley have a bit of this vibe, much of their chemistry comes from their sparring matches (like Elizabeth and Darcy). But with Fanny and Edmund, they are incredibly close friends who share many of the same interests, qualities, and values. Edmund is the first person to take an interest in Fanny when she comes to live at Mansfield.

If you think of MP as a new school, Fanny is the new kid and the popular kids won’t talk to her or play with her. Edmund is different. Edmund helps Fanny when she is sad and lonely. At first, she looks up to him, but as they grow up, mutual respect and affection grows. Later, at least for Fanny, love begins to bud.

The Love Triangle

As in most Austen novels, there’s a love triangle, which is probably the most popular trope in most romantic comedies today.

In Mansfield Park, there are multiple love triangles, but we don’t see all of them at first. The one we focus on most is the Fanny-Edmund-Mary triangle. While Fanny hides lovelorn feelings for Edmund, Edmund doesn’t see Fanny as more than a friend/cousin he grew up with. Miss Crawford comes to town at exactly the wrong moment and steals the show.

Until Edmund sees Miss Crawford for her true self, he is blinded by her alluring personality and beauty and cannot see Fanny standing right in front of him.

Love Triangles similar to Mansfield Park

When I started looking for modern movies with similar themes (Best Friends-Turned-Lovers, Ugly Duckling-Turned Swan, Unrequited Love), I posted questions on my Instagram account (@KindredSpiritBooks) and on the Jane Austen Fan Club on Facebook. I received dozens and dozens of answers to this intriguing question!

If you’ve ever wanted to know what themes come up most often in movies, take a look at this list; it’s the longest list I’ve had yet in this series. There’s no denying that movie-goers respond well to love triangles—especially when the triangle involves two close friends finally realizing their love for one another!

The Holiday, 10 Things I Hate About You, 13 Going On 30, A Cinderella Story, A Walk to Remember, Always Be My Maybe, America’s Sweethearts, Can’t Buy Me Love, FRIENDS (Chandler and Monica), Crossing Delancey , Drive Me Crazy, Easy A, Ever After, Get Over It, Grease, He’s Just Not That into You, Love and Basketball, Love, Rosie , Made of Honour, Maid in Manhattan, Miss Congeniality, Moonstruck, Never Been Kissed, Pretty in Pink, Pygmalion (My Fair Lady), Sabrina, She’s all That, She’s the Man, Sixteen Candles, Some Kind of Wonderful, Something Borrowed, Superman, The Duff, The Office (Jim and Pam), The Perfect Man, The Princess Diaries, The Summer I Turned Pretty, The Truth About Cats & Dogs, Trojan War, Whatever It Takes, While You Were Sleeping, Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken, Win a Date with Todd Hamilton, Yesterday, Your Place or Mine.

Always Be My Maybe
Jim, Pam, and Roy from The Office

When asked what themes they saw in Mansfield Park that are common in romantic films today, several fans quipped, “The Cousins-to-Lovers” theme? Which made me laugh out loud. Yes, cousins did marry cousins during Austen’s time, but it’s still a funny remark.

I’m sure you can add others to this list! In each of these movies, there is some element of MP present.

Fanny Price

When I took these polls, the one thing everyone agreed on was this: We like Fanny Price because she doesn’t change her morals, her convictions, or her personality just to gain acceptance or love. She does blossom, but she doesn’t change. She is the same through-and-through, which makes her a very admirable heroine. Edmund finally wakes up and begins to see her in a new light, but she doesn’t become more like Mary Crawford; she remains steady, true Fanny.

Fanny has a lot to lose in terms of a future when she refuses to give in to Henry Crawford’s proposal and her uncle’s pressure. Without an inheritance of her own, her only options are to continue living with her aunt and uncle Bertram as long as they will have her or find work as a governess. And yet, though she’s timid and easily intimidated, she does not yield.

Mansfield Park (2007)

Have you seen any of the film versions of Mansfield Park? If so, which one do you think remains most faithful to the original text? (I’ve yet to find one that I enjoyed as much as the novel, but I’m open to suggestions!)

Are there any other books or movies in this genre that allow the heroine to stay true to herself as she wait patiently for her dreams to come true?

RACHEL DODGE teaches college English classes, gives talks at libraries, teas, and book clubs, and writes for Jane Austen’s World blog. She is the bestselling author of The Little Women Devotional, The Anne of Green Gables Devotional and Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen. Now Available: The Secret Garden Devotional! You can visit Rachel online at www.RachelDodge.com.

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Jane Austen and Rom Coms: Emma (“The Slow Burn”)

Posted in Emma, Film adaptation, Jane Austen Films, Jane Austen in the modern world, Jane Austen Novels, Jane Austen TV adaptation, Jane Austen's enduring popularity, Jane Austen's World, Popular culture on April 10, 2023| 11 Comments »

In this series, we’re exploring Jane Austen’s novels and identifying the romantic themes used in each one – with the goal of proving that Jane Austen not only used romantic themes ingeniously but also played an important role in developing several key plot devices that are still used in modern filmmaking today.

Last month, I wrote about the “Enemies-to-Lovers” theme in Pride and Prejudice. This month, I’m delving into Emma and looking at the romantic themes it continues to inspire in modern romantic movies and shows.

Emma 1996

Enemies to Lovers in Emma

In “The Rom Com Explained” on TheTake.com, we read this humorous definition of the popular enemies-to-lovers trope that I discussed last month in regard to Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy:

“The two love interests probably start out at odds. They may come from different worlds, have competing goals, or simply get off on the wrong foot. But as the rom-com wisdom goes, there’s a very thin line between love and hate, and the story frames all this friction as kindling for sparks to fly.”

What about Emma and Mr. Knightley? In Emma, some have said that Mr. Knightley and Emma fit the rivals description as well because of their witty banter and playful digs, but their delayed love interest seems to be much more about their age gap, their family history, and their comfort level with one another that comes from being brother- and sister-in-law.

Emma 2009

Defining the Relationship

But if they aren’t rivals-to-lovers, what makes the romance between Emma and Mr. Knightley so irresistible? What techniques does Austen use to cleverly draw us into their world? What causes the slow burn that builds between them?

Are they boy/girl next door lovers? Possibly.

Friends-turned-lovers? Probably.

While Emma falls into both of these categories, if we want to narrow it down even further, the romance between Emma and Mr. Knightley best fits the “It Was Right In Front Of You All Along” theme. Their love story starts with a slow simmer, builds to a slow burn, and turn into a raging inferno.

The Slow Burn

In Emma, the relationship between Emma and Mr. Knightley sizzles because it’s so unexpected—at least for the two main characters. We, the readers, watch it slowly build (and hope that it will happen), but the characters themselves don’t recognize their own feelings for quite some time. It takes Emma the longest to realize, which adds to the charm of the story. With the Slow Burn love story, there are obstacles standing in the way (knowing one another too well, growing up together, not seeing each other “that” way, and other love interests). Most commonly, there’s a distraction that keeps one or the other from recognizing the chemistry that is building all along the way.

Emma 2020

The Red Herring Distraction

In a Slow Burn love story, there is usually at least one misleading love interest or storyline (or “red herring”) to keep readers off the trail. Jane Austen obviously sets the bar high for the red herring theme in Emma, but here’s a definition from “The Rom Com Explained” article:

“Rom-com leads often start out with a red herring love interest who seems very appealing but turns out to be all wrong. Meanwhile, as the protagonist spends time with someone they aren’t actively trying to impress, they can be their unfiltered self and get to know the other person in a real way.”

Emma, Pride and Prejudice, and Sense and Sensibility all have at least one red herring love interest. In each, there’s a man who seems charming and agreeable at first but turns out to be quite the opposite. In PP and SS, the red herrings turn out to be villains (yes, I’m looking at you Mr. Wickham and Mr. Willoughby), but in Emma, Frank Churchill, an immature and obnoxious man who think it’s funny to play with other people’s emotions, acts as the red herring. These red herring lovers keep audiences busy trying to figure them out so that they don’t notice the real love story brewing beneath the surface.

Emma 2020
Emma 2009

Reading Emma like a Detective

Unlike most modern romantic comedies, Jane Austen’s plot in Emma is anything but obvious. She outdoes herself with several misleading storylines. She keeps us so busy figuring out what’s happening between Emma and Frank Churchill, Emma or Harriet and Mr. Elton, Harriet and Frank Churchill, and even Harriet and Mr. Knightley that the majority of first-time readers never even notice the Frank and Jane Fairfax storyline until later in the novel.

In fact, Emma is so cleverly written that many scholars believe it reads more like a detective story than a romance. If you’d like to delve into this fascinating topic, click to read David H. Bell’s brilliant article, “Fun with Frank and Jane: Austen on Detective Fiction” in JASNA’s Persuasions.

Emma 1997 (Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill)

Hidden in Plain Sight

The other side of the coin with a red herring love story is that the false-love interest helps hide the true love interest—the one the heroine’s known for a long time and has never thought about “in that way.”

In the red herring plot line, this “real” love interest hides in plain sight. Sometimes, like in the situation with Mr. Darcy, he’s cloaked in some kind of mystery, misunderstanding, or perceived arrogance. Other times, as with Mr. Knightley, the hidden male lead is considered “off limits” because he’s a cousin, a step brother, a friend, or a co-worker. Most of the time, we (the audience) know he’s the real love interest rather quickly, but it takes most of the movie for the heroine to figure it out.

This is where Mr. Knightley really shines. He’s “the one,” hiding in plain sight. From the start, Austen casts him as the “big brother-type.” As a neighbor and friend, and the brother of Emma’s sister’s husband, Mr. Knightley is the perfect “off limits” hidden love interest. Emma has never looked at him in “that way.” It has never crossed her mind that he could see her as anything other than an annoying little sister.

The Aha Moment

“This long-developing chemistry leads to a moment of epiphany, where the character suddenly realizes the feelings that have been crystal-clear to the viewer all along” (“The Rom Com Explained”).

In this type of plot, usually one lead character realizes his/her feelings first, while the other takes longer to wake up to what’s going on between them. In Emma, Mr. Knightley sees Emma as much more than a neighbor and friend early on, but Emma is busy chasing other love stories and doesn’t see her own true love story blossoming right in front of her nose.

It’s only later in the film that Emma finally realizes that she loves Mr. Knightley. It’s always been him. This realization comes when she finds out that Harriet has feelings for Mr. Knightley (and that her feelings might possibly be returned). Startled by the powerful feelings of jealousy that come over her, she finally awakens to the deep love she’s felt for Mr. Knightley for quite some time.

Emma 1996

Modern rom-coms patterned after Emma:

Ever since Emma, there have been countless stories of friends-turned-lovers and lovers-hidden-in-plain-sight.

Modern films that fit this category are 13 Going on 30, Always Be My Maybe, Love and Basketball, Just Friends, Made of Honor, When Harry Met Sally, and Yesterday. In television, there are several couples in The Big Bang Theory, Monica and Chandler on Friends, and Jim and Pam from The Office. While these romances also fall into the friends-turned-lovers category, they fit the themes in Emma because most include a love interest that is hiding in plain sight but also “off limits” for one reason or another.

The most obvious modern film to follow in Emma’s footsteps is Clueless. It’s worth discussing because it is considered by many as one of the best modern remakes of a Jane Austen novel. Though some say it’s just a silly teen romance, it’s also incredibly clever in its own right. I truly believe it belongs in the “It was Right in Front of You All Along” category.

Clueless 1995
Clueless 1995

Finally, while Bridget Jones’s Diary is most often connected with Pride and Prejudice, there are also plenty of similarities between it and Emma. Mark Darcy has many attributes that closely align with Mr. Knightley. He’s an older, wiser family friend who seems (and probably is) far too good for Bridget but actually finds her quite adorable and captivating. It takes Bridget a long time to realize that Daniel Cleaver is a jerk and Mark is the better, more mature man.

If you love Emma and Mr. Knightley as much as I do, what do you think makes their romance so charming? At what point do you think Mr. Knightley realized his romantic feelings for Emma?

RACHEL DODGE teaches college English classes, gives talks at libraries, teas, and book clubs, and writes for Jane Austen’s World blog. She is the bestselling author of The Little Women Devotional, The Anne of Green Gables Devotional and Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen. Now Available: The Secret Garden Devotional! You can visit Rachel online at www.RachelDodge.com.

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