It is a delightful post and one that made me think. I hope each of you will enjoy reading it as much as I did. Joy also has a fabulous giveaway for one lucky person. She asks a question at the end and we would love to read your response!
SISTERLY
LOVE
I have two sisters whom I adore. One is less than a
year older than me and the other is less than a year younger. Therefore, in
July, I will be the same age as my youngest sister. In August, I’ll be 61,
which is the same age as my eldest. In September, she will be 62 so the three
of us will be in our sixties for the very first time.
Sisters are an important theme in Jane Austen’s
stories. Out of her seven siblings, only one was female (Cassandra). This makes
me wonder at Jane writing a story where five sisters grew up in the same
household. How hard/easy was it to imagine the conflict as five young ladies and
one mother with disparate personalities co-existed.
What sort of conflicts?
BORROWING
CLOTHES WITHOUT PERMISSION
Grrrrrr! Even after all these years I remember the
reality of rushing to get ready for school and not being able to find the shirt
I’d planned to wear. Where had it gone? One of my sisters was wearing it. Or,
she had worn it and it was now tossed into a pile of discarded clothing in the
corner of her bedroom needing to be laundered. Instant anger!
Because we were usually about the same size at any
given time, it was a never-ending battle to keep possession of our garments.
Conversations such as the following would ensue:
“Keep
your hands off my Led Zeppelin t-shirt. I’m wearing it to the dance Friday
night so DON’T TOUCH IT!”
“But
Debbie is wearing her red one and Sally is going to wear her brother’s Def
Leppard shirt. I HAVE to wear it,” was the typical sort of reply. “Besides, it
looks better with my jeans than yours.”
“You
did this to me last time, so, NO!”
“I’ll
let you wear my leather fringed vest (it was the 1970’s) if you let me have the
t-shirt.”
“OK.
But never again.”
“Sure,
thanks!”
Although they didn’t have t-shirts in Regency England,
they had shoe roses, shawls, ribbons, stockings, small pieces of precious
jewelry and hair combs which could be pilfered for sisterly use. Imagine the
stress of keeping your prize hidden until you were already in the carriage on
the way to the ball. There would be no “give it back” opportunities as the
sneaky sibling would not do her big reveal until you were well-surrounded by
neighbors and friends. Grrrrr!
LIKING
THE SAME BOY AT THE SAME TIME
There is nothing sadder than looking at your sister’s
notebook/binder/journal and seeing the exact same name you have on yours
written in cursive encircled by a heart. Sigh! The heartbreak of it is
excruciating. Then, there’s the suffering as you both realize you are
competitors for the most important prize of all – young love.
“You like HIM?”
“Yeah. Why, do you?” (do
I admit it or hide my own notebook/binder/journal for the rest of my lifetime?)
“Do you think he likes
you?” (beyond a shadow of a doubt our future will be a cool car, marriage, and
two children)
“Do you think he likes
YOU?” (I have to ask anyway)
“Yes. He walked by me two
times in the hallway at school and he looked at me each time.”
“Well, he asked to borrow
my pencil because he forgot his and then I saw him “find” his later in class.”
“Oh.” (crushed dreams as
she scribbles over the hearts and flowers and searches for stickers to cover
the mess)
Did this happen in Pride and Prejudice? Oh, yes. Mr.
Wickham pitted Elizabeth and Lydia against each other. Could it be possible
this could have been Jane and Cassandra at some point in their young lives? I
do not know. However, I have been in both Elizabeth and Lydia’s shoes and it’s
truly awful when you realize your biggest competition is someone you love.
On the flip side of the coin is the strong bond
sisters can have. Marianne’s emotional outbursts had to have irritated sensible
Elinor. Yet, when Marianne was hurting, Elinor was there. Why? Because she
loved her. Can you think of other examples in Jane Austen’s writings when
sisters banded together in solidarity? Sure, you can.
So, this begs the question:
Of
all the sisterly relationships in Jane Austen’s books, which one resonates the
most with you, and why?
All those who comment will be entered to win a $100 Amazon gift card (available
internationally) as a thank you for your participation. Best wishes to all of
you! Now, I think it’s time I give my sister a call.
*****
Thank you again, Joy, for such a fun and thought-provoking post. I have two sisters and this post touched my heart. As I told you earlier, both of my sisters are struggling with some serious health issues. One has been since early February and the other much longer. It breaks my heart for both of them but they remain upbeat and positive in their outlook. I admire both more than they can imagine.
I am the youngest of four children. My oldest sister and I were always close but not so much my other sister. I was five years younger than her and ALWAYS in the way, especially when she had company. :) After we were older we became extremely close. We talked often and shared our like passions of photography and birding. It was fantastic. Now we don't visit much because, too often, she is unable to talk. It saddens my heart but I cherish those times when she does feel good enough to talk for a short time.
Thank you, Joy, for thinking of sisters and for sharing a little about yours with us! It was fun to read and brought back memories. I loved reading your thoughts about Jane Austen's writing of sisters. It gave me pause. The Elliot sisters do not resonate with me at all, but maybe Elinor and Marianne do some. I'm thinking the Bennet sisters resonate the most with the three of us 'Boothe girls'. I believe I will give my sisters a call today too. :)
 |
| My sister, Gwyn, top right, made this and sent it to me and Judy. Gwyn is the middle sister. We have one brother, Morris, who is between Judy and Gwyn in age. |
Can't wait to hear your thoughts, everyone. Be sure I can reach you if you want a chance at that gift card...and who wouldn't! The giveaway will end at 11:59 PM on the 9th of July. Good luck to all of you!
The photos are lovely, Janet. I believe the three of us Malone girls were actually the Dashwoods. Thank you for hosting me.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Joy. I thought this was a great time to show them. I'm not really sure which ones we are most like. It seems we are a mixture of several. Judy was definitely Jane or Elinor. Gwyn would have been a mix of Lizzy and a tiny bit of Lydia or maybe Marianne. I would have been the youngest Dashwood sister but not sure which Bennet, maybe a mix of Lizzy and Kitty with a splash of Mary! (just not the sermonizing part, but the poor piano playing and singing part) lol
DeleteYou are welcome. I love having you visit anytime!
Lovely post. I wished I had a sister when I was growing up instead of a younger brother. Fortunately I have friends that are "family". Love yout books.
ReplyDeleteFriends can certainly be like sisters. I have a couple that I am as close to as sisters.
DeleteMy daughter, who is an only child, desperately wanted a sister when growing up. The best we could do was borrow other people's children and take in foster kids. Now, she has friends who are as close as sisters and two female cousins who are as well. I'm glad it worked out.
DeleteI have two younger sisters and I think we also have a lot in common with the Dashwoods.
ReplyDeleteThat's neat! Thanks for commenting Teresita.
DeleteGood for you, Tere. Were you the bossy older sister?
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteNo, the bossy one is (or tries to be) the middle one, but the real boss is the youngest.
DeleteI have a sister, but she is severely learning disabled, so we have never had that kind of relationship. I have found a few ladies whom I have become very close with, that I consider sisters.
ReplyDeleteI have several friends that are like sisters, too, Debbie. I'm sorry you were unable to have a sisterly relationship with your sister. I know you were a good and caring sister to her just he same. You are such a good and caring online friend and I appreciate you very much!
DeleteI'm sad that you do not have that closeness but I understand. However, that you have friends as close as sisters is excellent.
DeleteWell, there were 3 of us. All of us have been in our 40s for a couple of years. The Dashwoods sound like the closest to us. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteYou are in good company with several feeling the Dashwoods most similar to them. :)
DeleteThanks for stopping by and good luck.
Your family sounds much like mine, although younger. Thanks for your comment, Patty.
DeleteLovely post! My favorite sister relationship is Jane and Elizabeth. I guess because it is my favorite of Jane Austen's book so I am a bit biased, but I think Jane and Elizabeth's relationship is so special and they balance each other so well. I wish I had a sister like Jane, who is so nice and understanding, and also Elizabeth, who is so loyal and supportive. I do actually have two older sisters but we are not that close, unfortunately. But my best friend feels like a sister to me and I know I can always count on her.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it a neat post and a terrific idea for this month. I like Jane and Elizabeth's relationship too. They are such dear and close friends. I like your comment about them balancing each other so well. I'm glad you have a close friend that you know you can on.
DeleteDaniela, how wonderful you have sister-like best friends. Thank you for stopping by and sharing with us.
DeleteWhat a wonderful and lovely post! I am the youngest of 3 sisters (I have 3 half brothers which is a whole other story(ies)) and in Dec of 2015 all of us are in our 60's now. Your question certainly made me pause to wonder which of Jane's sisterly relationships resonates the most with me. I would have to say my oldest sister and I are very close (we talk several times a week) like Elizabeth and Jane. Me, being the more impertinent one as Anne is the kindest and most thoughtful person I know. Our middle sister, Yvonne, is probably more along the lines of Mary and even plays the piano! We all love each other and I really should call Yvonne! We are all getting together for my niece's (Anne's daughter) wedding in Buffalo, NY at the end of the month and then in September heading out to Yvonne's in California to spend time together when our cousin from N. Ireland flies out to visit! Four women on the loose and all in our 60's! Now to go and call Yvonne!
ReplyDeleteWasn't this a neat idea that Joy had! I loved it too. The relationship that you have with your sisters sounds fantastic. I bet you will have a terrific time at yur get togethers! I loved reading about you and your sisters. Thanks for sharing.
DeleteCarole, I imagine all three of you girls brought your mother joy. Have a happy visit and thank you for your comment.
DeleteThis is the third time I have tried to comment but for some reason they are self deleting when I click on publish. I have two older brothers but had lots of good friends including a sister-in-law I have known for 51 years. My favourite Austen sisters are Jane and Elizabeth Bennet who are able to share thoughts and feelings.
ReplyDeleteIm sorry you've had such trouble trying to post. I had another person tell a similar thing. Glad you have a close sister-in-law. That's neat! I love the relationship between Jane And Elizabeth too.
DeleteThank you for being diligent, Glynis. I appreciate your comment.
DeleteI only have brothers who are much older so I didn't have a close relationship with a sibling. My favorite sisterly relationship in JA novels is Elizabeth and Jane as its always been the kind of relationship I wish I could have had growing up. jadseah4 (at) yahoo (dot) com
ReplyDeleteTheirs is a good one for sure. Wish you could have had a sister to share with too. Thanks for commenting.
DeleteThank you for your reply. I can't imagine being the only girl or being the youngest. Growing up, my sisters and I fought like angry cats. Once we left home, we became almost inseparable. Odd how that works.
DeleteNo sister, here; just 2 annoying brothers. (Eh, we get along now.) Being the only girl, I was quite spoiled.
ReplyDeleteThe "sisterly" relationship that resonates most with me is the one between Anne Elliot and her sisters. Every time I read "Persuasion", I feel so bad for her, that she is so unappreciated, and the 2 people who should be her champions, don't support her. She does what she can for them, and gets nothing in return.
I feel exactly the same each time I read Persuasion. If only Anne would have had Elizabeth Bennet for a sister she would have married at 19 and lived happily-ever-after. Plus, Anne's wise nature could have helped Lizzy be less judgmental. Maybe. But then we would have missed out on such marvelous tales. Thank you for your comment.
DeleteI always feel bad for Anne too. They just do not treat her right and she is so giving.
DeleteSorry you didn't have any sisters but glad you did have two 'annoying' brothers! lol I can see why you might be spoiled!
Lovely post joy and Janet. :) I love family memories.
ReplyDeleteMy Favorite JA sisters are Jane and Elizabeth, because they are loyal, devoted and protective of each other. They have a special trust and understanding, and they compliment each other qualities very well.
I have one sister and she is my twin. A lot of stories about a special bond twins share are true. We were satisfied with our own company. Though we had friends, there were things we shared only with each other. We had developed our own language pretty early, so other people couldn't have understood us and intrude into our private world.
Of course we quarreled from times to times, but it never lasted long. When we called each other names, we were quite inventive. The trick was to call the sister a name in Latin, of a humanoid which was at a lower level of Evolution. As you can guess my sister is a scientist. ;)
We never had problems with borrowing clothes, we shared all of them without any problem. Wonderful memories of good times. We are still extremely close.
Hugs and love to all sisters
KateB
KateB, my grandchildren are twins who also had their own language. They are boy/girl and play together well (for the most part). Thank you so much for commenting.
DeleteThank you, Kate. I remember some of your stories on previous posts about you and your twin. Sounds like you two were quite the pair. I love reading about the two of you, especially the special language that you shared. I've heard of twins doing that before so it was neat to read that you two did. Thanks so much for sharing with us.
DeleteNo sister/s for me, but my brother and I were such pals that I didn't miss out. Plus, I was very close with my girl cousins of which there are a ton of us and we spent our weekends and school breaks and holidays together quite a bit. Then, my husband gave me four sisters in law and I got to see what it was like to have lots of sisters. Lovely post, Joy, and made me really stop and think about the siblings in Jane Austen's stories. My brother and I were probably most like Fanny and William Price. As for me and my sisters in law, I was Anne Elliot to their Bennets. LOL
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet thing to say about your brother. Your last comment made me chuckle and imagine all sorts of wonderfully complex interactions between all of you. Thank you!
DeleteI'm so glad that you and your brother were pals, since you didn't have sisters. I agree with Joy. I chuckled at your last comment too. I'm glad that you got some sisters through marriage.
DeleteMy two older sisters were very close growing up, so I'd have to compare us to the Dashwoods. They did so much together and I was left to forge my own path. Or stuck with my mother, depending on how you look at it. Just kidding, Mom.
ReplyDeleteTeejay, it's hard when there's three because you can't equally pair off. I'm sure your mother was happy to pal around with her youngest. Thank you for your comment.
DeleteTeejay, some of your comment sounds like me and my sisters. They were not so close when younger but I was enough younger that I was with my mother more, too. I'm glad you popped in and shared your story with us. Good luck.
DeleteCan I say Charlotte Lucas and Elizabeth Bennet, even though they weren't biological sisters? I think Elizabeth loved Charlotte just like a sister and that is one of the reasons she was so upset that Charlotte agreed to marry Mr Collins. Elizabeth knew Charlotte deserved so much more, and after her initial shock, supported her by visiting her at Hunsford. Anyway, I have 2 sisters myself.😁
ReplyDeleteYou certainly may, Robin. I adore your choice of Elizabeth and Charlotte. I think Charlotte balanced Elizabeth well. Thank you very much for commenting.
DeleteOf course, you can, Robin. Those two friends had a close relationship and that can be like sisters.
DeleteI am going for Jane and Elizabeth. When I think of those two I think of my sister Melody who died suddenly nearly 7 years ago. There are no words to describe the bond. My mother used to say, when I'm gone, you will always have your sister. And even though she is no longer with me physically, she is always in my heart, and I see her alive in her four daughters and in her two grand-daughters. Thanks for you post. Jen Red ♫
ReplyDeleteI am deeply sorry for the loss of your sister, Jennifer. Your comments about your family are lovely.
DeleteThanks Joy, and it was because of Melody that I found my way into JAFF. Happy Moments!
DeleteI'm sorry to hear of the loss of your sister, Jen. They never leave our hearts, that's for certain. As you say, they live on in their children and grandchildren. Thank you for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.
DeleteI'm the elder of two, my sister being not quite three years younger. Sadly, we've never been terribly close - we're such different people in all respects. So it's quite difficult for me to compare us to any of Austen's fictional sisters.
ReplyDeleteOne comparison I could come up with is Elizabeth and Anne Elliot - with me being Anne, despite being the elder in real life. There are certain parallels between those two sisters and their relationship with their father and ours with our father.
There's also a resemblance with the two elder Dashwood sisters. I'm very much an Elinor while my sister, especially when younger, was a Marianne in many ways.
We don't see each other very often but do talk on the phone from time to time. Another cause of sadness is that our respective husbands do NOT get along.
My favourite Austen sisters, as with many others, have to be Jane and Elizabeth. It would have been wonderful to have that sort of relationshijp with a sister.
Family dynamics can be challenging. All three of us sisters were vastly different in interests and we each went our own way after school. However, we are extremely close and keep in contact regularly. My Mom tries to keep her chicks close although we constantly go our own way. As is expected, I guess. Thank you for your comment, Anji.
DeleteIt does't help the closeness between you and your sister when your husbands don't get along. I'm sorry to hear that. I'm glad that you get to talk on the phone from time to time. That is always good.
DeleteGood luck in the giveaway.
What a lovely idea for a post, Joy! <3
ReplyDeleteI have one older sister, and I do remember the clothes wrangles, but we were two and a half years apart in age, and never fancied the same boy at the same time (plus we had very different tastes in men!) LOL
We used to squabble a lot growing up, but then she moved away to do her nurse training and I left home soon after to go to college, and as we grew into adulthood, we became closer. She's one of the first people I call in times of trouble, that's for certain! <3
I'm not sure we resonate with any Austen-created sisters. We weren't as close as Jane and Cassandra, so I'd probably lean towards Elinor and Marianne - though oddly, I was a real mix of common sense and over-sensibility when growing up, so I was a bit like both of them combined! My sister was never like Marianne! :D
Thank you very much. It is interesting to me how much we are learning about all of those who comment by the choices they make in characters, isn't it? Jane Austen had the family relationships down pat and not much changes over the centuries. Thank you for stopping by, Cass.
DeleteHi Cass. I'm so glad that you stopped by. You and your sister are close enough in age that I can see the clothes being an issue. So glad that the boys were not! lol Isn't it nice when you become so close as you get older? I love that about so many of the comments.
DeleteJoy,what a great idea for a post,I think it's resonated with a lot of us and has given us food for thought. 😊
ReplyDeleteJanet,you and your sisters look very much alike. Thanks for sharing your story.
I think the relationship that resonates with me is the one shared between Lizzy and Jane.
Being the two eldest,they enjoy a strong bond,born of shared past experiences dealing with their mother's fits of nerves,are conscious of their parents' marriage and their lack of a united front in dealing with life's problems and therefore are even more conscious of finding a partner in life that they can respect,love and live in harmony with, one who will stand by them,irrespective of what dramas lie ahead.
Having daily witnessed marital disharmony dressed as sardonic wit and attention seeking behaviour, Lizzy and Jane have weathered many a storm together,are cognisant of what the other seeks in a partner,hence Lizxy's fury with Dacry as a result of his mingling in Bingley's affairs.
They talk together,seek the other's opinion on both trivial and significant matters and trust the other to tell the truth,no matter how unpalatable it may be.
The both are the bedrock of the Bennet family,the fulcrum around which everything else moves.
Quite different in personality,they are the perfect foil for the other,demonstrating light and dark,perseverance and acceptance, courage and fear.
Such a lovely plot device for these two sisters to marry two friends,both deserving of their perfect match. 😊
I would love to have shared such a warm and loving bond,alas,it wasn't meant to be.
You are welcome, Mary. I agree that Janet and her siblings resemble each other closely. Your comment is rich with meaning and well thought out. I agree that Jane and Lizzy were the bedrock and that they certainly complemented each other perfectly. It makes me wonder about Jane's relationships with her siblings (brothers included). Thank you so much for dropping by.
DeleteIt was a terrific idea for a post, wasn't it! I loved it.
DeleteThat's neat that you think me and my sisters look alike. Sometimes we do more than others. There are all traits that we share.
I love your thoughts on Jane and Lizzy. Thanks for sharing them with us. I'm sorry that you didn't get to have a sister. I bet you would have been a good one. :)
Good luck in the giveaway.
Wonderful post! I have 6 sisters! I am second (10 total children). Hard to fit us in to any Austen novel. We had lots of family craziness growing up. I am 14 years older than my youngest sis. As adults, it thrills me that my sisters are my best friends!
ReplyDeleteCherringtonmb at sbcglobal dot net
DeleteWow! Now, that's a good sized family, Becky. I mean, wow! Your last sentence was 100% charming. That you grew up to be so close is a wonderful testament to all of you. Thanks for your comment.
DeleteHi Becky. Goodness, you did have a houseful. I guess it would be a bit difficult to fit you in an Austen novel. It's so nice to hear that your sisters are your best friends. Thanks for sharing with us.
DeleteGood luck.
Lovely post. I have only one sibling, and it's a younger sister. We shared a bedroom until we moved into a bigger house when I was 15 (she was 12), so we were very close growing up. I can't imagine life without her.
ReplyDeleteI think both Elizabeth and Jane as well as Elinor and Marianne resonate with me. Each set of sisters had a special and deep love for the other. I think Elizabeth and Elinor put their sister's happiness above their own. A lovely sentiment!
Thanks for such a wonderful giveaway! ��
I agree with you, Pam, that they cherished their special sister. Thank you for your comment.
DeleteThat's so nice, Pamela. It warms my heart to hear you say you cannot imagine life without her. I know that feeling myself.
DeleteI think you are right about Elizabeth and Elinor.
Good luck in the giveaway.
I have one sister two years younger. If I had to pick a set of JA sisters it would be Elinor and Marianne -- me being Elinor.
ReplyDeleteYour comment about borrowing clothes came home to me. In high school (my sister in Jr. High), Marilyn and I saw some of my friends at a movie. I introduced my sister and one of the other girls said "I knew she was your sister -- I recognize the dress!"
Oh, that's funny - and typical, isn't it? There is a whole new set of difficulties when sisters are the same size. I'm just grateful none of my sisters were Lydia Bennet.
DeleteI love the story about your friend knowing it was your sister because of the dress. That is so funny
DeleteThanks for stopping by and good luck.
Loved this post! I have a sister who is 2 years younger than me, and at times our relationship has shifted from an Elinor (me) and Marianne (her) to a Jane and Lizzy type of relationship. Jane and Lizzy are my favorite Austen sisters, and they remind me of me and my sister in terms of closeness (not in Jane's goodness, haha!).
ReplyDeleteThe liking the same boy aspect of sisterly relationships hits home; my sister actually had a crush on my husband and wouldn't talk to me for a week when she found out we were dating! After 18 years, at least they can laugh about it now.
Thank you for sharing your sister tale, Anna. Only one who has been in that situation would know the struggle. I'm so pleased you stopped by.
DeleteOh, no! I bet that was tough for a while when your sister had a crush on your husband. It's good they can laugh about it now.
DeleteLizzy and Jane are my favorite Austen sisters too.
Thanks for stopping by and good luck.
I so understand that thing about sisters borrowing clothes without permission...and sometimes even jewelry! That led to huge arguments in our house also. My one brother didn't have that problem. Sue is 13 months younger than I and we are now best friends. We slept in a double bed growing up and as we didn't have central heat until I was in the 4th grade at least it made freezing nights more bearable. We never liked the same boy at any time. We visited back and forth when our children were young, spending alternate summers at each other's house. We have shared many a recipe over the years and I like to think that we are both good cooks. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteAww, Sheila! You were very close in age with your sister. I can imagine the problems that would create with clothes and jewelry.
DeleteI slept in a double bed with my sister, Gwyn. We had two beds in the same room for a while so all three of us shared a bedroom.
My sisters and I still share recipes. That's so fun, isn't it.
I adore your comment about sharing recipes, Sheila. That is extra special, isn't it? I still do this with my Mom. For some reason, hers always taste's better. Possibly because I didn't have to make it or, maybe it's like she says, she sticks her finger in it and adds sugar. Thank you for commenting.
ReplyDeleteI love Lizzy and Jane. They seem the closest, understand the best what's at stake with regard to family standing, marrying well, etc...
ReplyDeleteI don't have sisters, but I was friends with sisters. It was hard to shop with them, but it was much worse when they fought over clothing.
denise
Thank you for your comment, Denise. I will confess, but please do not tell my sisters, that I always encouraged them to buy something I would wear when we shopped. (Snort! They probably did the same thing!)
DeleteThat's too funny about shopping with your 'sister friends'. I wasn't close enough in age to bother my sisters with wearing their clothes but I did like to play 'dress-up' in their things! Fun, fun!
DeleteI do not have a sister and always wanted one. The sister relationship which I identify with is Elizabeth and Georgiana. They did not know each other but bonded. My college roommate (we have been devoted friends for 51 years!) had 2 other sisters like Elizabeth and Georgiana had none like me; however, my beloved friend considers me and calls me her sister. Thank you for the generous giveaway. evamedmonds(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteWhen we were in our teens I would have gladly given either of my sisters to you, Eva. Now? I'm keeping them as close as I can. Your choice of Elizabeth and Georgiana is wonderful and I think the first time so far.
DeleteThat's a neat story, Eva. I'm glad you have your friend and that she counts you as a sister.
DeleteGood luck in the giveaway.
I finally get to comment! I wanted to, but left town with only my phone, which does not like commenting on BlogSpot posts for some reason.
ReplyDeleteI love Jane and Lizzy too, even though that's the "boring" answer. Their devotion is so touching, and so many times each forwards her sister's interests at the expense of her own. That is not to say that Marianne and Eleanor do not (at least Eleanor does) but there is something so mutual about Jane and Elizabeth.
I did not have any sisters of my own, but I married a man with one sister, three step-sisters, and a whole bevy of brothers. My own brother and most of his have married by now, so I can count ten sisters, with more to come! I also count dear friends, and I have been blessed with more of those than I have fingers.
What a lovely post, Joy, and such a neat tribute to Jane and Cassandra! Please do not enter me in the giveaway ;-)
Thank you so much for your diligence, Nicole. The two you chose are known for being self-sacrificing, at least to each other. Ten+ sisters. That's twice the Bennets. I imagine the noise when you all get together. Awesome to think about.
DeleteGlad you got to stop by and comment. You definitely have a few 'sisters', maybe not by blood but by marriage. That's so neat that you are all like sisters as in Regency times. Dear friends count too.
DeleteI am the younger of two sisters. My sister and I probably relate most closely to Marianne and Elinor in 'Sense and Sensibility'. Marianne says "Elinor has not my feelings" because Elinor was not as demonstrative as Marianne. I clearly remember my sister telling me I wasn't sad because I did not immediately burst into hysterical tears when learning of our grandfather's sudden, untimely death. This continued off and on during the pre-teen/teenage years. Now years have flown; children, grandchildren are grown and we have become great friends regardless of the genetic connection as sisters. It is a wonderful relationship...with time came understanding and acceptance of our differences. Loving my sister, Sandra... :) daemomo(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by and sharing your 'sisterly love' with us. It's wonderful to have the close relationship that you now have. Good luck in the giveaway.
DeleteThese are beautiful sentiments. Thank you very much for sharing.
DeleteI am sorry to hear about your sisters' health problems, Janet. I hope both of them are recovering from their serious health issues.
ReplyDeleteI am the youngest of only two daughters in my family. When I was young, we used to quarrel a lot and she would borrow things without permission but we would made up and forget about it. She is the more responsible girl and would help in household chores whereas I am reluctant to lend a helping hand. However our personalities is quite different like day and night. Due to family disagreements which I should not mentioned here, we became estranged from one another until today. More than a decade has passed now and it's quite sad as I missed those good old days and wonder how she is getting on.
Your comment is very honest. I'm so sorry you are estranged. I somehow think it would be the same between Elizabeth and Lydia as well as The two Eliot sisters in Persuasion. Thank you for stopping by. Your comment made it before the deadline so you are entered. Best wishes.
DeleteThank you, Sylvia. I appreciate your concern.
DeleteI'm so sorry to hear that you and your sister are estranged. That is terribly sad and I know it hurts your heart. I hope that someday you will be able to mend your disagreements.Thank you for stopping by and for sharing your feelings with us.