The Cajun Cheesehead Chronicles – Jane Bennet Does The Austen Interviews

JaneJan

 

What better way to start the year that to focus on one of Jane Austen’s most beloved characters. Join us as Jane Bennet undergoes THE AUSTEN INTERVIEWS.

 


The Austen Interviews #9:
An Interview with Miss Jane Bennet

 

Caldwell-117bJACK CALDWELL: Hello, everyone—Jack Caldwell here. It is Jane Bennet in January time here at Austen Variations. Therefore, this lady is the perfect guest to be in my studio outside of time and space. Let’s have a warm welcome for everyone’s favorite sister from Pride and PrejudiceMiss Jane Bennet.

JANE BINGLEY: Thank you, Mr. Caldwell. You are very kind to invite me.

MRS. BENNET: Oh, yes, very kind! Very kind, indeed!

JC: Thank you, ladies. Err… you do understand the invitation was for Miss Bennet.

Maureen_OSullivanMRS. B: Oh, yes, and if I may say so, it is high time you had my darling daughter here. Carry on, Mr. Caldwell, conduct your interview.

JB: My mother wished to accompany me, you see.

MRS. B: You will forget I am here. I shall be a quiet as a mouse.

JC: And you couldn’t say no.

MRS. B: Not here. Not here at all!

JB: It made her so happy to come.

JC: And you’re all about making people happy, or that’s what Jane Austen leads us to believe. Which brings me to my first question: Miss Bennet, are you as nice as Pride and Prejudice suggests?

MRS. B: Of course she is! Besides, she is Mrs. Bingley now!

JC: I beg your pardon, Mrs. Bingley.

JB: It is quite all right. As for your inquiry, I do not know how to properly respond. I treat people well, as we are taught. It is not artifice, I assure you.

Sabina_FranklynJC: Some readers—and writers, I may add—think you can be Pollyannaish at times, particularly when it comes to Caroline Bingley and George Wickham.

MRS. B: What does my son-in-law have to do with this?

JB: It is my nature to assume the best in people, not the worst. It is not foolishness but an attempt to act as a Christian should. However, I am not a Pollyanna. I admit I was deceived by my sister Caroline, and while she has apologized for her actions and I have forgiven her, I cannot forget her transgression. I wish I could fully trust her, but that is beyond me.

MRS. B: Who is this Pollyanna girl, and what connection is she to my Jane? Who is she to us?

JB: I shall explain later, Mama. As for Mr. Wickham, I believe I shall reserve comment on my brother-in-law.

MRS. B: Dear Wickham! So gallant! So handsome! It is a shame he and my dear Lydia are so far in the North! If only my son Darcy would do more for them.

Susannah_HarkerJC: Getting back to the subject at hand, do you deny you are a perfect angel as some have stated, Mrs. Bingley?

MRS. B: Do not tell Mr. Darcy I said that, I pray you! He gets very annoyed when I speak of Wickham.

JB: Angel! Charles is too kind.

JC: Are you aware not all authors in the Jane Austen genre write you as an angelic Jane? Some question your motivations. You appear in their works as vain, selfish, and conniving.

JB: I cannot say I like it, but you authors are all-powerful.

MRS. B: Rubbish! All rubbish!

JC: Just for the record, I like you as the kind-to-a-fault counterpoint to the somewhat cynical Elizabeth.

JB: Dear Lizzy! Yes, at times she can appear judgmental. She means well and has a good heart.

MRS. B: I always said Lizzy was too impertinent by half. Thank goodness Mr. Darcy married her anyway. Not that there is anything amiss with my dear Mrs. Darcy, mind you! Or Mr. Darcy, for that matter. So refined, so charming! So rich! I am exceedingly proud of her, and Mr. Darcy is as fine a son-in-law as Mr. Bingley.

JC: By the way, Mrs. Bingley, just what do you see in Bingley?

MRS. B: Sir! How dare you!

JB: Mama—

MRS. B: I will have you know Mr. Bingley is worth five thousand pounds a year! Five thousand, sir!

Rosamund_PikeJB: Mama, it is a perfectly legitimate question.

MRS. B: Well, I am insulted, I can tell you.

JB: There is much to be said for my husband, sir. I always wished to marry for affection. Charles is everything I wished for in my life’s companion.

MRS. B: Yes, his five thousand a year!

JB: Mama! I am fortunate Charles is comfortably situated, but I did not marry him for his money. He is exactly the good, amiable, and well-mannered gentleman I always dreamed of marrying.

JC: Even though he was convinced of your indifference when you first met in Hertfordshire?

MRS. B: WHAT?!

JB: That is true. However, that is all in the past, and we are perfectly happy.

MRS. B: Who did it? Who told such lies? Tell me their names!

JC: You are very forgiving about that, Mrs. Bingley, given the pain it caused you.

MRS. B: It was Lady Lucas, I suspect! Always she has been jealous of my girls!

JB: My heart was utterly broken. I thought I should never marry. But now, in my present joy, I am well acquainted with the motivations of… those involved. I am satisfied.

MRS. B: Or perhaps it was Mrs. Long. One must watch out for the quiet ones!

JB: My life today could not be fuller, married to a wonderful gentleman who loves and respects me.

MRS. B: And I never liked Mrs. Goulding.

JC: Aren’t you a bit concerned that your husband might be too obliging? Too willing to follow other people’s advice?

JB: Charles is naturally modest, but so am I. Still, we have both learned much in our time together. We are much less obliging than one might think. Of course we seek out my brother Darcy’s guidance as the need arises. His advice is uniformly excellent—[SHE LOWERS HER VOICE]—well, mostly.

JC: I get it. So Bingley is safe from influence?

JB: I would not say that. Though, if a wife is clever, she has her own methods of persuasion.

MRS. B: I taught my girls well, did I not?

JB: Mama!

JC: Pride and Prejudice has been adapted for film several times. Some of the actresses that have portrayed you were Maureen O’Sullivan, Sabina Franklyn, Susannah Harker, Rosamund Pike, and Namrata Shirodkar. Do you have a personal favorite?

JB: All the ladies are quite lovely. I cannot choose among them.

JC: Somehow I knew you’d say that.

MRS. B: Who is that last lady? That name sound very exotic!

JC: How ’bout Bingles? You’ve got your choice of Osmund Bullock, Crispin Bonham-Carter, Simon Woods, or Naveen Andrews.

4_BingleysJB: My goodness! All very handsome gentlemen! Although, I must say that Mr. Andrews is quite… striking.

MRS. B: The… the fourth gentleman? But dear, he is not… is not… English!

JB: Yum.

JC: Does that matter?

MRS. B: Of course it does!

JC: Oh really? Let’s see what the films did to you, madam.

MRS. B: Me?

JC: Yep. Here are Priscilla Morgan, Alison Steadman, Brenda Blethyn, and Nadira Babbar.

4_Mrs BennetsMRS. B: OH MY GOD! That last lady is a—

JC: Don’t say it. This is a family-friendly website.

MRS. B: My nerves! My nerves! Jane, my salts! Quickly now!

JB: Here they are, Mama.

MRS. B: Such palpitations in my heart! I feel so ill!

JC: Thank you, Mrs. Bingley. Until next time, I’m Jack Caldwell of The Cajun Cheesehead Chronicles.

JB: By the way, Mr. Caldwell, can you provide Mr. Andrew’s direction? I would be ever so obliged.

JC: Okay… maybe not such an angel, after all.


So, who is your favorite Jane? Favorite Bingley? Favorite Mrs. Bennet? Speak up, will ya?

19 comments

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    • Glynis on January 18, 2016 at 5:54 am
    • Reply

    My favourite Bingley is from the 1995 BBC series but my favourite Jane and Mrs. Bennet are from the 2005 film. I wouldn’t like to be as trusting as Jane – I fear she would never survive in todays world with all the people who try to take advantage and relieve you of your money! Thanks for this post although why on earth you allowed Mrs B in I have no idea. 😐🙊

    1. Like I could keep her out!

  1. Susannah. Rosamund was lovely but all that giggling between her and Keira irritated me. Crispin is my choice for Charles, and I would love to have a cloak of invisibility just to sneak Inti his classroom and watch him teach.

    This interview had he in stitches, thank you!

    • Kirk on January 18, 2016 at 11:05 am
    • Reply

    Rosamund Rosamund Rosamund!!!!! 🙂

    • junewilliams7 on January 18, 2016 at 11:13 am
    • Reply

    Alison Steadman as Mrs Bennet. Some might say she was over the top, but Jane Austen meant her to be a comic character and Alison Steadman definitely brought her to life.

    • Carole in Canada on January 18, 2016 at 11:32 am
    • Reply

    So…did you ever give Jane Andrews’ direction? That was fun! For me Susannah and Rosamund are my favourites and I love them both. Crispin hands down for Mr. Bingley but Simon and Naveen are a close second. As for Mrs. Bennet, Alison Steadman!

    • Jennifer Redlarczyk on January 18, 2016 at 11:37 am
    • Reply

    Jack! What a hoot! You might know that Mrs. B would want to “unknowingly” steel the show from sweet Jane. I loved the many faces of Jane, Mrs. B and Bingley. Great fun on a COLD, I mean really COLD Indiana morning. Jen

  2. Brilliant!! And so fun!! Jane’s “Yum” had me falling off my chair and nearly spraying my breakfast all over my laptop.

    Thanks for starting my day with a laugh, Jack! I really needed it this morning!! 🙂

    Warmly,
    Susanne

    • beth on January 18, 2016 at 2:46 pm
    • Reply

    Rosamund was a perfect Jane. She had those moments of sternness that I think were perfectly played and she was utterly gorgeous, which a Miss Bennet should be if she can help it. 🙂

    • Carol on January 18, 2016 at 3:35 pm
    • Reply

    Favorite Bingley was Crispin Bonham-Carter in the 1995 BBC production of Pride and Prejudice. Besides, there’s never been a better Darcy than Colin Firth and a better Elizabeth than Jennifer Ehle. Even Alison Steadman played the best Mrs. Bennet.

    • Carol on January 18, 2016 at 3:38 pm
    • Reply

    I forgot to say that this interview was very cleverly written.

    • Eva E on January 18, 2016 at 6:35 pm
    • Reply

    Your interviews never disappoint! I love your characterization of Mrs. B. and the change in Jane. I vote for the actors on 1995 BBC production as they captured the essence of the characters.

    • Deborah on January 19, 2016 at 6:13 am
    • Reply

    Thanks for this fun interview Jack. I can so picture Mrs. Bennnet acting in such a way. My favorite Jane, Mrs. Bennet, and Bingley are all from he 2005 adaptation.

    • Clytie Koehler on January 19, 2016 at 11:34 am
    • Reply

    Love your charming bit of nonsense! Rosamund, Allison or Brenda, Crispin… actually each one brings their own unique interpretation to the character they play. My greatest discomfort is with the 2005 version which misses so much of the original story – but that is certainly not the fault of the actors! Thanks, Jack, for this fun piece!

    • Cindy on January 19, 2016 at 1:02 pm
    • Reply

    feel free to provide Mr. Andrews direction to me as well. 🙂

    1. As soon as he provides it to me.

    • Wendy on January 20, 2016 at 9:04 am
    • Reply

    I enjoyed this “interview.” Mrs. Bennet never changes, does she? I have to admit that I like Brenda Blethyn best, but I think that is at least partly because I like the way she was written. I know that it’s not the way our dear Austen wrote the character, but I loved the way she really wanted what was best for the girls, and that she and Mr. B. seemed to truly love each other, instead of him ignoring her all of the time.

  3. Thanks to all of you for commenting! There is no “right” answer; that’s why there have been so many productions of P&P, and all have their strengths and weaknesses.

    While “Bride & Prejudice” get a little love (for Mr. Andrews) and Rosamund Pike has her fans, the consensus seemed to be for the 1995 production. It is the most popular version, but for me I like the 1980 BBC miniseries. It’s funny and not over-the-top. And its the only production that gets Mr. Collins right. All the others get him wrong.

    Speaking of Jane, IMHO Maureen O’Sullivan, Rosamund Pike, and Namrata Shirodkar have the looks, but Sabina Franklyn gave the best performance. The 1995 adaptation gave nothing for Susannah Harker to do with the role (I blame Andrew Davies).

    Makes you want to pull out the DVDs and watch them all again, doesn’t it?

    • TLeighF on January 24, 2016 at 9:59 pm
    • Reply

    So funny as always, Jack. Thanks for the laughs and the pictures. I loved Bride and Prejudice and appreciate you including it here as it doesn’t get a lot of attention generally.

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