] ] one might be tempted to call her "Jane the Impaler". But I suspect her heart was decent enough.

] Loved that line!

] My take on it: I see a Jane Austen deeply divided between her character and her principles. She knew that she ought to be kind, virtuous, and not bitchy; but she also knew that her heart, tongue and instincts leaned much the other way.

] There's a line in her prayer (see link for the full text) where she asks `Teach us to understand the sinfulness of our own Hearts, and bring to our knowledge every fault of Temper and every evil Habit in which we have indulged to the discomfort of our fellow-creatures, and the danger of our own Souls' IMO, she knew very well her habit of discomforting her fellow-creatures, and tried to stop it.

The image I have of Austen is of a very rational person. I wonder if Sophia Croft's comment is really a reflection of a personal frustration with the image men had (and often still do have) of women.

Linden you post was wonderfully insightful. I think this is perhaps the quality that I most admire in Darcy. Looking at yourself honestly and trying to do what you know to be right. Darcy even at the beginning dedicated himself to being respectable and rational. He is a man of discipline. He doesn't let emotion lead him around by the nose. I think that is a good quality in someone.

You have only added to my increasingly firm conviction that Darcy is the best self-protrait drawn by Jane Austen.

Thank you