This morning, the man about the house and I were discussing whether we preferred the movie adaptations of Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility. In different areas I think both excel over the other. Some are from comparing the cinematic with the literary. Others are just preference. Seeing as G. has not read her books, his only point of reference is the likability of each movie as it stands on its own.
This morning's topic reminded me of a recent Times article about the Rice portrait's accuracy concerning her beauty. It is interesting to note that all the heroines of recent interpretation have been played by beautiful women (Knightly, Thompson, Paltrow) and in the upcoming Jane Austen movie, she is even portrayed by the stunning Anne Hathaway. The controversy regarding her own physical features and our own imaginings of the beauty of her literary counterparts intrigues me.
Why do we continue to define beauty by things that clearly fade? This cannot be true, and in fact in God's society, isn't. "What matters is not your outer appearance—the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes—but your inner disposition. Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in."
And now I am chastised within. What am I teaching my three daughters?
4 comments:
I love Jane Austen. She was far ahead of her time, and in this topic especially. For women to be intelligent at that time was not something to flaunt. But she did it.
It would be wonderful if someone would cast a more realistic Miss Bennet, wouldn't it?
I think caring for our outward appearance is an important way to express the beauty we feel within. But as you say, it's become the priority in our culture.
I'd rather meet someone who doesn't attract me physically but over time becomes more attractive because of their inner strengths, than be attracted to someone physically and find over time that there is little character there to hold me.
A total DITTO to Ruth's comment. I can't say it any better.
Good, provocative post, Shari!
It is interesting how the way we invest in our outward beauty reflects how we are feeling about ourself on the inside and visa versa.
I find when I don't feel very good about myself, my motivation to "primp" is non-existent; however, when I take the time to invest in the outer (and am not in the mood), it helps me to feel better about myself!
It reminds me of the "uniform or not" discussion we've had around the dinner table at times...almost a "dress for success" kind-of-thing.
I also notice that when I feel good about myself, I must look better naturally, and reach out to people more, because they respond to me much more readily in that state. I guess it's only natural that people want us to reach out to them, as we want them to do with us.
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