19 October 2011

Literary Drive-By #00002: Mr. Woodhouse

Am I alone in finding Mr. Woodhouse, Emma's father, one of the most annoying characters in literature? Not amusing like Mrs. Bennet or Mrs. Dashwood, but just...I wish I could just scream, Shut up and eat your frickin' gruel! Well, I supposed I could scream that, but I don't think he would hear me, and if he did he'd probably just faint, which come to think about it, would shut him up. But it's a moo point.*

I'd rather hang out with Marianne and Elinor's sister-in-law than Mr. Woodhouse. But I don't suppose Miss Austen would care much for my opinion. It is the first time in my reading of Austen that I wished she'd cut some words. Feels sacrilegious, like criticizing Oprah.

*I prefer the usage of "moo" to "moot," from future classic sitcom Friends, in which dim bulb Joey says, "It's like a cow's opinion. It just doesn't matter. It's moo."

2 comments:

  1. Annoying? But how can that be? He was so darling as played by Michael Gambon in the BBC's production of Emma. Okay, so I've not read that Austen yet (nor have I yet read Mansfield Park). I can see where that character would annoy on the page as opposed to the screen, but still, Mrs. Dashwood? Egads, NO! That woman's a witch. I'd make every effort to steer clear of her. Of course, given that she's a fictional character that question is, indeed, moo.

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  2. I think they'd have to make him more charming in a movie. And Dumbledore could never be annoying! Let's talk again after you've read Emma and see if the character holds up.

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