#Don't get me wrong…I do like the 1999 adaptation too but just saying

[janeaustentextposts]

I hate that 1999 Mansfield Park makes me root for Henry Crawford. Like I've read the book, I don't like him in the book but in that adaptation damn, I liked him better than Edmund. I think Alessandro Nivola just knocked up the charm so much and Edmund just seemed to take Fanny for granted in comparison. Also, in your opinion, if the end scandal and illness didn't happen, do you think Mary Crawford and Edmund would have actually married(even with the clergyman thing)? Do you think it would last?

Alessandro Nivola is more attractive than any mortal has a right to be.

If the scandal hadn’t happened, it seems a foregone conclusion, even by Fanny, that Edmund would marry Mary. And it’s hinted by the omniscient narrator that, had that happened, Fanny would have eventually been persuaded to marry Henry. So I don’t buy the faux-outrage at having her temporarily be charmed into accepting Henry in the 1999; it’s posited as a viable possibility in the book, so it’s just compressed and spoken aloud in the scenes where Henry shows up in Portsmouth to tell Fanny that the marriage between Mary and Edmund is likely to happen, and in his selfish way he is doing his best to help her get over Edmund by being a replacement object–and he’s not entirely wrong to presume he could be capable of it, and Fanny is persuaded. Of course she comes to her senses, and the rest of the plot unravels as it does in the book; but I think this was a clever adaptational choice to up the dramatic stakes in the limited screen-time available–AND given the narrative hints about all this in the book, it’s not even a big leap to make, despite initial appearances. Having Fanny ‘write’ the pieces that are actually from Austen’s own juvenilia is more of a creative liberty than having Fanny waver and accept Henry in the moment she feels Edmund is forever lost to her–the text says she would have. And the bit where Henry finds her after reading Edmund’s letter and lets Fanny weep on his shoulder IS ALSO kind of a sign that Henry isn’t entirely monstrous, and that he did have virtues that Fanny could have brought out in him and polished. (Not that she has any duty to do so, but Henry is a nuanced sort of asshole product of his asshole circumstances. As much as Edmund bemoans the fact that Mary was naturally a great person who was corrupted by her education and company, and the fact that it seems to be seen as a greater evil because she’s a woman and we have Edmund’s perspective and heartache because Edmund cared for her, I could argue that there’s just as much of a sad waste in the same corruption of Henry’s morals, which is even more unchecked than in his sister.)

As to whether Mary and Edmund’s happiness would have lasted…I’d say no. I don’t see in Edmund the same capabilities as I see in Fanny, with regards to reforming a Crawford spouse. Edmund later admits that Mary’s warped sense of morality is already too far gone, and had they married, I think he must have figured this out much sooner, with the frankness and intimacy of their discourse, as husband and wife. In courtship, they could never have talked of such dire matters, but Mary forces a final meeting after the scandal, and Edmund goes to at least have the satisfaction of putting an end to things face to face, but is horrified to, in the upheaval of the circumstances, discover just how badly their perspectives and reactions differ. Maybe it’s wishful thinking to suppose a woman like Fanny would have greater influence over her husband’s reformation than a man like Edmund might have over Mary, but I think, of these couples, the women are ultimately the stronger forces. Fanny would have raised Henry up, and Mary would have dragged Edmund down.

#Ask Me Anything Austen-Adjacent #AMAAA #Jane Austen #Mansfield Park #iwarnedyouicouldntnameablog

[divagonzo]

I am reading you new story Beloved. In the latest chapter, I don't understand the hostility between Hermione and Jones. Did you have another story where there back story or history is explained. Thank You.

Mornin’ Nonnie. Coffee is brewed in the kitchen.

TL;DR answer: - Read Ch. 16 of Ron Weasley Chronicles.

Long answer under the cut below because it’s long and spoilerish for Beloved and other fics in my entire Nicheverse.

Hemera Octavia Jones is an OC of mine. She’s s statuesque at 1.85M, dark brown skin, unapolgetic in being cometent to the point of arrogance, unabashedly Bisexual (*in a relationship with Aurora Sinestra, Astronomy Prof at Hogwarts, whom she met when she was DADA professor in the 1998-1999 post-war term), best friends with Kingsley Shacklebolt (even if she is a few years younger), cousin to Hesetia and Gwenog Jones, and 1983 graduate of Hogwarts (Hufflepuff House)

She’s much like how Okoye is written for the film adaptation of Black Panter - but that was purely accidental on my part, considering I’ve not yet watched it and wrote Jones before the movie came out (nor have I read the first comic.)

I wanted someone who was a force of nature and much a foil for Hermione, like another wing of the same bird with similar goals.

She started in the program right out of Hogwarts, having Gawain Robards and Kingsley Shacklebolt as Seniors (and later, Moody, too, before he retired.)

Her first and only year at Hogwarts (which is in a half-written Yr 8 fic focusing on the friendship of Hermione, Ginny, and Luna while the guys are off being Aurors) was wrought with problems, most of them caused by Hermione Granger. Jones, though, also saw so many of Hermione’s weak moments, the ones where she lost her temper, had PTSD flashbacks, nightmares, and other mental health problems. Admittedly, Jones also protected Hermione, sometimes from herself, and from additional scrutiny from others and outside influences, so she would have a chance.

Hermione never realizes that until much, much later on.

(This is also when we get a better introduction to Audrey Reeves (who is later Audrey Weasley but that’s not what you asked.)

Jones and Hermione knock sparks and will for a very, very long time. Hermione can’t drop the grudge from that first year and Jones takes great pleasure in antagonizing her, because Hermione is so passionate but it’s also a weakness because others can possibly control her by being emotional. (Yes, I realize it’s a toxic trope idea and anti-feminist but it’s also something that women get from other women sometimes, myself included. Thus, while problematic, it’s also realistic.)

But here is the ultimate relavant section from Ch. 16 for you:

“Go on. I’m listening. I figure that after the last coupleof days, I should listen to my mistakes so I can learn from them. You’ll alsonot sugar coat anything for my benefit.”

Hermione leaned against the door. “I don’t know where yougot the idea that we’d be friends from the first day. I don’t know why youpresumed that I would be so open and trusting with someone I didn’t know. Noteven Professor McGonagall can force that. But,” Hermione stopped and she sawHemera nodding, “But when you were teaching us, you were so bloody mental. Youdidn’t listen to anything the survivors were telling you. Because you are anAuror, you taught the class like no one else had gone through anything worsethan taking our OWLs. Everyone in your classroomof seventh-year students had been throughhell, one way or another. Yet you treated us like first years that didn’tdeserve to be out from our Mum’s apron strings.”

“I had a task, Granger. The Minister wanted you in the AurorCorps and we needed the help. He thought you would be an amazing asset. I wasalso there to see if anyone else had the aptitude for it. When you’re down to12 Aurors from 100 because of the culling and the Coup, you take what mightwork.”

Hemera winced while shifting in her bed. “But there wassomething else, something personal. Ron let it slip that you attacked him onetime, with magic. He explained what happenedwhen he was first assigned to me as a trainee. He tried to say he wasresponsible for it, and I know that’s bullshit. But it caused a huge problem.Do you want to know what that was, and what happened as a result?” Hemera’seyes flashed. “No matter how hard I worked him, insulted him, belittled him, orhumiliated him, he wouldn’t raise his wand against me. An Auror who won’tdefend himself is useless to me and will probably get a whole team killed. Nomatter what I did to him, he wouldn’t raise his wand against me. He’d have noproblems with the other Seniors in training. Butme, a woman? He said he couldn’t do it, ‘cause of what you did to him.

“Do you know how bloody long it took me to re-train Ronafter that incident? It took a month of daily training; a month of wasted time,all because you got shirty he went and kissed another girl ‘cause you couldn’tpull your finger out and tell the bloke you fancied him.”

“I couldn’t afford to lose him as my best friend!” Hermioneyelled. She looked and saw Harry roll over in his bed and Ron shift but wentback to snoring. “I didn’t know and you never said.”

“I was too busy fixing your mistakes, mistakes you neverbother to apologize for. Hell, even I can say I’m sorry and I’m as much of an arseholeas anyone. But you? Ron casually mentions off-hand that he has to back downwhile rowing with you, and apologize anytime that you think he’s wrong.  The fewtimes he’s stood up to you and tried to tell you when he’s feeling less thanstellar you bite his bloody head off. Fuck, he has zero pride when it comes tostanding up for himself, because you and Potter never once tell him that he isright about something.”

“That’s impossible. Ron never backs down from a fight,especially with me.”

“Isn’t it? You weren’t there seeing him constantly beingknocked on his arse because he wouldn’t raise his wand in self-defense. Whensomeone you love attacks you with magic it is a hard betrayal to overcome. Butsomehow he did but the consequences held him back until he pulled his head outof his arse and raised his wand to me and fought back like you finally did. It took me dropping my wand and tellinghim that he either raise his wand to me and fight back or I would personallykick his arse out of the program. I berated him in front of everyone andbelittled him to the point he slugged me before walking out.”

“Good for him,” Hermione muttered. “I would have loved toslug you myself some of those days.”

“Things would have gone swimmingly for you had you tried,Granger. You might have gotten over your fear and made something of yourself,for the Auror corps.”

Jones had a secondary task: recruiting for the Aurors post-war. Hermione was who they wanted, just as much as Ron and Neville and Harry. But her post-war time (years, really) was filled with much mental health distress, such as ptsd, anxiety, sleep deprivation from nightmares, and a short-term sleeping draught potion addiction (where sleep was vital but also a co-morbidity to depression, too.)

They knock sparks but Jones also had to re-train Ron to be who he needed to be, as an Auror. While Viv has mentioned in her public and private meta that Ron needs praise and encouragement and positive support, Jones didn’t know that and didn’t do such until after he would be willing to stand up for himself. Once he did/does, the relationship changes for the better, even if it appears to be negative.

For the relationship with Ron, it’s about self-respect. Once he has that, Jones can respect him too, even if she disagrees. Admittedly, that’s one of my not-necessarily positive traits. O_O

So when I write this, it’s a case of breaking a bad habit and rebuilding a new one. When you break someone, it’s your personal responsibility to rebuild them. That takes patience, determination, and giving a (dung) about their welfare and well-being. That’s what Jones did here - which Hermione never realized that it was for his own safety and benefit.

Yes Ron is soft-hearted and so caring but he had a job he wanted to do and was incapable of doing it if he wouldn’t stand up for himself and others. Once he decided to do such, his career took off.

It’s only years later that she sees Ron and Harry as peers, along with Hermione, but it’s that she has trust issues and can’t get too close because Aurors get injured, maimed, and killed in their profession. Once she realizes that she can get close to them, as a peer and as a friend later on, the relationship blooms for everyone, including Hermione.

So nonnie, if you read this far, congratulations. Now you know why Auror Hemera Jones is vital in  my nicheverse.

#Anonymous #Dragon asks #Dragon listens #Dragon speaks #Dragon talks XXX #Dragon talks OC Hemera Jones #and why she is vital in my nicheverse