to be a heroine...Lesson #5

Lesson #5-  "Choose your role model carefully"


But when a young lady is to be a heroine....she often needs a role model- someone she can look up to  and one day aspire to be.  A role model is a person who serves as an example, who's behaviour, success and character in general is often imitated by younger people.

This lesson really is one that is so applicable to me, I am not always wise in my choices. And although there are so many great heroine's that I love and in many ways would like to be like, there is one woman who I ultimately aspire to be...
 

  

The  Proverbs 31 woman

¹⁰ A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
¹² She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
¹³ She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
¹⁵ She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
²² She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
³¹ Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Proverbs 31:10-31 (NIV)

to be a heroine...Lesson #4

Lesson #4- Never despise meager beginnings

"Before Lady Harriet's call was paid, Molly recieved another visit. Roger Hamley came riding over one day with a note from his mother, and a wasps'-nest as a present from himself"*

A heroine must never disregard the little things that a person may do, a small act of love given sincerely is often worth much more than open flattery.

*Wives and Daughters, Chapter 14

to be a heroine...Lesson #3

Lesson #3-Check your fiance's attic before you marry him.

A proposal from a dark, brooding, abrupt man *"with his broad and jetty eyebrows; his square forehead, made squarer by the horizontal sweep of his black hair." may be very appealling, if not flattering but as a heroine it is imperative that you check the attic, If possible before the vowels!

ps. If your too frightened to check the attic, leave your wedding veil in an accessible place, if on your return it is torn...well lets just say you might want to think about leaving the country, I hear India is nice this time of year and they are always looking for missionaries :)


*Jane Eyre, Chapter 13

to be a heroine...Lesson #2

Lesson #2- Beware of male relations whom stand to inherit your father’s estate!

All heroines at some point will encounter a...let’s say...bump in the road, which is quite often presented in the form of a matrimonial proposal from a less than favourable (and more often than not down-right creepy) character. So be on your guard!

My advice to anyone attempting to be a heroine, upon the subject of male relations is;

If you do cross paths with such a person and especially if they resemble in any way the character shown in the picture on the left ....

 "RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!"

*Note:  Do not under any circumstances serve 'male relations' any exemplary vegetables!

to be a heroine...Lesson #1

Lesson # 1- You don't have to be a "true-quality" heroine.

You may be thinking, what do I mean by true-quality heroine, well Jane Austen refers to a true-quality heroine in the 2nd chapter of Northanger Abbey.

"She was looked at, however, and with some admiration; for, in her own hearing, two gentlemen pronounced her to be a pretty girl. Such words had their due effect; she immediately thought the evening pleasanter than she had found it before − her humble vanity was contented − she felt more obliged to the two young men for this simple praise than a true−quality heroine would have been for fifteen sonnets in celebration of her charms, and went to her chair in good humour with everybody, and perfectly satisfied with her share of public attention."

Often when a person thinks of a heroine they think of a perfect, beautiful, strong woman whom everyone admires, however in the context we are using it- heroine simply means:

1. the main good female character in a work of fiction

The true-quality heroine is I believe the heroine stereotype that the world has created- it is the idealized version. And is more often than not, someone we may look up to but can never relate to. This is what I love about Jane Austen's heroines - and Catherine Morland in particular she is not a true-quality heroine, she does not possess the traits that are often associated with heroines; she is from an average family, she is not wealthy, she has not all that many aquaintances, she is considered plain for most her life and at time is almost pretty and she is not interested in becoming 'accomplished'.

 

So Lesson #1 :  If you want to be a heroine but you don't quite think you fit the "mould" don't worry you don't have to!  be a true-quality heroine! Each heroine in every story is designed by that author specifically to complete the task/ fufill the destiny/ achieve whatever needs to be acheived in order to overcome the obstacles to reach the end- So if all heroines were the same and fit the 'true-quality' ideal they would never be able to be so different!

 

Take Care,

Tristans_Isolde xx

UPDATE (25/05/2011) On futher thought I decided that these lessons should be shorter so I have edited this post a little from the original. Its still basically the same content just shorter :) 

New post series "to be a heroine..."

I mentioned, a little while ago, about about a Jane Austen related series of posts I had planned, which I now have the time to tell you about - Yay! These posts will be known as the "to be a heroine" series. I will be posting the first in the series in the next day or so but before I do that I wanted to give you a little insight into the series.

"But when a young lady is to be a heroine, the perverseness of forty surrounding families cannot prevent her. Something must and will happen to throw a hero in her way"

Ever since I read my first Austen novel I have always imagined what it would be like to be one of her heroines. How great would it be to be Elizabeth Bennet or Catherine Morland!? I even at times find myself in some way imitating one of my favourite characters, perhaps even without realising it. Lately I have found myself at times thinking a lot about Jane's heroines and who they are, what does it takes to be a heroine and what are the things we can learn from them. But in looking at this I have realised there are alot of mistakes these famous heroines made which we can learn from too.

So that's why I have decided to make up these series of posts (which I plan to post up on a 1 to 2 week basis). I hope you will enjoy them :)