I think the conflation of Austen and the positive idea of gossip may come from having recently read or been influenced by Silvia Federici, where in Caliban and the Witch she points out that the word “gossip” used to means simply “friend,” and that women talking to each other was a powerful tool against the impending capitalist subjugation that would profit by women no longer being able to unite (for example, at night, in the woods, to plan a revolt against their landlords). The word became a derogatory term used against them by the patriarchy to discourage them (often with violence) from communicating with each other and forming a collective power.
Every time I see the word used it’s what I think of, after reading that book about how femicide and the subjugation of women was vital for the rise of capitalism.
Anyway, obviously Austen and others ran with the internalized new definition, and gossip became a terrible tool used women against woman, all of whom were competing for whatever women could hope for in their positions of enforced legal weakness, through marriage.
Gossip, now, seems to need distinguishing from “whisper networks,” as you point out. The word has changed and there’s no bringing it back in its old form, but it’s good to know what it once was.
"And by accepting this person in my life despite their behavior that hurts and bothers me, I am accepting that behavior. And so I have to make a choice to simply say no to all of that nonsense. I have say no to someone who treats me poorly."
Well now I know what I'm talking about in therapy next week.
Loved the content of this, but your style is what hooked me. Fluid, conversational but elevated. And your punctuation work is pretty spectacular, especially in the world self-publication. Can’t wait to dig through more of your writing!
I always love your writing so much and could read you forever about Austen. You always give me new ways to appreciate her genius and new depths to her beloved novels that I read over & over. Glad to hear if you have clarity for yourself about a troublesome gentleman; it’s always been hard for me to let go of folks like that but always brings me back to myself in helpful ways.
Was saving to read this until I finished Sense & Sensibility for the first time, and your writing made me enjoy the novel in retrospect just a touch more. It is a novel about gossip. I love how you admire and write about Jane Austen.
I'll be thinking about the following paragraph for a long time:
"Austen is one of the great novelists of ideas when it comes to the power and importance of the private life, the inner life. She understands, too, the allure of the broader social life. Her novels are filled with brilliant people who shine at parties and who come most fully to life in relation to others. But her novels are also full of moments of quiet reflection. Moments of lonely brilliance, when the imagination and discernment of her narrators turn inward."
Fantastic. Can't get enough of the conversations about how Austen connects to, and helps us navigate, our lives today. (I think our newsletters might be twins separated at birth.)
I had not heard of West Elm Caleb, although I felt like I grokked the idea of West Elm Caleb immediately. Grok was a word we used in the 90s. I had to look up galaxy brain. I'm 44, and it's really all over for me, isn't it.
Man, the weaving in this piece is so good. I have been a total mess this month and at a loss for what to occupy my mind with, and so I just picked up persuasion to read it for like the 5th time and I feel very validated :) And really any time I hear a man eloquently extoll the literary genius of Austin I feel like maybe things are going to be ok?
Thank you for another thought provoking piece. You know, I’m sure, the whole purpose of social media is to provoke you, suck you in. In this case, that provoked something thoughtful and worthwhile. Such a rarity. Thank you!
Loved this intertwining of Caleb, Austen, and peeking through, your life. A satisfying read that could easily be adapted to an intro for S & S. My favorite bit of text to life irony about S & S is that Emma Thompson, after dumping Ken Branagh for fooling around with Helena B-C on Frankenstein (sister to the guy who played Bingley in P &P. The one. Don't ask which one) directed S and S and ended up marrying the Willoughby actor and I'm pretty sure they're still happily together.
<3 love this so much! especially the commentary on how things that are private become public, and how the stakes rise (or discourse ensues). also love the comparison of this (otherwie silly) story on twitter to Jane Austen. also (lastly) love the ending piece/offering up how to end something that isn't working for you. a lot of goodness to chew on for sure <33
As soon as I saw that exchange on Twitter my mind when to mrs Jennings and sir John teasing them about “F”, and also Emma gossiping about Jane to Henry Churchill 👀
I think the conflation of Austen and the positive idea of gossip may come from having recently read or been influenced by Silvia Federici, where in Caliban and the Witch she points out that the word “gossip” used to means simply “friend,” and that women talking to each other was a powerful tool against the impending capitalist subjugation that would profit by women no longer being able to unite (for example, at night, in the woods, to plan a revolt against their landlords). The word became a derogatory term used against them by the patriarchy to discourage them (often with violence) from communicating with each other and forming a collective power.
Every time I see the word used it’s what I think of, after reading that book about how femicide and the subjugation of women was vital for the rise of capitalism.
Anyway, obviously Austen and others ran with the internalized new definition, and gossip became a terrible tool used women against woman, all of whom were competing for whatever women could hope for in their positions of enforced legal weakness, through marriage.
Gossip, now, seems to need distinguishing from “whisper networks,” as you point out. The word has changed and there’s no bringing it back in its old form, but it’s good to know what it once was.
"And by accepting this person in my life despite their behavior that hurts and bothers me, I am accepting that behavior. And so I have to make a choice to simply say no to all of that nonsense. I have say no to someone who treats me poorly."
Well now I know what I'm talking about in therapy next week.
Loved the content of this, but your style is what hooked me. Fluid, conversational but elevated. And your punctuation work is pretty spectacular, especially in the world self-publication. Can’t wait to dig through more of your writing!
I always love your writing so much and could read you forever about Austen. You always give me new ways to appreciate her genius and new depths to her beloved novels that I read over & over. Glad to hear if you have clarity for yourself about a troublesome gentleman; it’s always been hard for me to let go of folks like that but always brings me back to myself in helpful ways.
Was saving to read this until I finished Sense & Sensibility for the first time, and your writing made me enjoy the novel in retrospect just a touch more. It is a novel about gossip. I love how you admire and write about Jane Austen.
I'll be thinking about the following paragraph for a long time:
"Austen is one of the great novelists of ideas when it comes to the power and importance of the private life, the inner life. She understands, too, the allure of the broader social life. Her novels are filled with brilliant people who shine at parties and who come most fully to life in relation to others. But her novels are also full of moments of quiet reflection. Moments of lonely brilliance, when the imagination and discernment of her narrators turn inward."
Fantastic. Can't get enough of the conversations about how Austen connects to, and helps us navigate, our lives today. (I think our newsletters might be twins separated at birth.)
I had not heard of West Elm Caleb, although I felt like I grokked the idea of West Elm Caleb immediately. Grok was a word we used in the 90s. I had to look up galaxy brain. I'm 44, and it's really all over for me, isn't it.
Man, the weaving in this piece is so good. I have been a total mess this month and at a loss for what to occupy my mind with, and so I just picked up persuasion to read it for like the 5th time and I feel very validated :) And really any time I hear a man eloquently extoll the literary genius of Austin I feel like maybe things are going to be ok?
Thank you for another thought provoking piece. You know, I’m sure, the whole purpose of social media is to provoke you, suck you in. In this case, that provoked something thoughtful and worthwhile. Such a rarity. Thank you!
Wow, just fantastic. Thank you!
excellent piece. so interesting. thank you!
Loved this intertwining of Caleb, Austen, and peeking through, your life. A satisfying read that could easily be adapted to an intro for S & S. My favorite bit of text to life irony about S & S is that Emma Thompson, after dumping Ken Branagh for fooling around with Helena B-C on Frankenstein (sister to the guy who played Bingley in P &P. The one. Don't ask which one) directed S and S and ended up marrying the Willoughby actor and I'm pretty sure they're still happily together.
That was delightful, thank you.
You are making me want to read Jane Austen!
<3 love this so much! especially the commentary on how things that are private become public, and how the stakes rise (or discourse ensues). also love the comparison of this (otherwie silly) story on twitter to Jane Austen. also (lastly) love the ending piece/offering up how to end something that isn't working for you. a lot of goodness to chew on for sure <33
As soon as I saw that exchange on Twitter my mind when to mrs Jennings and sir John teasing them about “F”, and also Emma gossiping about Jane to Henry Churchill 👀