Journal 21

Nika Bogoslovsky
10/26/07
Tenney

"'It seems as if some evil genius took delight in crossing the designs of two faithful lovers'"

Summary:

This is a satirical novel written by Tabitha Tenney about a girl, Dorcasina, who secretly tries to pursue relationships. Dorcasina falls in love with O'Connor, whom everyone disapproves of. In secret they meet and plan to get married. While he's gone, she becomes interested in a mystery man. Throughout the novel,Tenney uses her characters and their situations to mock society.

This quote reminded me of Romeo and Juliet and the bit about two star crossed lovers. In class we had a quiz question asking what makes this work American. And while there are the obvious parts when Tenney actually says that it takes place in Pennsylvania and that she herself was born in the U.S., it was actually hard for me to answer this question. I would say the language of this novel is American but the actual context seems to be influenced by British works. This reminded me of something Jane Austen or Charlotte Bronte would have written. In both Female Quixotism and Pride and Prejudice, the bases of character depth and their communication come in the form of letters that they write back and forth. In addition, they both works are witty, with societal puns and about women and their crazy relationships. Female Quixotism is not from a character's point of view which is similar to how female British authors wrote their novels in that time. I feel like Tenney read Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, enjoyed them and wanted write along those lines but with an American twist.