"A Match for Mary Bennet" by Eucharista Ward, O.S.F. is another novel about one of the Bennet sisters. Mary Bennet is different from the other sisters. She does not choose marriage. The whole family knows she is willing to live a life of independence. She is sure that family visits, books like the poetry of Cowper and Pope and novels like "Pilgrim's Progress" will make her more than contented. Besides, she is often alone but not lonely. Of course, this whole idea gets under Mrs. Bennet's skin. Her mother's life goal has been to see each of the Bennet girls married to a proper man who can support and house them with style.
I felt awkward while reading about Mary. Why could she not choose what other women choose? Her spirituality made me feel smothered and imperfect. I guess she seemed too puritanical. It seemed odd for her not to care about being asked to a dance. Her not care attitude about looking pretty in a colorful gown bothered me too.
Her biggest concern is that she drops the pages from an old book in the library. Well, the book literally falls apart in her hand. She quickly puts the pages back in the book and rushes out of the library. She doesn't tell a soul what has happened to the book. It is her hope that other readers will overlook the book. Mary acts as though she just held up a coach with a pistol. Perhaps the experience hurt so badly because it happened in her favorite place, the Pemberley library.
It doesn't help that Mary feels she damaged a book. She loves books. Anyway, while Mary leads a life of a good intellectual the other family members experience trauma after trauma. There is a missing person in the family. There is a troubled marriage. There are deaths. There are secrets. While all of this is going on Mary comes across. like a bird without a voice locked in a golden cage Life is moving forward all around her while she embroiders. I think her world begins to open up with the playing of the organ at Kympton.
One Mary moment especially stood out for me in the book. It's when Mary sees Elizabeth giving birth to her second baby. Mary had never seen a woman giving birth. The pain on Elizabeth's face, the wringing of her hands on the sheet, all seem to send Mary in to a bit of shock.
I thought about this part of the book a long time. When should a girl witness or read about the reality of child birth? Is it too much for any young, innocent girl to handle? Can the experience of witnessing birth leave a girl with lasting horror? Would a young girl witnessing this experience react differently from one in Austen's century?
Although Mary leads a quiet life, her life is not without it's challenges. Mary's life opens up a trunk of questions. Questions we slide pass as we marry, have children and experience traumatic family moments.
Eucharista Ward led me to remember there is always time to regroup and think differently about a certain circumstance. I have the right to say no. I have the right to change my mind. Quietness does not mean a lack of thought or a lack of strength. There is no reason for me to fear taking my time, being controlled. Maybe this is a step toward wisdom. After all, when the turtle and hare raced each other, who won? The turtle won and experienced, I imagine, sublime happiness.
By the way I ended up loving Mary. I definitely enjoyed meeting the friends and family of England towns again in "A Match for Mary Bennet."
