#Elinor walker | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

justpinkazure · 11 months ago

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Lighter | Elinor Walker

CW: it's just a sad character backstory with some violence closer to end

The girl with red curls looked at her mother in fear. I watched as she dropped to her knees and tried to contain her own fear, hugging her daughter to her. The woman called her father's name several times so that he would look at them just once and immediately leave the room. Elinor heard him swearing as he searched for his phone while her mother calmed both him and her. And she tried to calm herself down too. However, the girl did not feel anything. For her, this is an ordinary day, like any other. They gave her a bike, and she immediately rode it down the slope. Eli remembers the moment of the collision so clearly. Blurred vision, some discomfort in the hand and blood flowing to the fingers. Hot, it cooled down very quickly, causing unpleasant goosebumps to crawl across the skin. But the most unpleasant thing is how the parents argue at such moments. Like it's her fault. You wouldn't even call her clumsy.

Elinor has suffered from congenital analgesia since childhood. Her brain is unable to receive pain signals. She feels only slight discomfort, constraining her movements. Father's genetics played a cruel joke. His sister and great-grandfather had this disease. Maybe that's why he's so strict with his daughter?

Despite her illness, Eli grew up to be no ordinary child. Yes, in addition to constant health problems, the girl constantly brought a lot of problems with her difficult character. Stubborn and persistent. Eli was unable to make long-term friends. In rare moments of reconciliation with other children, sparks of hope flashed in the eyes of the family, disappearing after the next call from the director. Elinor missed junior school. Not even a month had passed before she was transferred to home schooling. With such a disease and disgusting behavior, the parents did not want to take any risks.

If the child’s brain cannot detect pain, then let him learn to avoid its occurrence and look for the prerequisites for possible injuries. Her older brother helped with this. The years passed, and while Wallace grew closer to his sister, parents moved further and further away from her. This upset her. It happened that she could deliberately crash into a table top or sofa, but no one else came to help. The father never tolerated this, and on top of everything else, he put pressure on the mother, trying to save her from endless empathy and regret. He loved this woman and could not watch her cry. He also hated his sister, Aunt Beatrice, who once took all the attention in the family with the same deviation. This explains why she comes to visit so rarely.

The family is quite exemplary. Father is a surgeon, mother is a lawyer. The eldest son is going to follow in his father's footsteps. At the same time, both parents are constantly on the road. When the nannies and caregivers were tired of fussing with the capricious Elinor, and it was too early to leave Wallace in charge, Aunt Beatrice came. She was that sweet auntie, so understanding and cheerful. The wrinkles only embellished this woman’s smile. She understood Elinor like no one else. During all those rare visits, the girl learned so many useful things for herself. She was so pleased by Beatrice and so unbearably angry by her father, who looked for every opportunity to avoid getting involved with her, and her aunt, who lived for years with his resentment, understood everything and tried not to interfere with her brother’s family. I can't believe they are of the same blood.

As for the brother, Wallace Walker, well… He's perfect. Exceptional in almost everything. Studies, appearance, character - he was always the center of attention wherever he found himself. Even at home. This didn't bother Elinor much. Considering how demanding his parents were, she even felt somehow sorry for him.. He is the pride of the family and must achieve everything that is expected of him. Having taught Wallace to be a nurse for Elinor, his father increasingly persuaded his son to become a doctor. In response, as he grew older, the guy began to increasingly curse his choice of life path. He liked helping the girl, but the stress from his parents was pressing more and more on his chest.

When he became an actor, Eleanor would become the director for all the films in which Wallace would star. They will be inseparable like DiCaprio and Tim Burton. Such a funny fantasy distracted her.

In such a family there is so much time for oneself. Too much. It was too early to wander through abandoned buildings, to smoke and to study for a license, but she was lucky to get acquainted with film distribution. Of all the genres, it was horror that reverberated with fervor in her chest. Feeling no pain, she jumped every time fake blood appeared on the screen or when she saw fake weapons stabbing into actors. A strange emotion struck her every time while watching it. It was impossible to take your eyes off the cruelty on screen. An emotion that is impossible to experience was shown in all colors on the faces of the actors. Is it true that the pain is so unpleasant? Is she really like that? Various questions flashed through her mind so often that they forced her to take more and more discs with interest and follow the release of new slasher films in cinemas. How far can directors go with their cruelty? How she wanted to see more. The thought that in the future she herself could participate in horror filming warmed her soul.

A strong interest in cinema prompted Eleanor to earn extra money. The girl accidentally started buying CDs with her favorite films, gradually collecting a unique collection. Not as expensive as her father's cabinet of designer folding knives, and not as unusual as her mother's constant migraines from working too much. Any job available to a teenager was hers. Pocket money from parents was still only enough for lunch. With her purchases, they would never let her buy it all, let alone spend money on it all. Blu-ray editions of her favorite films took pride of place on the shelves in her room. Informal clothes, with edgy jewelry and creepy chains, took up residence in the darkest corner of Elinor's closet. Mom bought all her clothes. Over time, the closet stopped being so pink, but wearing boring floral blouses and skirts became unbearable. The girl often asked her brother to share his belt or shirts. And this guy definitely had style and a good heart. It was he who, through swearing and quarrels, was able to get his sister her personal, small, pot-bellied television. A gift she had never been able to save up for. This was the only birthday when her parents gave her exactly what Elinor wanted, and not what they thought was necessary. Whatever the thought behind this act, it did not improve the relationship, only inclining the girl towards greater isolation.

At school.. Don’t really want to talk about this part of her life. Elinor tried to get into any sports club, but her parents and teachers categorically prevented this. Teamwork was not for her at all, and her father and mother simply did not want to deal with another set of injuries. Sport is dangerous for Elinor. She only managed to get into an elective in physical education, which was already considered a victory. Anything that prepared him for a zombie attack or an escape from some abandoned place made Eli a little happier and his life simpler. What did the opposite was relationships with peers. Attempts to make friends ended in quarrels and even fights. Her classmates avoided her for many reasons, most often absurd and far-fetched, which is why she had to constantly prove that they were wrong. This did not lead the girl to success, only to the director’s office. Every day it became more and more difficult to be in society, feeling every non-existent gaze on myself and hearing the condemning vile whisper of my own self. She had to become an outcast, smoking outside the school walls from the constant tension pressing on her chest.

Maybe she would have spent her entire school life like this, completely alone, if Samantha had not appeared.

Oh, Samantha, this is an individual case. She is gentle and playful in character, like a rose. She wasn’t popular, but she didn’t remain completely without views either. One day they crossed paths at a disc rental. The conversation started on its own; Elinor was extremely puzzled to see such a sweet girl in the horror section. Samantha turned out to be no less interested in such films. It's a pity that she liked ghosts much more than maniacs. Meeting after meeting brought them closer together until the two were sitting at the same table at lunch, discussing various nonsense. Eli considered her a gift from above and often asked if her friend was a hallucination, to which she only laughed and played along with her. Here she is, a person who finally understood her. Not literally, of course, but this girl was glad to spend time with her. A little communication on the way home - what more could you ask for?

That's how the days went by. Despite her distant parents, she has a wonderful older brother and an equally wonderful friend, as well as a collection of the best slasher films of the decade. Elinor believed that she didn’t need more; what else could she dream of? Life couldn't get any better.

Until she turned sixteen.

Wallace is graduating this year. Final and entrance exams will be the peak of parental pressure. And while it was gradually growing, as luck would have it, my brother fell ill. A purulent sore throat took the guy by surprise. It was partly his own fault, carelessly drinking ice-cold drinks at the beginning of autumn, but even the guy did not expect such a loud scandal. Elie listened quietly on the steps, clenching her hands into fists with anxiety. In a hoarse voice, Wallace tried to defend himself while the same things that were obvious to everyone were repeated to him. The father cursed louder than usual, saying how the guy was trying to retreat at the very last moment, how he wanted to disgrace himself and destroy his wonderful future… A lot of stupid things were said in his direction, but he still tried to fight back. When his brother finally left the kitchen and went to his room, he immediately noticed Elinor. He tiredly patted her on the head and walked past, knowing that she would follow him.

— Wallace? — I'll spend the night at Max's. He lives on the opposite side when looking from the school. Do you remember? — I remember. — Can you handle it? — Can I handle what? Them? Wallace, you'll be back, won't you? This question sounded unusually frightened. Wallace stopped and turned to his sister. — Of course, — he smiled, — I need a little peace and lie down. A little sleepover won't hurt anyone. His calm and tired appearance begged to be believed. Girl hugged him goodnight as tightly as she could. That night she did not sleep and perfectly heard her brother leaving.

How wrong he was.

Things only got worse. Elinor had no idea what a strong wall her brother was between her and her parents. All the anger and irritation of her family began to be dumped on her. And it wasn’t just a showdown in the kitchen with or without cause. The girl received the attention she dreamed of and was jealous of, but at what cost. The family constantly clung to clothes, to grades, to the lack of friends, to the girl’s hobbies. The habit of defending oneself with aggression played a role here too. No, she couldn't build arguments like Wallace did.

— Why were you rummaging through my room? — Young lady, you shouldn’t have secrets from your parents! — said her mother, while father flipped through the dirty notebook. It fell onto the kitchen table with a slam. — Amazing… Who told you that you would become a director? You can't even imagine how much it takes. — A little imagination and a camera? — Tell me, which of these do you have? Knowledge! Knowledge in various fields is necessary for any person, and even more so for a film director. I can count on one hand the number of school subjects you have no problems with, and even that number of fingers would be too many! — So how useful is damn drawing to you, dad? Are you making beautiful seams now? Or maybe you think that you have the right to call the patterned handles of fucking knives art?

The loud bang and swearing stopped. With a red cheek and rapid breathing, the girl looked at her mother.

— Don’t you dare swear in my house, ungrateful one. And don’t you dare contradict your father!

She didn't even listen. Ears began to ring due to fear. She staggered and immediately ran out of the house. Her legs themselves led her to a crossroads, where Elinor became exhausted, squatted down and began to cry.

The arguing in the house did not stop. Stress and pressure only grew, and Elinor herself once again hung the poster in her room, covering the dent from her fist. She was so easy to piss off. Unfortunately, Samantha also managed to fall under the hot hand. Both girls never talked about personal things, about life. Perhaps it was worth raising this topic at least sometimes. Samantha had always noticed her friend's impulsiveness and temper, but lately Elinor had started to get angry out of nowhere over little things. Any little things. It wasn't good. Every hit of the vending machine, clap, throw, and even a glance from her friend made the girl jump in place and automatically cover herself with her hands. She was so afraid of being next. One day she even dared to ask if Eli could have hurt her? To which the girl said in surprise, «No way! Samantha, why do you ask?» In response, she could only smile awkwardly and change the subject.

— Elinor, — Samantha whispered, standing in the main doors of the school.

She looked guiltily at the floor when Elinor turned to her, and then pressed one button on her mobile phone. The puzzled girl heard the notification and immediately read the incoming SMS. The way she looked at Samantha made her shrink and step back.

— Is this a joke? Samantha, are you joking? — Sorry. I really thought I could fix you, — the gentle voice quickly trembled, — but I can’t do that anymore. — I'm sorry. — Samantha, I would never… Please, just listen. — Don't come near me! Stop! Don't!

Elinor didn't even take a step in her direction. All in tears, the girl ran out of the school. Devouring the back of her ex-friend's head with her eyes, she simply couldn't believe it. Was she friends with her out of pity? Her insides twisted, how unbearably disgusting it was to realize all this. She had nowhere to put all that she was experiencing. The angry voices were so loud that the girl did not remember how she returned home. Collapsed on the bed, she wrote a message to her brother. Another one that he will answer very late. Wallace was at school, calling his parents, he definitely didn't run away, but she didn't really want to go after him in front of her friends. Even though he still had a cold, he looked more alive. Short conversations with him after class gave her hope for the best. He said he would be home by Halloween.

It's mid-October. Elinor's favorite holiday is getting closer every day. But she isolated herself. I stopped attending classes and could barely move around the house. Insomnia was disrupting her sleep patterns. Elinor wandered aimlessly through the forest at night, through abandoned buildings, and during the day she slept for a couple of hours in order to continue wasting time. There were questions about missed lessons, but she had no idea how her parents solved them. Never cared about it. Often, she would go into her brother’s room and sit on various forums at his computer. Users shared new movies, leaked posters, and shared stories, but in her current state, Elinor was flipping through completely different threads. Violent and dark discussions could last for hours. She believed that this was an alternative way to cope with her anger, to release aggression into the text, to pretend that you were writing a script for a new slasher film. And although the flame of hatred for everything and everyone gradually faded away, new lights flared up more and more often, illuminating the path to the darkest corners of Elinor’s consciousness.

Sometimes she wondered what would have happened if they had just run away? Beatrice would gladly accept them, just pack your things and quietly take a bus or taxi at night, or whatever. But parents must somehow react to the escape of their children. Her mother is a lawyer. This is just an iceberg on the way of their Titanic. It would be no problem for her to get her children back for the best benefit of the family, and that was why Elinor hated her so much. She is sure that she has figured out this plan exactly. The minor daughter, for whose custody Beatrice will be suing, is recognized as mentally ill. Someone from the hospital will believe her father's plaintive cry and testify against Elinor, with real papers and all that crap. Sick in the head child will go to a mental hospital, and a kind brother will do everything to ensure that she does not suffer. He will return and become what they wanted him to be. After all, the trial will not affect him, only Elinor, a minor. Such a development of events was not even considered. Wallace has suffered enough, she can't afford to cause him any more trouble.

The long-awaited Halloween has arrived. The day dragged on so unbearably long. Elinor constantly fell asleep for just a few minutes, only to look at the clock and close her eyes again. As the sun approached the treetops, she received a call. It was Wallace. Said he'd be back after Halloween. The girl no longer heard his worried questions about absences and well-being. My head was splitting at the seams. She was so angry about all this. She couldn't believe that he couldn't come back. I didn’t believe in another date change. He definitely ran away. No, it couldn't be that Wallace just ran away. There must be a reason why he can't be here, come home. But there was a reason. Wait, it was true. And it was so obvious and easily solved that I couldn’t even believe it.

Father slept like a rock, but mother always needed sleeping pills. At midnight, the girl gathered her things and went out into the corridor. Taking out her small folding knife from her jacket, the girl crept into her parents' bedroom. She leaned over her mother, looking at her calm face. For the last time, she assessed her actions, and then ran the blade across the woman’s throat. Her chest quickly began to twitch unevenly. Fortunately, the mother did not wake up. It was the most merciful death that her daughter could give her. The girl clutched the knife tighter as she walked around the bed. He’s so kind when he’s not frowning. Father seemed really good as long as people looked at him. It is important for him to be able to behave, he is a doctor after all. Raising the blade, the girl delivered a sharp blow to the man's neck when a heavy hand slammed into his face. She was pushed back by inertia, girl quickly straightened up to see the father rise from the bed, looking at his own child in anger. The heat went from the lip to the cheek. The taste of metal and a slight chill on the chin. He stabbed her with one of his collectible knives.

— Ungrateful monster! He walked toward her with wheezing sounds. Blood was soaking into the collar of his shirt. — How dare you!? The man swung his hand, and she was confused. Blood dripped into the eye from the eyebrow. — Your life is worthless! Do you think this was even worth anything?! Blood filled his mouth. Squeezing her throat with one hand, he wanted to hit Elinor again. The girl moved further and further, covering herself with her hands. — You ruined my family! Destroyed! YOU— She pressed herself against the wall and squeezed her eyes shut when her father raised his hand with a knife above her head. But instead of a blow the body fell face down on the floor. Elinor froze. Breathing heavily, she smiled. Laughter escaped her lips, growing stronger with each passing second as the girl slid to the floor.

Throwing on her jacket, she felt a pack of cigarettes in her pocket and exhaled. What a nice little thing, it’s definitely worth a smoke break after what happened. Before leaving, Elinor wanted to turn off the computer. She noticed a new message and curiosity took over.

[Hey. Do you want to take a walk through abandoned places now? I recognize the photos from your thread, it’s not far from me] [Sure]

The stairs almost killed her when her vision went dark. It had been a long time since Elinor had lost so much blood. Such simple and stupid thoughts were spinning in her head. Walking out the front door, She froze. Can't be.

— Elinor? Wallace stood on the porch with his duffel bag and backpack. All so sunny. He definitely planned to surprise his sister. — Sorry. Somehow I even… Are you real? — Are you serious now? Elinor did not dare to hug him, but when he came up and pressed her to him, she could not restrain herself. — What a grip! What, are you running off to celebrate? — Yes... Yes! Can you cover me? — No problem. The main thing is to be back before morning. Laughing, Wallace released his sister. As Elinor was leaving, he called out to her one last time.

—Happy Halloween, Elinor.

Elinor had no idea what a strong wall her brother was between her and her parents.

This was the only way to repay him for all his care.

Now they are free. Now he will find his happiness.

Afterword

The white light forced her to wake up. Her head was pounding terribly, and her lungs were tingling as she inhaled. Rising somewhere in the forest, the first thing Elinor did was light a cigarette. The black smoke left her body as she exhaled, her skull no longer squeezing her tiny brain in a vice. Last night felt so blurry and unclear. The thick fog around was confusing. Touching the back of her head, she noticed how the darkened hair crunched with dried blood, like a crust on a wound. Cool. It seems like there was a light snowfall last night.

All that remains is to finish smoking and decide where to go first.

#creepypasta oc #the lighther #oc #long post #backstory #english is not my first language

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mimi-0007 · 9 months ago

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Edna Mae Harris (September 29, 1914 – September 15, 1997), sometimes credited as Edna May Harris was an American actress and singer. Harris was one of the first African–American film actress of the late 1930s and early 1940s, appearing in films featuring mostly African–American casts.

Born in Harlem, Harris parents were Sam, a boxer and customs inspector; Her mother Mary Harris (née Walker) worked as a maid. Harris' family is noted as one of the first families to have migrated to Harlem. Settling near the Lafayette Theater, Harris was convinced into pursuing a career in show business by Ethel Waters and Maud Russell who were frequent visitors to her family home. After being coached on her singing and dancing by Waters and Russell, Harris began performing in the Theater Owners Booking Association (TOBA). An African-American vaudeville circuit, Harris performed with TOBA from 1929 until 1933.

Harris attended Wadleigh High School (later known as Wadleigh High School for Girls) in Manhattan. During the summer after her sophomore year of high school, Harris worked at the Alhambra Theater doing dramatic sketches with a stock company. During this period, Harris received excellent training in diction and stage delivery through her association with veteran performers. Harris was also an excellent swimmer in high school, and in 1928 she entered the New York Daily News' Swimming Meet and won a championship.

Harris first real Hollywood break came when she landed a part in The Green Pastures (1936), portraying Zeba, starring with Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson. Harris was a leading lady in Spirit of Youth (1938), the story of the rise of boxer Joe Thomas, which paralleled the life of Joe Louis. Harris also had leading roles in Oscar Micheaux films, Lying Lips (1939), and The Notorious Elinor Lee (1940). Her film credits also include such Hollywood films as Bullets or Ballots (1936), Private Number (1936), and Garden of Allah (1936), and the independent film Paradise in Harlem in 1939. Between picture commitments she toured with Noble Sissle's Orchestra as a featured vocalist along with Lena Horne and Billy Banks. In 1942, she played fourteen weeks at the old Elks' Rendezvous as the mistress of ceremonies and announced a weekly radio show over station WMCA in New York City. She also did character dialect parts on many broadcasts for the Columbia Workshop Program. Edna Mae Harris got to tell her story in her later years in the documentary, Midnight Ramble (1994), about independently produced black films.

Harris was married twice and had no children. Her first marriage was to Edward Randolph from 1933 until 1938, then to Harlem nightclub owner Walter Anderson from 1951 until his death in 1983. Harris dated boxer Joe Louis sometime during 1939 and 1940. Harris dated Robert Paquin, who co-starred with her in the Lying Lips from 1941 until 1942. Harris died of a heart attack on September 15, 1997 at the age of 82.

#black literature #black tumblr #black excellence #black community #civil rights #black girl magic #blackexcellence365 #beautiful #strong black woman

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the-vampire-queer · 1 year ago

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The Vampires Digital Media Poll: Round 2, Bracket 3

Please reblog for a bigger sample size.

Results get posted on December 20th. at 5PM CST.

<- Previous poll | Next poll ->

If you wish to learn more about your options, either as a refresher or an introduction, press the "Keep reading" button.

What is First Kill about?

Summary: "Falling in love is tricky for teens Juliette and Calliope because one's a vampire and the other's a vampire hunter -- and both are ready to make their first kill." Source: Rotten Tomatoes

Source: First Kill (2022)

Cast:

Sarah Catherine Hook - Juliette Fairmont

Imani Lewis - Calliope "Cal" Burns

Gracie Dzienny - Elinor Fairmont

Elizabeth Mitchell - Margot Fairmont

Aubin Wise - Talia Burns

Note: Cast lists provided here are not complete lists of people and characters featured in the media being listed. These are partial lists that include some of the main characters and their actors.

Additional information: Despite ending in cliffhangers, First Kill was cancelled and will not get a season two. Netflix cancelled it after they decided the completion rate wasn't high enough.

What is What We Do in the Shadows (2019) about?

Summary: "Based on the feature film of the same name from Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, "What We Do in the Shadows" is a documentary-style look into the daily (or rather, nightly) lives of four vampires who've "lived" together for hundreds of years in Staten Island.The self-appointed leader of the group is Nandor the Relentless, a great warrior and conqueror from the Ottoman Empire. Then there's the British vampire Laszlo -- a bit of a rogue and a dandy and a fop, he might say. He's a lover of mischief and a great soirée, but not as much as he loves seeing Nandor fail miserably in every attempt. And then there's Nadja: the seductress, the temptress, the vampiric Bonnie to Laszlo's Clyde. Also cohabiting in the vampire household is Guillermo, Nandor's familiar; and Colin Robinson, an energy vampire and day-walker of sorts -- he feasts on humans, but not on their blood." Source: Rotten Tomatoes

Source: What We Do in the Shadows (2019)

Cast:

Kayvan Novak - Nandor the Relentless

Matt Berry - Laszlo Cravensworth

Natasia Demetriou - Nadja ...

Harvey Gullién - Guillermo de la Cruz

Mark Proksch - Colin Robinson

Note: Cast lists provided here are not complete lists of people and characters featured in the media being listed. These are partial lists that include some of the main characters and their actors.

Additional information: This tv series is based off of the 2014 Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement film of the same name.

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veronicaleighauthor · 1 year ago

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In Defense of Fanny Price

“I was quiet, but I was not blind.”

Back in April, I wrote a post called “Which Austen Heroine Am I?” and I explored which of Austen’s heroines I was most like. I always viewed myself as an Elinor Dashwood from “Sense and Sensibility.” I did one of those Myer-Brigg’s tests and came out as an INFJ-T and according to a friend’s blog, my closest Austen match was Fanny Price, who was an INFP. I was surprised and in a little bit of denial. Fanny Price is generally everyone’s least favorite Austen heroine. She’s not a bad character, or badly written, nor is there anything really objectionable about her. In comparison to Austen’s other livelier heroines, she is meek, she cries a lot, she’s really religious, and she loves a pedantic, unlikable doofus, who throughout most of the book is chasing after someone else. Often in adaptations, her personality and motives are completely altered to make her more interesting to modern audiences. Many, including myself for the longest time, couldn’t understand why Fanny refused accept the charming Henry Crawford’s marriage proposals.

I recently re-read “Mansfield Park” and paid close attention to Fanny. Her disposition, her beliefs, her entire history. Oh my, oh my, oh my. It was like meeting a 19th century version of my teenage self…well, except for her history. My history is completely different; I had a very normal, loving, and supportive family, but you understand what I mean. Like Fanny I was shy/meek, I cried A LOT, and I was really religious. Thankfully I never fell in love with someone who chased after another. I’m not sure how I could have missed it, but I’ve come to terms with the fact that I’m a Fanny Price and upon closer inspection, I believe she is one of Austen’s strongest and bravest heroines. She may be meek, but she is not weak.

Early on in the novel, Fanny is taken from her impoverished family – who don’t seem to care that she leaves – and brought to live with her aunt and uncle Bertram, and her cousins at the grand estate of Mansfield Park. Though she is brought up alongside her cousins, she is continually reminded by everyone that she is not on their level, and that she is lucky to be there, and to never forget her place. From Austen’s descriptions and Fanny’s words and demeanor, we can see she is beaten down by life and her relatives, others fight her battles for her, and from her nervousness, it’s debated if she has an anxiety disorder – another thing I have in common with her. At least, from 21st standards, it appears she might. In other scenes, her health doesn’t seem strong. She is not a walker; her only form of exercise is horse riding; the heat overwhelms her; physically she is limited. She becomes a companion of sorts to Lady Bertram, and though her aunt cannot do without Fanny’s devotion, love is not exactly extended. Fanny has her own place of refuge in the attic, away from the rest of her family, where she can read, reflect, and pray.

Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram are not bad people, but they are not great parents. They give their children everything they need except for sound moral instruction. Only the younger son Edmund finds the right path, chooses to become a clergyman when he is older, and he is the only one to show Fanny true kindness and friendship throughout the whole of the book. Fanny falls in love with Edmund…who in turn falls in love with the fashionable, witty, and morally bankrupt Mary Crawford. Mary and her brother Henry come to live in the neighborhood and everyone likes, respects, and adores them. Except for Fanny. Quiet, meek, submissive Fanny isn’t fooled by their niceties or their behavior. She knows they’re bad news and while Sir Thomas Bertram is away in Antigua, the Crawford siblings turn Mansfield Park upside down with their enthusiasm for participating in a questionable play. Henry Crawford shockingly flirts with the Bertram ladies, including the newly engaged Maria Bertram.

Everything is set to rights when Sir Thomas Bertram returns to Mansfield Park. Maria is married off to a wealthy but foolish man…and Henry sets his sights on Fanny. Originally, he plans to make a small hole in Fanny Price’s heart, but soon believes himself in love with her. Despite her rejections, he is determined to marry her, going as far as to enlist his sister, Edmund, and Sir Thomas Bertram’s assistance. Mary Crawford hopes that Fanny will “fix” Henry; reform him; be his moral center. The Bertram’s believe marriage to Henry will be a step up socially for Fanny. Henry helped her brother William; he could help her other siblings and parents, taking the burden off of the Bertram’s. Henry’s former bad boy behavior /flirtation with Maria is forgotten – he is that well-liked. And you know what, as a reader, it can be easy to be taken in by Henry Crawford. There is a part of me that hopes he will turn his life around and become a better man, and be worthy of Fanny. It is believed that Jane Austen’s sister Cassandra wanted this too, that she wanted Fanny to end up with Henry and reform him. But Jane Austen was adamant and way more astute than I am at times. I’m sure she encountered her share of Henry Crawfords in life, enough so to accurately portray such a charming man on the page.

As I mentioned above, Fanny is criticized for not only refusing Henry Crawford. Henry is likeable, charming, thoughtful, and wealthy. He notices Fanny’s self-worth when others overlook it, he helps promote her brother William advance in the navy, he claims he is willing to change for her and become a better man. How could she not like or love, or be willing to marry him after all he did for her? Fanny tells her uncle, “I—I cannot like him, sir, well enough to marry him.” This line struck a chord with me. I’ve lost count the number of times people have tried to set me and I’ve refused. Why? He’s nice, he's good looking, he’s kind, he’s a Christian…Why won’t you go out with him? Like Fanny, people think because I’m nice, polite, and a Christian means I should be willing and perhaps grateful to go out with So-and-So. It’s harder when So-and-So has perhaps done something nice for you. Just because Henry Crawford (So-and-So) did something nice for Fanny (me) or treated her with kindness, doesn’t mean she (I) owe him marriage (a date). Obviously, I’m projecting my own struggles onto this 19th century heroine/situation, but I get it. Fanny doesn’t like Henry, she doesn’t trust him, she doesn’t love him, she doesn’t want to marry him, she doesn’t owe him herself no matter how charming or kind he is. She shouldn’t be condemned for telling a man “no.” If we applaud Elizabeth Bennet of “Pride and Prejudice” for telling Mr. Collins – a man she doesn’t like, respect, or love - no, then we must applaud Fanny Price too.

Something I noticed in my re-reading of “Mansfield Park” – Henry Crawford does help William Price, for Fanny’s sake. He was being thoughtful and generous, however he did so to be able to publicly show off how kind he was being and to make Fanny feel obliged to him. He told everyone and their brother what he did for William. Contrast that with Mr. Darcy in “Pride and Prejudice” – when Darcy discovers Lydia in London and arranges it for her to be married to Wickham, then pays off Wickham’s numerous debts and gives Wickham 10,000lbs to marry Lydia, it is done with no strings attached. Darcy has no plans to ever tell Elizabeth or the Bennet family what he did. He did it simply because he loved Elizabeth and he wanted to spare her and her family from suffering. It is also disturbing that Henry Crawford does not take Fanny’s no for an answer. “No” does not mean “I must persevere and change her mind” – no means no.

To remind her of where she came from, and perhaps reconsider Henry Crawford’s proposal, Fanny is sent to her parents’ home in Portsmouth. She is astonished by how the Price’s live, and though she attempts to help, and guide her younger sister Susan onto a better path, she yearns for Mansfield Park. However, even when he visits at one point, she doesn’t regret turning down Henry’s marriage proposal. Despite all opposition and all arguments, the meek and mild Fanny stands firm. No one supports her decision, she has no friends outside of her family or their social circle that try to understand her position, and even the man she loves tries to cajole her into marrying Henry. Fanny is alone yet determined to follow her conscience. Which is why I consider her one of Austen’s strongest heroines.

Through a newspaper, Fanny and her parents learn that her married cousin Maria leaves her husband and runs off with Henry Crawford. Fanny, with Susan in tow, returns to Mansfield Park. Edmund finally sees Mary Crawford for what she really is and in a very short and unfulfilling romance (which is like a paragraph long), he and Fanny marry.

I will never understand why, or how, Fanny could love Edmund Bertram and it’s not because of them being cousins (still ewww). Edmund, though kind to Fanny, loves and pursues Mary Crawford for most of the book and at the end, we’re left with the impression he “settles” for Fanny. Fanny and Edmund’s romance is never shown, we just know it happens. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons generations of readers find “Mansfield Park” unsatisfying. We think Fanny deserves better – she deserves someone who adores her. Then again, I suppose we can’t help who we fall in love with. Fanny loved Edmund and in the end after years of struggle and pain, she got her happy ending.

So, I have come away with a new appreciation for Fanny Price. She’s still not my favorite Austen heroine, but I can respect her and can accept the similarities of our personalities.

Thanks for reading my rambling defense of Fanny Price.

Until next time!

#fanny price #mansfield park #infj-t #myers briggs #jane austen #mansfield park 1999

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bejeweledfangirl · 5 months ago

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next saturday’s a big day for annoying people! (me)

#stevie nash #elinor lawless #faith cadogan #spoilers #bbc casualty #casualty spoilers #casualty #rich walker #siobhan mckenzie #i can’t wait

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kirkobangs · 10 months ago

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Lighter/Elinor Walker Headcanons

credits to @justpinkazure for the oc tysm for letting me write this lfjsocjsnf :3

might be a bit ooc but i just had to write about her

huge horror fan. favorite movie is house of 1000 corpses, not only because she loves rob zombie, but because she relates to so many of the characters.

always has either a lighter or matches on her. was inspired to start a lighter collection after breaking into a home and finding someone with one.

the kind of girl to chew on nicotine gum while having a nic patch on and smoking a cigarette.

dont drink after her if she uses a straw, the taste is going to be awful. she used to not be able to handle it herself, but now she cant even notice it.

kind of a hoarder. good luck trying to get rid of the empty gluestick thats been in her drawer for months.

somewhat fluent in russian and german. loves learning about different cultures.

used to be a picky eater when she was younger, now she'll eat about anything if its edible. loves spicy stuff though.

has a bad habit of chewing with her mouth open. dosent have a lot of table manners, she will put her elbows on the dinner table and probably wont wash her hands before eating.

#creepypasta #the lighter #writing #writers on tumblr #creepypasta oc

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stone-cold-groove · 1 year ago

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Elinor Donahue as Ellie Walker. The Andy Griffith Show - 1960.

#elinor donahue #the 60s #classic tv #classic television #the andy griffith show #ellie walker

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angstystoryteller · 1 year ago

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ANDY IN EVERY EPISODE OF THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW (1960-1968) 4/249

SEASON 1, EPISODE 4 - ELLIE COMES TO TOWN

#my girl ellie !! I miss you !!#the andy griffith show #andy taylor #andy griffith #ellie walker #elinor donahue #1960s television #andy in every episode

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classic-lit-couples-showdown · 2 years ago

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Current Submissions

Submissions remain open until ~10pm pst tomorrow (March 3rd); submit through this form or the ask box

Those who have secured spots on the bracket (3 or more submissions);

Elizabeth Bennett & Fitzwilliam Darcy from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Enjolras & Grantaire from Le Misérables by Victor Hugo

Victor Frankenstein & Henry Clerval from Frankenstein by Mary Shelly

Faustus & Mephistopheles from Dr Faustus by Christopher Marlowe

Ishmael & Queequeg from Moby-Dick by Herman Melville

Mina & Johnathan Harker from Dracula by Bram Stoker

Henry Jekyll & Gabriel Utterson from The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

Other possible contenders (under read more);

Offred & Moria from The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Celie & Shug from The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Lestat & Marius from The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice

Gimli & Legolas from Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien

Samwise Gamgee & Frodo Baggins from Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien

Gandalf & Hobbits from the works of Tolkien

Romeo & Juliet from Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

Clarissa Dalloway & Sally Seton from Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

Anne Elliot & Frederick Wentworth from Persuasion by Jane Austen

Emma Woodhouse & George Knightley from Emma by Jane Austen

Maurice & Alec from Maurice by EM Forster

Margaret & Thornton from North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

Holden Caufield & Stradletter from The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger

Charlie & Patrick from The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Gene Forrester & Finny from A Separate Peace by John Knowles

Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn from the works of Mark Twain

John Yossarian & the Chaplain from Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

Jane Eyre & Helen Burns from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

Lionel Verney & Adrian Windsor from The Last Man by Mary Shelly

Eugenie Danglars & Louise d'Armilly from The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Dante & Virgil from The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri

Hamlet & Horatio from Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Lizzie Hexam & Eugene Wrayburn from Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens

Phileas Fogg & Passepartout from Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne

Huckleberry Finn & Jim from the works of Mark Twain

Sherlock Holmes & John Watson from Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Lord & Lady Macbeth from Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Beatrice & Benedick from Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare

Gilgamesh & Enkidu from The Epic of Gilgamesh

Heathcliff & Catherine Earnshaw from Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

Mr. Collins & Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Victor Frankenstein & Adam ('the creation') from Frankenstein by Mary Shelly

Dorian Gray & Lord Henry from The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Rodion Raskolnikov & Mitya Razumikhin from Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Rosencrantz & Guildenstern from Hamlet by William Shakespeare

First Mate Starbuck & Captain Ahab from Moby-Dick by Herman Melville

Charles Bingley & Fitzwilliam Darcy from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Jane Eyre & Mr. Rochester from Jane Eyre by Emily Brontë

Jean Valjean & Inspector Javert from Le Misérables by Victor Hugo

Victor Frankenstein & Robert Walton from Frankenstein by Mary Shelly

Mary Catherine Blackwood & Constance Blackwood from We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

Benvolio & Mercutio from Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

Achilles & Patroclus from The Illiad

Ajax & Ajax from The Illiad

Jack & Ralph from The Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Telemachus & Theoclymenus from The Odyssey

Jo & Laurie from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Elinor Dashwood & Edward Farrars from Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Charles Bingley & Jane Bennett from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Jo, Amy, Meg, & Beth from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Jack Seward & Abraham van Helsing from Dracula by Bram Stoker

Henry Jekyll & Edward Hyde from The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

Ned Land & Conseil from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

Earl of Montararat & Earl Tolloler from Iolanthe

Fogg, Passepartout, & Aouda from Around the World in Days by Jules Verne

Guy Montag & Professor Faber from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Nick Carraway & Jay Gatsby from The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Napoleon & Squealer from Animal Farm by George Orwell

Antonio & Sebastian from Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare

Antonio & Sebastian from The Tempest by William Shakespeare

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