#kaleb-is-definitely-sane

[heresylog]

Question: I'm working on crafting a sacramentology and so I'm curious to know what is the requirements for something being a sacrament, and is there a system in place for potentially adding a sacrament.

(I know/think you're catholic so it's fine if you just answer it from that perspective, but if you're aware of any others I'd like to know about those as well)

I want to preface this by saying I’m not an expert; however I do love hearing the sound of my own voice.

Sacraments must have a visible and invisible reality and must be based on graces received from Jesus in the gospels. There are seven sacraments in the Catholic Church.

[cto10121]

You mentioned in the tags of one of your posts on Mercutio's (non-existant) sexuality that you're partial to the idea that he may have been inspired by Kit Marlowe; I want to hear all about this lol.

Also, do you have an Marlowe recommendations? I've heard good things so I would like to read some of his plays.

Oh, yeah, my Christopher-Marlowe-may-have-been-the-inspiration-for-Mercutio theory! Glad to talk about it.

So I’m definitely not the only one with this theory—some scholars have mused as much and I did come across them. But the case for Mercutio-as-Marlowe stands roughly as follows:

One of Marlowe’s nicknames was Mercury (!!). Now, Shakespeare clearly did not come up with the name, as he got it from his source material in Brooke et al. But as the Mercutio there was just some random courtier, I have no doubt that Shakespeare got an eyeful of that name in the Brooke poem and just 😏 and seized that golden opportunity to honor his friend in this way

By all accounts Marlowe was charming, erudite, intellectually edgy (an avowed Arianist and homosexual), with a nasty bit of a temper. Mercutio is much along those same lines

Marlowe and Shakespeare may have been friends as well as theater rivals, with similar backgrounds but (I suspect) opposite personalities and sensibilities—the iconoclastic Marlowe with the much milder Shakespeare. You see that same push-pull dynamic in Romeo and Mercutio’s relationship.

Mercutio was killed during his duel with Tybalt. Marlowe was killed while fighting with his fellow spies at a tavern/government safehouse in Deptford. So Shakespeare making Mercutio’s death off-stage may be a reference to Marlowe’s out-of-London death (and perhaps how Will came to find out).

So yeah, not much evidence, come to think of it. Just general vibes. Mercutio does have lines about dreams that are a reference to Thomas Nash, who was also friends with Marlowe and perhaps Shakespeare as well. But of course Shakespeare would make Mercutio a composite of his friends and not just limit himself to any ~one thing.

Against this is the fact that there is no clear evidence that Shakespeare and Marlowe knew each other. That said, the theater world was tiny and Marlowe wrote for Strange’s Men; Shakespeare may have been a player for them at the time. But it’s logical for many fangirls scholars to believe they knew each other and were friends/rivals and so forth.

As for recommendations, I’ve only ever read Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus, which even got a Globe performance, and his Hero and Leander, a narrative poem along the lines of Shakespeare’s Venus and Adonis. I’m ashamed to admit that in class I mistook a passage from Hero for Shakespeare’s, an ignominy that will live in me forever until my dying breath.

But while Marlowe was never as great at character as Shakespeare, his verse was very good (if a little too regular with the masculine endings) and nigh indistinguishable from Shakespeare’s in the beginning. Also, Marlowe is 1000x gayer, even writing about Edward II and his forbidden romance with his favorite Gaveston. Hence his popularity in fangirl circles. If you like Shakespeare but feel he could have been more violent, political, and gay, Marlowe will be right up your alley. There have been tons of fanfiction about him, some notable ones of which are:

The Marlowe Papers (Barber)—author is a stupid anti-Stratfordian, but her verse is legit

A Tip for the Hangman (Epstein)—not feeling the main romance, but it was fun and well-researched

The Secret Life of Shakespeare (Morgan)—actually focusing on Will/Anne, but this version of Marlowe is my favorite. He is just as I’ve envisioned him

[patron-saint-of-lesbeans]

You've mentioned this a few times before - your thoughts on the use of violence and the like - and I was wondering if you could talk more about. How you came to the conclusion you did and etc

Of course; though I will note I’ve reached less of a conclusion and more of a holding pattern. I am always open to further dialogue and challenges to any of my opinions - to come to a definite conclusion and proclaim to know Truth is not my place and not a place I want to defend. Evolution of ideas and attitudes allows us to grow and change for the better.

In summary, every person is made in God’s image and denying them respect and life is abhorrent to me. The status quo is violent; to change the status quo requires the passive violence of gradual bureaucracy or the immediate violence of direct revolution. Making a choice between the two is commendable; both work toward change and neither is more moral or ethical. The only immoral choice is to ignore the violence of the status quo in hopes of it changing on its own without acknowledging the violence required to do so. My choice of non-violence is built on my personal experiences and capacity for violence, but I have the utmost respect for those who choose violence as their means of supporting change.

First and foremost to my approach to violence: imago dei. Every single person is made in the image and likeness of God, and has the capacity to choose forgiveness and good at any point. In the likeness of God, disrespect for their well being - emotional, psychological, or physical - is disrespect that directly opposes the goodness of God that we are meant to imitate. Capacity for change follows this thinking: we have free will to do evil, but also free will to do good. A person who has always chosen evil has the capacity to choose good, and keep choosing good as long as they live. This is why I oppose the death penalty and capital punishment. It is disrespectful to human lives, living tabernacles of the very breath of God, and it denies them the choice of repentance.

On a societal scale, violence to human life and dignity is a constant. You cannot live the way you currently do without your material life being supported by human suffering. This is just a fact of the ‘global north.’ The status quo is maintained with violence, but this violence cannot be sustained, and change will occur.

Change is inherently violent, especially where it is opposed by direct violence. Generally change occurs in two forms: revolution, or gradual bureaucracy. Revolution is seen as a ‘last resort,’ where as gradual bureaucracy is treated as the more ‘moral’ route for change, but I don’t think that’s correct. Revolution can bring about a paradigm shift much faster than gradual bureaucracy, but its violence is immediate which makes it distasteful to people looking for moral high ground. Gradual bureaucracy acknowledges the violence of the status quo and accepts that the violence will continue as change is slowly constructed. The violence is out of sight, out of mind, but it can reduce collateral friction in the immediate future with long term structural support for non-violence.

Neither is morally superior or more honorable or more ethical. Slow and tedious bureaucracy lets the violence of the status quo continue to destroy lives, but quick and violent revolution will have an immediate kill count. Innocent people die either way; especially the poor and disabled and marginalized.

My personal feelings on the immediate and passive violence of both approaches is colored by my upbringing. I’m Irish. Like, my family is ‘proud members of the IRA during the 80s’ Irish. I know the effectiveness and the cost of revolutionary violence because of the mark it left on my family and on history. But I’m also disabled. I know the importance of having structural and bureaucratic support to sustain vulnerable groups during times of change, because without them, people like me will not survive change.

I am not in a position, physically or emotionally, to enthusiastically throw my weight behind a violent revolution. I know, as a disabled person, that we simply do not have the structural and bureaucratic systems to insulate people like myself from the immediate violence of revolution. But at the same time, I am constantly exposed to and victim of the passive violence of gradual bureaucracy, which lets people like me die waiting for politicians to argue and governments to legislate.

There’s no Goldilocks scenario or perfect revolution where we can achieve immediate change without collateral damage to the most vulnerable of society. The most detrimental factor to the process of change is when people wait for that perfect revolution. They want the rewards of change with none of the risk, and in doing so maintain the status quo - often to their own detriment - because gradual bureaucracy is too slow and boring but immediate violence is too gory and bloody.

My pacifism is defined by what I cannot personally accomplish. I don’t know how I would feel if I was physically abled, because I wouldn’t have the experiences and exposure I’ve had as a disabled person. I am very much of the opinion that I would sooner lay down my life than take that of another, but the reality is we don’t know how we will react until we are faced with those situations. Non-violence is a choice as much as violence is, and neither choice is binding moment-to-moment. They are choices made constantly and daily. People who choose violence are not less principled, and people who choose non-violence are not more privileged. So long as someone chooses and commits themself to change - to acknowledge the blood spilled by the status quo and the necessity of change - they are a benefit to society, be that in bearing arms or starting gardens.

Servant of God Hélder Câmara is someone whose writings on non-violence I have long meant to read, because the one quote I know from him on the topic rings true for my own perspective on non-violence:

“And I respect a lot of priests with rifles on their shoulders; I never said that to use weapons against an oppressor is immortal or anti-Christian. But that’s not my choice, not my road, not my way to apply the Gospels.”

[thomasstaples]

Hey, election time can be stressful, even if your candidate wins. To help destress, here are three non-political things that I am happy about this morning

1: I brought a hot coco packet with me to work, which I am going to add to my coffee to have a nice Mocha treat.

2: The Ithaca Saga for Epic will probably come out on Christmas

3: I have a new audiobook

I'm gonna tag some people so they can add non-political things they are happy about, but feel free to join even if you aren't tagged

@kaleb-is-definitely-sane @sunkissedliterarylightofchrist @screwtornadowarningsimsouthern @cynthiachildofgod @greater-than-the-sword @iguessthisismymainnow

[apilgrimpassingby]

A Vessel For Dishonourable Use

This is a short story I had the idea for earlier today, and bashed out this evening. It's written in one draft, so it's probably not great; anyway, it's here. Tagging @kaleb-is-definitely-sane (who I first suggested it to), @colorful-cryptid (since it's very anti-Calvinist), @arcenciel-par-une-larme and @merthwyn (based on British folklore and strongly anti-Calvinist).

Seriously, if you're a Calvinist (or a Satanist, funnily enough), you'll probably consider this blasphemous. But not if you aren't one.

Jeannie stood atop the moor in little but her shift, shaking in the moaning wind under the moonless onyx sky, with no light but the host of heaven. Auld Margaret had told her to go here on Candlemas night and wait awhile, and he was sure to show up. She inhaled breath, shivered again and looked around.

“Dost thou look for me?”

She swung around, trembling. It was dark outside, but somehow she could see the stranger. He wore an exquisite felt hat with a high crown and round brim, black curls pouring out of it and framing his face – a pale mask of perfect youthful beauty with large dark brown eyes and a warm, gentle smile. His jacket, made of black velvet and adorned with lace in the same hue, shimmered together with the black silk sash tied around his waist. His breeches clung tightly to his legs, and finalising the outfit were high black boots and a pair of black gloves, one covering the hand that now extended to her. She simply nodded, and he spoke again, his voice deep and warm and sonorous.

“Kneel, child.”

She knelt, and he continued. “Thou art Jeannie Graham, a maid of seventeen years and of good family. Pray tell, what brings thee to me tonight?”

She replied with the voice she could conjure up, a low whisper, and looked up at him. “What bringeth any to thee.”

The stranger chuckled, and flung one of his gloves to the ground. He then rested his fingers beneath her chin, surrounding them in an embrace of soft warmth. “Say the words, child. I know that thou knowest them.”

She shook intensely, blinking and feeling a few tears, and spoke. “I deny – I deny the creator of Heaven and – and earth. I de – I deny my baptism. I deny the wor – the worship – I former – formerly paid to God. I cle – I cle … I cleave to thee, Satan.”

“Look up, child.”

Her mouth fell open. His eyes were now a deep claret shade, softly glowing in the dark. His mouth was open in a smirk, revealing long straight white fangs amidst which a serpent’s tongue darted. She felt the points of claws pressing against her cheeks.

But nonetheless, she was still. Her body no longer trembled, and her heart and mind stood still in awe. Her open mouth made no sound.

The stranger drew a flask of pewter, opening it with a clever twist of the fingers, and lifted it over her head. Water streamed down in a steady roll, but the cold was now gone from her. He began speaking, his tone lightened with a hint of comedy. “The servant of Satan Jeannie is baptised in the name of the Prince of Hell”. He threw the flask away, and Jeannie, though numb, heard it clinking down the hillside. He smiled, and bent down. Drawing his mouth close to her ear, he whispered “thy name is now Nykta.”

Without hesitance or warning, he unclasped her chin, and she tumbled down, her face amidst the grass. Jeannie stood up, breathing heavily, and saw him anew. He had discarded his clothes; his chest was bare and his legs were covered in a thick coating of matted black fur, culminating in a pair of hooves. A pair of immense veiny wings of the same shade had sprouted from his back, and were now beating softly. He spoke again, his voice deep but playful, while extending his right arm and opening his hand. “Take my hand. Thou hast the Witches’ Sabbath to attend.”

Hands linked, and the two grinned.

Jeannie stood on a hilltop again, looking over the family sheep. The next day had dawned, and she – now dressed as the modest daughter of John Graham – was awake early, walking atop the white-painted grass of February. She sat on a rock jutting from the earth, and blinked in tiredness; behind each blink she saw the orgies of the previous night. She looked up, and he was there again – covered in clothes once again, and with a lovely human face smiling softly. The two locked gazes for a few moments, and Jeannie spoke. “Am I damned?”

“Verily.”

She shuddered, got up and stared at him. Her voice quivering as her body did, she continued. “And you?”

He nodded, smiling.

Her eyes grew wide and her breathing rapid, and she stared at him. Her voice, though quiet, was frantic. “Then why dost thou smile?!”

The stranger once again drew a knowing smile, and spoke in a low, solemn tone. “For God willeth it, as he willeth all.”

Jeannie sat down, dumbfounded, and he continued.

“Whatever cometh to pass hath been willed by our almighty Lord. He hath made one pot for honourable use and another for dishonourable use; he hath loved Jacob and hated Esau.”

Jeannie nodded. “The minister saith such.”

The stranger nodded, his curls bouncing with him while his smile stayed steady. “I and thou bring glory unto Christ Jesu, for God by His good pleasure ordaineth one for election and another for reprobation, both bringing glory unto Him. The saints shall rejoice in our eternal destruction, and I and thou shalt be content bound in chains amidst brimstone – the faithful doers of the hidden will of the sovereign Lord, holy and true.”

The Day of Doom had come – air and seas destroyed by the fire of Heaven, and Jerusalem descending upon the mortal realm – and the Adversary knelt, unable to gaze upon the glory of uncreated light before him. However much he looked away, he saw it – the slain Lamb clad in flesh given by the Holy Mother and anointed in His own blood and crowned with countless crowns. A world of silence had fallen, and the Accuser broke it first.

“Thy servant awaiteth his just condemnation, the vessel for dishonourable use to bear the holy wrath of the Lord for His glory and the sanctification of the saints.”

The voice he had dreaded since his fall thundered out, with the sound of storms and waterfalls and waves and wind and fire melting and blending into one dread sound. “Thou wast not made for this.”

He looked up, before flinching downwards at the momentary sight of dread glory overwhelming all his senses. He spoke from the ground, his voice a quivering mutter. “Thou didst ordain me as the vessel for wrath in eternity past; I hath done thy will.”

The voice did not change in tone or effect at all; that only made it worse. “Hath I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, and not rather that I turn from his way and live? Doth I not repent of the evil I intend to do to a nation if it repenteth? Am I not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance? Wast My blood not propitiation for the whole world?”

Satan had no response but to shake his head slowly while muttering.

The voice continued. “I am not a God who willeth lawlessness. Cease thy blasphemies.”

The Devil keeled over, and the world was flooded with light. He was flooded with light, too, and in him poured images of countless evils – men killed and women raped and children abused, floods and earthquakes and plagues and famines, an unfathomable abyss of tears and screams. He began to shake uncontrollably.

The voice said the last words it ever would to the Adversary. “This shall be thine hellfire – what thou hast done was wholly unnecessary, and the guilt is wholly thine.”

For the first time ever, the Morning Star wept.

[whatsleftofdishaa]

BEAUTIFUL PERSON AWARD! Once you are given this award you're supposed to paste it in the asks of 8 people who deserve it. If you break the chain nothing happens, but it's sweet to know someone thinks you're beautiful inside and out <33

I have seen this ask a lot around the desiblr. But instead of sending it in people's asks I will just tag blogs I really love and maybe stalk sometimes who knows. Here it goes

@kabhi-kabhi-aditya @alhad-maharani @anarkali-disco-chali @letmescreamwhatifeel @shadowseductress @tothemoonandbacklove @hauxicrook @hawa-hawaiii @btw-its-tamanna @kanha-sakhi @kanyasstuff @shyaamsundari @shyam-kariya @pralayy @mmwiddc @manincaffeine @vomentallyunstableladka @sufiiiiiiii @aapki-shayara @biharanbitch @mainsamayhoon @originalmoonkid @thodi-si-kafkaesque @hell-lit011019 @maintohthakgayibhaishaab @kaleb-is-definitely-sane @ramayantika @aahanna @misssclumsy @inaasaysshelloo @yahvii @dilhhindustani @guywholovestowrite @kafkaspupil @kadwarasgullaa @hum-aapke-koi-nahi @paapi @pani-puri-pavilion @embersariya @mannbhaavnii @sukhee-gulab-ke-phool @disproportionatelysculpting @g0j0s

[idylls-of-the-divine-romance]

🕊🥰A Little Bit About Me😘🙏🏿

Peace! I'm Kaleb your local Death Cult Hippie Christian. This blog fights fascists Babylon!

Current Obsession: We are all exiles and wanderers and sojourners and pilgrims and refugees and aliens and foreigners and immigrants from (G)Arden, in Babylon. Currently Reading: The Revelation (and Commentaries) Currently Listening to: Nothing. Send me recs. Favorite Book: The Song of Songs

Name: Kaleb

Birthday: April 23 (me and Shakespeare hehehe)

Age: minor

Gender: He/Him

Race: Human

Ethnicity: African American

Denomination: Currently none lol

Mainblog: @kaleb-is-definitely-sane

Poetry blog: @kodesh-hakodashim

When John said God is Love I believe he meant God. Is. Love. And when he wrote God loved the world I believe he meant The World. Which means this is an anti-hate, anti-sectarian blog. Anyone is welcome to interact and follow and there is no dni. Liberal or Conservative, Progressive or Evangelical, Orthodox or Fundamental, Protestant or Catholic, Side A or Side Y, etc, etc, etc. Literally anyone. I don't believe you have to agree with everyone to love everyone.

Edit: I need to add something. I love having theological conversations. Conversations about theology and doctrine and philosophy are always welcome. With other orthodox Christians. Debates with the following are not welcome

Some, but not all, 7 day young earth creationists

Fundamentalists

Theological liberals

Atheists

People of other religions

Your presence is welcome. Your questions and inquiries are welcome. Your concerns are welcome. Your debates and challenges are not. We see the world in an entirely different ways.

All of that said, you reblog or comment on a post with hatred you will be called out. Hate is not tolerated.

[body-of-a-temple]

🕊🥰A Little Bit About Me😘🙏🏿

Hi, I'm Kaleb from @kaleb-is-definitely-sane (personal) and @idylls-of-the-divine-romance (religious) and this is my side blog for poetry.

I'm gay and Christian and I write poetry about those things (sometimes at the same time) so if you have a problem with that... idk figure it out.

Iderk why I'm making this *shrugs* Anyway enjoy.

[jordie-is-definitely-sane]

sooooo, mutuals. Remember a year ago when I said I was leaving socials? That day has finally come😭 I’m going to miss you guys sm. Thank you all so much for your kindness and support. Please tag moots that you think would need to see this post. I’m most likely staying in contact with @kaleb-is-definitely-sane so if you want an update, he’ll most likely know. I love you all.

@bean-doodle @laneynoir @thranduilswifesblog @sotwk @mera-mann-kehne-laga @\all of my other moots

see you in a few years<3

[ssahotchnerr]

Aaron x writer!reader and creative!reader + HCs

All photo credits at the end.

Hi sweetheart!

This is re-the anon who said you were a bad writer. First off, anon, you can always just leave and not comment - think about that. I just know if Aaron was dating a writer (of any kind) he would want to read every little word you wrote. He'd blurt out an idea and then be like, "hmmm. that's not very good," but it's brilliant and sweet. He is just your BIGGEST supporter! He'd get you coffee and watch you write in bed. He'd leave you alone and work as a copy editor. He'd just be so happy to be with you and love you.

Now, back to anon. I know you're probably not reading this. But let me just say that writing isn't easy. It takes time and effort both physically and emotionally. It's something you have to work at. Not everyone's writing is for everyone, but that doesn't mean you have to leave mean comments on my friend's work. My friend who is a fantastic and prolific writer by the way.

Katie, I'm sorry that person said that to you. They wanted a reaction and you didn't give it. I love the way you write and I'm thankful to be inspired by you so often! Thank you so much for being you! Love Levi - 🤍

Text Break Banner by @cafekitsune

Photo Credits

Top: Left (@wondrousnovels) Center (@lachouettevole) Right (google)

Middle: Left (@joytri) Center (@ropoto) Right (@kaleb-is-definitely-sane)

Bottom: Left (@academia-lucife) Center (@heather--moors) Right (@joytri)

levi <33333 i don't even know what to say AW that collage and hcs are both so beautiful 😭😭 you're so right, aaron would be the BIGGEST supporter catch me sobbinggggggg 💞💓💞💓😭😭😭😭

and thank you my sweet!!! you're absolutely wonderful and you completely lifted my spirits - it's people like you who keep me motivated when it comes to writing/and especially when i get those hateful comments 🥺😭 thank you for always being there for me 🥹💓 i love you tons <3333

[agentlilicarter]

Thank you for the tag in this post @scarareg!

Rules: Make a new post with the names of all the files in your wip folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. tag as many people as you have wips. people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them, then post a little snippet or tell them something about it!

Bleeders

Lucissa story (18+)

New discoveries (18+)

Bruno smut (18+)

Fluff thing Abba

Tagging (no pressure): @darkpersoncreator , @faerieroyal , @kaleb-is-definitely-sane, @kinglysock, @bean-doodle, @stolenpensfromspencers, @rougepancake and anyone who wants to do this!

[all-i-loved-i-loved-alone-123]

(Matching with my absolute best friend @kaleb-is-definitely-sane )

Introducing myself:

I go by Eleanor here (not my real name), my pronouns are she/her, I identify as straight and this is a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community. I am an eighteen year old nerd in love with fictional characters and am interested in music, Astronomy and poetry. My favourite pieces are Clair de lune and Moonlight Sonata, my favourite poets are Edgar Allan Poe and Emily Dickinson. I used to have a fan fiction blog before and am not sure whether I will continue or not but yeah. I am a first year reaserch student.

Current songs I am in love with:

[cto10121]

Hey so I read your "What is a Romance" post and found it very informative so thank you lol. I was confused about one part tho:

Can a romance focus on a beta couple as well? Generally no. In American romance novels, authors do set up the couple for the next installment, but that is not quite the same as page time and development. Romances focus on one couple at a time—once that couple’s love story is done, writers can move on to another couple’s romance. Stories that have more than one couple tend to be something else entirely.

I wanted to know how this related to works like Much Ado About Nothing (Hero and Claudio) or Pride and Prejudice (Jane and Bingley) (though I suppose that last one is a marriage plot so it might not count anyway).. Isn't Much Ado About Nothing a romance that focuses on more then one couple?

I also wanted to know this because I'm working on a romance novel and there was a side couple that i wanted to give attention to.

…I’ve been waiting for someone to ask this question, ha. Knowing all the while that I’d have to give my very unpopular opinion. Well, here it is (and thanks for in advance for being the one to bring it up!)

So no, I don’t categorize Much Ado About Nothing and Pride and Prejudice as romances, not so much because they have a beta couple, but because of their plots and thematic concerns. Much Ado is social comedy/satire and Pride and Prejudice is a wedding plot. Let me explain.

Much Ado About Nothing

Ah, Much Ado. I know people adore Beatrice/Benedick (ditto, they’re great) and feel very uncomfortable with Hero/Claudio (with good reasons). But ultimately neither of these couples constitute a true romance. Their love in the play function as social satire/commentary on the battle of the sexes. Beatrice and Benedick’s respective sexism (Beatrice’s scorn for men and Benedick’s sexism toward women) make them refuse to entertain marriage/romance and shield their obvious attraction for each other. Ultimately, though, their sexism stems not from ideology, but from personal hurt feelings and/or insecurity, so the moment they hear that the other likes them, then they are eager to cast off their previous convictions. Shakespeare even hints that B&B had been a couple before, so their realization that they actually love each other is not really true romantic development. Claudio’s actual sexism, in the meantime, actually does lead him to reject Hero. Though framed as romance plots, these two strands are part of the satiric commentary on sexism and misogyny.

Pride and Prejudice

So yeah, Pride and Prejudice is almost purely a marriage plot. Austen sets up the stakes very early and very clearly: The Bennett sisters must marry or else their estate is entailed to their cousin. But wait! Elizabeth grows to love Darcy, right? She learns she was mistaken about him, right? Isn’t that romantic development?

Well, no. Romantic development would entail mutual attraction on both sides, foiled by obstacles. While Darcy is canonically attracted to Elizabeth, Elizabeth doesn’t even begin to catch feelings until after she realizes that Mr. Darcy was the victim in the Darcy-Wickham scandal and finding out he was the one who forced Wickham to marry Lydia. Oh, and seeing his beautiful estate Pemberley. 😑 Real romantic. Austen even lampshades this by having Elizabeth joke about it!

So yeah, that is not a romance between two people attracted to each other and struggling with their class hang-ups. This is story of a woman learning that this seemingly snobbish rich dude is actually not that bad once you get to know him and his £10,000 a year manor home.

Yes, Austen was obviously inspired by Shakespeare’s Beatrice and Benedick subplot when she wrote Pride and Prejudice. But while Shakespeare focuses on sexism as the obstacle between these lovers (and the mutuality of their attraction), Austen replaces the sexism with classism and class resentment that both characters need to overcome. All well and good, but there is no more mutuality; Mr. Darcy starts to give her 🥺 from the second he notices her fine eyes while Elizabeth flirts with Wickham and still thinks he is a rich asshole for over half the book. Her change of heart is genuine and humbling, but it does not follow that she should start liking Mr. Darcy romantically. She actually doesn’t until at least the Lydia affair.

The fact that Austen gave little consideration to romantic development (there are few if no courtship scenes between the two) leads me to conceive P&P as more of a marriage plot than a romance one. That is the true goal here, not the love. It is merely enough that Mr. Darcy is established as truly a worthy man to marry. Hence, a marriage plot.

(As for Jane/Bingley, it basically functions as 1) a softer iteration of the classism theme and 2) an obstacle to Elizabeth/Darcy. Again, a marriage plot, and not a romance either.)

[patron-saint-of-lesbeans]

I don't know if i ever did but I wanted to thank you for allerting me to the fact that the h word is a slur; I literally had no idea and thought it was just like the official word people used

No problem! I know most perisex people assume it’s a neutral word and don’t mean any harm by it, but it’s still one of those things that gets to me. Thank you for being open to learning something new and changing your language accordingly.

[thomasstaples]

MYSTERY HUG BOMB

Wholesome ambush complete <3

@the-nice-anon16

Oh yay! A new wholesome anon.

These people also deserve hugs

@kaleb-is-definitely-sane

@sunkissedliterarylightofchrist

@ebony-reine-vibes

@thefinaljediknight

@tunguszka20

@all my mutuals really

[apilgrimpassingby]

As people who've been following this blog for a while will know, I love British folklore. You may also know that I love writing and worldbuilding. The two come together in that I'd want to make a fantasy world based on British folklore. My conflict is I'm not sure which one.

Option One: A total fantasy world untethered from real history, politics, geography, and so on, utilising equivalents of people, places, cultures, etc.

Option Two: A kind of post-apocalyptic Britain where the magic comes back and the world gets restructured in the chaos, using specific real-world places, cultures, folklore characters, etc.

The advantage of option one is that I get to be more creative (I've already started working on the calendar and liturgy of this setting's version of Christianity) but I also have to do more heavy lifting for the reasons mentioned above and have to invent counterparts to folklore figures like Robin Hood, the Cailleach, Owain Glyndwr, etc., as well as to particular places, which just don't have the same impact as the real figures. Invert those for the advantages and disadvantages of option two.

Tagging @narulanth and @kaleb-is-definitely-sane because it feels like you'd have opinions on this.