Thank you very much indeed for watching my channel. Here is the link to my article doi.org/10.3390/h11060132 (Octavia Cox, ‘& Not the Least Wit’: Jane Austen’s Use of ‘Wit’, in Humanities 11:6 (2022))
Thank you so much for your content! I adored university and have missed that type of learning ever since- your videos remind me of being an excited 20 year old seeing the world all over again. It is such a joy!
Do you have recommendations for authors/novels that have the wit and depth of Austen??? It’s been so long since I’ve read a really good book. I found I capture the castle last year but that’s about it
Dr Cox, I wish you (and RUclips!) had been around when I was trying to teach P&P to 15-year-old students in the 1970's! 50 years on, I'm just beginning to understand Austen properly, thanks to your posts.
Jane Austen was considered by her family as very 'witty', and there is evidence in her letters that she could use her wit like an assasin's knife, so perhaps she understood better than most the pitfalls of being apparently 'clever,' for example that one might say something hurtful when carried away by one's own verbal dexterity. The way I see it, Austen presents 'wit' as a kind of accomplishment or talent, like playing the piano (or indeed harp) or painting. Accomplishments are only of use when they give satisfaction to the person performing them, and enjoyment to those who play the role of audience. Accomplishments or talents in themselves are neutral, not virtues. To me, these ideas permeate her novels, and perhaps the fact that she was both witty and a pianist herself provides an interesting insight into her degree of self knowledge and ability to laugh at herself.
I never thought of wit as an accomplishment like playing the piano. But it makes perfect sense! Thank you. I wonder how you came to this understanding?
@@Aphrodite77798 Thank you, and that's an interesting question. They way I see it, the desire to entertain is just one kind of expressive performance, rather like dancing or singing etc. Witty people want to make others laugh which is a form of applause, a recognition of talent. However, not everyone is good at being witty, just as not everyone is good at playing the piano, and a perfect example of this is the passage in Pride and Prejudice when Mary Bennet overestimates her proficiency on the piano (ie she doesn't realise people are not being entertained) and is halted by Mr Bennet making the apparently witty remark 'You have delighted us long enough.' But should a loving father be 'witty' at his child's expense? Some might argue that though this is one of the many famous quotes from Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen is actually showing us misplaced wit as well a misplaced piano playing.
@@marycrawford1594 Thank you for your thoughtful reply! You're right in that Mr Bennet's remark is just as misplaced as his daughter's excessive piano playing. That never occurred to me before. I think I can appreciate the irony of this scene more fully now. :-)
I am astounded at the depth and breadth of the background research shown here. I am certainly more aware of my own misuse of witticisms and hope to show more sense in future. Brilliant analysis. Thank you, Dr Cox.
Same. Every time I rewatch this I think of all of my witicisims. I'm an enjoyed and spewer of false wit more often than I'd like to admit. There were actually some examples in this video of false wit that I still giggle at. Like Mary Crawford and the admirals
It's always fascinating to contextualise the meaning of words, I think. They are such slippery things! The connotations of them are fluid and mutate over time.
Re Mr Bennet's comment on Elizabeth's 'quickness.' 'Quick' is an old word for 'alive,' as in 'the quick and the dead,' or 'I was cut to the quick.' So is it possible that 'quick' at that time was a synomym for 'full of life' or 'lively,' which is exactly how Elizabeth is presented in the book? [This meaning of 'quick' occurs in both the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer, both of which would have been well known to the Austen family, and by extension, the Bennet family. It is also used by Shakespeare.]
@@DrOctaviaCox Oh, do! I would be very interested in what you think of it. I've seen at least one RUclipsr credibly lambast it. But after the pandemic, I was delightfully entertained with it. Most Janeites I know were horrified by it, and I can definitely understand that.
Whether it is true wit nor not, I loved the part in Pride and Prejudice where Mrs Bennet demands that Mr Bennet tell Lizzie to marry Mr Collins and Mr Bennet ends by saying, ‘An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth. From this day you must be a stranger to one of your parents. Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again if you do.’ I thought it simple, clever and almost sensible. True wit? I think so anyway!
Naughty Mr. Darcy: “I’d as soon call her mother a wit”….😂….thank you so much for doing this video and all your other Austen videos! I can’t even imagine all the work that goes into making them but just know you are very much appreciated! Congratulations on having your article published, best wishes for a happy holiday season and PLEASE CONTINUE DOING THESE VIDEOS!!!
@@DrOctaviaCox Long form is great! Some subjects need a deep dive. I paused it at the end of the "evolution of the meanings of wit" section and will finish it later with a cuppa after my chores 💗
Just what I needed in the pre-Christmas rush to wind down. So happy you posted again, your videos give me the same feeling as best literature discussions back at school, which I really miss sometimes. I like the idea that true wit, or wisdom, is interlaced with kindness, and being mean is in a way proof for lacking 'smarts'.
@@DrOctaviaCox Indeed, thank you both for the clear thoughts of what true wit is. Kindness is a habit and goal for me and sense with understanding even more so.
I suppose it's sort of like when someone is called a "wise guy" -- not to denote wisdom and insight, but rather someone who is scheming, cheeky or clever (again in the pejorative), no? The scope of the research is fascinating, and offers an angle into Austen that I don't think I've read before. Thanks so much, Dr. Cox!
This was fascinating - thank you! I love that you explored undeclared wit - Elinor Dashwood is far from the first Austen character people would describe as witty, and yet you are right of course - her very sense allows her to demonstrate true wit. I noticed very few references to Persuasion. Is this down to the more subdued nature of the book, or at least its heroine? It has been many years since I read it, but I recall Anne's own thoughts (which merge with the free indirect discourse, itself incorporating Austen's own voice) being fairly cutting and satirical. Does this count as Anne's 'wit' given that no-one but the reader hears it? Does wit require someone to hear it?
I have watched quite of few of your You Tube lecture videos with great enjoyment and interest. This seems to be the best one yet, I believe. Thank you very much for all your efforts in making these videos.
Was fabulous to wake up to a new video from you! Hubby took the kids to the pool (we live in Australia) and I had 2 hours to myself listening to your video and crocheting….bliss!
As always, Dr. Cox, your scholarship is of the first order, and you explicate Austen with intelligence, enthusiasm, and aplomb for common and academic readers alike. I've been ill and feeling low lately, but your 'reappearance' has cheered me and led me back, after a difficult semester, to Austen for holiday break reading. Thank you!
From my repost of this video on my FB wall: "First video in several months from one of my favorite literature youtubers. Enjoying this deep analysis of the use of wit as a rhetorical device. Why has it taken me so long to pick up a set of crochet hooks? Many have suggested I have a wit for knitting."
@@DrOctaviaCox It got two likes. Hopefully, more of your work will show up in their feed. Any chance we could convince you to do a close reading of a Dickens poem for the holiday? Or Thomas' A Child's Christmas in Wales?
Thought-provoking, as always. I love Jane Austen and you give fresh insights into her work. Merry Christmas. Hope you’re loving your new home, new job. Cheers! 🎄🥂🧑🏻🎄✌️
Thank you so much for your excellent videos which I have just discovered. I am a very long standing Jane Austen fan.. This was very interesting - clearly it really needs more than one word to make it clear. I was wondering if you ever find yourself laughing out loud at any particular moments in the novels when you read them again - even now...? I found myself doing so during the umteenth re-reading of Emma at the moment towards the end when Mrs Weston writes the note to Emma about the letter she received from Frank Churchill. She refers back to her previous meeting just after Emma had fully realised the devastating impact of her encouragement of Harriet and when she was clearly still in shock (unbeknown of course to Mrs Weston). In her note she says that she thought Emma had not looked very well and writes 'and though you will never own being affected by the weather, I think every body feels a north-east wind...' Isn't that brilliant..!
Just reading the introduction of your paper now. I will only have the time to read bits of it at one time, but so far I'm absolutely agreeing with your observations about wit, and wondering why no one has done more thorough research into the subject by now, given that wit is a major theme to one degree or another in most c.18 and 19. writing. It strikes me that commentators just took it for granted that it just meant one specific thing such as was proposed by Hobbes and Johnson, whereas you have even in the introduction shown that it is a very complicated subject. Really looking forward to reading the rest of the paper and watching this video! Many thanks for another well researched and explained video,
I agree, Joseph - I was very surprised too! I think you're right, that sometimes we simply assume that a word meant the same thing in the past as it means in the present. But "wit" especially was a complicated term that had lots of baggage associated with it in the 18th and early-19th centuries.
@@DrOctaviaCox I can only assume that people have prescribed wittiness to be something like Cary Elwes in the Princess Bride or Kiefer Sutherland in the 1993 version of the Three Musketeers (Drydens definition), or Donald O'Connor in Singing In The Rain (Hobbes definition). But as you so eloquently point out, there's a whole lot more nuance to what wit is than what myself and others have thought over all this time. I look forward to finishing this video and the essay to see what other preconceptions I have that need challenging 😆
stumbled across this channel just a while ago and - after scanning all the play lists - I can say its one of the best things happened to me in 2022. Thanks for providing such indepth analysis on such a vast rage of literary works 🙃
I like the new background. I had wondered if the background would change when you posted again. So happy to see you back. What a great Christmas treat. Merry Christmas. Wonderful lecture. Very insightful.
This splendid study and analysis has transformed some of my ideas and understanding of Jane Austen Novels. This is a considerable a fete of scholarship. Octavia Cox is always illuminating but here she surpassess even her usual excellencies I am indebted to her.
Many thanks for your video/lecture. Thanks on so many fronts. First there is Jane Austen, one of my favourite authors from my mid-teens onwards. I was delighted to be reminded of so many of the stories and characters. Then there are the considerations of wit, for which I thank you deeply. Because it has caused me to reflect on the authors in the regency genre who I enjoy, and those I don’t enjoy. And, not surprisingly, it turns out that wit, witticism and wisdom are all contributing factors. Georgette Heyer learned and copied Jane Austen quite closely and as a consequence her heroines are endearing, even the ones who don’t have great depth but are gentle or kind. Compared with the modern-day authors who play in this time period, these earlier two are much more convincing. I continue to read contemporarily written regency novels in the vane hope of an author who approaches the standards of these two but on the whole I find, many (not all), write from too modern a viewpoint to be able to achieve the understanding of the centrality of wit as an active pursuit in the culture of that time. Your lecture/discussion made it clear to me why. There are many aspects of regency witticism and wit which would now never be spoken because we see some of these potentials as being genderist/racist etc. Also, many modern authors do not accept the mores of the regency period as the boundary in which their story unfolds but try to embed modern values post hoc into that earlier period. The result just sounds preachy and agenda-driven. The other thing your research made clear to me was the deep, ongoing social discussion of the definitions and values of wit and wisdom tha occurred during the time surrounding the regency eta. I’m left wondering whether these considerations would be relevant to many of the contemporary discussion of political correctness. As a retiree, with a degree, having access to your in-depth consideration you have given the subject was food for the soul. Many thanks.
It took me days to listen through this fascinating analysis, and it was worth every moment-not just of listening, but of anticipating and reviewing and reflecting. You have given Austen’s true and brilliant wit a context which shows forth her depth and excellence the more richly! You have heightened my perception in a way which will certainly reveal new treasures in future readings. Indeed, you already have me considering anew some remembered passages which display in newly informed retrospect some interesting texture. It may take much time and thought, for instance, to fully puzzle out the possible further implications of Caroline Bingley’s aggressive attack: “She a beauty? I would as soon call her mother a wit!” I already thought the observation (apparently attributed to her earlier witty self) well layered with dramatic ironies. But it seems to me now that I must return to the dig and see if I have left some artifacts undiscovered. If ever you are moved to explore such terrain in such detail again, you will have an eager audience here! Thank you so much for sharing!
@@DrOctaviaCox What I don't understand is why Mr. Bennett could be so very witty but lack an understanding about how his wife and Lydia's behavior risked their family reputation--and he did nothing!
Congratulations on your publication, and thank you so much for taking the time to make it available to us here. This was very thought-provoking, as well as witty in the sense of the elegant expression of similitudes. (Was that Locke's definition? I will have to rewatch or reread.) With this exposition of wit on mind, I would love to hear you speak in more detail about Mary Crawford. The complexity of her character might also reveal a wide range of what is good and bad in wit. For example, her observation that "Miss Price has been more used to deserve praise than to hear it" is a splendid example of wit. (Or does its rather bold allusion to the unkindness surrounding Fanny detract from her generous perception of Fanny's merits?) Yet Mary was also capable of the almost crass remark about the inferior appearance of clergymen in general. Even Fanny's mind could be pleasantly touched by some of Mary's wit, while alternately being dismayed by and disapproving of the rest. What do think Austen was trying to say by carefully creating such an ambiguous character?
I think Mary Crawford's remark is a subtle and complex example of wit. On the one hand it is intelligent and apt as well as concise, and appears to be well-intentioned in as you say generously covering an awkward moment on Fanny Price's behalf, all of which qualifies it as demonstrating wit. But it's impossible to avoid the thought that Fanny would have shrunk from being the object of too-personal discussion in that way, with the almost overt suggestion she is to be pitied as much as admired, and the remark leaves an unpleasant aftertaste of condescension, which would disqualify it from the height of true wit. So I think your very perceptive question gets the answer 'yes' from me.
@@haikusinenomine1655 Thank you! I appreciate all the light you shed, and especially the observation about the implied condescension. That is really important to keep in mind.
What a pleasure to see that you have returned! Thank you, particularly, for your remarks on Mr. Bennet's reflections on Lizzie's "quickness" which I had not perceived to be perhaps as much a comment on himself as on her. Very best wishes of the season.
What a terrific deep dive into such a seemingly simple word and concept! I certainly thought I knew what Austen meant by "wit" and boy was I in for a surprise! I was thinking especially of Mary Crawford and her "Rears and Vices," which she claims is not intended as a pun - which exposes her vulgarity, parading as wit.
Goodness! Welcome Back!! And as someone who's personally felt the affects of both good & bad "wit" .. I am feeling all of these examples you're presenting!!
I really wish there was more thought put into P&P when I did it in high school. I found it so confusing and boring that it was one of the first reading assignments I couldnt finish. And over the summer, those were always my favourite! Now that I am almost double that age, I am finally starting the understand why it is a classic. Of course it would have probably been different if it wasn’t assigned for my foreign language class, but instead for my literature class. I remember we had the homework of noting down at least fifty words or expressions we did not understand the meaning of. Apparently “wit” could have been on the list, but I did not think of a word changing it’s core meaning
Knowing very little about what's important in literature, thank you for deepening my tiny grasp on these writings. Thanks. Will be visiting again soon.
Congratulations on all your hard work. I thoroughly enjoyed the lecture, especially tying in what could have been other references of wit which may have been contemporary to or influencing Jane Austen. As you went along, I thought of the old adage, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all."
The amount of research you put into this is exemplary; defining wit in it's many forms and showing how Jane Austen blended wit, in all it's forms, throughout her writing. I am glad you mentioned Mr. Darcy's wit. The play and use of it between the interactions of Caroline Bingley and himself made the narrative all the more 'Witty'. That is why I love Jane Austen so much. Thank-you for clarifying the many nuances of wit. It illustrates how Jane Austen used wit in a myriad of layers throughout her writing, sometimes in one paragraph. Your informative talks have educated me more in understanding what a truly brilliant writer Jane Austen was. Thank-you. Lorraine
I'd like to join in all the praise you get for your videos, and I want to add that I love the visual side of your vids very much. I love it that there are a lot of illustrations, taken from books, as well as a lot of other pieces of art, portraits, photos of books etc. I love it that you don't use movie screenshots frequently.
Thank you for sharing your work with us. Tim his has been a delight to listen to. I studied economics having to drop my double major in English due to scheduling conflicts and I am so happy to sit and listen to you on a lazy Sunday.
This was a bit heavier than your usual lectures . It reminded me of my university days (ia m 72 ) however I watched in two sessions so was able to cope, I found it quite interesting and will notice the different types of wit in my next readings of the novels.I am always reading one or another or several simultaneously
Dr. Cox, I love the wit of Jane Austen. I'm in my second year at University in California. . I’m a huge nerd and Jane Austen fan. I decided to read all six of Jane's books this last summer. I just absolutely love the characters. I decided to write a song about a character from each novel, turning it into a six-song EP album. I wanted to give it a twist. I decided to only use instruments that existed during the Regency Era. I called the album "Love, Jane." I didn't shoot for a genre, but my mom said that it seems like a mix between classical music and pop! I have actually been invited to perform at Chawton House on Jane Austen’s birthday this December! I don’t have the money to fly to the UK, but will be performing on Zoom. I’m so excited! In the meantime, I'm reaching out to Jane Austen fans one-at-a-time, trying to get some attention for the album. Yeah, I'm broke from paying to have it produced, so I'm basically knocking on doors, shaking people by their shoulders, saying, "Hey, can you listen to my album!" Ha, ha. Here is one song I want you to hear. This is song is based upon Mansfield Park and is a song about Maria Bertram called "Maria." open.spotify.com/track/6GNvyJgobUHabGO2UwAu5c?si=15fb639891cc48aa As for the album, it is on all platforms. Can you help spread the word? Thank you.
Welcome back ! I look forward to reading your article and - as always - reevaluating my comprehension of my favorite author. Merry Christmas from USA !
I was just thinking about when Octavia would return to her RUclips fan base, an lo, an early Christmas present! For whatever reason, my phone started playing the video while I was away at work, so apparently it's not just humans who like this content. However, I'll be coming around later to leave my own, very human, view.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
Thank you very much indeed for watching my channel. Here is the link to my article doi.org/10.3390/h11060132 (Octavia Cox, ‘& Not the Least Wit’: Jane Austen’s Use of ‘Wit’, in Humanities 11:6 (2022))
Thank you so much for your content! I adored university and have missed that type of learning ever since- your videos remind me of being an excited 20 year old seeing the world all over again. It is such a joy!
@@bw3839 I was thinking the same thing!
Do you have recommendations for authors/novels that have the wit and depth of Austen??? It’s been so long since I’ve read a really good book. I found I capture the castle last year but that’s about it
Dr Cox, I wish you (and RUclips!) had been around when I was trying to teach P&P to 15-year-old students in the 1970's! 50 years on, I'm just beginning to understand Austen properly, thanks to your posts.
It's my pleasure, David. Thank you for your kind message.
I am so sad that I was in high school in the 70’s and not one of my English teachers taught from Jane Austen
So, so very good to have you back again on RUclips with another Austen lecture. Congratulations on the publication of your essay.
Thank you! I hope you enjoy watching the video (and reading the article).
Jane Austen was considered by her family as very 'witty', and there is evidence in her letters that she could use her wit like an assasin's knife, so perhaps she understood better than most the pitfalls of being apparently 'clever,' for example that one might say something hurtful when carried away by one's own verbal dexterity. The way I see it, Austen presents 'wit' as a kind of accomplishment or talent, like playing the piano (or indeed harp) or painting. Accomplishments are only of use when they give satisfaction to the person performing them, and enjoyment to those who play the role of audience. Accomplishments or talents in themselves are neutral, not virtues. To me, these ideas permeate her novels, and perhaps the fact that she was both witty and a pianist herself provides an interesting insight into her degree of self knowledge and ability to laugh at herself.
I like very much how you state the case. It makes a lot of sense and helps me to understand more about Dr Cox’s lecture here. Thank you.
@@louisegogel7973 Thank you. How kind.
I never thought of wit as an accomplishment like playing the piano. But it makes perfect sense! Thank you. I wonder how you came to this understanding?
@@Aphrodite77798 Thank you, and that's an interesting question. They way I see it, the desire to entertain is just one kind of expressive performance, rather like dancing or singing etc. Witty people want to make others laugh which is a form of applause, a recognition of talent. However, not everyone is good at being witty, just as not everyone is good at playing the piano, and a perfect example of this is the passage in Pride and Prejudice when Mary Bennet overestimates her proficiency on the piano (ie she doesn't realise people are not being entertained) and is halted by Mr Bennet making the apparently witty remark 'You have delighted us long enough.' But should a loving father be 'witty' at his child's expense? Some might argue that though this is one of the many famous quotes from Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen is actually showing us misplaced wit as well a misplaced piano playing.
@@marycrawford1594 Thank you for your thoughtful reply! You're right in that Mr Bennet's remark is just as misplaced as his daughter's excessive piano playing. That never occurred to me before. I think I can appreciate the irony of this scene more fully now. :-)
Merry Christmas happy new year to you in advance we are so happy to see you back again
Thank you Khatoon! I hope you enjoy the video.
The Prodigal Dr returns! With Jane Austen too, happiness!
I hope you enjoy the video, Nicola!
I am astounded at the depth and breadth of the background research shown here. I am certainly more aware of my own misuse of witticisms and hope to show more sense in future. Brilliant analysis. Thank you, Dr Cox.
Ha! Wit and sense - the perfect Austenian combo! Thank you, Viv, much appreciated.
Same. Every time I rewatch this I think of all of my witicisims. I'm an enjoyed and spewer of false wit more often than I'd like to admit. There were actually some examples in this video of false wit that I still giggle at. Like Mary Crawford and the admirals
As a non-native speaker, your videos are excellent examples which to imitate in both diction and vocabulary. Thank you, Dr Cox :)
Finding this very interesting, I didn't realise the difference in the Georgian idea of wit versus what we might consider wit now.
It's always fascinating to contextualise the meaning of words, I think. They are such slippery things! The connotations of them are fluid and mutate over time.
Re Mr Bennet's comment on Elizabeth's 'quickness.' 'Quick' is an old word for 'alive,' as in 'the quick and the dead,' or 'I was cut to the quick.' So is it possible that 'quick' at that time was a synomym for 'full of life' or 'lively,' which is exactly how Elizabeth is presented in the book?
[This meaning of 'quick' occurs in both the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer, both of which would have been well known to the Austen family, and by extension, the Bennet family. It is also used by Shakespeare.]
Happy to see you back. I hope that the new place and job are working out well for you.
Thank you. Yes, I am very well (and busy!). I do hope that you enjoy the video
@@DrOctaviaCox busy, ugh. Work is the curse of the drinking class.
Take Two! Let us hope that this one works properly. Fingers crossed...
Whether it works or not this time around, I greatly enjoyed reading your article. 😊
Oh good! It's so fascinating, I think, that Austen herself uses the word so differently from how we (generally speaking) use it now.
The queen of Austen literature is back 🙌🏼👏🏼🙌🏼
That's quite a title, Elise! - thanks for watching
♥️🙏🏻♥️
This must be the best video on RUclips on any topic related to English literature.
This puts a new spin on Netflix's description of it's 2022 adaptation of Persuasion as "modern and witty."
Ha! Oh goodness. I have not yet brought myself to watch it...
@@DrOctaviaCox Oh, do! I would be very interested in what you think of it. I've seen at least one RUclipsr credibly lambast it. But after the pandemic, I was delightfully entertained with it. Most Janeites I know were horrified by it, and I can definitely understand that.
Did I miss the part where you discussed Mr Darcy called mrs Bennett a wit, jokingly?
@@DrOctaviaCox That was very badly done, Miss Johnson, badly done, Indeed!!
The main lesson I’m taking away from this video is that I’m overdue for a rereading of Sense & Sensibility.
Whether it is true wit nor not, I loved the part in Pride and Prejudice where Mrs Bennet demands that Mr Bennet tell Lizzie to marry Mr Collins and Mr Bennet ends by saying,
‘An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth. From this day you must be a stranger to one of your parents. Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again if you do.’
I thought it simple, clever and almost sensible. True wit? I think so anyway!
Such an interesting watch. You always add new layers of understanding to works I love. You are brilliant, thank you for sharing all of this with us.
I agree. I'm going to watch again!
Thank you, Mellan. It's my pleasure. Austen is just the most fascinating writer! So many layers to peel away...
Naughty Mr. Darcy: “I’d as soon call her mother a wit”….😂….thank you so much for doing this video and all your other Austen videos! I can’t even imagine all the work that goes into making them but just know you are very much appreciated! Congratulations on having your article published, best wishes for a happy holiday season and PLEASE CONTINUE DOING THESE VIDEOS!!!
I need more academic analysis on youtube, this is amazing!
Yes! Professor Cox gifted us another brilliant literary lecture just before Christmas. Thank you.
Oh how thrilling, a new omnibus drop from Dr Octavia! 🌞🤓💗
It's very long, I know. I really went down an Austen rabbit-hole!
@@DrOctaviaCox Long form is great! Some subjects need a deep dive. I paused it at the end of the "evolution of the meanings of wit" section and will finish it later with a cuppa after my chores 💗
Just what I needed in the pre-Christmas rush to wind down. So happy you posted again, your videos give me the same feeling as best literature discussions back at school, which I really miss sometimes.
I like the idea that true wit, or wisdom, is interlaced with kindness, and being mean is in a way proof for lacking 'smarts'.
That's such a lovely thing to hear, Mavka, thank you. I agree - I wish more people aligned wisdom, kindness, and true wit in contemporary society
@@DrOctaviaCox Indeed, thank you both for the clear thoughts of what true wit is. Kindness is a habit and goal for me and sense with understanding even more so.
I suppose it's sort of like when someone is called a "wise guy" -- not to denote wisdom and insight, but rather someone who is scheming, cheeky or clever (again in the pejorative), no? The scope of the research is fascinating, and offers an angle into Austen that I don't think I've read before. Thanks so much, Dr. Cox!
This was fascinating - thank you! I love that you explored undeclared wit - Elinor Dashwood is far from the first Austen character people would describe as witty, and yet you are right of course - her very sense allows her to demonstrate true wit.
I noticed very few references to Persuasion. Is this down to the more subdued nature of the book, or at least its heroine? It has been many years since I read it, but I recall Anne's own thoughts (which merge with the free indirect discourse, itself incorporating Austen's own voice) being fairly cutting and satirical. Does this count as Anne's 'wit' given that no-one but the reader hears it? Does wit require someone to hear it?
A new video and an article?! What a wonderful return.
It's my pleasure. Thanks for watching and reading!
I have watched quite of few of your You Tube lecture videos with great enjoyment and interest. This seems to be the best one yet, I believe. Thank you very much for all your efforts in making these videos.
Was fabulous to wake up to a new video from you! Hubby took the kids to the pool (we live in Australia) and I had 2 hours to myself listening to your video and crocheting….bliss!
As always, Dr. Cox, your scholarship is of the first order, and you explicate Austen with intelligence, enthusiasm, and aplomb for common and academic readers alike.
I've been ill and feeling low lately, but your 'reappearance' has cheered me and led me back, after a difficult semester, to Austen for holiday break reading. Thank you!
Wishing for you to find some cheer and better spirits soon 💗
@@sarahberney Thank you for your kind words. 🙂
Seeing you in my notifications again is the best gift for Christmas ❤️
What a lovely thing to say! I hope you have a great Christmas time.
@@DrOctaviaCox Thank you so much, same to you!
From my repost of this video on my FB wall: "First video in several months from one of my favorite literature youtubers. Enjoying this deep analysis of the use of wit as a rhetorical device. Why has it taken me so long to pick up a set of crochet hooks? Many have suggested I have a wit for knitting."
Thanks for sharing the video, Stephen - much appreciated!
@@DrOctaviaCox It got two likes. Hopefully, more of your work will show up in their feed. Any chance we could convince you to do a close reading of a Dickens poem for the holiday? Or Thomas' A Child's Christmas in Wales?
Thought-provoking, as always. I love Jane Austen and you give fresh insights into her work. Merry Christmas. Hope you’re loving your new home, new job. Cheers! 🎄🥂🧑🏻🎄✌️
Thanks for your message, Margo. I'm always happy to provoke thoughts! And a Merry Christmas to you too.
SO SO SO happy to have you back!
Thank you so much for your excellent videos which I have just discovered. I am a very long standing Jane Austen fan.. This was very interesting - clearly it really needs more than one word to make it clear.
I was wondering if you ever find yourself laughing out loud at any particular moments in the novels when you read them again - even now...? I found myself doing so during the umteenth re-reading of Emma at the moment towards the end when Mrs Weston writes the note to Emma about the letter she received from Frank Churchill. She refers back to her previous meeting just after Emma had fully realised the devastating impact of her encouragement of Harriet and when she was clearly still in shock (unbeknown of course to Mrs Weston). In her note she says that she thought Emma had not looked very well and writes 'and though you will never own being affected by the weather, I think every body feels a north-east wind...' Isn't that brilliant..!
Just reading the introduction of your paper now. I will only have the time to read bits of it at one time, but so far I'm absolutely agreeing with your observations about wit, and wondering why no one has done more thorough research into the subject by now, given that wit is a major theme to one degree or another in most c.18 and 19. writing. It strikes me that commentators just took it for granted that it just meant one specific thing such as was proposed by Hobbes and Johnson, whereas you have even in the introduction shown that it is a very complicated subject.
Really looking forward to reading the rest of the paper and watching this video! Many thanks for another well researched and explained video,
I agree, Joseph - I was very surprised too! I think you're right, that sometimes we simply assume that a word meant the same thing in the past as it means in the present. But "wit" especially was a complicated term that had lots of baggage associated with it in the 18th and early-19th centuries.
@@DrOctaviaCox I can only assume that people have prescribed wittiness to be something like Cary Elwes in the Princess Bride or Kiefer Sutherland in the 1993 version of the Three Musketeers (Drydens definition), or Donald O'Connor in Singing In The Rain (Hobbes definition). But as you so eloquently point out, there's a whole lot more nuance to what wit is than what myself and others have thought over all this time. I look forward to finishing this video and the essay to see what other preconceptions I have that need challenging 😆
Wonderful to have you back!
stumbled across this channel just a while ago and - after scanning all the play lists - I can say its one of the best things happened to me in 2022. Thanks for providing such indepth analysis on such a vast rage of literary works 🙃
I knew! You would not keep us Austen lovers away from your deep pool of knowledge for long! Thanks, and welcome back.
I like the new background. I had wondered if the background would change when you posted again. So happy to see you back. What a great Christmas treat. Merry Christmas.
Wonderful lecture. Very insightful.
Merry Christmas to you too! And I'm so pleased that you found the video insightful. The more one dives into Austen, the more one gets out!
Tou are wonderful. I wish you were my teacher in college. I bet your classes are simply beautiful.
This splendid study and analysis has transformed some of my ideas and understanding of Jane Austen Novels. This is a considerable a fete of scholarship. Octavia Cox is always illuminating but here she surpassess even her usual excellencies I am indebted to her.
Welcome back - I have missed your videos so much 😊
Thank you, Crafty Art Corner (fab name) - I hope you enjoy this one too.
Many thanks for your video/lecture. Thanks on so many fronts.
First there is Jane Austen, one of my favourite authors from my mid-teens onwards. I was delighted to be reminded of so many of the stories and characters.
Then there are the considerations of wit, for which I thank you deeply. Because it has caused me to reflect on the authors in the regency genre who I enjoy, and those I don’t enjoy. And, not surprisingly, it turns out that wit, witticism and wisdom are all contributing factors.
Georgette Heyer learned and copied Jane Austen quite closely and as a consequence her heroines are endearing, even the ones who don’t have great depth but are gentle or kind.
Compared with the modern-day authors who play in this time period, these earlier two are much more convincing. I continue to read contemporarily written regency novels in the vane hope of an author who approaches the standards of these two but on the whole I find, many (not all), write from too modern a viewpoint to be able to achieve the understanding of the centrality of wit as an active pursuit in the culture of that time.
Your lecture/discussion made it clear to me why. There are many aspects of regency witticism and wit which would now never be spoken because we see some of these potentials as being genderist/racist etc. Also, many modern authors do not accept the mores of the regency period as the boundary in which their story unfolds but try to embed modern values post hoc into that earlier period. The result just sounds preachy and agenda-driven.
The other thing your research made clear to me was the deep, ongoing social discussion of the definitions and values of wit and wisdom tha occurred during the time surrounding the regency eta. I’m left wondering whether these considerations would be relevant to many of the contemporary discussion of political correctness.
As a retiree, with a degree, having access to your in-depth consideration you have given the subject was food for the soul. Many thanks.
Nice to have you back :). You have been missed.
You are back! What a great joy-for all your fans.
It took me days to listen through this fascinating analysis, and it was worth every moment-not just of listening, but of anticipating and reviewing and reflecting.
You have given Austen’s true and brilliant wit a context which shows forth her depth and excellence the more richly!
You have heightened my perception in a way which will certainly reveal new treasures in future readings.
Indeed, you already have me considering anew some remembered passages which display in newly informed retrospect some interesting texture.
It may take much time and thought, for instance, to fully puzzle out the possible further implications of Caroline Bingley’s aggressive attack: “She a beauty? I would as soon call her mother a wit!”
I already thought the observation (apparently attributed to her earlier witty self) well layered with dramatic ironies. But it seems to me now that I must return to the dig and see if I have left some artifacts undiscovered.
If ever you are moved to explore such terrain in such detail again, you will have an eager audience here! Thank you so much for sharing!
You’ve been missed! Thank you for this presentation. I always look forward to viewing your videos. Wishing you all the best!
Many thanks, Pamela. I hope you enjoy this video too!
@@DrOctaviaCox What I don't understand is why Mr. Bennett could be so very witty but lack an understanding about how his wife and Lydia's behavior risked their family reputation--and he did nothing!
Congratulations on your publication, and thank you so much for taking the time to make it available to us here. This was very thought-provoking, as well as witty in the sense of the elegant expression of similitudes. (Was that Locke's definition? I will have to rewatch or reread.)
With this exposition of wit on mind, I would love to hear you speak in more detail about Mary Crawford. The complexity of her character might also reveal a wide range of what is good and bad in wit. For example, her observation that "Miss Price has been more used to deserve praise than to hear it" is a splendid example of wit. (Or does its rather bold allusion to the unkindness surrounding Fanny detract from her generous perception of Fanny's merits?) Yet Mary was also capable of the almost crass remark about the inferior appearance of clergymen in general. Even Fanny's mind could be pleasantly touched by some of Mary's wit, while alternately being dismayed by and disapproving of the rest.
What do think Austen was trying to say by carefully creating such an ambiguous character?
I think Mary Crawford's remark is a subtle and complex example of wit. On the one hand it is intelligent and apt as well as concise, and appears to be well-intentioned in as you say generously covering an awkward moment on Fanny Price's behalf, all of which qualifies it as demonstrating wit. But it's impossible to avoid the thought that Fanny would have shrunk from being the object of too-personal discussion in that way, with the almost overt suggestion she is to be pitied as much as admired, and the remark leaves an unpleasant aftertaste of condescension, which would disqualify it from the height of true wit. So I think your very perceptive question gets the answer 'yes' from me.
A huge thank you to Dr Cox for the clarity of her discussion, without which I would not have been able to articulate my thoughts in the same way.
@@haikusinenomine1655 Thank you! I appreciate all the light you shed, and especially the observation about the implied condescension. That is really important to keep in mind.
What a pleasure to see that you have returned! Thank you, particularly, for your remarks on Mr. Bennet's reflections on Lizzie's "quickness" which I had not perceived to be perhaps as much a comment on himself as on her. Very best wishes of the season.
Thank you, Edith. Mr Bennet is a fascinating character. Far more limited than he might at first appear. Very best wishes to you too.
Happy Christmas, happy Boxing Day! I hope the university job is fulfilling and the students learn as much as I do from you
What a terrific deep dive into such a seemingly simple word and concept! I certainly thought I knew what Austen meant by "wit" and boy was I in for a surprise! I was thinking especially of Mary Crawford and her "Rears and Vices," which she claims is not intended as a pun - which exposes her vulgarity, parading as wit.
Happy to have you here, thank you 🎉❤
It's my pleasure, Cristina - thanks for your support. I hope you enjoy the video.
Now I'm going to have to re-read them all... again! We're so lucky to benefit from your applied scholarship
Ha! I think that all the time too! Every time I re-read them I still always find something new. Thank you, Mia, that's very kind of you to say.
Goodness!
Welcome Back!!
And as someone who's personally felt the affects of both good & bad "wit" .. I am feeling all of these examples you're presenting!!
I am delighted at your elegant clarity ❤
Ah now what a lovely Xmas present! I hope your new position is treating you well!
Very well, thank you! I hope you enjoy the video.
Hope the new job is going well, lovely to have you back!
So good to have you back, Dr Cox! Congratulations on the publication!!
You're back! I'm so glad, hope your new job is going swimming :-)
I really wish there was more thought put into P&P when I did it in high school. I found it so confusing and boring that it was one of the first reading assignments I couldnt finish. And over the summer, those were always my favourite! Now that I am almost double that age, I am finally starting the understand why it is a classic.
Of course it would have probably been different if it wasn’t assigned for my foreign language class, but instead for my literature class. I remember we had the homework of noting down at least fifty words or expressions we did not understand the meaning of. Apparently “wit” could have been on the list, but I did not think of a word changing it’s core meaning
Knowing very little about what's important in literature, thank you for deepening my tiny grasp on these writings. Thanks. Will be visiting again soon.
I'm glad my videos are illuminating for you Barbara. Thanks for watching.
Yay I've missed you. So excited for this.
I haven't checked in in a while. I like your new look (hair up, earrings). I find Jane Austen absolutely hysterical! No one believes me.
So happy that you are here with an Austen video and your published work!
I was so happy to see a new video up today!
I'm so pleased, Katie! - I hope you enjoyed watching it
So delighted to see you here again, and congratulations on the article.
Lovely to see you back, Octavia!
Thank you, Nick!
I'm looking forward to more of your videos in 2023! Happy Holiday!❄🎄🎁🎍
It is so nice to have you back. :-)
Congratulations on all your hard work. I thoroughly enjoyed the lecture, especially tying in what could have been other references of wit which may have been contemporary to or influencing Jane Austen. As you went along, I thought of the old adage, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all."
Please add to these videos whenever you can. They are greatly appreciated. A superb cannon of lucid insight into classic authors and their styles.
Just a comment to say I love your videos and work ❤ Thank you!
The amount of research you put into this is exemplary; defining wit in it's many forms and showing how Jane Austen blended wit, in all it's forms, throughout her writing. I am glad you mentioned Mr. Darcy's wit. The play and use of it between the interactions of Caroline Bingley and himself made the narrative all the more 'Witty'. That is why I love Jane Austen so much. Thank-you for clarifying the many nuances of wit. It illustrates how Jane Austen used wit in a myriad of layers throughout her writing, sometimes in one paragraph. Your informative talks have educated me more in understanding what a truly brilliant writer Jane Austen was. Thank-you. Lorraine
Nice find! I'm just re-reading her novels. Look forward to watching this.
So thrilled to see a new video post from you! Please tell us where you got your beautiful William Morris-style blouse!
I'd like to join in all the praise you get for your videos, and I want to add that I love the visual side of your vids very much. I love it that there are a lot of illustrations, taken from books, as well as a lot of other pieces of art, portraits, photos of books etc. I love it that you don't use movie screenshots frequently.
I am so happy to see you again!!!!!
Oh thank you! I hope you enjoy the video.
Thank you for sharing your work with us. Tim his has been a delight to listen to. I studied economics having to drop my double major in English due to scheduling conflicts and I am so happy to sit and listen to you on a lazy Sunday.
Such a great deep dive. Thank you so much!
This was a bit heavier than your usual lectures . It reminded me of my university days (ia m 72 ) however I watched in two sessions so was able to cope, I found it quite interesting and will notice the different types of wit in my next readings of the novels.I am always reading one or another or several simultaneously
Thank you for your insights. I hope your new position at work is going well. Happy Holidays!
Dr. Cox, I love the wit of Jane Austen. I'm in my second year at University in California. . I’m a huge nerd and Jane Austen fan. I decided to read all six of Jane's books this last summer. I just absolutely love the characters. I decided to write a song about a character from each novel, turning it into a six-song EP album. I wanted to give it a twist. I decided to only use instruments that existed during the Regency Era. I called the album "Love, Jane." I didn't shoot for a genre, but my mom said that it seems like a mix between classical music and pop! I have actually been invited to perform at Chawton House on Jane Austen’s birthday this December! I don’t have the money to fly to the UK, but will be performing on Zoom. I’m so excited! In the meantime, I'm reaching out to Jane Austen fans one-at-a-time, trying to get some attention for the album. Yeah, I'm broke from paying to have it produced, so I'm basically knocking on doors, shaking people by their shoulders, saying, "Hey, can you listen to my album!" Ha, ha. Here is one song I want you to hear. This is song is based upon Mansfield Park and is a song about Maria Bertram called "Maria." open.spotify.com/track/6GNvyJgobUHabGO2UwAu5c?si=15fb639891cc48aa As for the album, it is on all platforms. Can you help spread the word? Thank you.
So happy to have a new video of yours!! ♥️
So glad you are back
Thanks KenKen. Glad to be back!
Great to have you back, I've missed your analyses, so thanks for this lovely video the week of Christmas
Dear Dr.Cox, I wish I had command enough of the language to convey how blessed I feel, having stumbled upon your channel!! Profound thanks !
So, so happy you are back!!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Hope all is well with you in 2023!
Congratulations on your publication!
Welcome back ! I look forward to reading your article and - as always - reevaluating my comprehension of my favorite author. Merry Christmas from USA !
Thank you, Bethany! And a Merry Christmas to you too, from a freezing Britain.
Nice to see you back once again, thank you.
It's my pleasure, Charles. Thanks for watching.
I always notice Austen's use of the word "engaged" in a similar way, she's very clever the way she hints at hidden meanings
Thanks!
Thank you, for the video. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
I’m so happy to see you. I’ve only just discovered you thanks to my brother. This was so interesting. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
And the same to you, Virginia. And many thanks to your obviously wonderfully perceptive brother!
thank you for shedding beautiful light on this wonderful work. applause!
I was just thinking about when Octavia would return to her RUclips fan base, an lo, an early Christmas present! For whatever reason, my phone started playing the video while I was away at work, so apparently it's not just humans who like this content. However, I'll be coming around later to leave my own, very human, view.
Ha! I hope you enjoy the video
This is so beautifully presented. I am catching it a year late, but what you say here is timeless. Thank you so much!
Congrats on your essay! And so glad to see you back on You Tube!
I'm so glad you're back! Congratulations on your publication!!
Thank you! Well done!
love your videos! Wish they were on a podcast too so I could listen to you while working out. EXCELLENT and merry Christmas to you!
but I also LOVE the visuals :)