I believe you¡¯re right, Arnie. There is also, in Emma, no mention of grounds, coverts, etc., in which the landowner might hunt or shoot game. We¡¯re given descriptions of other aspects of the property of the two main landowners ¨C the Knightly and Woodhouse estates. Gardens, gravel walks, strawberry beds, and avenues of trees meant for strolling or admiring the view. Mr Martin¡¯s farm has a summer house. Again, all of these civilized pursuits. Also, from what we¡¯re told, landowners have flocks of turkeys, pigs, etc., which supply them their meats.
Mrs Collins has cows and poultry ¨C though Mrs Norris has none ¨C she's probably spunging off Mansfield, whose poultry yard and dairy maid she intends to use to hatch the four pheasants¡¯ eggs she¡¯s given by Sotherton¡¯s housekeeper.
Was this perhaps a sign of the times? The more modern gentleman and landowner, who need not go out and shoot a brace of partridge to supply his kitchen?
Dorothy
Arnie wrote:
ME, EARLIER: "Tell me if I'm wrong, but it occurred to me this morning
that *Emma* is the one of the six completed novels which has no character
who hunts nonhuman animals. Have I missed something?"
ELLEN'S REPLY: "Do all six novels have hunting scenes? Or shooting birds?
S&S we are told of this; MP, Persuasion they go shooting. Henry Tilley has
hunting guns in his room but in the novel does he hunt or shoot?. That
leaves P&P where men go fishing. I don¡¯t remember any hunting, shooting or
fishing in P&P"
Ellen, I didn't say that the other 5 novels besides* Emma* have hunting
scenes, only that the other 5 novels have characters who hunt nonhuman
animals.
NA: Henry Tilney has hunting dogs, and John Thorpe shoots.
S&S: Willoughby hunts.
P&P: Bingley shoots birds and Darcy & Mr. Gardener fish for trout.
MP: Henry Crawford is a hunter with dogs.
Persuasion: Wentworth and Charles shoot together.
It's very interesting, therefore, that* Emma* does not include any
indication of hunting of nonhuman animals.
