Persuasions #13, 1991 Pages 27 At Jane Austen’s Grave MAGGIE HUNT-COHN Austell, GA She wrote the perfect woman role for Jane, gave Elizabeth rebel
words, made her her father’s
favorite and his judge, her
mother’s bewilderment and
fulfillment of her dearest dream. Was calling Jane by
her own name telling us what she
hoped to be. Her letters speak more
like Elizabeth or even Mary
Crawford, whom she consigned to single purgatory,
damned after knowing heaven and refusing it. Jane’s mouth drawn by Cassandra is
sour. Her family knew her
whole. Laying her to rest, they chose to show their Jane as her mask beloved sister, aunt
and daughter, Christian, a
silhouette enlarged for strangers by her readers who emblazoned on the
nearby wall a guide to the
Jane who hid herself
writing behind a squeaking
door and then was happy.
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