The hunter hunted

[Iris]

I'm reading Northanger Abbey and there is something in the book that I find quite strange. Jane Austen is in general very good at portraying character, but in this case I think she's a mile off. The heroine, Catherine, is in love with Mr. Tilney, who is originally indifferent to her, but who eventually reciprocates her feelings out of gratitude:"she enjoyed her usual happiness with Henry Tilney, listening with sparkling eyes to every thing he said; and, in finding him irresistible, becoming so herself"
I always thought that if a bloke noticed that a woman was interested in him,he ran away for dear life.
What do you think, guys?

[Marsopa]

aren't they also completely vulnerable to flattery and being idolized? I think the key is in how she "listened with sparkling eyes to everything he said..."

[Iris]

Are they? I thought flattery scared them to death because of what it might mean...If I listen to this gal, I'll have to end up committing myself. Ugh!

[Tomisimo]

I think it's a stereotype that men always afraid of commitment, but I don't think it's always true by any means.

[Iris]

I know, I just felt like a bit of leg-pulling. As usual...

[Iris]

I know, I just felt like a bit of leg-pulling. As usual...
Besides, my love life hasn't been that great lately, do you think I'll turn from man-eater into man-hater?

[Rusty]

Let's hope not!

[Tomisimo]

No don't turn into a man-hater!

[Jane]

Originally Posted by Rusty

Let's hope not!

Iris, There´re better things to do with the guys than hate them....
Pls don´t ask me what!
Besides you´re too good and cute to hate anyone.

[Iris]

Sorry, can't help it. What is it that you can do with them? (Don't worry, you don't have to answer, I was just kidding)

[sosia]

Originally Posted by Iris

Sorry, can't help it. What is it that you can do with them? (Don't worry, you don't have to answer, I was just kidding)

Intenta domesticar cualquier otro animal (Try to tame another animal )

mujeres...¡ni con ellas ni sin ellas! (Women, not with nor without them!)

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by sosia

Intenta domesticar cualquier otro animal (Try to tame another animal )

mujeres...¡ni con ellas ni sin ellas! (Women, not with nor without them!)

The phrase we use is:
Women: (you) can't live with them, (you) can't live without them.

[poli]

Originally Posted by Marsopa

aren't they also completely vulnerable to flattery and being idolized? I think the key is in how she "listened with sparkling eyes to everything he said..."

In English we have a famous platitude "flattery will get you nowhere". Of course, this is not true. These days it's often used jokingly when someone is being accused of being pelota.
Mae West turned the phrase around. She said, "flattery will got you
everywhere." She was a master of the English language. Her hilarious
quotes turned puritanical society on its ear. Often she just stated
the obvious. People who become proficient in English may want to
have a look at what she had to say.

[sosia]

Thanks poli, she's good
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Mae_West

[Jane]

Oh, yes ! she´s VERY good!

[poli]

One of my favorite quotes is "Too much of a good thing can be simply wonderful" I suspect that some of her plays on words don't translate because they are based on older English sayings. You need to understand the older phrase before you can understand her's.