I don't find it hypocritical at all. It's not about the dating age and who is older than who. It's about the girl's vulnerability. If Willoghby, being a gentleman and with the wealth and future he had at the start of the movie, had courted Brandon's ward with the full intention of marriage; there, most likely, would have not even been an issue. It would have given the girl security and love and it wouldn't have mattered if she was 15. you COULD argue, that maybe Brandon would have requested or guided them to wait a year or something like that, but we don't know what the circumstances would have been. Brandon looked after the girl as a father so yes, her being 15 and pregnant AND MISSING with no money or connections was a grave issue for him. Then to watch Willoughby prancing around England seducing other women with no care for them or for the girl he abandoned, his 'she is but 15' line makes perfect sense.
So then come to Brandon. He fell in love with a 17 year old. ok. It happens. like her own mother said, he was still considered young and it wasn't unheard of for people of different ages like that to marry. If the intentions are pure and there is mutual affection, then age doesn't matter. Brandon courted Marianne with the full intentions of marriage. He offered her security in home, wealth, and society. He didn't try to force her or convincer to leave her family in an inappropriate way. He backed off when he saw she was in love with Willoughby and only after Marianne had to grow up and became more mature and ready for his attentions did he pursue her again.
It's easy to look at the surface and say 'ew a 35 year old and a 17 year old!' but when you look at the relationships and the deeper understanding of what is going on, I see no hypocrisy.
reply
share