Book Review

Austen’s Autistic Characters characters encounter are: 1) theory of syndrome the

mind, 2) central coherence, 3) executive most stressful
So Odd a Mixture: Along the Autistic activity is to
functioning, 4) cognitive shifting,
Spectrum in ‘Pride and Prejudice’
5) language processing, 6) dyspraxia socialize” (70).
By Phyllis Ferguson Bottomer. or impairment of motor planning,
Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2007. 207 pages. Bo t t o m e r
Papercover. $19.95. 7) awareness of the unwritten rules of analyzes the
conversation, 8) interpretation of non- Darcy and de
Reviewed by Alexandra Gaspar. verbal cues from facial expression and Bourgh families
Although the title of Bottomer’s book gestures, and 9) sensory sensitivities. It is in part three.
lacks originality, since “so odd a mixture important to note that all the mentioned Anne de Bourgh,
of quick parts, sarcastic humour, difficulties are seen from a medical whom the reader
reserve, and caprice” is Austen’s first perspective. barely notices, is in Bottomer’s view “the
characterization of Mr. Bennet, her In the next two parts of the book, most blatantly autistic, showing traits
thesis is strikingly original. The reader Bottomer carefully analyzes each autistic from the severe, classic or Kanner’s end
is confronted from the beginning character of the Bennet, Collins, Darcy, of the spectrum rather than the milder
by Bottomer’s very unusual point of and DeBourgh families. In order to make or Asperger’s end” (99). Anne’s mother,
view, indicated in the subtitle “Along her argument stronger and more credible, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, is diagnosed
the Autistic Spectrum in ‘Pride and Bottomer starts each analysis by quoting as having autism simply because she is
Prejudice’”; she argues that eight Austen’s most fruitful description of the “a woman who directs others with little
characters in Pride and Prejudice are characters. While scholars see Mr. Collins regard for their feelings” (105).
either autistic or suffer from Asperger’s as a fool, Bottomer believes that he, like Surprisingly, the last autistic character
syndrome. Bottomer’s experience as a many in the spectrum, “does not appear on Bottomer’s list is Mr. Darcy. Whereas
speech language pathologist provides her to have the compensatory advantage scholars see Darcy as shy, Bottomer
the knowledge on the autistic spectrum, of high intelligence to help balance his believes that it “is not pride but subtle
but she apparently has little familiarity weak social skills” (45); rigidity and autism that is the major reason for Darcy’s
with the scholarship on Jane Austen. fascination with numbers and patterns frequent silences, awkward behaviour
Bottomer’s So Odd a Mixture was seem to be his main characteristics. at social events” (111). The analysis of
primarily inspired and influenced by Dr.
Mary and Lydia Bennet are Bottomer’s Mr. Darcy is more than fifty pages long,
Tony Attwood’s Asperger’s Syndrome,
next targets. Mary’s interest in books but the majority of the arguments are
one reason why this book would be of
does not have any positive effect but repetitive and almost none of them is
more interest to the general reader than
brings only “a tendency to overly formal fully supported with scholarly evidence.
to a scholarly audience.
speech” (50). She is antisocial, not able Bottomer’s original argument is
The first part of Bottomer’s book offers a to read facial expressions, and always extremely controversial. In addition, the
brief background of Asperger’s syndrome wants to say something but does not book contains several major editorial
or autism and at the same time informs know how. Lydia is Mary’s opposite. errors in pagination, spelling, and
the audience of her intentions. While She is wild, noisy, emotionally unstable, punctuation. Ultimately, those interested
most scholars and critics have argued and unable to listen. All these traits are in using this book to gain a better
that Austen’s characters were mainly usually interpreted by the reader as poorly appreciation of the characters in Jane
inspired by family members or neighbors developed social skills, while Bottomer Austen’s Pride and Prejudice may be
and that she only described what she saw, argues that they are autistic traits. The frustrated because Bottomer analyzes
Bottomer’s analysis indirectly implies last two autistic characters in the Bennet the characters more from a modern
that all those people were autistic or family are Mr. Bennet and Mrs. Bennet. medical perspective than a literary point
suffering from Asperger’s syndrome. The Constantly presented in opposition, Mrs. of view.
eight characters analyzed and diagnosed Bennet is obsessed with marrying her
by Bottomer as autistic are basically all daughters, while Mr. Bennet is indifferent Alexandra Sabina Gaspar, a Romanian
the major characters (Mr. Collins, Mary to all except his own pleasure. According citizen, came to the United States on an
Bennet, Lydia Bennet, Mr. Bennet, to Bottomer, the couple also manifest athletic scholarship (tennis) in 2004. She
Mrs. Bennet, Anne de Bourgh, Lady rigidity and the inability to shift ideas, received a BA degree in English and French
Catherine de Bourgh, and Fitzwilliam just as their daughters do. Self-centered at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston,
Darcy), with the exception of Jane and with serious social issues, Mr. LA, and is currently in Tech’s master’s
and Elizabeth. According to Bottomer Bennet fits Bottomer’s description which program in English. She plans to pursue a
the areas of difficulty which these second master’s degree and a Ph.D. degree
affirms that “for those with Asperger’s
in International Relations.

JASNA News 21