Trying to Say vs. Saying

I, like many posters here, was interested by Said’s analysis of space and domestic culture in Mansfield Park as reflective of a larger imperial discourse… he made some very interesting observations, and took a road somewhat less traveled when it comes to interpreting Austen (I may be limited in my Austen knowledge, but I have never come across a critical writing that discussed her novels as reflective imperialism).

In reaction to Jessica’s question of whether he was “reading too far into” what the author is “saying”… What I thought was interesting about Said’s piece was that he suggested the possibility that Austen could have unconsciously left these vestiges of imperialist culture in her work. This means it's not what the author was trying to say, but rather she unknowingly said through her words. That argument carries at least some validity within the terms Said set up, since he argues that these clues weren't necessarily intentionally included, but rather the product of an all-encompassing colonial ideology Austen might never have registered as directly influencing the domestic topics she was addressing.