Darcy says, "You looking at me and my fine eyes?"
CHAPTERS 3 -6
1.
Despite Bingley’s appearance as a most eligible
bachelor, what is revealed about his family, his age, and his inexperience?
2.
How is Elizabeth’s fun at Darcy’s expense
different from his own behavior toward her and her friends and family?
3.
Do you agree with Mrs. Lucas’s distinction
between pride and vanity and her conclusion that Darcy has a right to feel
proud?
4.
Why might Miss Bingley be eager to criticize the
Bennet girls and their mother?
5.
What is revealed about the characters of Mary
and Elizabeth by their piano performance?
6.
What effect does Elizabeth’s teasing have on
Darcy? Is Elizabeth intentionally trying to provoke Darcy’s attention? Note his
continued attraction, despite her “inferiority.”

CHAPTERS 7 -13
7.
What influences Elizabeth’s opinion of the
Bingleys?
8.
What does Darcy consider an accomplished woman?
What does this reveal about him?
9.
How does Darcy react to Miss Bingley’s comments
about the Bennets?
10. How
does Darcy characterize his own faults? (How does he reveal more about
himself?)
Lizzy says, "Fine eyes indeed!"
In the previous chapters prior to chapter seven, most of the romantic focus was towards Jane and her relationship with Bingley. She was the one who received two dances, she was the one who had the best looks, and she was the one who so happened to get stuck sick in the presence of Mr. Hotness himself (Bingley). Her own mother even shows a bias towards Jane by saying "one does not often see any body better looking"(30). Yet chapters 7 through 12 want nothing to do with Jane. Instead, they focus more on Elizabeth and her mysterious relationship with Darcy- "But when the gentlemen entered, Jane was no longer the first object"(36). Throughout the chapters Darcy continually tries to entice Elizabeth with means of walking together, and especially with trying to dance with her. Caroline in the meanwhile, furiously jealous of Elizabeth's upper hand on Darcy, and relationship in general, talks to Darcy to try to get rid of the bennets, and especially Elizabeth. Caroline's jealousy is stupidly obvious the Darcy however, yet he remains to ignore her every attempt to focus on Elizabeth instead. I feel that the switch in heart of Darcy is to be directly shown soon, and is going to be through a love poem to Elizabeth after she leaves, for he believes of "poetry as the food of love"(30).
ReplyDeleteI agree with you whole heartly on this. I also think it was actually quite ironic, that Elizabeth caught Darcys attention, yet he once regaurded her as simply "tolerable" and "not hadsome enough..."(7) to even catch his attention at the ball, back in chapter 3.
Delete-Skye Padovani
Like Steven mentioned, prior to chapter 7, the book is tied to Jane and her relationship with Mr. Bingley. With Jane sick, she is cast aside and the audience learns more about Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy, and Miss Bingley. With these characters on center stage, Ms. Bingley’s jealousy of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy’s admiration becomes apparent. Ms. Bingley desperately tries to get Darcy’s attention through compliments and conversation, making her intentions as clear as day. However hard she tries, he ignores her. She is further infuriated when Elizabeth obtains his attention instead. Though Elizabeth may not fit his description of the ‘perfect woman’ from previous chapters, his attraction reveals that he respects her individuality and personality. He knows he misjudged her, and Elizabeth begins to feel that she may have as well. When he gracefully handles her rejection to dance, “Elizabeth, having rather expected to affront him, was amazed at his gallantry”(43). Though she has no kind feelings towards him, she is understanding that like his pride, her own has influenced her view of him. Seeing this, Caroline mentions the dysfunctions of the Bennett family and their lower status to Darcy, and unlike Steven, I believe that Caroline’s words do affect Darcy. He knows that furthering his interest in Elizabeth would weaken his position and thus his pride, something he values greatly. So, he notes, “He really believed, that were it not for the inferiority of her connections, he should be in some danger”(43).
ReplyDelete-Sabine Haskell
I feel like chapters 9 through 12 reveal more about Mr. Darcy’s character. In chapter 11 after Elizabeth jokingly says that Mr. Darcy is pretty much perfect he says “I cannot forget the follies and vices of others so soon as i ought, nor their offences against myself. My feelings are not puffed about with every attempt to move them and. My temper would perhaps be called resentful. My good opinion once lost is lost forever” (39). This reveals that he is not exactly forgiving and not overly emotional. Also prior to this when Mrs. Hurst left Elizabeth alone to walk with Miss Bingley and Mr.Darcy, he “ felt their rudeness” and said “ this walk is not wide enough for our party. We had better go to the Avenue” (36). This further shows how he is beginning to be fond of Elizabeth and how he might not be as terrible as people make him out to be.
ReplyDelete-Brianna Maoney
The relationships between Bingley's clique was expressed in these chapters, as it showed that while they have common status they don’t seem to find much joy in each other's company. Mr. Hurst seems to have nothing in common with the rest of the group other than playing cards as shown by “Mr. Hurst had therefore nothing to do, but to stretch himself on one of the sophas and go to sleep”(37). While Darcy and Bingley seem to have a genuine relationship they are complete opposites that have somehow formed a bond and created what their friend group is today. I appreciated that Austin showed that Bingley does see the faults in his friend, “I declare I do not know a more aweful object than Darcy, on particular occasions, and in particular places” (34), but is his friend none the less, which I think strengthens their relationship. Other than Darcy and Bingley’s friendship, the only thing tying these people together seems to be shared wealth and status.
ReplyDelete- Dominique Devani
Throughout chapters 9-12 think we begin to see the softer side of Darcy in which was mentioned in the early chapters, though it only comes out in small increments. This also reveals many things about his character that one may not understand when he was first introduced. I also liked the contrast between Darcy and Elizabeth relationship and Jane and Bingely's re. Where as Bingley made it quite obvious that he was fond of Jane, unlike Darcy who had to almost swallow his pride, and even still refuses to admit it, for the fact of her "inferioity... connections..."(35). Though their banter was quite assuming specfically when talking about their faults," 'And your defect is a propensity to hate everybody.'And yours' he replied with smile,'is willfully to misunderstanding them"(39) they each began to recognize that they were wrong about each other in the beginning. Only for Darcy to relapse when it is time for Jane and Eliabeth to leave." Steady to his purpose , he scarcely spoke ten words to her through the whole of Saturday" (40).
ReplyDeletelike Steven and Sabine said, chapters 9-12 shift the focus off of Jane and Bingley, and onto Elizabeth and Darcy. Darcy reveals more about himself as he comes to realize his feelings for Elizabeth, and more is revealed about Elizabeth as she disregards his advances. It is sad to see that Darcy's pride still gets the best of him when he breathes a sigh of relief when she leaves; "She attracted him more than he liked."(40) it's clear that his own attraction makes him uncomfortable because he believes she is beneath him.
ReplyDelete-ali keamy
In these past chapters the reader gets to focus more on the characters Elizabeth and Darcy- since Jane is sick, and they not residing at the Bennett household. Their first impressions of each other were not very good, as previously known based on Darcy's statement of, "'She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me'"(7). Elizabeth then concludes that Darcy is too proud and would not make good further company. As the story continues however, we see their opinions and views of each other start to change. Darcy expresses his interest in Elizabeth to Caroline Bingley, in which she responds with,"'I am all astonishment. How long has she been your favorite?'"(18). Caroline then begins to see Elizabeth as competition, for Darcy as she has expressed interest for him as well. She points out the status differences between Elizabeth and Darcy, trying to win him over. Darcy being the proud creature he is, is affected by these statements; yet has ignored all of Caroline's attempts to win his affection. I believe with Caroline's persistence she will hurt Darcy and Elizabeth's relationship more than she already has with her comments of their social status differences and so on. -Katy Clancy
ReplyDeleteAfter introducing the characters Austen places Elizabeth, Darcy and the Bingleys in a more personal setting, the Bingley’s household. At the point the characters start to form opinions of each other beyond first impressions and reputation. Elizabeth forms her opinions on the Bingleys based how much they care about Jane’s health. Elizabeth enforces her negative opinion of the Bingley sisters, “their indifference towards Jane when not immediately before them, restored Elizabeth to the enjoyment of all her original dislike” (23). Elizabeth look more positively on Mr. Bingley because he shows real concern for Jane. As Sabine and Steven noted the spotlight is shifted from Mr. Bingley and Jane to Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth where it will probably remain since Elizabeth is the protagonist. It is clear that Caroline sees Mr. Darcy as her future husband and becomes jealous when Darcy starts showing Elizabeth attention, trying “to provoke Darcy to dislike her guest”(35). Caroline knows that the main advantage she has on Elizabeth is that she comes from a more respected family and tries to remind Darcy of that as well as complimenting him. Darcy’s admiration of Elizabeth only continues to grow only hindered by Elizabeth's background, “he scarcely spoke ten words to her”(40) in order to not show any admiration.
ReplyDelete-Conor Walsh
Reading one of the pages, I fell upon this statement where Elizabeth beheld Darcy's gaze while in the act of reading some novels. “...how frequently Mr. Darcy's eyes were fixed on her. She hardly knew how to suppose that she could be an object of admiration to so great a man; and yet that he should look at her because he disliked her, was still more strange. She could only imagine, however, at last that she drew his notice because there was something more wrong and reprehensible, according to his ideas of right, than in any other person present.” (82) However, what I found most intriguing was were Austen wrote that “Darcy had never been so bewitched by any woman as he was by her. He really believed, that were it not for the inferiority of her connections, he should be in some danger.” (83) The use of Austen's language and her use of the word "bewitched" shows us the extent of how attracted he secretly was for her, yet how truly it feels a sense of doubting attraction Darcy feels and why he has the feelings he has. (Emily Chiang)
ReplyDeleteI found it some what irritating but also quite funny that Mrs.Bennet assured the room that she was not fond of bragging about her daughters beauty however she went on about it anyways. The irony Mrs.Bennet was showing began at the beginning of their visit. Mrs.Bennet honored Jane's looks and announced "I do not like to boast of my own child, but to be sure, Jane-one does not often see any body better looking. It is what everybody says"(page 30). This excerpt shows a lot about Mrs.Bennet's character. We saw at the beginning of the story that she is a very driven woman. She only wants it to be done her way and when something doesn't go her way she will never let it go. For example, when Mr.Bennet said he did not want to visit Mr.Bingley she made a huge fuss about it. In group discussions it is always about her or her daughters and if the conversation is focused on someone else it is about what they can give to her family. It is also noted that somehow that trait was not passed down to her daughters. It has been made evident that Elizabeth and the rest of the girls aren't as self centered. The love triangle that started to form in chapters 9-12 with Miss Bingley, Mr.Darcy and Elizabeth has to be my favorite part. It was amusing to watch Miss Bingley fawn over Mr.Darcy all night while he couldn't help but admire Elizabeth. I am eager to see how this conflict between the three of them increases and unfolds within the next few chapters.
ReplyDeleteFollowing Jane becoming sick while at the ranch, she stays the night with Elizabeth. The next morning, Mrs. Bennett visits them and tries to convince Mr. Bingley to stay at the ranch. Also, A love triangle forms between Darcy, Elizabeth, and Miss Bingley. Darcy likes Elizabeth, but Miss Bingley likes Darcy. She becomes very jealous of his attraction to Elizabeth, and how Darcy’s “eyes were fixed on [Elizabeth].” Miss Bingley spends the next few pages of the book trying to impress Darcy and get his attention.
ReplyDeleteTo Darcy, an accomplished woman “must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, all the modern languages, to deserve the word; and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions, or the word will be but half deserved”(26). In short, she must be perfect. I think his requirements for a perfect women also mirror his personal expectations. Darcy holds himself to a high standard and expects those around him to be on a similar plane. Elizabeth is not remarkable in any of the qualities he listed. Evidence of this is shown during one of the balls where Elizabeth and Mary play the pianoforte. Elizabeth’s playing is described as “easy and unaffected”(16) but not half as good as Mary’s. Despite these seemingly rigid requirements, he falls for Elizabeth. I think that shows the unpredictability of love(or infatuation). Though we may believe that we have a very specific type, often the ones we end up are different from what we expected.
ReplyDelete