2) Compose a response.
NOTE: You will have class time to complete your reading. Spread it out.
BBC America Presents: Where are they now?
Elizabeth Bennet
Mr. Darcy
Mr. Collins
Lydia Bennet
Mr. Bingley
Mrs. Bennet
Tuesday, October 3, 2017
Due Friday, October 6th - Read Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen - Chapters XXXV-XLV (Pages 132-182).
2) Compose a response.
NOTE: You will have class time to complete your reading. Spread it out.
BBC America Presents: Where are they now?
Elizabeth Bennet
Mr. Darcy
Mr. Collins
Lydia Bennet
Mr. Bingley
Mrs. Bennet
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
As we read these next chapters we can easily see Elizabeth's developing feelings for Darcy, which is something we probably all thought would eventually happen since the first ball. When she reads his letter, she comes to realize her mistakes; "'How despicably have I acted!' she cried 'I, who have prided myself on my discernment!–I, who have valued myself on my abilities!...How humiliating is this discovery! Had I been in love, I could not have been more wretchedly blind!...Till this moment, I never knew myself.'" I included this quote because I think every person has felt this type of regret and embarrassment before. I was confused when Darcy was all of a sudden acting so nice and polite, but I think the reason he acted so mean at the balls was because he knew how fake everyone there was and how everyone was interested mostly in his fortune. I also found it funny that Elizabeth had been so disgusted at how judgmental and stuck up Darcy was, when she was the one judging him the whole time.
ReplyDelete-ali keamy
In the aftermath of Darcy’s proposal and letter, Elizabeth is left confused and frustrated. As she rereads and analyzes the contents of Darcy’s writing, she begins to understand just how much she misjudged both Darcy’s and Wickham’s character. It’s interesting to see such a confident and self-assured character like Elizabeth accept their mistakes. Elizabeth ponders, “She grew absolutely ashamed of herself.-Of neither Darcy nor Wickham could she think, without feeling that she had been blind, partial, prejudiced, absurd”(174). In her humiliation, she is able to see her own prejudice, “I have courted prepossession and ignorance, and driven reason away, where either were concerned. Till this moment I never knew myself”(175). With this realization, Elizabeth sees Mr. Darcy as a more respectable and kind man. So when she encounters him at Pemberley, she is not as sarcastic and malicious with him as we saw in Netherfield and Longbourn. Just as his letter affected Elizabeth, I think Elizabeth’s rejection changed Mr. Darcy. In Chapter 34, during the rejection, Elizabeth insults, “You are mistaken, Mr Darcy, if you suppose that the mode of your declaration affected me...it spared me the concern which I might have felt in refusing you, had you behaved in a more gentleman-like manner”(162). Having built himself as a gentleman, Darcy is surprised and wounded by the insult. I don’t think his pride had ever allowed him to question his disposition until this moment. As a result, in my opinion, he reflects on his actions and becomes more humble and polite, shown when he talks to the Gardiners and Elizabeth.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth starts to reflect on Darcy's letter and begins to feel regret for being prejudice against him. We start to see Elizabeth's feelings for Mr. Darcy change. Throughout the story, Elizabeth has been the outspoken and prideful character, so I agree with Sabine on how it's interesting to see Elizabeth accept her mistakes. I believe that Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth are both going to experience further character development by themselves, and with each other. I am not sure if Mr. Darcy will stop being socially awkward, or stop broodingly staring out windows (movie reference), but there will definitely be some type of change with the way he conveys his emotions.
ReplyDeleteOh, how I love the occasional filler chapter(s). Though, with or without fillers, I liked this section very much. As much as I assumed to Elizabeth to be so unchanged and angered by the letter Darcy gave her, we were able to see, how in reality, it affected her very much. I noticed this when Lydia was talking of going over to her dear friend Mrs. Fosters home. The way she so plainly addressed her father, pleading with him to not let Lydia go, because she would only improve in her skill of being a "flirt". Though her father dissmissed this as it would "...teach her her own insignificance"(156). Though Lizzy was not the only one affected by the scene from a few chapter before. Darcy was very obvious touched in ways unimaginable. His instant change of character was astonishing not only for Elizabeth, but for the readers as well. On first re-aqquaintance after such events took place, he spoke with much "civility to enquire after her family"(168). Then to later offer to introduce Miss Darcy to Eliza and her family was just amazing.
ReplyDeleteIm happy that in these few chapters we were able to fully understand the story on what happened between Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham in the letter that Darcy gave Elizabeth. When Elizabeth read the letter, she started to have different opinions between the two. Soon after she reads the letter she starts to guilt herself and feels bad about being so harsh to Darcy and starts to develop feelings for him. “How despicably have I acted!…Had I been in love, I could not have been more wretchedly blind. But vanity not love, has been my folly,”(p.141). After knowing the truth, she starts to have an attitude toward Wickham witch builds tension between them. Also I really like how Elizabeth starts to show enough interest in Darcy that he will propose to her again! Another thing I really enjoyed in this section is Mr.Collins' quote on page 146 “ My dear Charlotte and I have but one mind and one way of thinking. There is in every thing a most remarkable resemblance of character ideas between us”. I thought that was very funny. Im glad that this section was a little more interesting than the last one we did, the last one was pretty boring and nothing much happened in there, but this one left me more satisfied and made me want to continue reading.
ReplyDelete-Sarah Walsh
In the beginning of this section Elizabeth begins to realize that she was “ Blind, partial, prejudiced, and absurd” (141) in the way she judged Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth's opinion of Mr. Wickham also takes a turn as she finds herself highly disliking him and is happy when he leaves. This is because she realizes what he is actually like. Also they can no longer connect over their mutual dislike for Mr.Darcy since she now thinks he “improves upon acquaintance” (158) which is something that she actually says to Mr. Wickham knowing it will annoy him. Another major thing that happens is that Elizabeth sees Mr. Darcy at Pemberley while she is visiting with The Gardeners. She blushes and turns away due to embarrassment and also possibly because she is beginning to realize that she actually has feelings for him. In fact when they are all talking “Elizabeth heard not one word, and, wholly engrossed in her own feelings followed them in silence” (168). Since Mr.Darcy still thinks kindly of Elizabeth and Elizabeth now sees him as a decent person it is now actually possible that they will end up together.
ReplyDeleteMr. Wickham once told Elizabeth about this nice side of Darcy when they first met. He says that most people don't share Elizabeth's (now prior) sentiments, and that he is well liked back where he's from. "Every idea that had been brought forth by the housekeeper was favorable towards his character". This new insight into Darcy's personality will definitely promote Elizabeth's opinion of Darcy in her mind because now, not only has the letter provided crucial information regarding two of Elizabeth's pervious deal-breakers, his personality is not so terrible as it seemed to be.
ReplyDeleteI like these past chapters because now that Darcy is revealed to be a decent person (at least on the surface) my opinion (that of the reader) has more to go off of, and isn't as prejudiced as before.
-Yuval
After all the first impressions are done, we start to see the intial impressions unravel. It is discovered that Mr. Wickham is actually a bad person, from Mr. Darcy's letter we learn that Mr. Wickham used all of his inheritance and tried to elope with Miss Darcy and that Mr. Darcy might be the better man, “There is but such a quantity of merit between them; just enough to make one good sort of man; and of late it has been shifting about pretty much. For my part, I am inclined to believe it all Mr. Darcy’s; but you shall do as you chuse”. With that we learn that Mr. Darcy is not as evil as Elizabeth thought, this is further supported by glowing accounts by his housekeeper and other servants. We also see Elizabeth differently, she prides herself in judging people well, which she seems to have missed the mark on Darcy and Wickham. Although priding herself on marrying a person based on whether she loves them or not is enticed by the wealth and beauty of Pemberley, “at that moment she felt that to be mistress of Pemberley might be something”. We also see her doubting her judgement of Darcy and maybe start to develop feelings for him. Clearly Darcy still loves Elizabeth and they will end up together, but it will be interesting to see how the story gets to that point since Elizabeth is still unsure how she feels about Darcy. It will also be interesting how Elizabeth interacts with Bingley and how Bingley and Jane will end up together. I found it odd how much the book focused on Lidia’s departure to Brighton. It will probably end up being a beneficial to the family to reinforce the idea that although Elizabeth is intelligent she has a tendency to be wrong, plus it would be ironic.
ReplyDelete-Conor Walsh
Though I agree with a few people above saying that these chapters were filler chapters(Longs and exasperated), I feel the closure was necessary for the post climactic event of Darcy's proposal and letter thereafter. The way Jane Austen has shifted the focus on the book towards solely Elizabeth, and her interactions and discoveries regarding Darcy creates a feeling of secrecy that no other characters are aware off. For example, Elizabeth knows now the reason Jane wasn't seing Bingley, and the circumstances involving Wickham, yet she hesitates in telling her all of the details for she doesn't want to hurt Jane, nor does she want to humiliate Darcy's name. Also, I find it funny how Caroline is becoming more and more desperate in every attempt to bring Darcy back to her side of the coin. Jane Austen humors herself in Caroline's misfortune as each endeavor is so exactly timed to be at the worst time possible. The next chapters will be interesting; I'm betting either a 2nd proposal from Darcy, or some Jane/Bingley closure.
ReplyDeleteIts nice to see Elizabeth showing a development of feelings for Darcy because as the reader, we know that he is an honorable man deep down. We see the peak of Elizabeth's feelings when she says "How despicably I have acted!" (page 141). This is when she realizes that she has been wrong with her judgments all along. I cant imagine how it would feel to see proof of wrongfully judging two men (one of which had proposed to you and you rejected). I can see where Elizabeth is coming from when she isn't willing to spill the facts that are written in Darcy's letter. It would negatively impact two people who she cares about. As for Elizabeth and Darcy I am very confident they will end up together but I am still shocked at the turn of events that occurred with the Bingley and Jane relationship. I cannot predict at all what the outcome of that situation will be but I am excited to find out hopefully in these next few chapters.
ReplyDeleteDuring these chapters the truth is unfolding that some people might not be as good as they seem. We find out that Mr. Wickham is not a good person and that he took advantage of his fortune to try and marry Ms. Darcy. Elizabeth also receives a letter from Darcy which tells the truth about him, and that he's a good person. I'm happy to see Elizabeth visit Darcy at Pemberley, “a large, handsome, stone building, standing well on rising ground, and backed by a ridge of high woody hills.”(163) Are we one step closer to seeing another proposal?
ReplyDeleteI feel that now that the truth is out there Elizabeth has to make a decision about a lot of stuff for example she has to make a decision whether to believe Darcy or Whickham, whether she should forgive Darcy for what he did to Jane and Bingley and although in the end she doesn’t forgive Darcy for what he did to Jane but, she is starting to be more careful around Whickham and isn’t so fast to come to a decision. Also you said that the book’s first title was First Impressions and now we see that although first impressions are important when we are just meeting a stranger and that it shapes your view of them, but this book also tells us that first impressions isn’t the be all end all and that there is more to a person than just the first impression.
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting how Mr. Darcy proposed to Elizabeth in these chapters. It is a good representation of how marriage was viewed back then in those days. Now marriage is viewed as love but back then it was viewed as more of a economic transaction. Mr. Darcy made it seem insulting to Elizabeth when he proposed to him rather than something good about her. The letter after the proposal showed Mr. Darcy's perspective on the events rather than other people. I was surprised about who Mr. Wickham really was and how he acted towards Mr. Darcy. I am curious as to how Elizabeth's and Mr. Darcy's next meeting will be because Elizabeth said she respected him after the letter but didn't want to see him ever again.
ReplyDeleteAfter elisabeth reads the letter by mr.Darcy she is in a meditating state producing the information,Elizabeth is stunned at first, she doesn't believe any of this information because she thinks that Darcy's tone in the letter seems unrepentant and haughty. But, upon rereading the letter, she starts to see things in a different light. Elizabeth realizes Wickham was inconsistent and that his history was never verified. She realizes that Wickham tricked her.Elizabeth is utterly ashamed. She had considered herself to be a discerning judge of character, but now she sees that she was blind and prejudiced. Until this moment, she thinks, she never really knew herself.Elizabeth also rereads the part of the letter about Jane, and realizes that she can't blame Darcy for intervening: Jane was reserved, as Charlotte had pointed out; and she must admit that the other Bennets were terribly crass.On returning to the parsonage house, Elizabeth learns that Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam had both visited to say good-bye.Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam leave the next morning. Lady Catherine, now bored, requests to see Mr. Collins, Charlotte, and Elizabeth again. Lady Catherine supposes that Elizabeth is melancholy for having to leave Rosings herself, but Elizabeth declines the invitation to stay any longer. So Lady Catherine shows her how to pack. Elizabeth has decided that she respects mr.darcy but wishes to never see him again. I wonder where the story will go from here with mr.bingley and mr.darcy gone I feel lost in the direction of the story.-Brodie Turner
ReplyDeleteElizabeth finally starts to see the truth and lets herself be open to the possibility that Darcy isn’t the devil incarnate. She now has a new outlook on her actions and the events over the past months, “How differently did every thing now appear in which he was concerned!” (140). My favorite part of this section was when Elizabeth spoke with Mr. Wickham and hinted to him that she knew the truth of his actions, “When I said that he improved on acquaintance, I did not mean that either his mind or manners were in a state of improvement, but that form knowing him batter, his disposition was better understood” (158). Mr. Wickham being alarmed at that was like retribution for what he did to the Darcys and for manipulating Elizabeth. This was one of the slower sections with just a bit too much fluff that made it difficult at times to keep reading. I had some important plot points though and a lot of the aftermath of the letter and Darcy's proposal.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite things about Jane Austen is how relatable her characters are despite being written more than 200 years ago. Mary reminds me of the archetypical teenage girl who claim that she ‘isn’t like other girls’ as a way to mask her insecurities as well as to assert her superiority. In chapter XXXIX, while Kitty and Lydia are babbling about boys and shopping, she remarks “Far to be it from me, my dear sister, to depreciate such pleasures. They would doubtless be congenial with the generality of female minds. But I must confess that they would have no charm for me. I should infinitely prefer a book”(150). Though Kitty and Lydia are portrayed as silly and frivolous, Mary is just as guilty. She is so blinded by her internalized prejudice that femininity is weak and frivolous, that she has isolated herself and is likely missing out on some really cool gal-pals. I imagine that this is also a façade to mask her interpersonal insecurities. I was even rooting for her to pair up with Mr. Collins(ignoring the alarming age gap, of course) because of how lonely they seemed and their numerous similarities.
ReplyDelete