2) Please respond to the text. Use 2-3 direct examples from the novel, and make predictions. Where do you see the novel going from here? What clues do you see Austen leaving for us to ponder? Also, please ask me questions. Let me know what you would like to discuss. What is confusing? What would you like to discuss further?
"Got Bingley?"
"Not if I can help it!"
"May I have the next dance...and your hand in marriage, Cousin Elizabeth?"
"I would rather marry a Wookie, sir!"
AAAARRRRHHHH! AAARRH!
(Translation: "Hey, babycakes! Wassup!")
I think that we are going to see a very strong relationship form between Elizabeth and one of the men. This is because I feel like they were foreshadowing a relationship between Mr. Collins and Elizabeth, and now that he is marrying another woman, and the fact that this book is basically centered around the action of getting married, show me that this won't conclude the book. Elizabeth also seams like the main character, so it would make sense for her to find love with another man. Also, I think that even though Jane seams to be losing hope on marriage, she will also end up happy in the end. This is because, once again, the theme of the book is marriage, and I'm guessing that all the girls will get married in the end. The quote "Even Elizabeth began to fear—not that Bingley was indifferent—
ReplyDeletebut that his sisters would be successful in keeping him away" shows how Jane could be losing hope in marriage, as Elizabeth believes that Bingley's sisters are successfully keeping him away from them, but I still think she's going to get married. Also, the quote "Between Elizabeth and Charlotte there was a restraint which kept them mutually silent on the subject; and Elizabeth felt persuaded that no real confidence could ever subsist between them again" shows how important it was for Elizabeth to get married and how hurt she was over what had happened.
We start off with Elizabeth ranting the next day to her sister Jane about the Wickham and Darcy conflict. I am actually surprised that Elizabeth was quick to believe the awful things Wickham said about Darcy. Jane as well does NOT believe Wickham's story and comes up with a simple reason justification, "They have both," said she, "been deceived, I dare say, in some way or other, of which we can form no idea. Interested people have perhaps misrepresented each to the other. It is, in short, impossible for us to conjecture the causes or circumstances which may have alienated them, without actual blame on either side." Though Mr. Collins and Wickham seem to both have an interest in Elizabeth I still presume that she will end up with Darcy at the end of this novel. I am quite intrigued by the end of this volume and how Mr. Bingley and the rest of his family left Netherfield, and plan not to return any time soon. Lizzy was trying to persuade and assure Jane by telling her how much Bingley likes her and will return back soon without a question. "Indeed, Jane, you ought to believe me. No one who has ever seen you together can doubt his affection. Miss Bingley, I am sure, cannot. She is not such a simpleton. Could she have seen half as much love in Mr. Darcy for herself, she would have ordered her wedding clothes. But the case is this: We are not rich enough or grand enough for them" (82). Things got tense, but I really hope Mr. Bingley will eventually return back to Jane and Darcy will come back with him, or else things could go downhill from here.
ReplyDeleteDo you also find it inteeresting how even though Elizabeth is different compared to other women in the society, she is the one who seems to get the most attention form numerous men? Why do you think this is?
DeleteI think men gather around her more because she is a single, attractive women of marrying age. I don't really see the suitors other than Mr.Darcy being attracted towards Elizabeth because of her deviation from the norm.
DeleteI agree with you bill that Mr.Darcy is the only one that like Elizabeth because of the way she acts being different and I feel Mrs. Collins kind of ignores the way she acts.
DeleteThis is honestly going nowhere! Everyone keeps arguing over who's in love with whom, but never making any decisions. At this rate, the book's just going to end without anybody's mind being made up. If Jane Austen turns out to have achieved the cliff-hanger of which I speak, then we can just assume anything that strikes our fancy. This even paves the way for cross-overs, like that one displayed right above the comments. Long story short, I've lost my bleeding patience, so there you are!
ReplyDeleteShould I have even said, "bleeding," or is it a curse word? Forgive me, if it is.
DeleteAnd I believe the sexism has nothing to do with their indecision. It's a whole other problem.
DeleteI remind everyone to watch their profanity, but just for once, I ironically fail to do so myself.
DeleteAs Ethan had said for the last chapters, these chapters are just as wild. The interactions between Darcy and Elizabeth are so incredibly relatable and humorous. Both continue to stare at each other, but neither decides to do anything. "She could not help frequently glancing her eye at Mr. Darcy, though every glance convinced her of what she dreaded; for though he was not always looking at her mother, she was convinced that his attention was invariably fixed by her” (69). I find it interesting how it’s so entertaining to watch these two people who CLEARLY have interest for each other, barely even notice that the other one does. Another thing that occurred during the reading was that Mr. Wickham didn’t go to the ball, which upsetted Elizabeth, possibly hinting she has feelings for him as well. AND while Elizabeth is conflicted in her mind about her feelings towards Darcy and Wickham, on top of everything else: she is proposed to by Mr. Collins! That chapter, in my opinion, was incredibly humorous to read because through the narration, skillfully set up by Jane Austen, you could completely sense Elizabeth’s uncomfortableness with the situation and how prideful Mr. Collins is of himself. He spends about over 2 pages speaking, trying to convince her that this is a great opportunity that she should be taking advantage of. He speaks with great pride of himself and great prejudice towards Elizabeth, saying, “...I am far from accusing you of cruelty at present, because I know it to be the established custom of your sex to reject a man on the first application” (75). As of right now, Elizabeth is stuck in this love ‘rectangle’ (it can’t be a triangle because there’s 4 people involved) that will need certain events to occur to assure that she ends up with Darcy in the end. It’s so entertaining finding out how her and Darcy get together, even when we already know that they will.
ReplyDeleteWell, it's some sort of quadrilateral.
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ReplyDelete(First paragraph just describes the scenes that I've enjoyed in this reading. Skip if you're not interested)
ReplyDeleteHonestly, Jane Austen has quite a strong sense of humor. Throughout every chapter in the book so far, I found some form of humor within actions or interactions between characters. For example, the talk between Mr. Collins and Elizabeth contained a large amount of dramatic irony. As the reader, we all know that Elizabeth isn't interested in Mr. Collins. However, Mr. Collins simply responds, "'It is usual with young ladies to reject the addresses of the man whom they secretly mean to accept'" (74). In other words, Mr Collins is telling Elizabeth that all women her age like to play 'hard to get' with men. Then Jane Auten's human hits again even harder with the interaction between Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. When Mrs. Bennet was looking for Mr. Bennet for help to persuade Elizabeth to marry Mr. Collins, he agreed to talk to her. Instead of convincing her to marry Mr. Collins he tells her, "'From this day you must be a stranger to one of your parents'". In other words Mr. Bennet is standing with Elizabeth, telling her to not marry Mr. Collins contrary to what Mrs. Bennet went to him for. (sorry I counldn't help but mention these parts, it's too funny XD)
After all of these offers from different men, I think that Elizabeth may face many internal conflicts with herself. After all, she is already experiencing this. After she listened to Mr. Wickham describe his side of the story- stating that the late "'[Mr. Darcy] meant to provide for me amply, and though he had done it; but when the living fell, it was given elsewhere'" (54)- Jane and someone else (I can't remember) talked to her from Mr. Darcy's side of the coin. It's like having an angel whispering in one ear and the devil whispering in the other ear, both tryhing to win her reasoning. So it will be an internal battle deciding which man is best for her. Jane Austen has already characterized Elizabeth as different and chooses her own mind rather than letting her parents choose her path. So I think in terms of making this story interesting, Elizabeth will marry Mr. Darcy, similar to what Talah said above. I think the next portion of the story will describe how Elizabeth will get over her prejudice of Mr. Darcy and begin to enjoy his company.
Jane's case, however, will be quite different. I think that Mr. Bingley may return to Netherfield, but will not show strong emotions towards Jane as he shows interest in another women: Miss Darcy. His interest is compounded by the fact that Miss Bingley strongly supports this growing relationship "and [wants] him to marry Miss Darcy" (82). As a resutlt, from here on out, I don't think that Mr. Bingley will have show any deep feelings towards Jane.
I enjoyed yet am saddened by this portion of the reading. There is much amusement in Mr. Collins' proposal to Lizzy, in his absurd belief "that it is usual with young ladies to reject the addresses of the man whom they secretly mean to accept" (74) (though I do pity Lizzy in that moment because it would be incredibly embarrassing and off-putting to have to repeatedly tell a man that when you say no it means no but sadly such customs sometimes do not end with time nor instruction). But my heart goes out to dear Jane, and Bingley, both of whom are being pulled apart by Bingley's sisters, because they "are not rich enough, or grand enough for them" (82) according to Elizabeth. And as Darcy said in Chapter X, "and if, as you were mounting your horse, a friend were to say "Bingley, you had better stay till next week," you would probably do it, you would probably not go-- and, at another word, might stay a month" (33). This was almost a sort of foreshadowing. For if a friend can get Bingley to stay month, his sisters ought to be able to get him to stay for much longer. And they are keeping him away for the winter. It does not bode well for poor Jane, left to pick up the pieces of her heart alone. Austen is setting the scene: now that Darcy is no longer there, it is more about how Lizzy is without him, and how Jane will be after Bingley's absence. Mrs. Bennet is in dire straits from the shock of Mr. Collins' proposal to Charlotte Lucas and Bingley's leaving. And Kitty and Lydia will stir trouble with the officers, no doubt since that is their usual selves. It will be a time of regression in Volume II.
ReplyDeleteA piece that I quite enjoyed was when Mr. Bennet called Lizzy down to be "scolded" by Mrs. Bennet's instruction. only for him to claim that "an unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth. From this day you must be a stranger to one of your parents. --Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again if you do" (77). Mr. Bennet may dote a bit too much on Lizzy and should be more respectful to his other daughters, but in cases where Mrs. Bennet even claims "Elizabeth was the least dear to her of all her children" (72), it is a more justified adoration.
I liked that you brought back Darcy's quote in chapter 10 about how Bingley is too easily convinced and that if his sisters ask him to stay in London longer, he probably will. It is interesting because Darcy said that this was a fault of Bingley's, and Lizzy said that is was not a fault but instead a compliment. I wonder if Lizzy still sees this as a good characteristic of Darcy's now that it is keeping him away from her sad and lonely sister Jane.
DeleteChloe Hanrahan
ReplyDeleteI really am enjoying this book, but it’s confusing and all over the place. One part that was so confusing to me was Charlotte’s engagement to Collins. I understand the history and time period (and not everyone was head strong like Lizzy), but come on does she understand this will be the rest of her life? I agree with Elizabeth “Charlotte the wife of Mr. Collins, was a most humiliating picture”(87) for Charlotte though. Elizabeth might be hurt, but she’s not the one to restraned to him in every sense of the meaning.
Also Caroline Bingley is my least favorite character. I have no good feelings to her and don’t understand how the Bingleys are siblings. Even if you’re completely different people siblings always share similar morals or opinions (unless something big changes one), but they seem to be from two different worlds. For Miss Bingley to befriend Jane and then send her a letter saying “the hope we dare entertain of [Georgiana Darcy] being heareafter our sister”(81). It’s like in those teenage movies where you find out the mean girls only befriend the nerdy girl to make fun over her (think She’s All That, or 10 Things I Hate About You/Taming of the Shrew).
ALSO THE DANCING! After I read the scene about Darcy and Collins dancing with Elizabeth it clicked! I got their personalities! Collins is the one messing things up, always making mistakes and in the way. Darcy is stoic, standoff-is, and cautious with every step or move. I don’t even know if that was Austen’s thinking, but come on!!! “Mr Collins, awkward and solemn… often moving wrong…”(62).
your right I did not think of that and I think Austen did it on purpose to show the differences between the way they grew up and there foil characters
DeleteWhile dancing at the party with Mr.Darcy, Elizabeth indirectly criticized Mr.Darcy when she recalls hearing that Mr.Darcy “hardly ever forgave, that [his] resentment once created was unappeasable”(64). Ironically, on the next page where Miss Bingley warns Elizabeth about Wickham, she responds with “I see nothing in it but your own wilful ignorance and the malice of Mr.Darcy”(65). She is similar to Mr.Darcy as they both have difficulty changing their opinions once it has been made. On another note, the book shows the expectations of women in the 19th century again near the end of chapter 22. Charlotte justifies her engagement with Mr.Collins with her statement that “I only asked for a comfortable home; and considering Mr.Collins’s character, connection, and situations in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair”(87). Her future is entirely dependant on her husband. Her belief mirrors the marriage of most in this time period. As long as the husband does well, the wife will too. There is no independence for women. Now with many suitors leaving, Mr.Darcy will have a much better chance to romancing Elizabeth if he can manage to get her to change her opinion of him. I’m not sure what else will happen in the future.
ReplyDeleteThe chapters that we read for homework had a lot of good content in them and we learned a lot about each character. Elizabeth has a lot going on, she is getting two different stories of Mr. Darcy's character as well as Mr. Wickham's character, she is asked by Mr. Collins to marry her, AND she starts to lose trust in her best friend Charlotte Lucas after she marries Mr. Collins. However, we also see that Elizabeth is unintentionally falling for Darcy even more without even noticing it herself. Austen writes "Elizabeth blushed and blushed again with shame and vexation. She could not help frequently glancing her eye at Mr. Darcy, though every glance convinced her of what she dreaded; for though he was not always looking at her mother, she was convinced that his attention was invariably fixed by her" (69). Elizabeth clearly cares of what Darcy thinks of her and her family and is embarrassed by her mother, and I feel like she is acting like every girl would when her mother embarrasses her in front of her 'crush', by blushing and trying to get her mother to stop talking. I also thought that Mr. Collins and Charlotte Lucas's marriage was a perfect fit. I think that they are perfect for each other because they both are marrying for selfish reasons and don't really care who they end up marrying. Mr. Collins wanted to marry because Lady Catherine de Bourgh insisted on it, and he will do anything she tells him to do. Charlotte wanted to marry because she asks "only of a comfortable home" (87) and she is "not romantic" (87). So I think the two of them are suited for each other and I think they will stay together throughout the book. As for Mrs. Bennet I think as we read we will see her start to get more and more stressed about her girls because her plan with Lizzy and Mr. Collins fell apart and now Mr. Bingley is out of town and may not come back.
ReplyDeleteIn the chapters we read, The Bennetts' along with Mr. Collins get invited to the Netherfield ball. Elizabeth has new information on Mr. Darcy from Mr. Wickham, which she instantly believes to be truth, making her dislike Darcy more, but Jane explains that what Lizzy hear about Darcy may not be entirely truthful, "Can his most intimate friends be so excessively deceived by it? oh! no." (pg. 59). Mr. Collins insists on sharing the first two dances with Elizabeth, and it occurs to her that this could be more serious than just a couple dances, "It now first struck her, that she was selected from among her sisters as worthy of being the mistress of Hunsford Parsonage..." (pg. 60). This idea horrified her but she had already agreed.
ReplyDeleteIn these chapters first off I am sad to see Mr. Bingley go and I hope he is just in London because his sisters asked him to like Darcy said "Bingley, you had better stay till next week," you would probably do it, you would probably not go-- and, at another word, might stay a month" (33). I really like the Jane and Bingley pairing, I think they fit each other so well and they are both such good people even if they don't get as much time as our main couple. When Jane was reading the letter I was like noooo please no. Let us talk about the main couple because alot happened in these chapters. There was the party at the Bingley's that had some really relatable lines fron Lizzy like when she said "it is your turn to say something now, Mr.Darcy(62)" I feel like that what everyone says sometimes in their head while hanging out with someone you are less friendly with. Also some of Darcy's lines were funny too like "Do you talk by rule then, while you are dancing(62)". My opinion on the whole proposed to Elizabeth then Charlotte. First I understand the akwardness but still I think they should put boys aside and just be friends. I predict we will not see the last of the Bingleys and Mr. Darcy and I hope we get to meet his sister because we have heard alot about her.
ReplyDeleteTo start off, I think that Lizzy is very smart to ignore Miss Bingley warning about Mr. Wickham because she hasn't been very nice to Lizzy and I honestly think that Miss Bingley is jealous of Lizzy. I do think that Miss Bingley is messing with Lizzy because she doesn't want to see her with a cute guy. Or maybe she knows that Darcey did something wrong and Wickham is being honest and she doesn't want that getting around. Maybe things will change between Lizzy and Miss Bingley if she is telling her the truth, maybe their relationship will become stronger in the next chapters. Also, I was flustered when Miss Bennet was upset with Lizzy when she turns down Mr Collins proposal. I get that it is different in certain time periods and the situation that the Bennets are in, but I think that it is just selfish of Mrs. Bennet to put that on Lizzy just because she said "how happy she would be to see him at Longbourn again"(85). But its so clear and apparent that Lizzy does not enjoy Mr. Collins company at all. During their dances together its described as, "dances of mortification"(62). So not only does she not like his company, she is mortified just dancing with him. I defiantly not see him proposing to Charlotte after as well. This leads me to believe that Jane Austen will make other odd couples that are completely out of the blue and that no one would see coming.
ReplyDeleteI think Jane Austen would do that and has a reason in doing so, but may even separate couples unexpectedly.
DeleteIn this reading, I was interested in the fact how Elizabeth’s reaction from Mr.Darcy had changed once she had met Mr. Wickham. Before this reading, I had thought that Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth were going to slowly break the ice and find each other but that quickly changed with Mr. Wickham being added into the mix. She was told by people that Wickham was not a good man and she should stay to go after Mr. Darcy but none of them had any reason to backup their claims. Miss Bingley had said, “‘thought George Wickham has treated Mr. Darcy in a most infamous manner. I do not know the particulars, but I know very well that Mr. Darcy is not in the least to blame…’” I was also interested in the addition of Mr. Collins’ character. We knew before that he was the one who would claim the fortune of Mr. Bennet if he died before his daughters married, but we didn't know his personality. I feel like he was added in as a character in order to show which of them can be telled as being sincere and which are added in just because. Earlier in the reading he said how he liked Jane, but once he realized she was with Mr. Bingley, he quickly changed to Elizabeth. I feel that this shows he isn’t sincere in his feelings towards Elizabeth because he was quickly changing from daughter to daughter. His character is also shown in the ballroom. “They were dances of mortification. Mr. Collins, awkward and solemn, apologising instead of attending, and often moving wrong without being aware of it, gave her all the shame and misery which a disagreeable partner for a couple dances can give.” I believe this line shows how Mr. Collins isn’t a capable man for most women, but especially for Elizabeth, as it is later seen in her rejecting his marriage proposal.
ReplyDeleteNikita Orbits
My hunch is that Mr. Bingley will definitely come back to Longbourn because he not only does have an estate there, but also because he genuinely loves Jane and may already want to propose to her. Even though the letter does say “none of the party will return into Hertfordshire this winter”, (81) but fate will come across into the Bennet and Bingley family. As for Mr.Darcy and Elizabeth’s relationship with one another, I do believe that they meant for each other no matter what. Although Wickham has Elizabeth thinking indifferent about Mr. Darcy, I do agree with Jane that Elizabeth is rushing into things with Wickham because “one does not know what to think.” (59) Jane Austen knows very well that her readers do ponder if the Bingley family will actually come back and have Jane marry Mr. Bingley or if Mr. Wickham really lied to Elizabeth and the Darcy family is a benevolent family and not so stern as Mr. Wickham said
ReplyDeleteIn this section, Mr. Bingley hosts his ball at Netherfield, where he spends the majority of time with Jane and no one else. However later, he leaves Netherfield and will likely never return, according to a letter written by his sister. This leves Jane very upset since she felt that they both had deeper feelings for one another, so that he would not have been able to leave her so easily. But Elizabeth feels that Bingley does in fact have strong feelings for Jane, but “Miss Bingley sees that her brother is in love with [Jane], and want him to marry Miss Darcy… [so she] tries to persuade [Jane] that he does not care about [her]” (82). I believe that later in the novel, Mr. Bingley and Jane will reunite, despite his sister trying to keep them apart so she can work her way towards marrying Darcy. I also believe that Mr. Darcy may have something to do with Mr. Bingley leaving Jane, since at Bingley’s ball, Mrs. Bennet was talking very loudly about the relationship between Jane and Bingley. While Mrs. Bennet was speaking to Lady Lucas, Elizabeth tried in vain to “persuade her to describe her felicity in a less audible whisper; for to her inexpressible vexation, she could perceive that the chief of it was overheard by Mr. Darcy” (68). In overhearing this, it is likely that Mr. Darcy could think that Jane was simply pretending to have feelings for Bingley just to grant her mother’s wishes of her marrying him, and therefore try to warn Bingley away from Jane, so he would leave Netherfield altogether.
ReplyDeleteI also except that there will be some very awkward family encounters once Charlotte Lucas has married Mr. Collins, especially after Elizabeth rejected his proposal (which was a very humorous scene) and that Mr. Collins is currently the man who will inherit Longbourn once Mr. Bennet dies. After learning that Miss Lucas and Mr. Collins are engaged, “Mr. Collins’s return into Hertfordshire was no longer a matter of pleasure to Mrs. Bennet. On the contrary she was as much disposed to complain of it as her husband.-It was very strange that he should come to Longbourn instead of to Lucas Lodge; it was also very inconvenient and exceedingly troublesome” (89). Even with them just engaged, Mrs. Bennet already cannot bear to spend time with Mr. Collins anymore, which leads me to believe that at future family gatherings with their cousin, tensions will be even higher.
I think it is funny how embarrassed Elizabeth was when her family had dinner with Darcy. Elizabeth thus far has not really shown any emotion about Darcy, but suddenly she cares what he thinks about her. It reminds me a little bit about relationships at our age. When we are hanging out with a group of friends and someone you are interested in are is in the group, you are going to act differently. You will also be embarrassed if your friends do something that normally you wouldn't be embarrassed about.
ReplyDeleteWhere is the novel going from here?? Only a place of despair, my friends. Not to cheat into the next few chapters, but now that Bingley is leaving the countryside soon, Darcy could be fresh out of sociable friends and will have to pursue Elizabeth without his help. This will be a worthy challenge considering that mR. WiCkHaM AKA Dr. Lady Killer is a literal DIME of a man that is ideal in every aspect while Darc-dawg is an emo princess. Mr. Wickham claims in some chapters that he and Darcy have a quarrel of some sorts, and advises Elizabeth to steer clear. Personal TBH, but Wickham is probably gonna smooch Elizabeth at some point, and it is gonna make Darcy totally peanut butter and JEALOUS which will result in a gentlemen's boxing match. Also, Mr. Collins is narsty and good job Elizabeth for saying no 5 times. Good choice. I'm really excited to see where this book is going so I can gloat that my theories are right!
ReplyDeleteThis chapter gave a lot of conflicting messages about both Darcy and Mr. Wickham. Up until this point in the novel, Darcy has stayed the prideful man who struggled with the mixing of social classes and the open mindedness demonstrated by his friend Mr. Bingley. However, now, a new character, Mr. Whickham has painted a new picture of Darcy that is more than just prideful but it also sinister. When Mr. Wickham tells Elizabeth about how Mr. Darcy denied him his future prospects that were promised to him by Mr. Darcy's father. Elizabeth is very quick to believe Mr. Wickham because of his charming demeanor and positive personality that he exercises. I think that this shows another example of the book's most central theme: prejudice because based on Mr. Wickham's good first impression on Elizabeth and Elizabeth's prior prejudice against Mr. Darcy for his disgusting pride, Elizabeth did not hesitate to believe Mr. Wickham's story whole-heartedly without either question or proof. Now, I feel that Elizabeth has found a confidant in Mr. Wickham to whom she can confide in about her hatred for Darcy. I am concerned for Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth's future because I don't know how Darcy and Eliza can find any common ground now that Eliza has had her hatred amplified. I fear that she is searching for dirt on Darcy now. Even as she is speaking to Wickham the novel reads, "Elizabeth found the interest of the subject increase, and listened with all her heart; but the delicacy of it prevented farther inquiry"(53).
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