Mr. Bennet makes his wife aware that there is a wealthy guy who will eventually inherit their property. When they meet up with the guy, the guy seems a little cocky because he's bragging/boasting about how one day the house will be his. The man who is about to inherit the property, Mr. Collins then acclaims that he is searching for a wife. Mrs. Bennet, being the woman she is, is attracted by his large fortune and wealth. However, she says that Jane is engaged after the guy takes upon a little interest in her. However, he casts his eyes upon Elizabeth instead. When Mr. Bingley invites the whole neighborhood to the ball, Elizabeth promises to dance the first two dances with Mr. Collins even though she has no particular interest in him. Instead, she is interested in another man called Wickham who she was hoping to dance with instead of Mr. Collins but is given no choice.
Elizabeth discovers that Wickham did not show up to the ball at all. Because of that, she becomes very moody during the entire event. The event ends with a little bit more drama with Miss Bingley, the sister of Mr. Bingley warning Elizabeth about Wickham and specifically advising her not to trust in him anything he says. The next day, Mr. Collins proposes to Elizabeth because he believes that she loves him as he loves her. However, he turns down his offer in a very kind manner but Mr. Collins still believes that she loves him. On the other hand, Mrs. Bennet is very furious that her daughter declined the offer from a very wealthy man. Mrs. Bennet refuses to see Elizabeth unless she marries Mr. Collins. She then asks Mr. Bennet to ensure that their daughter marries the man. However, the father is indifferent about the whole thing and doesn't take it so seriously. Later on, Mr. Collins proposes to a good friend of Elizabeth who does accept the offer. Mrs. Bennet becomes very angry that another woman is stealing the wealthy husband that could have been her daughter's husband.
Quote:
"The discussion of Mr. Collins's offer was now nearly at an end, and Elizabeth had only to suffer from the uncomfortable feelings necessarily attending it, and occasionally from some peevish allusion of her mother." (Austen 79)
Reaction:
In this quote, it allows me as a reader to allude that during those days, there must have been marriages that were set up. In other words, there must have been many arranged marriages. It seems as if the parents wanted their children to go specifically for the wealthy guy, as Mrs. Bennet has been pressuring her daughter to do so. It also leads me to wonder why specifically does Mrs. Bennet want her child to marry a wealthy guy? Is she unhappy because her husband is not so wealthy so she would wish for her child to be happy with a wealthy man? Does she think that money equals happiness? I'm also wondering if other women during this era were as forceful. It really seems as if she doesn't necessarily care about who her child would be happy with. She just wants the wealthiest guy around for Elizabeth to be with.
*Also, did marriages during these days last? Were divorces common or rare? It seems like characters in this book don't date- they just jump into marriages instead.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Pride and Prejudice (1-50)
Summary:
The chapter begins with a husband and wife casually chit chatting. In their society, it is kind of a decorum that a single man who is in possession of wealth to seek a wife if he does not already have one. Mr. Bennet's wife tells him that her friend, Mrs. Long previously told her that Netherfield was bought by a young man who has a large fortune from the north of England. Then, Mrs. Bennet tells her husband that the young man will be a perfect husband for one of their daughters. She also says that he might fall in love with one of them and that Mr. Bennet should visit him as soon as the young man arrives in town. Then, she says she will mention her daughter Lizzy when she meets the guy. Apparently, Lizzy is Mrs. Bennet's favourite daughter which is why she wants her to marry the man.
Mr. Bennet appears to be indifferent pertaining to one of his daughters marrying the wealthy young man. However, he secretly meets the man without letting anyone in his family know about it. Eventually, Mr. Bennet tells his family he met the man and they become very excited and begin to question him about what went on. Later on in the town, there is a special ball that is held. Every daughter in the Bennet family attends the ball in the hopes of capturing the attention of the man. Jane, the most senior daughter, dances a couple of times with Mr. Bingley, the young man. Mr. Bingley then tells his friend what he thinks about Jane which shows that he is interested in her because he calls her "the most beautiful creature".
When the Bennet sisters get home, Elizabeth, one of the daughters, and Jane, the other daughter begin sharing their experiences of the night. Jane reveals to Elizabeth that she danced with Mr. Bingley twice throughout the night. Elizabeth, not necessarily sounding jealous, tells Jane that she is very beautiful and it appears that she is not necessarily aware of how beautiful she is. The next morning, Charlotte who is Elizabeth's best friend reveals that she too danced with Mr. Bingley. The conversation then leads them to discussing Mr. Darcy, who is Mr. Bingley's best friend. Unlike Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy is very sour and has a very difficult time liking people. Everyone then agrees that Mr. Darcy isn't amiable at all and they're not interested in him.
Mr. Bingley's sisters visit the Bennets in the hopes of befriending Elizabeth and Jane. However, Elizabeth believes that Jane is in love with Mr. Bingley but is keeping all her thoughts and feelings to herself. Meanwhile, a shocking truth is revealed. Mr. Darcy suddenly takes a strong interest in Elizabeth even though he was not interested in her at all in the beginning of the book.
A note is sent to Jane, inviting her to spend sometime in the Netherfield Park. However, it rains and circumstances forces her to stay at the Bingley's household. Her sister, Elizabeth then visits her at Mr. Bingley's place. Unfortunately, the Bingley sisters criticize the Bennets because of their social status in the town and their lack of wealth. Jane eventually gets fed up with staying in the house and sends for her mother to send them a carriage to come home. However, Mrs. Bennet being the kind of mother she is and strongly wishing for one of her daughters to marry a wealthy guy does not send a carriage. Instead, Jane borrows Mr. Bingley's carriage. Although Mr. Darcy was very interested in Elizabeth, he was interested in her for reasons that he should not have been and is very glad when the two of them depart from his household.
Quote:
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife" (Austen 1)
Reaction:
When I first saw this quote, I thought..."British!". It sounds unbelievably formal and so very smooth. It is the first line of the book so it does set up the scenario of what the book will be about and the plot. However, as I read the book, I kept the quote at the back of my mind. At certain parts of the book, there are some sexism which makes sense because it was in England around the last 1800s and early 1900s. There is also separation of class because the Bennets are constantly being mocked by the Bingleys because they do not possess as much money as them. In addition, I feel like there might be a sense of decorum within this society. In the quote, it reveals that a single man that has a lot of money must be seeking a wife. Why can't the guy just stay single and spend all his money? Or perhaps he can just donate a portion of his money to charity and just do good? Therefore, I feel like there is a duty that men have to follow/live up to, specifically a wealthy, young man in this situation.
The chapter begins with a husband and wife casually chit chatting. In their society, it is kind of a decorum that a single man who is in possession of wealth to seek a wife if he does not already have one. Mr. Bennet's wife tells him that her friend, Mrs. Long previously told her that Netherfield was bought by a young man who has a large fortune from the north of England. Then, Mrs. Bennet tells her husband that the young man will be a perfect husband for one of their daughters. She also says that he might fall in love with one of them and that Mr. Bennet should visit him as soon as the young man arrives in town. Then, she says she will mention her daughter Lizzy when she meets the guy. Apparently, Lizzy is Mrs. Bennet's favourite daughter which is why she wants her to marry the man.
Mr. Bennet appears to be indifferent pertaining to one of his daughters marrying the wealthy young man. However, he secretly meets the man without letting anyone in his family know about it. Eventually, Mr. Bennet tells his family he met the man and they become very excited and begin to question him about what went on. Later on in the town, there is a special ball that is held. Every daughter in the Bennet family attends the ball in the hopes of capturing the attention of the man. Jane, the most senior daughter, dances a couple of times with Mr. Bingley, the young man. Mr. Bingley then tells his friend what he thinks about Jane which shows that he is interested in her because he calls her "the most beautiful creature".
When the Bennet sisters get home, Elizabeth, one of the daughters, and Jane, the other daughter begin sharing their experiences of the night. Jane reveals to Elizabeth that she danced with Mr. Bingley twice throughout the night. Elizabeth, not necessarily sounding jealous, tells Jane that she is very beautiful and it appears that she is not necessarily aware of how beautiful she is. The next morning, Charlotte who is Elizabeth's best friend reveals that she too danced with Mr. Bingley. The conversation then leads them to discussing Mr. Darcy, who is Mr. Bingley's best friend. Unlike Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy is very sour and has a very difficult time liking people. Everyone then agrees that Mr. Darcy isn't amiable at all and they're not interested in him.
Mr. Bingley's sisters visit the Bennets in the hopes of befriending Elizabeth and Jane. However, Elizabeth believes that Jane is in love with Mr. Bingley but is keeping all her thoughts and feelings to herself. Meanwhile, a shocking truth is revealed. Mr. Darcy suddenly takes a strong interest in Elizabeth even though he was not interested in her at all in the beginning of the book.
A note is sent to Jane, inviting her to spend sometime in the Netherfield Park. However, it rains and circumstances forces her to stay at the Bingley's household. Her sister, Elizabeth then visits her at Mr. Bingley's place. Unfortunately, the Bingley sisters criticize the Bennets because of their social status in the town and their lack of wealth. Jane eventually gets fed up with staying in the house and sends for her mother to send them a carriage to come home. However, Mrs. Bennet being the kind of mother she is and strongly wishing for one of her daughters to marry a wealthy guy does not send a carriage. Instead, Jane borrows Mr. Bingley's carriage. Although Mr. Darcy was very interested in Elizabeth, he was interested in her for reasons that he should not have been and is very glad when the two of them depart from his household.
Quote:
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife" (Austen 1)
Reaction:
When I first saw this quote, I thought..."British!". It sounds unbelievably formal and so very smooth. It is the first line of the book so it does set up the scenario of what the book will be about and the plot. However, as I read the book, I kept the quote at the back of my mind. At certain parts of the book, there are some sexism which makes sense because it was in England around the last 1800s and early 1900s. There is also separation of class because the Bennets are constantly being mocked by the Bingleys because they do not possess as much money as them. In addition, I feel like there might be a sense of decorum within this society. In the quote, it reveals that a single man that has a lot of money must be seeking a wife. Why can't the guy just stay single and spend all his money? Or perhaps he can just donate a portion of his money to charity and just do good? Therefore, I feel like there is a duty that men have to follow/live up to, specifically a wealthy, young man in this situation.
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