Post #2 (41-85)

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.