Pride and Prejudice
1. In remarking on Janes's favorable impression of the Bingley sisters, Elizabeth affectionately teases her sister, "Oh! You are a great deal too apt, you know, to like people in general. You never see a fault in anybody." Do you think you are more like Jane, who is "honestly blind to the follies and nonsense of others," or more like Elizabeth, who in most cases prides herself on being an accurate judge of character?
2. One critic writes that "in all Austen's novels, but especially in Pride and Prejudice, pursuing happiness is the business of life," and some would argue that this is not subject enough for a major work of fiction. Do you think that following this small collection of characters as they pursue their versions of happiness an admirable or appropriate mission for a novel? Discuss.
3. Consider this: "My temper would perhaps be called resentful.--My good opinion once lost is lost forever." What does Darcy mean by this statement? Do you agree with him? What are some of the drawbacks of such a position?
4. Consider this: "There are few people whom I really love, and still fewer of whom I think well . . . [E]veryday confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters, and of the little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of either merit or sense." Explain Elizabeth's view of the world as she expresses it here. How should we judge the "appearance" of merit and sense?
I am definitely more like Jane by not seeing the bad in people until it is too late. I usually just assume that people are good, give them chance after chance and then figure it out the hard way. Even after I find people's true colors I sometimes find it hard to believe that their "bad" side is the true them and would rather believe in a facade.
ReplyDeleteIsn't everyone in real life pursuing happiness? Austen writes about real normal life, however, some may view this as dull exactly because it is so mundane. Some of my favorite novels are situations so different from my own, more exotic problems and adventures that I probably (and hopefully) won't face in life. I think following this set of characters is a sweet little idea for a novel because you can relate to their struggles more and see parts of your life in theirs.
ReplyDeleteI believe I'm most like Jane. I tend to like anyone and everyone.
ReplyDeleteOf course pursuing happiness is admirable and appropriate, especially in this genre of literature. As a comedy, Pride and Prejudice is meant to be light, in both emotion and plot content. It's entertaining and easily understandable.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth is just a skeptical person, all around. She takes a great deal of time to warm up to people, and this is basically what she means by her statement. It takes more than just the tip of the ice berg stuff to judge someone.
ReplyDeleteI personally can not hold a grudge like Darcy, but sometimes I wish I could. I think that if a person continually proves that they do not have good intentions it is wise to not hold them in high regard. Having said that, even the best people make mistakes and deserve to have a second chance. I think it is a good thing but only if poor character is repeatedly shown.
ReplyDeleteI would say that I am not a Jane, however I don't think I am an Elizabeth either. I would say that I am a medium between the two. I want to be able to judge everyone as good however I also know that everyone in our world has a little bit of bad to them.
ReplyDeleteI think that in Austen's novels the pursuit of happiness is a great theme to revolve the book around. In that time period that was what a woman could accomplish and be proud of. Also her books are almost a tribute to her lost love and therefore they are almost like her personal stories.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with Darcy. While first impressions are important that is just one time in your meeting of them. I definitely believe that people can redeem themselves, especially from first hand experience.
ReplyDeleteI am very much like Jane in the aspect of not seeing the bad in people. I don't judge people before I know them and it takes me awhile before I realize HEY! That person is a jerkface.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Dea. I cannot hold a grudge against Darcy. Especially since I know (from the spoiler we read aloud in class) that they end up getting married in the end. Plus the apology letter pulls some heartstrings for me.
ReplyDeleteThose critics make me angry. The whole point in life is to become happy, is it not? Like Dea said, we are all trying to find our "happy place" and if the critics cannot stand how Austen put the REAL LIFE goal in her stories.... They can just go away, because that's just ridiculous!
ReplyDelete"My temper would perhaps be called resentful.--My good opinion once lost is lost forever." This quote can apply to my life. If you lose your temper over any topic, whether your point is good or bad, it will be disregarded. Why? The losing of temper or the temperament the opinion is presented will thus result in the opinion of the opinion. If it is presented poorly, nobody will regard it and it will be "lost forever."
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I'd call myself a Jane or a Lizzie, preferably I'd like to think of myself as a Mr. Bennet. Not only because he is well tempered and often hilarious, but also because he is one a of few male characters in the novel. As for the aspect of judging people, I try not be a Lizzie whenever I meet someone new, and yet being the proofreader I am, I often cannot help but notice other's flaws.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Dea about the pursuit of happiness, people read fiction such as romantic comedies to relieve themselves of their daily burdens. They want to read about someone becoming happy so they'll believe its more likely and can think to themselves: I'm going to end up happily married one day just like them. Fools.
ReplyDeleteEmily's point of view about one's temperament in an argument is interesting. I've found when someone makes even a grammatical error in their speech, the efficacy of their argument is diminished greatly. The same can be said of tempers, you see someone flustered, red in the face and then their opponent- "cool as a cucumber" (if I may), and you know who is winning the argument.
ReplyDeleteIn concurrence with Miss Eliza Bennet, I think little dependence can be placed on the appearance of any intrinsic quality such as sense or merit. The way I see it, if people were that way we'd often consider them shallow no matter the quality we saw (be it positive or negative). No likes to be read like an open book by any means, and we all have secrets- they are usually such for a reason. Little dependence can be placed on these characteristic's appearances (at least in this day and age) because we seldomly see or know people who are that frank or candid.
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