The biggest problem with the film is that it's too short to do justice to the layers of the novel. No one except Keira Knightley has anything to do - it's a sad waste of a cast. Although McFadyen in my opinion is totally wrong.
Really!? wow! I have had such a different experience of that film—I love the cast and adore McFadyen. I am a big fan of who they cast as Bingley and Jane, as well.
I also LOVE the BBC series — and how closely it adheres to the original text.
Rosamund Pike is positively angelic as Jane! And agreed on McFayden, he's perfectly awkward. I always think about how he's very short-sighted in real life and he was walking around sets blindly, it gives a certain flavor to his performance.
Like the bubbles on the surface of a sparking drink, the pace of these chapters just fizzes. Even my favorite moment, Lizzie's romp through the muddy fields, is fast paced. The conversations drip with sarcasm, superficiality, and gamesmanship. It's easy to see the though line to the zippy patter in some modern rom-coms. The characters continue to seem cartoonish in some ways; Cinderella comes to mind as the Bingley sisters, in the role of the evil stepsisters, tear down Eliza at every chance. I'm finding it difficult to see beneath the snappy dialog to who these people actually are and how and why I should connect with them. The conventions of this society actually seem calculated to hide the characters' true natures from each other. Charlotte Lucas even states that "..it is better to know as little as possible the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life". That every social interaction is so contrived felt foreign to our times, and then the specter of social media arose and I realized maybe things are not so different today when it comes to contrived interactions.
As a first time reader I'm gleaning a lot from reading the comments of those who've read the book before. You're getting my first impressions, but after reading through the comments and Haley's post, I go back through the chapters looking for more depth. Can you read and re-read a book at the same time?
“Like the bubbles on the surface of a sparking drink, the pace of these chapters just fizzes” reminds me of a Billie Holiday classic: “You go to my head / Like a sip of sparkling burgundy brew”
-and-
“That every social interaction is so contrived felt foreign to our times, and then the specter of social media arose and I realized maybe things are not so different today when it comes to contrived interactions.” This is a brilliant observation!
"I'm finding it difficult to see beneath the snappy dialog to who these people actually are and how and why I should connect with them. The conventions of this society actually seem calculated to hide the characters' true natures from each other." What a brilliant observation! As you deepen your reading of the novel, this is the perfect type of question to ask: How has Austen crafted the novel (and its characters) to make them unknowable or knowable to me, as the reader? Watch for moments of clarity, where character becomes more clear. And also watch for moments of obscurity, when it is difficult to tell whether someone is playing a part or acting authentically. Amazing!
Also: YES! You can absolutely read and re-read a book at the same time. One of the more time-consuming approaches to closely reading is to re-read constantly as you read—so going back to previous chapters is a perfect practice for deepening your engagement with a text.
Darcy sure does have a lot of preconceived notions about women’s thoughts and preferred activities, despite not knowing many intimately.
I thought it was cute that both Jane and Charles (Bingley) sought approval (for their romantic interest) from their respective sisters.
Mary gets kind of squished between her attractive older sisters and “silly” younger sisters. I enjoyed her observation on pride vs vanity.
I definitely can see how Darcy can be prideful without caring one wit about what other people think (perks of his wealth and gender); whereas Caroline (Bingley) often looks to others (esp Darcy) to agree with her “witticisms” and go to lengths to put others (esp Lizzy) down, even though she accuses *Lizzy* of “recommending themselves to the other sex, by undervaluing their own”.
I also noticed a lot of juxtaposition of thoughts/feelings, appearance/reality, and mean(crude)/refined speech/action.
I also “read” Mr.Darcy in an Alan Rickman/ Professor Snape voice when he says things like: “Undoubtedly” and “Certainly not” — and pretty much everything else.
——————
Some quotes I enjoyed:
“as he spoke, he left the room, fatigued with the raptures of his wife.” (I can see comparisons between Mr Bennet and Mr. Darcy sometimes)
“With a book he was regardless of time.” (Honestly, same)
“Mr. Darcy, who, though extremely surprised, was not unwilling to receive it” (aw <3)
“‘for who would object to such a partner?’ Elizabeth looked archly [at Darcy], then turned away.” (lol)
“‘If it be only a slight, thin sort of inclination, I am convinced that one good sonnet will starve it entirely away.’ Darcy only smiled.” (Forshadowing? I can’t remember…and I imagine he didn’t smile, so much as he probably ‘smirked’)
——————
There’s probably more, but I’ll have to do some more reflection tomorrow. I’ll try to print off the worksheet to help guide my thoughts better.
That comic is hilarious. It's spot on! hahaha yes!
I really like what you said here: "Darcy sure does have a lot of preconceived notions about women’s thoughts and preferred activities, despite not knowing many intimately." and it's making me think more deeply on Maryann's comment (above). Does Darcy know what he thinks he knows? That is: does Darcy actually have a clear picture of "woman" as society defines her; but he lacks, as he starts to realize, a clear picture of an actual individual woman, like Elizabeth Bennet?
Maryann is noticing how contrived many of the characters' behaviors are, because they're in this society of performance. Your reading makes me wonder about how "pride" and "prejudice," are social behaviors and also reactions to social beings--that is, you're making me think about how Darcy's pride is perhaps rooted in the knowledge of "an accomplished woman" and his expectation that women meet that status — but his pride will perhaps be challenged by the reality that, as Lizzy says, she "never saw such a woman." Social types--and idealizations--have so much definition in this novel. Even the first line is really teaching us what the "ideal" scenario is, based on a certain subject position.
You're both making me realize that "pride" and "prejudice" flow freely in this novel, within and amongst the characters, precisely because of the power of the social ideals they're chasing after (either in themselves or in their future spouses).
I just have to say .. watching this clip, that I love this Mr Bingely. He senses the tension and tries to defuse it. How good he is. In this production, he is made to be a little sillier than he ought to be but Mr Darcy would never have a silly friend. How forceful is Mr Darcy's character; I think Charles Bingley must be a man worth knowing and having as a friend because Mr Darcy has chosen him.
Nice observation here!! I have always adored this casting of Bingley because he's a bit of a goofball -- but he's never contrived or conniving. As we learnt in this week's reading, Darcy really doesn't like conniving behavior, and despite his silliness, this Bingley would never do that. This Bingley wouldn't hurt a fly--and he's incredibly loyal to those he loves. How lucky are they both to have found each other as friends.
Good thoughts about Bingley. I think of all the characters that have been introduced so far, Jane and Mr Bingley seen the most genuinely, kind and generous ones, looking for and seeing the good in others. You can see why they are drawn to each other. Too bad their relationship isn't easy because of those around them.
Loving rereading and all your thoughts. My Penguin Classics version suggests the title came from Fanny Burney’s novel Cecilia and gives a passage which certainly uses the expression Pride and Prejudice a lot! I took a photo of the passage but don’t think I can share it here. A favourite line is impossible but I do like Darcy’s “A lady’s imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment. I knew you would be wishing me joy.” I’m glad we’re spared Caroline Bingley’s … wit flowed long! Fun to imagine it though.
Oh, excellent! I love learning new things about title inspirations and drawing from Burney would've made a lot of sense in Austen's literary marketplace, from what I understand of the book industry at the time (which is admittedly very little!)
I loooove the quote you chose — that's such a good one! Darcy certainly understands the way society expects women to think: from hello to marriage bells.
I'm also glad we don't have to sit through Caroline's "wit." I imagine it's a lot more "heartless and superficial judgement" than actual humor or intellect. Haha.
I’m attempting to learn annotating myself, although I’m not sure I’m going it right. I do find that marking who’s speaking, especially in such a dialogue-heavy novel, is really helpful when going back through it!
I feel like we learn so much about the characters and their relationships in these chapters. First Mr. Bennet, who hides his visit with Bingley from his family, is revealed to have wished for their astonishment and Mrs. Bennet says it's "such a good joke" and it's as if she was never irritated with him at all - it seems that he knows her so well that he knew the payoff would be worth it for both of them. And then he stays up reading to hear about the ball only to regret it. 😅
Lizzy's first line reveals that she plays a bit of a middleman between her parents, and also later between her mother and the party at Netherfield. And Jane is revealed to show the full strength of her feelings only to Elizabeth in private. Charlotte is a great friend for Elizabeth because of her intelligence, but she's more pragmatic than Lizzy. Bingley seems to seek approval in his affection for Jane, which echoes Elizabeth's "I give you leave to like him."
Bingley and Jane seem to act as foils for both Lizzy and Darcy in different ways. Bingley and Lizzy are both described as lively, where Jane and Darcy are reserved. But Bingley and Jane are both much easier to please than Lizzy and Darcy.
Poor Mary just wants to be clever and is overlooked by almost everyone. Kitty and Lydia are immediately interested only in the officers, and the two whisper back and forth at Netherfield until they're about to leave, when Lydia boldly addresses Bingley about his promise to host a ball. Mr. Bennet is very aware of how silly his daughters are and Mrs. Bennet rushes to defend them even though she is happy to throw Lizzy under the bus at Netherfield when she makes conversation with Bingley.
Darcy speaks straightforwardly with everyone but also minimally. He's revealed to be uncomfortable in social situations when he's not well acquainted with everyone, which in combination with his pride leads almost everyone to dislike him. But his character is presented to us differently than other characters. The narrator is clear about characteristics of the rest of his party during introductions, while we only see a solid explanation of his appearance and how others perceive him at the start. He says a few very critical things in these chapters, but he also doesn't hesitate to mention his admiration for Lizzy's "fine eyes" and being impressed by her reading. Yet, echoing Charlotte's warning Lizzy that Jane should make her feelings known or Bingley might not be aware of them, Lizzy herself is entirely unaware of Darcy's growing admiration. He refuses to join in with Caroline's criticism of Elizabeth but shows restraint in staying silent both then and when Mrs. Bennet embarrasses herself, which says a lot about how ridiculous he finds both Mrs Bennet and Miss Bingley as well as how much respect he has for Charles and Lizzy.
Caroline and Mrs. Hurst are so far up their own rear ends that they can't fathom anyone going out of their way to check on and care for a loved one, and Caroline very ironically accuses "Eliza" of the exact behavior she herself displays in order to try to impress Darcy - which he finds detestable. 🤣
And don't you love Darcy's response to Caroline at the end of chapter 8, where she accusing Elizabeth of "recommending herself?" "Undoubtedly, there is meanness in all the arts which ladies sometimes condescend to employ for captivation. Whatever bears affinity to cunning is despicable." Caroline was not very satisfied with his reply!
She's not, yet I think she genuinely doesn't see that she is exactly the type of woman she's criticizing and therefore also exactly the type of woman Darcy doesn't want. She just keeps doing the same thing with him lol.
You're both making me wonder if Mrs. Bennet and Caroline are foils, in a way. They're both a bit lacking in self awareness — especially when it comes to how men will understand their efforts. They're also both quite prone to cruel gossip.
Ooooh I love how much attention you've paid to the nuances of these characters. We have such a rich mix of personalities and types and, as you pointed out, foils in this character group.
You're excellent with character study! I'm curious, if you wanted to take your character readings deeper, how you might think more about *why* Austen would use Jane and Bingley as such apparent foils to Lizzy and Darcy. Likewise: why the stark and obvious contrast between Lizzy and Caroline in the room while Darcy writes his letter?
How do such "foils" or doubling effects or inversions of types help us understand the story better? Help us understand the type itself? Do foils improve our understanding of all the characters? Or of a particular person or circumstance? Maybe fun food for thought as you continue to notice the depth of our characters.
Ooh, yes! Thank you for this! I definitely think that the contrast allows us to see both the positive and negative characteristics displayed by each - they help put things into perspective, and add balance. I'll be thinking more about this.
Thank you for the thorough and wonderful guide you have provided.
I can’t figure out why the Bingley sisters would invite Jane over, even though they can’t stand the family, neither the mother nor the sisters. Does Charles get Caroline to send the invitation?
Also a little strange that the Hursts are hanging around with Charles. Don’t they have their own place? I get a feeling that Caroline would be less vicious without the foil/ accomplice that Louisa provides.
The “truth, universally acknowledged” is no truth, it’s a set of social norms built up over time, that operate within certain class of people, upward mobility through marriage being one such.
Performances are being put up all around, because each is invested to varying degrees, in how they are perceived. It’s important to be “seen” a certain way, specially for women. As Charlotte tells Eliza, a woman must "show more affection than she feels"!
For instance, though the Bingley sisters try guarding closely who their brother interacts with, they must also accept that he can and will marry whoever he chooses. They can make fun of the Bennett's "low connections", but they also know that a woman with certain “virtues” can marry Charles, even if she doesn’t have a fortune, as long as she isn’t from the “working class”.
Women are expected to “marry up” and though technically a woman may be her husband's property, she can also come into property/ class/ luxury herself by marrying well. Only the working class would be absolutely unwelcome into these circles.
Mrs Bennet's desperation to get her daughters married "well" is also an attempt to preferably advance or at least retain their class status, losing which would mean falling down the class ladder.
Thoroughly enjoying this reading so far, thanks for your insights.
For the first: Yeah, Charles likely encourages Caroline to get to know Jane. Or, based on his behavior at the social gatherings, Caroline understands that she needs to get to know Jane (perhaps so that she can lead Charles away from that potential relationship—she has already formed a strong opinion of *not* liking the Bennet family and their lower social standing...) Also important to note here is that Jane is clearly marked as the most beautiful in a family of beautiful girls. It may be that Jane seems like the one Bennet that Caroline could stomach being around.
Excellent note about the Hursts, too. It was rather customary in this time period for the wealthy to have a cohort they traveled with—like a little entourage that provides commentary, judgements, etc. So it's not necessarily surprising they're traveling with him. It's also not super clear to me how wealthy they are compared to Bingley or Darcy. They may be enjoying his company, as well as his wealth, by traveling as his guests.
No need to fix it! You're a "general" comment. Substack uses these vertical lines in the comment section that can make it look like a response, but a true response will be nested under someone else's comment and be indented visually.
Am I the only one who finds it a little confusing to figure out who is speaking at any particular time? I need a little bit more “said Caroline”, “said Mr. Bingley” etc. 😅
I'm glad (and grateful) that you attribute my occasional confusion to Austen's style. I always assume it's me. I was an avid reader when I was younger, but for years now, the longest things I've read are magazine-length pieces online. A couple of years ago, I prioritized reading novels again and found my attention span has degraded a lot. I'm slowly getting those synapses back in shape, and Closely Reading is a great resource for that.
Two sentences stood out for me, from these chapters.
When Eliza arrives to visit her unwell sister, Caroline is aghast at the perceived transgression of social norms. Not only has Eliza walked all the way, she does so alone, and arrives with her skirts covered in muck, hair disheveled. “It seems to me to shew an abominable sort of conceited independence..” It’s her independence that’s truly bothersome!
Mr Darcy seems to agree with the Bingley sisters in guarding closely who enters the higher echelons of their society, though from a different perspective. “There is meanness in all arts which ladies sometimes condescend to employ for captivation. Whatever bears affinity to cunning is despicable.”
What I hope to discover as the book progresses, does Darcy change his opinion of scheming women, or is Eliza singled out as being the outlier, who’s *not* a manipulator?
I also love how Austen leaves the burden of scheming to find husbands to Mrs Bennet, and to an extent Charlotte, who advises Eliza on how Jane should proceed in her relationship with Bingley. The Bennet sisters, on the contrary, are portrayed as guileless, straightforward girls. They aren’t indulging in any “arts” for “captivation”!
I'd forgotten how absolutely merciless Austen's roasting of Mary is. Favorite quote: " "While Mary is adjusting her ideas", he continued, "let us return to Mr. Bingley." "
Oof, underlined that one purely in the hopes of using that one myself in conversation some time.
I agree, there are some LOL moments for sure. At the beginning of chapter 2 Mrs. Bennet is speaking of Mrs. Long “She is a selfish, hypocritical woman, and I have no opinion of her.” Mrs. B - I think you just stated your opinion of her!
I loved how Elizabeth establishes herself as a woman of independence and strong moral judgment, and how she defies social norms. Unlike many in her social circle, who prioritize wealth and status in assessing a person’s worth, Elizabeth is more interested in character and is keen on being her true self.
Now that I know about Austen's scorpion sentences I keep writing zing! each time I find one, there's a LOT. This book is extremely funny and deeply intelligent while also being so perfectly romantic, it's arguably the best romcom ever created, I don't know why we keep making new ones when perfection has been already achieved.
Austen is very economical with words too if you consider just how much information she packs in short chapters, every line of dialogue is a character essay. And she's in command of everyone's motives, personalities, flaws, social expectations, she makes statement after great statement about society while also incessantly making fun of everybody and everything, it's astonishing.
I love your concept of interactions as a performance and truth becoming farce. The Bingley sisters are a masterclass in that sense, they are sooo fake. Mrs. Bennet tries to play on their level but she can never conceal her true goals, she's like a mad Zamboni destroying everything on her path. (Speaking of voices, I can always hear Blenda Blethyn's breathless line delivery.) Bingley and Jane are the most sincere of the bunch, they're both warm and unpretentious people, and like Charlotte points out, that is not gonna help them in the long run. Lizzie and Darcy are catty supersmart nerds and I live for their banter. Poor, poor Darcy, now he has gone and fallen in love and hasn't got a CLUE how to woo a lady. When he was looming in the background during conversations all proud of himself like, "Excellent, I am now interacting with Miss Bennet." And Lizzie was like, "WHAT DOES THAT CREEP WANT FROM ME."
It's very telling though that Darcy never felt the need to learn to be sociable before. To the people in the country the intricate art of interacting is pretty much like currency, it's a vital life skill, and indeed they immediately dismiss him and all his money when he fails to misure up with them on their social expectations. Another excellent point from Charlotte is that Darcy doesn't NEED to make himself agreeable, he's rich and he's a man, he can be as proud as he wishes. Only now he's realizing that if he wants to attract a partner who isn't a fake submissive snake like Caroline Bingley he miiiiight want to work on himself. Poor man. He just feels awkward at parties! I know we can all relate.
I like the movie but it’s not impeccable. Caroline Bingley is completely different.
The biggest problem with the film is that it's too short to do justice to the layers of the novel. No one except Keira Knightley has anything to do - it's a sad waste of a cast. Although McFadyen in my opinion is totally wrong.
Really!? wow! I have had such a different experience of that film—I love the cast and adore McFadyen. I am a big fan of who they cast as Bingley and Jane, as well.
I also LOVE the BBC series — and how closely it adheres to the original text.
The BBC had the advantage of more time which allowed for a deeper dive. That’s why I like it more with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle my favourites.
Jennifer Ehle will always be the superior Lizzie to me. Her little sarcastic smile is perfect.
💯
Rosamund Pike is positively angelic as Jane! And agreed on McFayden, he's perfectly awkward. I always think about how he's very short-sighted in real life and he was walking around sets blindly, it gives a certain flavor to his performance.
Like the bubbles on the surface of a sparking drink, the pace of these chapters just fizzes. Even my favorite moment, Lizzie's romp through the muddy fields, is fast paced. The conversations drip with sarcasm, superficiality, and gamesmanship. It's easy to see the though line to the zippy patter in some modern rom-coms. The characters continue to seem cartoonish in some ways; Cinderella comes to mind as the Bingley sisters, in the role of the evil stepsisters, tear down Eliza at every chance. I'm finding it difficult to see beneath the snappy dialog to who these people actually are and how and why I should connect with them. The conventions of this society actually seem calculated to hide the characters' true natures from each other. Charlotte Lucas even states that "..it is better to know as little as possible the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life". That every social interaction is so contrived felt foreign to our times, and then the specter of social media arose and I realized maybe things are not so different today when it comes to contrived interactions.
As a first time reader I'm gleaning a lot from reading the comments of those who've read the book before. You're getting my first impressions, but after reading through the comments and Haley's post, I go back through the chapters looking for more depth. Can you read and re-read a book at the same time?
“Like the bubbles on the surface of a sparking drink, the pace of these chapters just fizzes” reminds me of a Billie Holiday classic: “You go to my head / Like a sip of sparkling burgundy brew”
-and-
“That every social interaction is so contrived felt foreign to our times, and then the specter of social media arose and I realized maybe things are not so different today when it comes to contrived interactions.” This is a brilliant observation!
"I'm finding it difficult to see beneath the snappy dialog to who these people actually are and how and why I should connect with them. The conventions of this society actually seem calculated to hide the characters' true natures from each other." What a brilliant observation! As you deepen your reading of the novel, this is the perfect type of question to ask: How has Austen crafted the novel (and its characters) to make them unknowable or knowable to me, as the reader? Watch for moments of clarity, where character becomes more clear. And also watch for moments of obscurity, when it is difficult to tell whether someone is playing a part or acting authentically. Amazing!
Also: YES! You can absolutely read and re-read a book at the same time. One of the more time-consuming approaches to closely reading is to re-read constantly as you read—so going back to previous chapters is a perfect practice for deepening your engagement with a text.
"Watch for moments of clarity" Got it. Great assignment.
you got it! excited to hear what you come up with :)
I loved the Cinderella connection - I haven’t seen it before, but I cannot unsee it now
When I was reading about Bingley and Darcy, I thought of this comic with the bird and hawk: https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch3b6oAO9Jt/?img_index=1&igsh=czh2MXdha3p0Y3pr
Darcy sure does have a lot of preconceived notions about women’s thoughts and preferred activities, despite not knowing many intimately.
I thought it was cute that both Jane and Charles (Bingley) sought approval (for their romantic interest) from their respective sisters.
Mary gets kind of squished between her attractive older sisters and “silly” younger sisters. I enjoyed her observation on pride vs vanity.
I definitely can see how Darcy can be prideful without caring one wit about what other people think (perks of his wealth and gender); whereas Caroline (Bingley) often looks to others (esp Darcy) to agree with her “witticisms” and go to lengths to put others (esp Lizzy) down, even though she accuses *Lizzy* of “recommending themselves to the other sex, by undervaluing their own”.
I also noticed a lot of juxtaposition of thoughts/feelings, appearance/reality, and mean(crude)/refined speech/action.
I also “read” Mr.Darcy in an Alan Rickman/ Professor Snape voice when he says things like: “Undoubtedly” and “Certainly not” — and pretty much everything else.
——————
Some quotes I enjoyed:
“as he spoke, he left the room, fatigued with the raptures of his wife.” (I can see comparisons between Mr Bennet and Mr. Darcy sometimes)
“With a book he was regardless of time.” (Honestly, same)
“Mr. Darcy, who, though extremely surprised, was not unwilling to receive it” (aw <3)
“‘for who would object to such a partner?’ Elizabeth looked archly [at Darcy], then turned away.” (lol)
“‘If it be only a slight, thin sort of inclination, I am convinced that one good sonnet will starve it entirely away.’ Darcy only smiled.” (Forshadowing? I can’t remember…and I imagine he didn’t smile, so much as he probably ‘smirked’)
——————
There’s probably more, but I’ll have to do some more reflection tomorrow. I’ll try to print off the worksheet to help guide my thoughts better.
That comic is hilarious. It's spot on! hahaha yes!
I really like what you said here: "Darcy sure does have a lot of preconceived notions about women’s thoughts and preferred activities, despite not knowing many intimately." and it's making me think more deeply on Maryann's comment (above). Does Darcy know what he thinks he knows? That is: does Darcy actually have a clear picture of "woman" as society defines her; but he lacks, as he starts to realize, a clear picture of an actual individual woman, like Elizabeth Bennet?
Maryann is noticing how contrived many of the characters' behaviors are, because they're in this society of performance. Your reading makes me wonder about how "pride" and "prejudice," are social behaviors and also reactions to social beings--that is, you're making me think about how Darcy's pride is perhaps rooted in the knowledge of "an accomplished woman" and his expectation that women meet that status — but his pride will perhaps be challenged by the reality that, as Lizzy says, she "never saw such a woman." Social types--and idealizations--have so much definition in this novel. Even the first line is really teaching us what the "ideal" scenario is, based on a certain subject position.
You're both making me realize that "pride" and "prejudice" flow freely in this novel, within and amongst the characters, precisely because of the power of the social ideals they're chasing after (either in themselves or in their future spouses).
I just have to say .. watching this clip, that I love this Mr Bingely. He senses the tension and tries to defuse it. How good he is. In this production, he is made to be a little sillier than he ought to be but Mr Darcy would never have a silly friend. How forceful is Mr Darcy's character; I think Charles Bingley must be a man worth knowing and having as a friend because Mr Darcy has chosen him.
Nice observation here!! I have always adored this casting of Bingley because he's a bit of a goofball -- but he's never contrived or conniving. As we learnt in this week's reading, Darcy really doesn't like conniving behavior, and despite his silliness, this Bingley would never do that. This Bingley wouldn't hurt a fly--and he's incredibly loyal to those he loves. How lucky are they both to have found each other as friends.
Good thoughts about Bingley. I think of all the characters that have been introduced so far, Jane and Mr Bingley seen the most genuinely, kind and generous ones, looking for and seeing the good in others. You can see why they are drawn to each other. Too bad their relationship isn't easy because of those around them.
Yes, those around them who think that they know best
Loving rereading and all your thoughts. My Penguin Classics version suggests the title came from Fanny Burney’s novel Cecilia and gives a passage which certainly uses the expression Pride and Prejudice a lot! I took a photo of the passage but don’t think I can share it here. A favourite line is impossible but I do like Darcy’s “A lady’s imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment. I knew you would be wishing me joy.” I’m glad we’re spared Caroline Bingley’s … wit flowed long! Fun to imagine it though.
Oh, excellent! I love learning new things about title inspirations and drawing from Burney would've made a lot of sense in Austen's literary marketplace, from what I understand of the book industry at the time (which is admittedly very little!)
I loooove the quote you chose — that's such a good one! Darcy certainly understands the way society expects women to think: from hello to marriage bells.
I'm also glad we don't have to sit through Caroline's "wit." I imagine it's a lot more "heartless and superficial judgement" than actual humor or intellect. Haha.
I wonder whether you could post a screenshot of what you mean by annotation. It would be helpful to see it.
I’m attempting to learn annotating myself, although I’m not sure I’m going it right. I do find that marking who’s speaking, especially in such a dialogue-heavy novel, is really helpful when going back through it!
I’ve posted a couple pages I’ve marked up on my profile. I’m still new to Substack and I don’t know how else to share photos. Here is a link to a super-novice example of annotating: https://readlovegrow.substack.com?r=17gzdf&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=profile
Absolutely! I can share some of my annotations next week!
I feel like we learn so much about the characters and their relationships in these chapters. First Mr. Bennet, who hides his visit with Bingley from his family, is revealed to have wished for their astonishment and Mrs. Bennet says it's "such a good joke" and it's as if she was never irritated with him at all - it seems that he knows her so well that he knew the payoff would be worth it for both of them. And then he stays up reading to hear about the ball only to regret it. 😅
Lizzy's first line reveals that she plays a bit of a middleman between her parents, and also later between her mother and the party at Netherfield. And Jane is revealed to show the full strength of her feelings only to Elizabeth in private. Charlotte is a great friend for Elizabeth because of her intelligence, but she's more pragmatic than Lizzy. Bingley seems to seek approval in his affection for Jane, which echoes Elizabeth's "I give you leave to like him."
Bingley and Jane seem to act as foils for both Lizzy and Darcy in different ways. Bingley and Lizzy are both described as lively, where Jane and Darcy are reserved. But Bingley and Jane are both much easier to please than Lizzy and Darcy.
Poor Mary just wants to be clever and is overlooked by almost everyone. Kitty and Lydia are immediately interested only in the officers, and the two whisper back and forth at Netherfield until they're about to leave, when Lydia boldly addresses Bingley about his promise to host a ball. Mr. Bennet is very aware of how silly his daughters are and Mrs. Bennet rushes to defend them even though she is happy to throw Lizzy under the bus at Netherfield when she makes conversation with Bingley.
Darcy speaks straightforwardly with everyone but also minimally. He's revealed to be uncomfortable in social situations when he's not well acquainted with everyone, which in combination with his pride leads almost everyone to dislike him. But his character is presented to us differently than other characters. The narrator is clear about characteristics of the rest of his party during introductions, while we only see a solid explanation of his appearance and how others perceive him at the start. He says a few very critical things in these chapters, but he also doesn't hesitate to mention his admiration for Lizzy's "fine eyes" and being impressed by her reading. Yet, echoing Charlotte's warning Lizzy that Jane should make her feelings known or Bingley might not be aware of them, Lizzy herself is entirely unaware of Darcy's growing admiration. He refuses to join in with Caroline's criticism of Elizabeth but shows restraint in staying silent both then and when Mrs. Bennet embarrasses herself, which says a lot about how ridiculous he finds both Mrs Bennet and Miss Bingley as well as how much respect he has for Charles and Lizzy.
Caroline and Mrs. Hurst are so far up their own rear ends that they can't fathom anyone going out of their way to check on and care for a loved one, and Caroline very ironically accuses "Eliza" of the exact behavior she herself displays in order to try to impress Darcy - which he finds detestable. 🤣
And don't you love Darcy's response to Caroline at the end of chapter 8, where she accusing Elizabeth of "recommending herself?" "Undoubtedly, there is meanness in all the arts which ladies sometimes condescend to employ for captivation. Whatever bears affinity to cunning is despicable." Caroline was not very satisfied with his reply!
She's not, yet I think she genuinely doesn't see that she is exactly the type of woman she's criticizing and therefore also exactly the type of woman Darcy doesn't want. She just keeps doing the same thing with him lol.
You're both making me wonder if Mrs. Bennet and Caroline are foils, in a way. They're both a bit lacking in self awareness — especially when it comes to how men will understand their efforts. They're also both quite prone to cruel gossip.
Yes! I was thinking of foils but didn't catch this one! It's an interesting parallel what with their class difference.
Ooooh I love how much attention you've paid to the nuances of these characters. We have such a rich mix of personalities and types and, as you pointed out, foils in this character group.
You're excellent with character study! I'm curious, if you wanted to take your character readings deeper, how you might think more about *why* Austen would use Jane and Bingley as such apparent foils to Lizzy and Darcy. Likewise: why the stark and obvious contrast between Lizzy and Caroline in the room while Darcy writes his letter?
How do such "foils" or doubling effects or inversions of types help us understand the story better? Help us understand the type itself? Do foils improve our understanding of all the characters? Or of a particular person or circumstance? Maybe fun food for thought as you continue to notice the depth of our characters.
Ooh, yes! Thank you for this! I definitely think that the contrast allows us to see both the positive and negative characteristics displayed by each - they help put things into perspective, and add balance. I'll be thinking more about this.
Thank you for the thorough and wonderful guide you have provided.
I can’t figure out why the Bingley sisters would invite Jane over, even though they can’t stand the family, neither the mother nor the sisters. Does Charles get Caroline to send the invitation?
Also a little strange that the Hursts are hanging around with Charles. Don’t they have their own place? I get a feeling that Caroline would be less vicious without the foil/ accomplice that Louisa provides.
The “truth, universally acknowledged” is no truth, it’s a set of social norms built up over time, that operate within certain class of people, upward mobility through marriage being one such.
Performances are being put up all around, because each is invested to varying degrees, in how they are perceived. It’s important to be “seen” a certain way, specially for women. As Charlotte tells Eliza, a woman must "show more affection than she feels"!
For instance, though the Bingley sisters try guarding closely who their brother interacts with, they must also accept that he can and will marry whoever he chooses. They can make fun of the Bennett's "low connections", but they also know that a woman with certain “virtues” can marry Charles, even if she doesn’t have a fortune, as long as she isn’t from the “working class”.
Women are expected to “marry up” and though technically a woman may be her husband's property, she can also come into property/ class/ luxury herself by marrying well. Only the working class would be absolutely unwelcome into these circles.
Mrs Bennet's desperation to get her daughters married "well" is also an attempt to preferably advance or at least retain their class status, losing which would mean falling down the class ladder.
Thoroughly enjoying this reading so far, thanks for your insights.
Hi! Great questions and grapplings here!
For the first: Yeah, Charles likely encourages Caroline to get to know Jane. Or, based on his behavior at the social gatherings, Caroline understands that she needs to get to know Jane (perhaps so that she can lead Charles away from that potential relationship—she has already formed a strong opinion of *not* liking the Bennet family and their lower social standing...) Also important to note here is that Jane is clearly marked as the most beautiful in a family of beautiful girls. It may be that Jane seems like the one Bennet that Caroline could stomach being around.
Excellent note about the Hursts, too. It was rather customary in this time period for the wealthy to have a cohort they traveled with—like a little entourage that provides commentary, judgements, etc. So it's not necessarily surprising they're traveling with him. It's also not super clear to me how wealthy they are compared to Bingley or Darcy. They may be enjoying his company, as well as his wealth, by traveling as his guests.
Thank you for your response. Really enjoying these discussions/chats.
I was trying to leave a general comment but looks like it’s been attached to another reader’s comment? Can someone tell me if I can somehow fix it?
No need to fix it! You're a "general" comment. Substack uses these vertical lines in the comment section that can make it look like a response, but a true response will be nested under someone else's comment and be indented visually.
Thanks!
Am I the only one who finds it a little confusing to figure out who is speaking at any particular time? I need a little bit more “said Caroline”, “said Mr. Bingley” etc. 😅
You aren't the only one! I thought the same. Thank you for this validation!
I will say, though, it certainly makes me read more closely
Haha! It's a great thing to notice—both in yourself and the craft of the novel. What could be the purpose, for Austen, of excluding such tags?
(My brain immediately wonders if she does it for the sake of the speed and tone—so that the banter flows more freely on the page.)
I'm glad (and grateful) that you attribute my occasional confusion to Austen's style. I always assume it's me. I was an avid reader when I was younger, but for years now, the longest things I've read are magazine-length pieces online. A couple of years ago, I prioritized reading novels again and found my attention span has degraded a lot. I'm slowly getting those synapses back in shape, and Closely Reading is a great resource for that.
Lovely to be reading this ‘closely’ on Pride and Prejudice day 😊
Two sentences stood out for me, from these chapters.
When Eliza arrives to visit her unwell sister, Caroline is aghast at the perceived transgression of social norms. Not only has Eliza walked all the way, she does so alone, and arrives with her skirts covered in muck, hair disheveled. “It seems to me to shew an abominable sort of conceited independence..” It’s her independence that’s truly bothersome!
Mr Darcy seems to agree with the Bingley sisters in guarding closely who enters the higher echelons of their society, though from a different perspective. “There is meanness in all arts which ladies sometimes condescend to employ for captivation. Whatever bears affinity to cunning is despicable.”
What I hope to discover as the book progresses, does Darcy change his opinion of scheming women, or is Eliza singled out as being the outlier, who’s *not* a manipulator?
I also love how Austen leaves the burden of scheming to find husbands to Mrs Bennet, and to an extent Charlotte, who advises Eliza on how Jane should proceed in her relationship with Bingley. The Bennet sisters, on the contrary, are portrayed as guileless, straightforward girls. They aren’t indulging in any “arts” for “captivation”!
Ooooh excellent question about Darcy and his opinions about women. We'll see!!
I'd forgotten how absolutely merciless Austen's roasting of Mary is. Favorite quote: " "While Mary is adjusting her ideas", he continued, "let us return to Mr. Bingley." "
Oof, underlined that one purely in the hopes of using that one myself in conversation some time.
lol Mary is such a punching bag 😂
I have SUCH a soft spot for Mary. Austen is implacable.
Reading these first chapters, I’d forgotten how funny Austen is.
Right? I had to read a few parts aloud because the pacing was SO good I needed to hear it. Almost like Shakespeare, in that regard!
It's so obvious why this novel has stood the test of time - great story and so entertaining! And Mr and Mrs Bennett are a hilarious comedy duo.
Yes! Me too.
I agree, there are some LOL moments for sure. At the beginning of chapter 2 Mrs. Bennet is speaking of Mrs. Long “She is a selfish, hypocritical woman, and I have no opinion of her.” Mrs. B - I think you just stated your opinion of her!
I loved how Elizabeth establishes herself as a woman of independence and strong moral judgment, and how she defies social norms. Unlike many in her social circle, who prioritize wealth and status in assessing a person’s worth, Elizabeth is more interested in character and is keen on being her true self.
Now that I know about Austen's scorpion sentences I keep writing zing! each time I find one, there's a LOT. This book is extremely funny and deeply intelligent while also being so perfectly romantic, it's arguably the best romcom ever created, I don't know why we keep making new ones when perfection has been already achieved.
Austen is very economical with words too if you consider just how much information she packs in short chapters, every line of dialogue is a character essay. And she's in command of everyone's motives, personalities, flaws, social expectations, she makes statement after great statement about society while also incessantly making fun of everybody and everything, it's astonishing.
I love your concept of interactions as a performance and truth becoming farce. The Bingley sisters are a masterclass in that sense, they are sooo fake. Mrs. Bennet tries to play on their level but she can never conceal her true goals, she's like a mad Zamboni destroying everything on her path. (Speaking of voices, I can always hear Blenda Blethyn's breathless line delivery.) Bingley and Jane are the most sincere of the bunch, they're both warm and unpretentious people, and like Charlotte points out, that is not gonna help them in the long run. Lizzie and Darcy are catty supersmart nerds and I live for their banter. Poor, poor Darcy, now he has gone and fallen in love and hasn't got a CLUE how to woo a lady. When he was looming in the background during conversations all proud of himself like, "Excellent, I am now interacting with Miss Bennet." And Lizzie was like, "WHAT DOES THAT CREEP WANT FROM ME."
It's very telling though that Darcy never felt the need to learn to be sociable before. To the people in the country the intricate art of interacting is pretty much like currency, it's a vital life skill, and indeed they immediately dismiss him and all his money when he fails to misure up with them on their social expectations. Another excellent point from Charlotte is that Darcy doesn't NEED to make himself agreeable, he's rich and he's a man, he can be as proud as he wishes. Only now he's realizing that if he wants to attract a partner who isn't a fake submissive snake like Caroline Bingley he miiiiight want to work on himself. Poor man. He just feels awkward at parties! I know we can all relate.