Pride and Prejudice #10

In this section, we read of Lydia and Wickham's disappearance, and later, of their marriage announcement. When this news precipitates, Elizabeth is shocked and confused. She wonders how long her sister and Mr. Wickham have had contact, and why Wickham even wants to marry Lydia. Unlike the rest of the Bennet family, the news of the marriage of one of her daughters brings felicity to Mrs. Bennet. When the news spreads, Mr. Collins writes a letter to the family. He says, "...this licentiousness of behaviour in your daughter has proceeded from a faulty degree of indulgence, though at the same time, for the consolation of yourself and Mrs. Bennet, I am inclined to think that of her own disposition must be naturally bad, or she could not be guilty of such an enormity at so early an age...you are greviously to be pitied...this false step in one daughter will be injurious to the fortunes of all the others..." (Austen 248). Mr. Collins accuses the Bennets of poor parenting, and notes that Lydia’s behavior reflects poorly on the family as a whole. He also says that this mistake made my Lydia will also affect the posterity of the other Bennet daughters. Collins' rude remark is not the first one made to the Bennet family.

Pride and Prejudice #9

"Elizabeth was delighted. She had never seen a place where nature had done more, or where natural beauty had been so little counteracted by an awkward taste. They were all of them warm in her admiration; and at that moment she felt that to be mistress of Pemberley might be something!" (Austen 204).

At this point in the novel, Elizabeth is first introduced to Darcy's estate and to his servants. Here, she imagines what it would be like to be the mistress of Pemberley, and Darcy's wife. While talking with his cordial servant Mrs. Reynolds, Elizabeth realizes that she has nothing negative to say regarding Darcy's behavior or attitude, but rather compliments saying that Darcy is “the sweetest, most generous-hearted boy in the world.” This is surprising to Elizabeth because she believes that Darcy is not of good character because of what he did to Bingley and her sister. When Elizabeth sees Darcy walking through the grounds, she is suprised to see him since the proposal. Elizabeth notices that he seems altogether changed, and that his previous impertinence has remarkably diminished. This is important becuase it shows that Darcy wants Elizabeth to see him as a changed man from what he was from when they first met. Darcy does not want to seem insolent, but rather affable.

Pride and Prejudice #7 & #8

10 Status Updates for Elizabeth:

1.  Who wants money when you can have love?
2.  Why you gotta be so mean?
3.  It seems as if the apple doesn't fall far from the tree...
4.  #Awkward
5.  Love you Jane <3
6.  Why does everyone always leave?
7.  You'll always be the same person in my mind.
8.  I can't believe you. Remember, what goes around comes around.
9.  I'll be seeing you.
10.  Home sweet home

Pride and Prejudice #6

"Lady Catherine was a tall, large women, with strongly-marked features, which might once have been handsome. Her air was not conciliating, nor was her manner of receiving them, such as to make her visitors forget their inferior rank. She was not rendered formidable by silence; but whatever she said was spoken in so authoritative a tone as marked her self-importance, and brought Mr. Wickham immediately to Elizabeth's mind; and from the observation of the day altogether, she believed Lady Catherine to be exactly what he had represented" (Austen 139).

In this section, the narrator introduces the reader to Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Darcy's aunt. She is described to be insolent, to be authoratative over others, and to make others question their social standing. Before meeting Lady Catherine, Elizabeth is asked to change her apparel by Mr. Collins. He said, "'I would advise you merely to put on whatever of your clothes is superior to the rest, there is no occasion for anything more...She likes to have the distinction of rank preserved'" (Austen 138). Just like her nephew, the fastidious Lady Catherine beleives that vanity is a very important aspect when meeting someone for the first time. This can infer that she is somewhat judging, much like Elizabeth is. After experiencing Lady Catherine, Elizabeth can see where Darcy's attitude inherited from. Later in this section, Lady Catherine questions Elizabeth about her upbringing. During this conversation, Lady Catherine is far from amiable, for she beleives that Elizabeth and her sisters did not have a proper upbringing.

Pride and Prejudice #5

"But still he would be her husband. Without speaking highly either of men or of matrimony, marriage had always been her object; it was the only honourable provision for well-educated young women of small fortune, and however uncertain of giving happiness, must be their pleasant perspective from want" (Austen 107).

At this point in the novel, Charlotte has accepted Mr. Collins' proposal. This action is quite ironic because just earlier, Mr. Collins had proposed to Lizzy. When this quote is said, Charlotte realizes that Mr. Collins is not indeed the ideal candidate to be her husband, for he vexes her. However, her time for an incumbent engagement is running short. Austen describes Collins to be irksome, neither sensible or agreeable, and clingy. The reasons that Charlotte will marry Mr. Collins is very different from a marriage today. During the time of Pride and Prejudice, women married men for status, inheritance, and money. Today, those factors are barely visible. People today get married purely for the fact that they are in love, and have strong, passionate feelings for one another.
The fact that happiness was not always guaranteed is ridiculous. Marrying someone means that you want to live a life full of felicity with that other person, not that you might be happy once you get to know the other person better. In general terms, the idea of marriage in the time of Pride and Prejudice is very different and archaic from what it is today in modern times.

Pride and Prejudice #4

"'I do assure you, sir, that I have no pretension whatever to that kind of elegance which consists in tormenting a respectable man. I would rather be paid the compliment of being believed sincere. I thank you again and again for the honour you have done me in your proposals, but to accept them is absolutely impossible. My feelings in every respect forbid it. Can I speak plainer? Do not consider me now as an elegant female intending to plague you, but as a rational creature speaking the truth from her heart'" (Austen 95).

At this point in the novel, Elizabeth has refused Collins' proposal. Although she is grateful that the compliment subsisted, she does not have feelings for Collins in any possible way. Mr. Collins mentioned that along with Elizabeth's hand in marriage, he would also obtain Mr. Bennet's estate. Earlier in the novel, we read that Lizzy wants to marry for love. Here, Collins' proposal precipitated, and Lizzy was not ready for this commitment. Marrying Collins would go against Elizabeth's morals. After returning home from her outing with Collins, Lizzy tells her mother of the proposal, and her mother says that she must accept the engagement, or she will never see her daughter again. When Mrs. Bennet discusses this with her husband, Mr. Bennet calls Lizzy down to hear her side of the story, and to reflect upon her feelings. Being the propitious child in Mr. Bennet's eyes, Mr. Bennet wants Lizzy to follw her heart, and not to give into a relationship she has no desire to have.

Pride and Prejudice #3

"Having now a good house and a very sufficient income, he intended to marry; and in seeking a reconciliation with the Longbourn family he had a wife in view, as he meant to choose one of the daughters, if he found them as handsome and amiable as they were represented by common report. This was his plan of amends--of atonement--for inheriting their father's estate; and he thought it an excellent one, full of eligibility and suitableness, and excessively generous and disinterested on his own part" (Austen 61).

The quote above describes Mr. Collins, and what his plans are for the future. From this, it is noticeable that Mr. Collins can be seen as proud as Darcy, for the two characters both take vanity into consideration when discussing the Bennet sisters. Just as Darcy said that Elizabeth was not handsome enough to dance with, Collins is saying that he guesses he could marry someone, only if people said that they were handsome enough. From the quote, the audience can infer that if one of the sisters should marry Mr. Collins, Mr. Bennet will have to leave his property to this man, instead of one of his daughters.

Pride and Prejudice #2

'"Oh!" said she, 'I heard you before; but I could not immediately determine what to say in reply. You wanted me, I know, to say 'Yes' that you might have the pleasure of despising my taste; but I always delight in overthrowing those kind of schemes, and cheating a person of their premeditated contempt. I have therefore made up my mind to tell you that I do not want to dance a reel at all--and now despise me if you dare'" (Austen 45-46).

At this point in the novel, Elizabeth and Jane are staying at the Bingley's, for Jane has fallen ill. One evening, Elizabeth remains rather taciturn while watching Miss Bingley give many propitious compliments to Darcy, leading to Elizabeth and Darcy fighting over the fact if one should accept advice from a friend. Afterward, Miss Bingley plays a song on the piano and Darcy asks Elizabeth to dance. Elizabeth says the above quote in response to Darcy's offering. After reading this quote, I sensed a bit of pride in Elizabeth's response for Darcy would not dance with her at the ball, but wants to dance with her now. Elizabeth has an odious attitude toward Darcy, and is showing him that since he did not want to dance with her then, he would not have the opportunity now.

Pride and Prejudice #1

“Which do you mean?” and turning round, he looked for a moment at Elizabeth, till catching her eye, he withdrew his own and coldly said, “She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me" (Austen 12).

At this point in the novel, Mr. Bingley and his friend Mr. Darcy are attending a ball in Meryton along with the Bennet sisters. Mr. Bingley dances with Jane twice, making her propitious over the other sisters. Bingley then suggests that Mr. Darcy dances with Jane's sister, Elizabeth because of his taciturn attitude. In response, Darcy says, “She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me." After overhearing this, Elizabeth forms a dislike for Darcy, and holds it throughout the rest of the section.
Darcy views the people of Meryton as inferior to him because they are not of similar social standard. Because Darcy refuses to dance with Elizabeth, he creates a reputation and persona of impropriety and pride. The rudeness with which Darcy treats Elizabeth creates a negative impression of him in her mind.

HOD #5

"I was on the point of crying at her, 'Don’t you hear them?' The dusk was repeating them in a persistent whisper all around us, in a whisper that seemed to swell menacingly like the first whisper of a rising wind. 'The horror! The horror!'..."'The last word he pronounced was—your name.'" (Conrad 163-164).

After finishing the end of the novel, I was surprised to see how much Marlow has changed throughout his journey to the central station to see Kurtz. After Kurtz dies, Marlow goes back to England and sees Kurtz's lover. HE believes that she should have the last of Kurtz's remains, the papers that Kurtz gave to Marlow on the boat so the manager would not have them. When visiting with Kurtz's lover, the two talk of his last words. Marlow lies to the woman, telling her that Kurtz said her last name as he was dying when in fact, he whispered, "The horror! The horror!" Marlow lies to the woman because he did not want to hurt her any more, and he believed that the truth was too dark for her to hear.