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| Gainsborough, Portrait of Mrs. Richard Sheridan: or Lizzie Bennet? |
For Wednesday: Austen, Pride
and Prejudice, Chs. I-XVII (pp.3-61)
Answer TWO of the
following...
Q1: In Chapter III , Mrs. Bennet exclaims, “If I can but see one of my
daughters happily settled at Netherfield...and all the others equally well
married, I shall have nothing to wish for” (7). How does Mrs. Bennet—and other
women in the novel—go about the business of getting a husband? How does Austen
satirize both these women and the extraordinary lengths they go to attain
marital bliss?
Q2: Though Austen is not
writing a realistic, first-person account of English life in the country, she
still retains something of Defoe’s unique narrative style. In Pride and
Prejudice, the narrator is almost a distinct character, commenting on the
action and the characters in an intimate, confiding tone. Discuss a passage
where the narrator seems to almost step out of the book to help us ‘see’ some
aspect of the work. Why do you think she does this, rather than make the
narrative voice more safely anonymous?
Q3: The first draft of Pride
and Prejudice, written in the 1790’s, was entitled First Impressions (Austen
changed the title when, a decade later, she learned another novelist had
already used it). However, where might the idea behind the original shine
through in the opening chapters? How do we know this is a book about the first
appearance of things, when the “masks” of society can obscure the goodness—or
deceitfulness—within?
Q4: In one of the most
humorous passages in the novel, Miss Bingley lists all the accomplishments
modern women are supposed to possess, to which Elizabeth Bennet responds, “I am
no longer surprised at your knowing only six accomplished women. I
rather wonder now at your knowing any” (27). What is Elizabeth Elizabeth
q1. These women go to great lengths, almost making themselves look foolish trying so hard to get the attention of possible suitors for their daughters. Mrs. Bennet demanded that her husband get a hold of the new attractive neighbor in hopes that she can have him meet her daughters. Any specific one? Nah, just let him pick from the bunch. Austen definitely makes it humorous to read about these women and their competition to find men for their daughters.
ReplyDeleteq4. Probably the most exciting part of the reading. I saw what was coming; when Lizzy told Miss Bingley that she was surprised she any accomplished women I felt like she was insulting not only her social status but insinuating that none of the women in the room, including Miss Bingley herself, were successful women. I mean, did she meet the standards that she set out for a successful woman herself? I think Elizabeth represented the kind of woman who read books and didn't give a damn what other women thought about her (she did walk up in that house with a muddy dress like she owned the place when that was a big no-no for the situation given). Darcy is intrigued because Elizabeth is a new kind of woman that he certainly hasn't interacted with thus far.
Good responses...they do look foolish to the reader and are satirized by the Narrator, and yet, this was life and death for unmarried girls. Society demanded that they play this game, and even though we admire Elizabeth for not playing it, realistically she's signing her own epitaph. Luckily this is fiction, so that even a firebrand can find a husband...and Austen hopes her example will inspire other women to be less meek and calculating.
DeleteQ1: Mrs. Bennet and these other women go to great lengths to setup just a meeting with these fellows from Netherfield. Mrs. Bennet continually takes Arabs at her husband emphasizing how it is his job to help secure for his daughters a decent marriage. Mr. Bennet pays Mr. Bingley a good sum for a visit—"...but as I have actually paid the visit, we cannot escape the acquaintance now" (Austen 6). In a way it's not just the women that got through extraordinary circumstances. The fact that Mrs. Bennet compares each of her daughters beauties, attitudes l, and mannerisms was also unique, though they still placed their daughters over some of the other families of the city. They are so caught up in appearance and setting forth the first impressions of their daughters to be wed that bothing else matters to them.
ReplyDeleteQ2: There are many descriptive passages In which the author portrays her characters' attitudes and settings in such a vice way. The opening paragraph of Chapter 15 begins to describe their dinner: Mr Bennet's scarce speaking, Lady Catherine's astute attention to his wishes and comfort, and Mr. Collins regularly praised the discussion. She describes the dinner in such a way as to make you feel like you were watching these characters at the dinner table.
Great responses...though a significant typo stole into your response: "Mrs. Bennet continually takes Arabs(!) at her husband." That would take this story into a completely different venue! :)
DeleteQ1: Mrs. Bennet takes great strides to ensure her daughters find a man to take care of them. I found an edge of satire in the dialogue of Mrs. Bennet, particularly when she raved about Jane and Mr. Bingley at the ball: "Every body said how well she looked; and Mr. Bingley thought her quite beautiful...only think of that my dear...she was the only creature in the room that he asked for second time" (Austen 9). This line shows Mrs. Bennet's obsession with appearances and following the status quo. It seems silly to be so excited about your daughter being asked to dance more than once, but in this society it signaled the chance of marriage - the ultimate goal for any woman.
ReplyDeleteQ4: Elizabeth's (and Austen's) idea of a successful woman is much different than that of the women surrounding her. She is insinuating that their lives, including Mrs. Bingley's, are nothing special. In the eyes of Elizabeth, rushing into the arms of the first man that will take you and doing housework for the rest of your life isn't something to boast about. Elizabeth is criticized by the other women as having "no conversation, no stile, no taste, no beauty" (Austen 24). These are the qualities they hold dear; Elizabeth, however, values intelligence and independence. She is a progressive women and grabs Mr. Darcy's interest.
Great responses...Elizabeth seems curiously immune to the marriage market, perhaps because of what she's seen of it with her own parents. The irony is that she attracts the attention of the "right" man for refusing to preen and posture. Though sadly, she doesn't know the right man when she sees him (not yet, anyway).
ReplyDelete