Pride and Prejudice Ch 51-the end

Elizabeth is shocked when she receives a letter from her aunt describing how Mr. Darcy is responsible entirely for the restoration of her sister. It is soon known that Mr. Bingley will be returning to Netherfield for the hunting season. He calls not long after he arrives and is accompanied by Darcy. Darcy visits a few times with Bingley and is silent for the most part and then departs for London. Shortly after Darcy's departure Bingley proposes to Jane and she, of course, accepts. Mr. Bennet receives a congratulatory letter from Mr. Collins on not only Jane's engagement, but Lizzie's to Mr. Darcy as well. Mr. Bennet finds this highly amusing. In a few days Lady Catherine pays Lizzie a visit demanding to know if Lizzie is engaged to her nephew and, if not, to obtain a promise that such an engagement would never take place. While Lizzie admits she is not engaged she refuses to give any such promise. A few days later Mr. Darcy returns and as a group of the young people are walking Darcy and Lizzie become separated from the others and when she tries to thank him for what he did for Lydia he tells her his wishes have not changed, but if she feels the same as she did before he will never bother her again. However she says her feelings are the opposite and they become engaged. Mr. Bennet gives Darcy permission immediately, but questions Lizzie about her lack of feelings for him only to discover she really loves him. They are married in a double wedding with Jane and Bingley and live happily ever after. (Alright it doesn't say it in those words, but that's the general idea.)
I love the scene between Lizzie and Lady Catherine! It really was a surprise the first time I read it. I guess one could guess it was coming from the letter from Mr. Collins, but they would have to be a good guesser. That scene is the prime example of the strong willed, independent Lizzie. While you despise Lady Catherine, she did turn out to be essential in Darcy and Lizzie uniting. It's to be wondered if Darcy would have ever made another offer if he hadn't gained the hope he did from hearing of his aunt's discussion with Lizzie.
I wish their was more actual dialogue during the second proposal, but that's just Austen's way of writing. It does leave more up to the imagination which is nice. It's one of the few big things in the book that you know are about to happen. The first proposal, the letter about Lydia, and Lady Catherine's visit come out of nowhere (besides all the foreshadowing), but you know that something is going to go down on this walk when they leave the house.
Jane and Bingley's happiness is all you can wish for them. They getting together is one of those things that means there is goodness in the world. While Darcy and Lizzie are the exciting couple, Jane and Bingley are just as good a match for each other and their love is so sweet. They didn't care about social status and such. They just wanted to be together. Lizzie and Darcy separated themselves from each other by choice; Jane and Bingley were schemed against and forced to be apart against their will. Don't get me wrong, I'm a total Darcy fan, but you have to love Bingley for his willingness to love, even though he was look down on by society. Oh yes Darcy loved, but most unwillingly at first. Darcy is always praised for his struggle, but Bingley never even had a struggle. Shouldn't he be recommended for that?
Now I feel like a total traitor. I'm a true Darcy girl, but I thing the above is a valid point.

Pride and Prejudice Chapter 35-50

Mr. Darcy departs from Rosings the same day he delivers his letter and Elizabeth's stay doesn't last much longer. Jane returns to Longbourn around the same time as Lizzie and is the only person Lizzie tells about the proposal. Shortly after Lizzie's return she is pleased to learn that the militia is leaving so she won't have to endure Mr. Wickham's company any longer which she finds intolerable after learning the truth from Darcy. However, Lizzie is distraught to hear that Lydia has been invited to be Mrs. Forster's particular companion when the militia leaves. Mr. Bennet dismisses Lizzie's concerns and allows Lydia to go. Late in the summer Lizzie accompanies her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner on a trip to enjoy the beauties of Derbyshire. While in the county Lizzie is convinced to visit Pemberly by her aunt and uncle when assured the master is not at home. However, fate is at work and Mr. Darcy is called home a day early and stumbles upon Lizzie and her companions. The next day Darcy brings his sister and Bingley who has just arrived at Pemberly to call on Lizzie. Darcy again calls on Lizzie two days later right after she has received a letter from Jane relating how Lydia has run away with Mr. Wickham and begging them to return immediately. She relays all this to Darcy in her initial shock. Some days after they have returned and Mr. Gardiner has assisted in the search, the couple is discovered and marry after Wickham is properly bribed. The Wickhams come to Longbourn for a visit after their wedding and Lydia lets it slip that Darcy was present at their wedding, but says no more. Lizzie immediately writes to her aunt asking for the whole story.
The latter part of this is section is definitely one of my favorite parts. The meeting at Pemberly is one of my favorite scenes. It is the optimum example of an awkward situation. It was slightly uncomfortable for Lizzie even before Darcy popped in out of nowhere. I really like where she compliments Pemberly and then realizes how it might sound coming from her and blushes. That is just such a timeless happening. Girls throughout the centuries have said something, realized how it might have been taken, and in turn blushed. There is a definite difference in Darcy and this opens Lizzie's eyes to the change in her own feelings. One thing that isn't brought out in the movies and that I had forgotten about is Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner perception of the couple's feelings. These feelings become even more complicated when Darcy becomes aware of the contents of the letter. While that kind of scandal couldn't be kept a secret from society, Darcy knew the intimate details which was embarrassing for Lizzie, especially with her realizing her feelings for him.
I feel so sorry for Lizzie about the whole Lydia situation. She took over a bit of Mrs. Collin's foreshadowing. Mr. Bennet's refusal to do anything to prevent his daughter's wild habits is the reason I lose my respect for him. He is constantly talking about how silly his daughters are, but he doesn't have the backbone to do anything about it. I was glad when Wickham's character is exposed to all. Some may say that he gets off to easy, but I'm sure being married to Lydia is fairly reasonable punishment for all his past sins.
Even though she has such a small role I really like Georgiana. I think it is a pretty name too. She shows the exact opposite of Lizzie's younger sisters. She has a well established place in society, yet she is extremely shy and not at all forward. The youngest Bennet girls have little to no true standing in society, yet they are little besides forward. Georgiana 's shyness and Lizzie's boldness contrast each other well and make them good companions.
It's really sad how depressed Jane still is when she returns to Longbourn. Her sweet temper and all around goodness make seeing her suffer a hard thing for her sister and for us readers to endure. She deserves perfect happiness and it's quite frustrating to see little chance of it at present.

Pride and Prejudice 1-34

Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice begins with the wealthy Mr. Bingley moving into the neightborhood of Hertfordshire, an action which the annoying Mrs. Bennet reads as a wish to marry one of her five daughters, whom he has never met. Bingley and the eldest Miss Bennet, Jane, both possessing sweet and cheerful characters, do begin to fall in love to the happiness of Elizabeth Bennet, the second eldest daughter, and to the horror of Bingley's sisters and good friend, Mr. Darcy. At a ball hosted by the Bingleys, Elizabeth watches the progress of the couple's attachment and is highly embarrassed by the lack of propreity displayed by the rest of her family, including her visiting cousin Mr. Collins. However, Elizabeth is unaware of the attention she is drawing from the haughty, prideful Mr. Darcy, whom she has formed a deep-felt dislike based on his alleged ill-treatment of the handsome Mr. Wickham. Shortly after the ball Mr. Collins proposes to Lizzie, is flatly refused, but quickly recovers and marries her good friend Ms. Charlotte Lucas. The Bingleys and Darcy soon after quit the neighborhood for London. Jane goes to London with her aunt and uncle after Christmas as a change of scenery for her disappointed hopes and for the slight chance of meeting Mr. Bingley. In March Lizzie visits Mrs. Collins, becoming acquainted again with Mr. Darcy who is visiting his aunt, the patron of Mr. Collins. To her astonishment Mr. Darcy proposes. She refuses him in heated language, laying the charge of separating her sister and Bingley along with his treatment of Wickham at his feet. He responds with a letter admitting his guilt in the first charge, but giving her a true account of his dealings with Mr. Wickham.

As I'm rereading Pride and Prejudice I'm realizing that it is probably the easiest read of the Jane Austen novels. I love the witty dialogue, espcially when Lizzie and Darcy converse during his time in Hertfordshire. Everything was said so much more eloquently in that time. People thought about what they were about to say, a practice that has been almost entirely forgotten. I've noticed something about Charlotte Lucas's character. Her speeches are filled with foreshadowing. The views on marriage she expresses to Lizzie describe most accurately the state she enters into with Mr. Collins. Her remarks about Jane hiding her affection too much and of Darcy's attraction to Lizzie both prove true as well. I don't know if this has any profound meaning since she is in the novel none after Lizzie leaves Hunsford, but I found it interesting.

Austen shows different examples of the marriage state through Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, Mr. and Mrs. Collins, and even in Mr. and Mrs. Hurst. None of those situations are what we as readers wish for Jane and Lizzie. Imagine how tiresome it would be if your whole existence went into looking for a husband. That is what those ladies were brought up to do. Their many "accomplishments" were usually for the sole purpose of attracting the attention of decent people of the opposite sex. Speaking of accomplishments, I positively love that scene where Darcy and Lizzie discuss the definition of the word, with the annoying interruptions of Ms. Bingley. Again, I adore the graceful dailogue that actually makes one think.

It is kind of annoying how you get a slight view into Mr. Darcy's thoughts when he is present in the scene, but it is so limited. It never actually shows you much besides his general feelings. I have to catch myself from inserting the thoughts and feelings that were expressed in the books that I read from his perspective. However, it is interesting to have that view of things especially during his "courtship" of Lizzie in Hunsford. It makes me wonder what Austen actually had in mind for him when she wrote it. His proposal is one of the most absurd things ever. To tell someone how much you "ardently admire and love them" and then to proceed directly to telling them how inferior they are is almost as laughable as it is infuriating - almost. I love the letter. While it still shows intensive pride in Darcy, it is a beginning. While I want to blame him for Jane and Bingley's present state of unhappiness, it is also good to finally find out the truth about Mr. Wickham, a character that you knew was too good to be true but had no real reason for not liking until then. (Matt just did a horrible impression of what was suppose to be an Austen heroine swooning, but what he doesn't get is that Austen's heroines are much to practical for swooning.)

If this isn't what you wanted just let me know and I'll do it right next time, Mrs Leffler.