Close Reading
Questions for Austen’s Pride and
Prejudice, Chs.1-16 (or as much as you can read by Monday)
Answer TWO of
the following…
1. On Friday, I
discussed Austen’s admiration for Mary Wollstonecraft, who criticized not only
how women are educated but the institution of marriage itself. Where do we see a subtle critique of women
and marriage in these opening chapters?
Consider the discussions various women have on the subject, and how
Elizabeth Bennet (our heroine) reacts to them.
2. In Chapter 6,
Darcy reflects that “he had looked at her without admiration at the ball; and
when they next met, he had looked at her only to criticize. But no sooner had he made it clear to himself
and his friends that she had hardly a good feature in her face, than he began
to find it was rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of
her dark eyes.” Based on this passage,
and others in these chapters, why does Darcy start to fall in love with
Elizabeth, despite all his reasons against doing so?
3. Discuss the
difference between Elizabeth and her sisters: what makes her our heroine? Why are we supposed to be more sympathetic/attracted
to her than to say, Lydia or Mary? What
makes her different from the other ‘good’ sister, Jane? How does her philosophy of life in general distinguish
her from most of the other women in the book?
4. When Jane
Austen first wrote this book in the late 1790’s, it was called “First Impressions.” She later re-wrote it extensively and changed
the title as well. How might this book
still be about ‘first impressions’ as much as pride or prejudice? Whose first impressions is the book concerned
with—and why might first impressions, in a society where social rules are more
important than anything else, not be a reliable judge of character?
Kendall Dobbs:
ReplyDelete2. I think that Mr. Darcy likes Elizabeth because she can be witty and pretty snarky at times. When she was first brought to his attention, I think that he thought she was a typical girl and he wasn't interested in typical girls. With his pride (I daresay a large amount of pride!), I think he thought that he deserves the absolute best … and a typical country girl was definitely not the best the world could offer. It isn't until he has been in her presence multiple times, that he realizes that there is something more to Elizabeth than just her appearance. I think that “it was rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of her dark eyes” means that 1) her eyes were beautiful and 2) he could see intelligence in her expression. I think that Mr. Darcy begins to lay aside his ‘pride and prejudice’ on Elizabeth when he sees that she is so much more than a country girl. Does that make any sense?
3. Elizabeth is our hero because she isn't ‘typical.’ She was more thoughts than just men and marriage! I think we are more attracted to Elizabeth than to either Lydia or Mary because she is the combination of both. Lydia is fun, carefree, and maybe a bit of an airhead while Mary is portrayed as intelligent with her knowledge of many books. Elizabeth captures both of these personalities thus making her more appealing to the reader. Elizabeth is different than Jane in the sense that she had discernment and is hesitant in her trust and acceptance of others. Jane tends to look at the world as ‘good’ until shown differently. Elizabeth is quick to judge motive and character by first impressions and often lets this influence her feelings of whether a person is ‘good’ or ‘bad.’ Also, the book makes it very clear that while both girls are beautiful, Jane is the most attractive. I think Elizabeth’s tendency to ‘people watch’ and let other’s actions speak louder than their words gives her more of a level head than the other women in the room. I think my favorite aspect of Elizabeth is the fact that while she is interested in men, flirting, and marriage, she doesn't let those things dictate the way she speaks or act. She uses logic and intelligence rather than emotion and feeling to control her life.
Yes, this makes a lot of sense--great ideas and observations! As you suggest, she isn't typical of an age that expected women to be everything--and nothing. My favorite moment in the early part of the book is when she tells Darcy, who lists all his qualifications for an accomplished woman, responds, "I am no longer surprised at your knowing only six accomplished women. I rather wonder now at your knowing any."
DeleteNikki Ennis
ReplyDelete2. Elizabeth appeals to Mr. Darcy because, unlike most women her age who do nothing but flatter men in search of a husband, Elizabeth is headstrong. She doesn't fall over herself to flatter him, or any man. She is just herself, which I believe Darcy probably finds quite refreshing. It would also seem he has found his match in wits, which I can imagine is also quite appealing to him, considering most women of the time were quite different.
Which leads to question three...
3. The reasons Elizabeth stands out to us as the heroine are the same reasons, I believe, that she stands out to Mr. Darcy. She isn't silly like her sister Lydia, or most women of the time. She is intelligent, and doesn't back down from her beliefs just to fit into society or please a man. She doesn't care what other people think of her. While Jane is nice enough, she's almost too nice. She doesn't have opinions and therefore doesn't make for much interesting conversation or story. Elizabeth is even a favorite to their father for her differences. On page 2 he says, "they are silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy has something more of a quickness than her sisters".
(2) Darcy starts to fall in love with Elizabeth because she is so different. Elizabeth actually stands up to him and even turns him down for a dance. He is not accustomed to this and finds this attractive. He also thinks she is smart and wasn't trying to put on an act.
ReplyDelete(4) This book is still about first impressions because it was very important for a woman to make a good first impression or be accomplished in many things. The book is concerned with the first impressions of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth. First impressions aren't always a good judge of character because sometimes people may act like a different person or simply be nervous.
Stephanie Callen
DeleteAmory Morgan
ReplyDelete2.) I believe it was because she was different than most women. Back then woman were supposed to please the man by their appearance, how they carried themselves and all of their other talents. Elizabeth didn't try to please him, she stood up to him and questioned him, he was not used to this.
3.) Elizabeth was different from her sisters because she was "quicker" than her sisters. she wasn't as pretty as Jane, nor as sweet, but she told you how it was and what she really thought of you.Mary and Lydia didn't really have personality, all looks. She was different from other girls back then because she was smarter and picked up on the whole "acting" thing. she didnt take peoples bullshit and she saw it for how it was.
Weston Haynes
ReplyDelete2.) Mr. Darcy found a spark in Elizabeth because for once in his life he felt somewhat evenly matched with a woman. He sees the braveness in her where at this certain point in time, it was an absurd thing for someone especially a woman to stand up to a superior. The confidence and strongness that she displays is unlike any women that Mr. Darcy has ever courted which makes her special and unique in how she carries herself. Elizabeth seems plain hard to get and men including Mr. Darcy find that very interesting and at times a worthy challenge. I believe that maybe Mr. Darcy thinks that if this is worth the challenge that this women seems to bestow upon him, maybe she is worth the struggle. This woman could be the one he has been looking for. She is smart and witty, which seems that she is going to be easy to woo. It seems that she has seen tricks and that this isn't her first rodeo. Mr. Darcy likes that and sees that as attractive.
3.) Elizabeth is seen as ambitious and maybe misunderstood because she is "different". She is not all fairytales and is unsatisfied with the life that seems to always be bestowed on the women of her time. Lydia is seen as the carefree girl, while Jane is seen as the intelligent person who is deep into books and has no time for opinions. She doesn't seem to be the social type even though she seen as the most attractive. The problem is that she isn't the complete package, where as I believe that Elizabeth is the closest to it. She has got the smarts and the fun of her sisters, and is more headstrong than both. She viewed people from her "first impressions" and she was very good at it. She is definitely not insecure and is one of those girls that the guys could be around, but is also attractive because of her wittiness and confidence. She is not afraid of who she is.
3. Elizabeth is very social not competitive. Lydia and Mary are younger so for Elizabeth to marry is more important at this time.
ReplyDelete4. First imressionss. pride and prejudice are virtually the same thing b/c you always see things the way you want to and you take this knowledge and use it to your ability. The first impression is with Mr. Bennet meeting Mr. Bingley. By this meeting Mr. Bingley cannot determine Mr. Bennets daughters abilities or character but he is informed that they are all available to choose from.
Casey Bear
Stormee Chestra
ReplyDelete3. Elizabeth likes to talk and be very social whereas she is not very competitive in that sense. She is very misunderstood, because she likes different things than everyone else. She wasn't the prettiest sister, but since she was the oldest it was more important for her to get married at this time.
2. I believe he fell in love with her, because she was so different than all the other girls in the area. Most women were made to please the men and dress with class, but she stood up to the men and told it like it is.
Cristian C. Nazario Cruz
ReplyDelete2.Elizabeth wasn’t like other women of that century, she was different. Elizabeth figure out, that there is no point in getting married to someone that wont be able to make you happy. That made her believe, women being able to choose who they want to be married to, it could make her stronger. Darcy was thinking every women of that family will be pleased with me, but Elizabeth wasn’t please by him because she was different. That drove Darcy to try to figure more out about Elizabeth.
3.Elizabeth was a brilliant woman; she was intelligent and funny. These characteristics make her a great and special woman. Elizabeth was so different in compare to her sisters, because her sisters was more interested in getting married with any guy, but that was the main goal for women of that time. Elizabeth was looking for a more specific guy with good qualities; also Elizabeth used more her intelligent and her logic then her emotions and feelings like her sisters. That makes her our heroine.
Walter Braxton Reeves
ReplyDelete2) The real reason why Darcy began to fall in love with Elizabeth, is because she isn't like every other woman of that time period. Elizabeth is a strong self-willed woman who doesn't need Mr. Darcy to feel good. She also doesn't feel like she has just fall in line and be like everyone else he looks down on. Also she was probably the first person to say something witty to him.
3) To me, Elizabeth is different because unlike the other sisters, she isn't fixated on being the perfect wife. Even at a time where its unheard of to deny a marriage, especially to man like Mr. Darcy, she feels no pressure to do so. Her sisters are fascinated with being the perfect wife and finding a man to marry them and Lizzy is just living life the way she pleases.