I Can Hear the Bells

After the resolution of the terrible situation the Bennet´s went through, things could only get better. It is rumored around Meyton that Mr. Bingley would be returning to Netherfield for a short time. This of course sends Mrs. Bennet in a scheming rampage that would put most underground conspiracies in shock. After all the number one goal is to marry each and every daughter to the man with the most pounds, so why not apply some very "subtle" tactics?

A few days after arriving in Netherfiel, Bingley and Darcy go to the Bennet house. Mrs. Bennet is observing the firsts behavior towards Jane, and is pleased to conclude that he still has feelings for her. Their visit not only has Mrs. Bennet at the edge of her chair, Jane is also observant of Bingley and Elizabeth cannot stop herself from stealing glances at Darcy. It is after they are gone that the two sisters speak about the matter and Jane, shares how she is over Bingley. Elizabeth knowing better does not shy away when telling her sister that she thinks she is in "great danger of making him as much in love with you as ever." (pg 253)

In the dinner which both men attended in Longbourn, Bingley and Jane continue showing interest in each other and by the end of the evening, both Mrs. Bennet and Elizabeth are in high hopes of the engagement happening soon. A moment is shared among the two after the dinner in which Elizabeth knows what her mother is up to and smiles. Mrs. Bennet tries to assure her that there is nothing under her sleeve but what Elizabeth says at the end is a perfect reply:

"But why should you wish to persuade me that I feel more than I acknowledge?"

"That is a question which I hardly know how to answer. We all love to instruct, though we can teach only what is not worth knowing. Forgive me; and if you persist in indifference, do not make me your confidante."(pg 256)

From the passage above one could infer that though Elizabeth wants to tell her mother what to do, but she herself feels unsure of what is "worth knowing". In the end both Elizabeth and Mrs. Bennet want Jane to fulfill her plans with Bingley but they have different ways to go about it. Elizabeth's is calmer and more behind the scenes while her mother's is full frontal attack.

To fully understand how Mrs. Bennet is obvious about her schemes, there is a very funny part when she is trying to let Bingley and Jane be by themselves. They are surrounded by Elizabeth and Kitty and Mrs. Bennet is trying to leave the two love birds to their thing so she does the following:

"Mrs. Bennet sat looking and winking at Elizabeth and Catherine for a considerable time, without making any impression on them. Elizabeth would not observe her; and when at last Kitty did, she very innocently said, "What is the matter mamma? What do you keep winking at me for? What am I to do?"

"Nothing child, nothing. I did not wink at you." She then sat still five minutes longer; but unable to waste such a precious occasion, she suddenly got up, and saying to Kitty, "Come here, my love, I want to speak to you," took her out of the room. Jane instantly gave a look at Elizabeth which spoke her distress at such premeditation, and her entreaty that SHE would not give in to it. In a few minutes, Mrs. Bennet half-opened the door and called out:

"Lizzy, my dear, I want to speak with you."

Elizabeth was forced to go.(pg 256-257)

This part made me laugh. Then again I might be one of those people who laughs with books and gets looked at, but bear with me. Imagine Mrs. Bennet winking and winking like she is having some sort of seizure but it is just her eye and then Kitty just blurts it out, classic. This somehow worked because, by being alone this time and some others in the following days, it did not take long for Bingley to propose to Jane. Bingley was described as being "alacrity" (eager) at all times whenever at the Bennet house. How this all worked out is not by doing of Mrs. Bennet, Elizabeth suspects highly that Mr. Darcy's Concurrence (agreement) had to have some sort of play in this happy ending.

Now the only concerns Jane should have are to not spend all her money and to not become duped (person tricked into believing or doing something) again by Caroline Bingley, who was behind the couple never seeing each other in London. For now, we got one happy ending but as a reader, we are awaiting to hear the bells for the second eldest Bennet.

Vex=displease

You Go Girl

Elizabeth has been through turmoil of emotions while she stayed with the Collins's but now it is time for her to leave. So Elizabeth returns home knowing reality a little better. This is all unknown to Mr. Collins whose parting words to Elizabeth are funny. He married Charlotte thinking she loved him but when he is sending Elizabeth off, you can see how little he knows about his wife's unaffectionate love towards him by saying "My dear Charlotte and I have but one mind and one way of thinking. There is in everything a most remarkable resemblance of character and ideas between us. We seem to have been designed for each other.'' (pg 161). I really am not a person that laughs at these things but it is just humorous how blind Mr. Collins is. Here he is thinking he is in the marriage of his dreams when really he is but a pawn being used by those around him. Even Charlotte is using him to get the life she wants and I am pretty sure Lady De Bough only wants him around for the flattery he gives to her.

To truly see what is before you is when a person begins to fall in love. Elizabeth practically massacred the letter Darcy gave her by reading it so much and in those moments when we got to read what she was thinking. It became obvious that she is beginning to fall for Mr. Darcy. When Wickham was revealed to her for what he truly is, Elizabeth began to see Mr. Darcy for who he is himself. Along with feeling stupid and blind she also begins to show how her trust in Darcy is unconditional when conferring with Jane: "This will not do,'' said Elizabeth. ``You never will be able to make both of them good for any thing. Take your choice, but you must be satisfied with only one. There is but such a quantity of merit between them; just enough to make one good sort of man; and of late it has been shifting about pretty much. For my part, I am inclined to believe it all Mr. Darcy's, but you shall do as you choose.'' (pg 168).

As a reader I must say that Mr. Darcy's reasons for not liking the Bennet family are not so farfetched. Kitty and Lydia annoy me a lot. Their complete oblivion to what life is really like is much like their mothers but their mothers only care is to get them all married. Lydia is by far the most oblivious. In chapter 41 it is decided she will go to Brighton to follow the militia so that somehow she will grow tiered of them. The only good thing to come of this was a small moment of satisfaction in which Elizabeth got to confront Wickham about what was said to her by Darcy:

"she mentioned Colonel Fitzwilliam's and Mr. Darcy's having both spent three weeks at Rosings, and asked him if he were acquainted with the former.

He looked surprised, displeased, alarmed; but with a moment's recollection and a returning smile, replied that he had formerly seen him often; and after observing that he was a very gentlemanlike man, asked her how she had liked him. Her answer was warmly in his favour. With an air of indifference he soon afterwards added, ``How long did you say that he was at Rosings?''

``Nearly three weeks.''

``And you saw him frequently?''

``Yes, almost every day.''

``His manners are very different from his cousin's.''

``Yes, very different. But I think Mr. Darcy improves on acquaintance.''

``Indeed!'' cried Wickham with a look which did not escape her. ``And pray may I ask -- ?'' but checking himself, he added in a gayer tone, ``Is it in address that he improves? Has he deigned to add ought of civility to his ordinary style? for I dare not hope,'' he continued in a lower and more serious tone, ``that he is improved in essentials.''

``Oh, no!'' said Elizabeth. ``In essentials, I believe, he is very much what he ever was.''(pg 175)

From this passage one could say Elizabeth's mind has completely switched gears. This is also one of those moments where, in the movies, you pumped your fist in the air because you achieved what you wanted and in this case I wanted Elizabeth to figuratively slap the beegesus out of Wickham.