Readsponding

Pride and Prejudice is over for me. I really enjoyed reading the book and in all sincerity, recommend it. I am not the only one closing the book with a feeling of satisfaction, most of my classmates have finished and we will soon be moving on.

In my classmate Nacks blog, he discusses the end of the novel and we share some views as well as we disagree in others. It's interepsting to read his response to the end of the novel from a guys perspective and how it differentiates from my own. Lets be honest here people, Pride and Prejudice is not the kind of book a guy would read over let's say some comic book they really enjoy. Nack describes the ending as being predictable and having a moral lesson to follow up on. Mostly these lessons are the idea of not judging too quickly or being too proud as we have seen through Elizabeth and Darcy´s relationship. Nack says in his blog post that "True love actually blossomed after all the events took place. Only after Dancy overcame his pride and Elizabeth her prejudice was the true love possible. In other words, the title of this book could as well have been 'Dancy and Elizabeth'." Elizabeth who was never really under the influence of the status quo ends up doing something unpredictable but goes into accepting the society she lives in through Darcy´s love. Darcy made an outcast of himself but in the end by embracing the lessons Elizabeth teaches him, discovers there is more to life than the status quo.

The foreshadowing in the novel makes the ending unpredictable. Throughout the novel we were given hints about the love Darcy felt for Elizabeth when he commented on her beautiful eyes. Then after the meeting in Rosings, Elizabeth began to have feelings for Darcy after seeing who he really was. The only challenges these two characters faced that could have kept them apart were the distance and the people around them. It was pretty obvious when Darcy went with Bingley to Longbourn that he was not only there for his friend but also for Elizabeth. After that, it was only a matter of time before the engagement was announced.

All in the entire book ended on a good note and what makes the book so enjoyable is watching the characters overcome the challenges the author throws at them. And really, who likes a sad ending?

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

The Situation

Thanks to modern day T.V every time we think of The Situation we think about the guy in the show "Jersey Shore". Unless you live in a cave or are an old person, I think everyone knows to which cast member of Jersey Shore I am referring to. You might be asking yourself, what does this have to do with Jane Austen's novel. Well it just so happens that there is a Situation in Pride and Prejudice and being a 21^st century girl, I heard Mike saying in my head "We got a Situation yo!" So brace yourselves for something epic and unexpected. If you haven't read the book or are reading it and haven't reached this part, this is when I politely ask you to leave and comeback after reading the novel.

It was the day before the dinner in Pemberley and just when feelings were beginning to show themselves from Elizabeth towards Darcy, Austen had to separate them. And what better way to annoy the crap of the reader than by separating them because of Lydia and Wickham. The last thing we knew about Lydia was that she was going to Brighton so she could follow the militia and as her father said: "that her being there may teach her her own significance" (pg 173). Lydia is as loud and as obnoxious as Mrs. Bennet and wanting some peace in Longbourn they sent her away. From the what Mr. Bennet said to Elizabeth, it's pretty harsh to expose a child this way but in Lydia's case, it would have been safer to throw her in a tank full of sharks.

Somehow Lydia and Wickham fell into desire and well, did the deed before they were married and decided to elope. Elizabeth got word of this and left for home immediately since no one knew where the "happy couple" was and what they could be capable of. Everyone was out searching for Wickham and Lydia while the rest were in hysterics. This is practically the deadliest action one could have done in 1813 and that is why everyone was so dramatic about it. With an action like Lydia's, the family wasn't that worried about her well being over the fact that the family reputation was being scarred. How were her sisters supposed to get husbands after being known as "the sisters of the girl that left with Wickham". The sister that most surprised me by giving her opinion on the matter was Mary. She spoke the following passage to Elizabeth and left her as astonished as me:

"This is a most unfortunate affair, and will probably be much talked of. But we must stem the tide of malice, and pour into the wounded bosoms of each other the balm of sisterly consolation."

Then, perceiving in Elizabeth no inclination of replying, she added, "Unhappy as the event must be for Lydia, we may draw from it this useful lesson: that loss of virtue in a female is irretrievable; that one false step involves her in endless ruin; that her reputation is no less brittle than it is beautiful; and that she cannot be too much guarded in her behaviour towards the undeserving of the other sex." (pg 214)

Based on what Marry said the reader can infer that women had to have a proper place in society and not lose sight of it. When she mentions the "balm of sisterly consolation", she means the soothing and unity of being sisters. By standing together the blow of what has happened won't hit them that hard. In the part about reputation being "brittle" Austen implies that while you might have a beautiful reputation and built it up from the ground, it only takes but one action to send it crumpling down. What is Mary's (Austen's) advice? Unless you are sure that the person from the other sex is deserving, guard who you are in front of them as to not be seen as promiscuous or you might be taken advantage of.

The Situation keeps getting more and more complicated. Lydia and Wickham are found in London, still not married, by supposedly by Mr. Gardiner who gives them money and prepares a hasty wedding so that the Bennet reputation won't be that scarred. The Bennet's of course feel completely in debt to Mr. Gardiner who is not asking for anything. Immediately after the marriage the couple went to the Bennet house to celebrate with the bride's family and during the dinner Lydia mentioned that Darcy had been at her wedding which shocked Elizabeth and with her curiosity getting the best of her, sent a letter to her aunt to explain this unlikely event to her.

This is the part when the behind the scenes story of this Situation is revealed. The response to Elizabeth's letter reveals a great lot about how the issue was resolved so quickly. There is only one person who can take full credit for the resolution of such an immense conflict and his name rhymes with Marcy. Ding Ding! Mr. Darcy once again proves to be the knight in shining armor. It was Darcy who paid for the wedding, paid for Wickham to get a commission, and most importantly in a sense bought Wickham to marry Lydia. Elizabeth's thoughts on the matter show her true appreciation for Darcy and maybe a tingle within her to love him:

"He had followed them purposely to town, he had taken on himself all the trouble and mortification attendant on such a research; in which supplication had been necessary to a woman whom he must abominate and despise, and where he was reduced to meet, frequently meet, reason with, persuade, and finally bribe, the man whom he always most wished to avoid, and whose very name it was punishment to him to pronounce. He had done all this for a girl whom he could neither regard nor esteem. Her heart did whisper that he had done it for her. But it was a hope shortly checked by other considerations, and she soon felt that even her vanity was insufficient, when required to depend on his affection for her --for a woman who had already refused him--as able to overcome a sentiment so natural as abhorrence against relationship with Wickham. Brother-in-law of Wickham! Every kind of pride must revolt from the connection. He had, to be sure, done much. She was ashamed to think how much." (pg 243)

If this is not an act of love, I don't know what is. When Elizabeth realizes all that Darcy has done for her family, she sees the kindness behind him. As a reader, you see how Darcys guilt of having the power of preventing this pushed him to set things right. Wickham had done the same thing with his sister but this time instead of separating Wickham from his prey, he accomplished in a sense, torturing Wickham by making him marry a simple silly girl. This is all also another show of affection from his part to Elizabeth and if Elizabeth does not start falling for Darcy, well that's a whole other Situation.

In Yo Face Sistah!

Would you ever allow a stranger to tour your mansion when you are not home? Apparently the Pemberley estate, which is Darcy's house, is open to anyone who wants to come in and check it out. This must be another of those crazy English ways to show how much better you are than the rest but in a subtle way like Darcy himself. It is thanks to the literal open doors of his house that Elizabeth goes here with her uncles to tour the estate and is face to face with the unexpected.

The person that gave the tour to Elizabeth and her uncles was the house keeper of Darcy himself. If anyone has seen or read about The Help, you know how much a house keeper can come to hate their bosses. I expected this lady to completely bash on Darcy being a quiet man that keeps to himself and is not very known to his workers, you know very Beauty and The Beast, but all this lady said were praises about Darcy. This is the moment when someone jumps in and puts a hand in Elizabeth's face and says "In yo face sistah!" because the true meaning of prejudice is the ignorance towards other peoples realities.

Elizabeth is now practicing one of the greatest hobbies a person can have: daydreaming. After learning all these new sides about Darcy she is now staying awake at night trying to figure out what she thinks (feels) for him. Her thoughts are completely different from say, the thoughts she would have had 20 chapters ago:

"She certainly did not hate him. No; hatred had vanished long ago, and she had almost as long been ashamed of ever feeling a dislike against him, that could be so called. The respect created by the conviction of his valuable qualities, though at first unwillingly admitted, had for some time ceased to be repugnant to her feeling; and it was now heightened into somewhat of a friendlier nature, by the testimony so highly in his favour, and bringing forward his disposition in so amiable a light, which yesterday had produced. But above all, above respect and esteem, there was a motive within her of goodwill which could not be overlooked. It was gratitude; gratitude, not merely for having once loved her, but for loving her still well enough to forgive all the petulance and acrimony of her manner in rejecting him, and all the unjust accusations accompanying her rejection." (pg 196)

See? This is what we all need, a good change in heart. With the change we begin not to judge a person for how they behave at balls, no. To truly understand who a person is you must get your own conlcusions based, according to this book, from the people that work for the person. I believe that when a person respects and esteems another as Elizabeth is saying here it is a way of admitting to yourself that you found someone who is an equal to you. Elizabeth is now only seeing the good things about Darcy and not the bad ones which could foreshadow the romance blossoming from her towards him.

Ready for another hand in the face, "In yo face sistah", moment? I don't know about the rest of the people who have read or are reading this book, but I hate Mr. Bingley's sisters. Those women have nothing better to do than comment on every little thing that is not to their satisfaction. So that is what was occurring when Caroline was, excuse my French, bitching about Elizabeth to Mr. Darcy. But then the In yo face sistah moment happened and it was as follows:

"Persuaded as Miss Bingley was that Darcy admired Elizabeth, this was not the best method of recommending herself; but angry people are not always wise; and in seeing him at last look somewhat nettled, she had all the success she expected. He was resolutely silent, however, and, from a determination of making him speak, she continued:

"I remember, when we first knew her in Hertfordshire, how amazed we all were to find that she was a reputed beauty; and I particularly recollect your saying one night, after they had been dining at Netherfield, 'SHE a beauty!--I should as soon call her mother a wit.' But afterwards she seemed to improve on you, and I believe you thought her rather pretty at one time."

"Yes," replied Darcy, who could contain himself no longer, "but THAT was only when I first saw her, for it is many months since I have considered her as one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance."(pg 201)

This is not the way to get a guy to like you. From the passage one can infer that Caroline thinks that by looking down on others and exposing their flaws, she will look more suitable than them. She doesn't know about the marriage proposal Darcy gave Elizabeth and this all just makes her seem airheaded. From what has been read recently one knows that Darcy is very opposite to Caroline and his personality truly complements itself with Elizabeth's. I felt some inner satisfaction when she was told of by Darcy and with this I hope that finally she will let him go and move on. How is that for a "In yo face" moment?

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.