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AP Lit Blog 6 - Jan. 11, 2022

Polarized Views on Marriage in Pride and Prejudice 

This past week, I read from where we left off to the end of the book, meaning this will be my final post in my blog series on Pride and Prejudice. By the end, Elizabeth has now accepted Darcy’s proposal of marriage, and is excited to invest herself into this relationship. Her parents, however, express different reactions to her announcement. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, are, in a way, a (dual-character) foil to Lizzy and Darcy's relationship. Austen uses the example of Mr. and Mrs. Bennett’s poorly complementing marriage to address the drawbacks of social norms at the time and the importance of determining a marriage based on true love, rather than superficial attraction and economic security. 

In response to Lizzy asking of his objection, Mr. Bennett expresses concern of Lizzy’s sureness of her willingness to marry Darcy.  He says, “None at all. We all know him to be a proud, unpleasant sort of man; but this would be nothing if you really liked him.” (324). 

On the contrary, Mrs. 

Mother: “Good gracious! Lord bless me! only think! dear me! Mr. Darcy! Who would have thought it! And is it really true? Oh my sweetest Lizzy! how rich and how great you will be! What pin-money, what jewels, what carriages you will have! Jane’s nothing to it -- nothing at all. I am so please -- so happy. Such a charming man! -- so handsome! so tall! Oh, my dear Lizzy! pray apologize for my having disliked him so much before. I hope he will overlook it. Dear, dear Lizzy. A house in town! Everything that is charming! Three daughters married! Ten thousand a year! Oh, Lord! What will become of me. I shall go distracted.” (#25-326) 

It might be difficult to understand why both parents have such contrasting reactions to Lizzy’s exciting news, but it may be easier to understand if Lizzy’s is compared to their own relationship.We know that Mr. and Mrs. Bennet have been together for more than twenty years, despite the fact that they don’t seem to have much in common. 

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AP Lit Blog 5 - Jan. 5, 2022

A Trip To Pemberley 

This chapter (pages 198-264) was quick, covering from about chapter 43 to chapter 50. However, I felt one passage in beginning of this portion was most significant because it covered Elizabeth’s first venture to Mr. Darcy’s Pemberley estate, on a tour with the Gardiners. In chapter 43, Jane Austen uses Pemberley to manuever Elizabeth’s reflection on her prejudices of Mr. Darcy. As she makes her visit, Austen uses imagery, personification, and metaphors to emphasize Pemberley’s striking impression on Elizabeth.

“Elizabeth’s mind was too full for conversation, but she saw and admired every remarkable point of view. They gradually ascended for half-a-mile, and then found themselves at the top of a considerable eminence, where the wood ceased, and the eye was instantly caught by Pemberley House, situated on the opposite side of a valley, into which the road with some abruptness wound. It was a large, handsome stone building, standing well on rising ground, and backed by a ridge of high woody hills; and in front, a stream of some natural importance was swelled into greater, but without any artificial appearance. Its banks were neither formal nor falsely adorned. Elizabeth was delighted. She had never seen a place for which nature had done more, or where natural beauty had been so little counteracted by an awkward taste. They were all of them warm in their admiration; and at that moment she felt that to be mistress of Pemberley might be something!” (Page 207)

Austen uses imagery and personification in Elizabeth’s initial description of Pemberley as a metaphor for Mr. Darcy’s true personality. Austen illustrates that Pemberley “was a large, handsome stone building, standing well on rising ground…” She personifies the building as “large and handsome” as an attribute to Mr. Darcy, who earlier in the book was described as someone who “drew the attention of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien..” (7). Clearly, Austen is stating her position that appearances have a considerable influence to attracting women. The building affects Elizabeth because of its grand, noble feel, subsequently adjusting her original prejudice of Mr. Darcy’s looks being contradicted by his rudeness as seen early in the book.

In addition, Austen uses the description of the stream to symbolize Darcy’s character. The “stream of some natural importance was swelled into greater, but without any artificial appearance” is a metaphor for Mr. Darcy’s immense pride throughout the story. By highlighting the positive connotation of the streams “natural importance”, Austen is emphasizing that Darcy is prideful, but not by any means “artificial” as a nod to Darcy’s consistently harsh honesty. Austen also notes that the banks were “neither formal or falsely adorned,” just how Darcy’s opinions of people were considered less ill-conceived, but in a way, more frank and unreserved.

By the end, Elizabeth’s enchantment by the estate had set in motion an awakening on her as she started imagining what her life as a “mistress of Pemberley” (Darcy’s wife) could be!

The greater message of this passage is that appearance is broad and reveal the true nature of someone. Pemberley is a significicant symbol for Darcy because it serves as a reflection to his character and his growth as we read more about him over the timeline of the story. Darcy is not as shallow as he appears to be, and though he has “awkward taste,” Elizabeth still finds ways to admire him despite his problems. 

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AP Lit Blog 4: Dec 20, 2021

A Passage on Prejudice in Pride and Prejudice

At this moment, I’ve finished reading the third portion of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (pages 132-198) and so I am glad to say that we’ve made it more than halfway through the novel! 

I believe the most noteworthy moment of this section was Darcy’s first proposal to Elizabeth, which we witness in Chapter 34. It is revealed that after all this time that Darcy has spent looking down upon Elizabeth, his feelings for her have actually, in fact, been building up! (shocking? No. Well startling, maybe, just because it’s Darcy and he has his quirks.) In spite of his grand gesture, Elizabeth hadn’t reacted quite in the way he expected. In this scene, Jane Austen cleverly uses conflict to promote the overarching themes and namesake of the book itself, Pride and Prejudice.

“‘In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.’ [-Darcy]

Elizabeth’s astonishment was beyond expression. She stared, coloured, doubted, and was silent. This he considered sufficient encouragement, and the avowal of all that he felt and had long felt for her, immediately followed. He spoke well, but there were feelings besides those of the heart to be detailed, and he was not more eloquent on the subject of tenderness than of pride. His sense of her inferiority ---of its being a degradation--- of the family obstacles which judgment had always opposed to inclination, were dwelt on with a warmth which seemed due to the consequence he was wounding, but was very unlikely to recommend his suit” (162). 

In this moment that we see huge growth in the character development of Darcy. In contrast to what I observed previously (reference Blog Post 2), Darcy’s feelings towards Elizabeth had changed. Though he initially considered her inferior, he realized there was much more to Elizabeth than to be a potential wife; he noticed elegance in her confidence and though she did not possess much material wealth to add to his (very large) estate, her personality was rare in a woman of the time, which made him fall in love with her. Unlike Mr. Collins who proposed motivated by self engrossment, Darcy was drawn by Elizabeth because he truly cared for her. However, Elizabeth still sees Darcy as arrogant and is still repelled by Darcy’s confession to impeding on her sister Jane and Mr. Bingley’s relationship (which she found out throughout Darcy’s cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam), and so she rejects him. 

How frustrating. If you’re an impatient reader and had a reaction like mine, you might be thinking, Jane Austen, couldn’t you have just made this relationship easy and married them quickly like everyone else?

To bring my analytical stance out (since this is an AP Lit class of course) I believe this is another intentional act on the part of Austen for readers to understand that life isn’t easy. People aren’t easy, and relationships definitely aren’t either. Prejudices and false conceptions get in the way of learning about others. Because Darcy toned down his pride, and took back his prejudices of Elizabeth, he got to learn the good side of her character (regardless of her unwomanly reputation to resist). However, Elizabeth hasn’t realized the same of him yet.

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AP Lit Blog 3: Dec 14, 2021

Love, Marriage, and Breaking Expectations 

While reading the second portion of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (pages 66-132), I noticed a few “romantic” story lines developing for Elizabeth Bennet (for example, Elizabeth and Darcy, Elizabeth and George Wickham, and Elizabeth and William Collins.) Though they all have the same goal in seeking her hand for marriage, each “candidate” has different and unique personality traits that set them apart, some more favorable than others. Interestingly, women during this time tended to marry not for the sake of happiness, but more for social status and wealth. However, Elizabeth diverts on a different path and wants to make her own decisions rather than conform to what society expects of her.  Throughout this section, Jane Austen uses the failed “relationship” with Collins and Elizabeth to portray how different concepts of marriage were in this era and the clear social issues of its time.  

While Mr. Collins’s attempt to persuade Elizabeth to accept his proposal may have convinced other women to marry, it was not compelling enough for her...

“My reasons for marrying are, first, that I think it a right thing for every clergyman in easy circumstances to set the example of matrimony in his parish. Secondly, that I am convinced it will add very greatly to my happiness; and thirdly, which perhaps I ought to have mentioned earlier, that it is the particular advice and recommendation of the very noble lady whom I have the honour of calling patroness... But the fact is that being, as I am, to inherit this estate after the death of your honoured father, I could not satisfy myself without resolving to choose a wife from among his daughters, that the loss to them might be as little as possible...this has been my motive, my fair cousin, and I flatter myself it will not sink me in your esteem” (92-93). 

It is obvious that none of Mr. Collins reasons to marry Elizabeth actually have anything to do with his apparent “love” for her. Collin’s proposal to Elizabeth seems more like a formal negotiation or contract rather than an act of affection. To him, his offers sound desirable because the relationship stands to benefit him: his social status and self esteem heightens because he can say that he has a wife, and it would be favorable to his uncle, Mr. Bennett, who does not have a son to inherit his estate (marrying one’s own kin was not uncommon but socially acceptable in this era). Collins even notes that he will turn a blind eye to the lack of wealth Elizabeth would bring into their relationship. This marriage would not make him happy because he truly has passion for her but simply to boast that he has put a ring on a woman’s finger. Needless to say, he did not truly love her. 

Elizabeth believes Collins is a fool and rejects him, initiating negative reactions from her family, especially her parents. In chapter 25, Mrs. Bennett says, “But, Lizzy! Oh sister! It is very hard to think that she night have been Mr. Collins’s wife by this time, had it not been for her own perverseness...the consequence of it is that Lady Lucas will have a daughter married before I have, and that the Longbourn estate us just as much entailed as ever” (121). Mrs. Bennett’s retort is an explicit example of the social problems of the time period. Mrs. Bennett was offended her own daughter’s decision because another estate would be “entailed” and not her own. She would rather her daughter sacrifice her own happiness to benefit herself than the other way around. Elizabeth didn’t care for her mother’s disapproval, responding, “[it was] An excellent consolation in its way, but it will not do for us. We do not suffer by accident. It does not often happen that the interference of friends will persuade a young man of independent fortune to think no more of a girl, whom he was violently in love with only a few days before” (121-122). 

Jane Austen emphasizes her beliefs that women who marry without love undermine their own self worth and that it is more valuable to choose true love and mutual affection rather than pursue a forced relationship. Elizabeth brings different level of wisdom and intelligence that the readers don’t see much in other women in the story. For her to make a rational individual choices and reject multiple proposals (no matter how much, wealth, security or societal status they extend) promotes the idea that women can have the ability to be independent of men rather than fall into the pressure of society’s expectations. Though it may not have been quite popular in the past, the concept of individual freedoms is definitely is more significant for people, especially women, today.

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AP Lit Blog 2: Dec 6, 2021

Write about a character

Over the weekend, I read the first fifth (about 66 pages) of the novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. One of the characters I was most facsinated by was Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, who was introduced as a friend to Mr. Bingley and posed as a possible romantic interest to the main protagonist of the story, Miss Elizabeth Bennet.

Darcy has quite an interesting personality and initially, I was not admirable his character because though he has a respectable reputation, he comes off as unpleasant, arrogant and unlikable. Elizabeth Bennet and Darcy first encounter each other at a dinner, when Darcy arrives as a friend to Mr. Bingley. While “the room” is intrigued by his “handsome” physical traits and overwhelming wealth (the rumor is that he makes over 10 grand annually), Jane Austen notes that the room already had decided that his true qualities invalidate his good ones - they describe him to be “the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world” (7). Originally I was in disbelief of this, because I thought of his respectable factors to make him a humble person. However, Darcy’s unlikeliness proved itself he when rejecting the idea of dancing with Elizabeth - he remarks (right in front of her) that “She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me.” (8). Right off the bat, I was repulsed by his discourteous manner. By emphasizing that Miss Bennet was “tolerable,” but  “not handsome enough” to catch his eye, he acts privileged and above her, and as if her eminence is below his. In addition, I noticed that he is quick to notice flaws in people before he gets to know them. (“[He] had seen a collection of people in whom there was little beauty and no fashion, for none of whom he had felt the smallest interest, and from one received attention or pleasure. Miss Bennet he acknowledged to be pretty, but she smiled too much.” (13)).  

Though he was quick to overlook her, Darcy picks up interest in Elizabeth later on.  His thought of her changed: “Elizabeth was far from suspecting that she was herself becoming an object of some interest in the eyes of [Mr. Darcy]...Though he detected with a critical eye more than one failure of perfect symmetry in her form, he was forced to acknowledge her figure to be light and pleasing” (18). Suddenly, Darcy was appreciating the favorable parts of Elizabeth. Because of this I started to like him more than not, realizing that maybe he is just awkward, or maybe on a deeper level, he is socially inept.

I even started to sympathize with Mr. Darcy’s selfdom when Miss Lucas says, “One cannot wonder that so fine a young man, with family, with fortune, everything in his favor should think so highly of himself... he has a right to be proud.” It is possible that Jane Austen uses this reasoning to give the readers a reason to pity Darcy, or maybe even like him more. 

As the story progresses, Darcy continues to improve at interacting with Elizabeth, such as asking her out to dance (“You excel so much in the dance, Miss Eliza, that it is cruel to deny me the happiness of seeing you” (page 21)), and even making compliments to her eyes (“For what painter can do justice to those beautiful eyes?” (page 44)).  

At the end of all of this, I believe that Austen intentionally portrays Darcy disagreeable at first. As we read on, we realize that he isn’t as bad as he make himself out to be. She proves that people are quick to judge before understanding what they are seeing (hence the title of the book, Pride and Prejudice). Though Darcy’s arrogance clouds his admirable qualities, he has proven that he is capable of improvement, and though I was not a huge fan of Darcy at first, he is definitely growing on me now.

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AP Lit Blog 1: Dec 1, 2021

Read a Critical Essay before starting your novel

Hello! Welcome to my first ever blog post - also the premiere entry in a series I will be writing about featuring Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. 

Before I dive into this, I want to say a little about how I got to this point and why I’m reading this novel. You might wonder, did I choose it myself or or was I forced? Mmm. It’s a funny spiel.

I’m a senior in high school and I’m reading Pride and Prejudice for AP Lit class (actually, we haven’t started reading yet, but we will soon.) There was a list of options to select from, but the reason I picked Pride and Prejudice was actually not because I know anything about the book itself; Believe it or not, it was because I watched the movie “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” a few weeks ago which got me cracking up, so I thought I’d give the real story itself a chance. So that's my reason.

Anyway, for class, I took on the task of reading “Fragment and Focus: Jane Austen and The Art of The Blazon” - a critical essay written by Susan E. Jones in 2005. My focus of reading this article was to gain a bit of constructive historical context about the author prior to starting my journey with this book. 

What I learned from this piece is that Jane Austen is a flexible and precise author. She incorporates good humor and precise thoughts into her work, taking typical literary conventions and putting them into complex concepts. She truly wrote above her time. In addition, she puts a lot of time and effort into developing characters and plot. Some characters that are mentioned include Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth Bennet, Miss Bingley and more. 

Though I have not encountered these characters yet, I am excited to get to soon. 

This is it for my blog today. Until next time!