Rachael Kerr
AP English 11
November 28, 2009
Pride and Prejudice
Character Description-Darcy
Although at first, Darcy is revealed in a light that makes him seem haughty and pompous, Darcy turns about to be a good-natured, logistical, yet laconic man who is constantly observing himself and others, looking for improvements.
Darcy starts out as perhaps an antagonist, by insulting the protagonist, Elizabeth Bennet: “She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me”(Austen 7). Later it is revealed that he said this because he did not want to seem awkward by not dancing, so he simply stated that there was no one he desired to dance with. Although he was not drawn to Lizzy yet, as the story progressed, so did his love for her. Darcy begins to take an interest in Lizzy more and more, yet she believes that he still harbors a hatred for her after that comment he made around her unknowingly. In fact, Darcy goes as far as to propose to her: “You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you”(145); although he is abruptly turned down because of false information of his treatment of Wickaham and the fact that he stopped the marriage of Jane and Bingley. However, this proposal demonstrated Darcy’s character even more because of all the obstacles he would be called to overcome in marrying Lizzy; Lizzy was of a much lower class, making the marriage undesirable, and (perhaps the more prevalent problem) Lizzy’s family and friends are absolutely ridiculous, and by marrying her, he would be related to them. After receiving the ultimate rejection, Darcy continues to show his love for Lizzy by paying for the ludicrous marriage of Wickham and Lydia, which adds another obstacle by making his worst enemy, Wickham, his potential brother-in-law. Then as if it were not hard enough, Lady Catherine expresses her extreme malice towards a marriage between them. And still, through all of this, he continues to grow closer to Lizzy, until finally proposing again. After her acceptation, he gushes to her his love and gratitude for changing him:“I have been a selfish being all my life…as a child I was taught what was right, but I was not taught to correct my temper…I was spoilt by my parents who…allowed, encouraged, almost taught me to be selfish and overbearing…I might still have been but for you…Elizabeth! You taught me a lesson, hard indeed at first, but most advantageous” (282).
Darcy reminds me of any Grimm’s Fairytale prince. He begins being selfish and rude, thinking only of himself. Until one day, he finds a clever, yet lower class maiden that he must overcome obstacle to get to. Obstacles like dragons and mountains can be seen a metaphorical, requiring courage like that need for battling a dragon, or the time and frustration in scaling a mountain. And of course, the queen will always try and get in the way with her magic, just like Lady Catherine constantly butting in, and using the magic of her position to bend subjects to her will. Yet in the end, the prince is changed for the better and marries the maiden. Sure, marrying someone that is lower class could be socially marring, but the prince will be happier than he ever was, side by side with the beautiful maiden.
A modern-day parallel can be made to a member of my family, Richard Pupi. Although Richard may come off as a bit of a prude with his constantly serious countenance, he will always do what is best for others when the time comes.
Rachael Kerr
AP English 11
November 28,2009
Pride and Prejudice
Character Description-Lady Catherine
Lady Catherine is a pompous, overbearing snob obsessed with class and propriety who is constantly getting involved in situations that she does not belong in, all the while striking fear into the hearts of those who should oppose her.
Lady Catherine is the epitome of the antagonist in this story, and demonstrates extreme upper-class snobbery. She is introduced into the story by her number one fan-boy, Mr. Collins, and even then is seen as haughty. It would not be as bad if she was just terrible and mean, but Lizzy never had to deal with her, but her nephew is none other than the desirable Mr. Darcy. Just this relation is Lady Catherine’s biggest problem. In fact, when Lady Catherine hears of a possible marriage between her nephew and Lizzy, she herself goes to Lizzy’s house to try and find it untrue: “I was told…that Miss Elizabeth Bennet, would …be soon afterwords united to my nephew…Mr. Darcy. Though I know it must be a scandalous falsehood”(Austen 270). Lady Catherine lives by stepping on the toes of the lower class, but this is not the only thing that makes her a braggart. Lady Catherine can always be caught being condescending with obvious advice and mentioning what ‘she always says’ or what she has done for other people; “I always speak my mind, and I cannot bear the idea of two young women travelling post by themselves. It is highly improper. You must contrive to send somebody. I have the greatest dislike in the world to that sort of thing. Young women should always be properly guarded and attended, according to their situation in life. When my niece Georgiana went to Ramsgate last summer, I made a point of her having two men-servants go with her. Miss Darcy, the daughter of Mr. Darcy, of Pemberley, and Lady Anne, could not have appeared with propriety in a different manner. I am excessively attentive to all those things. You must send John with the young ladies, Mrs. Collins. I am glad it occurred to me to mention it; for it would really be discreditable to you to let them go alone” (162). Here, we can see what Lady Catherine said, said she did, and what she feels is proper and improper(*insert peanuts teacher noise here*). In fact, that’s all she ever talks about; she displays her morals and practices, stating them almost as laws to follow.
Lady Catherine is like someone trying to teach first graders manners. The subjects are far too uninterested to listen, but would not dare interrupt because then the teacher would know they were not paying attention. Instead they let her go on monologing, believing that what she is saying will change the toddlers’ lives, when most of what she is saying they already knew. But when there is one subject brave and clever enough to trip her up in what she is saying, she becomes so cross that she cannot come back with a rebuttal, but instead goes on by saying that they should not have interrupted.
A connection to a real life character can be made to another member of my family, but her name will remain unmentioned. She constantly lectures on what we should and should not do, how a lady should act, and what she feels is the correct way to do something. Like Lady Catherine, she will go on long tangents about obvious practical advice, and if you interrupt her, she will explode on you about everything you just did wrong.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Pride&Prejudice Ch. 21-1
Quote 1:
'Charlotte's kindness extended father than Elizabeth had any conception of;-its object was nothing less, than to secure her from any return of Mr.Collins's addresses, by engaging them towards herself' (Austen 93).
This quotation shows what Charlotte actually planned, compared to her previous statement. Charlotte told Elizabeth that she was just letting his talk because that's what he liked to do, but what she really wanted was to establish a more intimate relationship with him. That is exactly what she does, and he proposes to her. This shows a lack of regard for not only what marriage is supposed to be, but Elizabeth's family.
Quote 2:
'Marriage...was the only honourable provision for well-educated young women of small fortune, and however uncertain of giving happiness, must be their pleasantest preservative from want' (94).
This quote is very important because I feel that it is a very strong argument for what Mrs. Bennet is trying to convince her daughters of. In addition, this shows a relation between the character of Mrs. Bennet and Miss Bingley (which is ironic, because Mrs. Bennet now strongly dislikes her). Both have a shallow expectation of what marriage is supposed to be; they just see it as proper or advantageous, not a way to make yourself happy.
'Charlotte's kindness extended father than Elizabeth had any conception of;-its object was nothing less, than to secure her from any return of Mr.Collins's addresses, by engaging them towards herself' (Austen 93).
This quotation shows what Charlotte actually planned, compared to her previous statement. Charlotte told Elizabeth that she was just letting his talk because that's what he liked to do, but what she really wanted was to establish a more intimate relationship with him. That is exactly what she does, and he proposes to her. This shows a lack of regard for not only what marriage is supposed to be, but Elizabeth's family.
Quote 2:
'Marriage...was the only honourable provision for well-educated young women of small fortune, and however uncertain of giving happiness, must be their pleasantest preservative from want' (94).
This quote is very important because I feel that it is a very strong argument for what Mrs. Bennet is trying to convince her daughters of. In addition, this shows a relation between the character of Mrs. Bennet and Miss Bingley (which is ironic, because Mrs. Bennet now strongly dislikes her). Both have a shallow expectation of what marriage is supposed to be; they just see it as proper or advantageous, not a way to make yourself happy.
Pride&Prejudice Ch. 17-20
Quote 1:
'He has been so unlucky as to lose your friendship' [...] 'and in a manner which he is likely to suffer from all his life' (Austen 70).
This quote can be observed in several different ways to receive different bits of information. The first would be to see the verbal abuse Lizzy here dishes out to Mr. Darcy. From this, we can go into two more observations. One may be that Lizzy is so impacted by Mr. Wickham and his story, that she just lashed out at Darcy without any confirmation from himself or others. The second would be that this demonstrates that while she is very logical, Lizzy can be overtaken by emotions in a very negative way.
Quote 2:
'I have done with you from this very day- I told you in the library, you know, I should never speak to you again, and you will find me as good as my word. I have no pleasure in talking to undutiful daughters' (87).
This excerpt further characterizes Mrs. Bennet in the worse way. Not only does she finally reveal that selfish marriage was her motive, but she makes a complete antagonist of herself. She reveals that she is completely selfish, and driven towards moving up in life, rather than her daughter's happiness.
'He has been so unlucky as to lose your friendship' [...] 'and in a manner which he is likely to suffer from all his life' (Austen 70).
This quote can be observed in several different ways to receive different bits of information. The first would be to see the verbal abuse Lizzy here dishes out to Mr. Darcy. From this, we can go into two more observations. One may be that Lizzy is so impacted by Mr. Wickham and his story, that she just lashed out at Darcy without any confirmation from himself or others. The second would be that this demonstrates that while she is very logical, Lizzy can be overtaken by emotions in a very negative way.
Quote 2:
'I have done with you from this very day- I told you in the library, you know, I should never speak to you again, and you will find me as good as my word. I have no pleasure in talking to undutiful daughters' (87).
This excerpt further characterizes Mrs. Bennet in the worse way. Not only does she finally reveal that selfish marriage was her motive, but she makes a complete antagonist of herself. She reveals that she is completely selfish, and driven towards moving up in life, rather than her daughter's happiness.
Pride&Prejudice Ch. 11-16
Quote 1:
'Mr.Collins had only to change from Jane to Elizabeth- and it was soon done' (Austen 53).
I selected this quote to expand on the twisted idea demonstrated in this quote, and how the same idea is shown in another character. This line shows that Mr. Collins opinion on marriage is skewed from what the established belief is; Collins shows that he believes that marriage is more like a business transactions, it doesn't matter if it's pretty or you like it (but those can be perks), it has to be beneficial to both parties. Mr. Collins' idea practically overlaps with that of Mrs. Bennet's; she uses her daughters' ability to marry in order to have an opportunity to move up in society.
Quote 2:
'Elizabeth went away with her head full of him. She could think of nothing but of Mr. Wickham, and of what he had told her, all the way home' (64).
I selected this quote because I feel it is an important first-time for Elizabeth (at least as far as we can see). Up until this point in the novel, we see Lizzy with this lack of interest in male characters; she finds Mr. Darcy self-conceited, and Mr. Collins utterly ridiculous. Here we see the lasting impression Mr. Wickham left on Lizzy, and we are left wondering if this impression will last.
'Mr.Collins had only to change from Jane to Elizabeth- and it was soon done' (Austen 53).
I selected this quote to expand on the twisted idea demonstrated in this quote, and how the same idea is shown in another character. This line shows that Mr. Collins opinion on marriage is skewed from what the established belief is; Collins shows that he believes that marriage is more like a business transactions, it doesn't matter if it's pretty or you like it (but those can be perks), it has to be beneficial to both parties. Mr. Collins' idea practically overlaps with that of Mrs. Bennet's; she uses her daughters' ability to marry in order to have an opportunity to move up in society.
Quote 2:
'Elizabeth went away with her head full of him. She could think of nothing but of Mr. Wickham, and of what he had told her, all the way home' (64).
I selected this quote because I feel it is an important first-time for Elizabeth (at least as far as we can see). Up until this point in the novel, we see Lizzy with this lack of interest in male characters; she finds Mr. Darcy self-conceited, and Mr. Collins utterly ridiculous. Here we see the lasting impression Mr. Wickham left on Lizzy, and we are left wondering if this impression will last.
Pride&Prejudice Ch. 7-10
Quote 1:
Miss Bingley:'I have an excessive regard for Jane Bennet, she is really a very sweet girl, and I wish she were well settled. But with such a father and mother, and such low connections, I am afraid there is no chance of it'(Austen 26).
I chose this quote because I feel it demonstrated an important point, and that is "reputation means everything". Here Miss Bingley speaks to Mr. Darcy about the Bennets and how bourgeoisie they are to by proxy slander Jane. Her goal her is to snuff any flame for any of the Bennet ladies that may be growing in the heart of Mr. Darcy (which it is, for Lizzy).
Quote 2:
'Oh! certainly,' cried his faithful assistant, 'no one can be really esteemed accomplished, who does not greatly surpass what is usually met with. A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word; and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions, or the word will be but half deserved'(29).
I chose this quote because I felt it represented a theme that might become more prevalent as the novel goes on; this is the idea of an accomplished women. In this quote, we see an idealistic and perhaps far-fetched example of what an 'accomplished' woman would be capable of. To me, all of these things seem rather pedantic, like what a mother would tell her daughter to try and grow up to be. This prejudice (REFERENCES) could be important later on.
Miss Bingley:'I have an excessive regard for Jane Bennet, she is really a very sweet girl, and I wish she were well settled. But with such a father and mother, and such low connections, I am afraid there is no chance of it'(Austen 26).
I chose this quote because I feel it demonstrated an important point, and that is "reputation means everything". Here Miss Bingley speaks to Mr. Darcy about the Bennets and how bourgeoisie they are to by proxy slander Jane. Her goal her is to snuff any flame for any of the Bennet ladies that may be growing in the heart of Mr. Darcy (which it is, for Lizzy).
Quote 2:
'Oh! certainly,' cried his faithful assistant, 'no one can be really esteemed accomplished, who does not greatly surpass what is usually met with. A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word; and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions, or the word will be but half deserved'(29).
I chose this quote because I felt it represented a theme that might become more prevalent as the novel goes on; this is the idea of an accomplished women. In this quote, we see an idealistic and perhaps far-fetched example of what an 'accomplished' woman would be capable of. To me, all of these things seem rather pedantic, like what a mother would tell her daughter to try and grow up to be. This prejudice (REFERENCES) could be important later on.
Pride&Prejudice Ch. 1-6
Quote 1:
'If I can but see one of my daughters happily settled at Netherfield,' said Mrs. Bennet to her husband, 'and all the others equally well married, I shall have nothing to wish for,' (Austen 5).
I chose this quote because it strongly demonstrates the character of Mrs. Bennet. From this statement, we gather that she only wants to see her daughters married, without consideration as to whom, or what kind of life it would be for them . I get the sense that she will remain this way and be an utterly ridiculous character.
Quote 2:
'His pride,' said Miss Lucas, 'does not offend me so much as pride often does, because there is an excuse for it. One cannot wonder that so very fine a young man, with family, fortune, every thing in his favour, should think highly of himself. If I may so express it, he has a right to be proud'(13).
To begin with, I thought this quote would be important because it defines one of the terms of the title: pride. In the world of the novel, there is a twisted logic regarding pride, demonstrated by this quote. What Miss Lucas is saying is you are allowed to be proud if you deserve it, through wealth, looks, or status. Obviously, this is a flaw because whether someone deserves to be proud or not is purely subjective.
'If I can but see one of my daughters happily settled at Netherfield,' said Mrs. Bennet to her husband, 'and all the others equally well married, I shall have nothing to wish for,' (Austen 5).
I chose this quote because it strongly demonstrates the character of Mrs. Bennet. From this statement, we gather that she only wants to see her daughters married, without consideration as to whom, or what kind of life it would be for them . I get the sense that she will remain this way and be an utterly ridiculous character.
Quote 2:
'His pride,' said Miss Lucas, 'does not offend me so much as pride often does, because there is an excuse for it. One cannot wonder that so very fine a young man, with family, fortune, every thing in his favour, should think highly of himself. If I may so express it, he has a right to be proud'(13).
To begin with, I thought this quote would be important because it defines one of the terms of the title: pride. In the world of the novel, there is a twisted logic regarding pride, demonstrated by this quote. What Miss Lucas is saying is you are allowed to be proud if you deserve it, through wealth, looks, or status. Obviously, this is a flaw because whether someone deserves to be proud or not is purely subjective.
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