“That the wish of giving happiness to you might add force to the other inducements which led me on, I shall not attempt to deny. But your family owe me nothing. Much as I respect them, I believe, I thought only of you… If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me forever.” (305)
It’s amazing to see how the story of one man’s love for the woman of his dreams or one woman’s fantasies for the love of the man of her dreams fails to change while apparent changes are seen through the passing of time and the coming of new generations. I suppose that this may be the reason why such a film as Pride and Prejudice and such a proposal as this second one by Mr. Darcy could capture the hearts of so many young women in our day. In this single event, Mr. Darcy presents to Elizabeth his gallantry through the chivalrous and courageous manner of his service towards her, his earnestness by committing such acts of service toward the sole fulfillment of his love’s happiness, his determination by proposing his feelings for his love a second time after rejection, and his honor through the promise to respect and accept Elizabeth’s decision with all his heart. Mr. Darcy was by no means presented as a perfect character or as the ideal man that every woman needs in her life, but the process by which Mr. Darcy learned to overcome himself in order to stand up to love now seems to call upon each individual to follow in his steps of searching, finding, and loving love.
7 March 2007
27 February 2007
21 February 2007
LETTERS - Pride and Prejudice
My dearest Jane,
How it hurts me in the deepest places of my heart to watch you suffer, ache, and long for the love you believe to have lost. My sister, I have stood by you and watched the courses and turns you have taken all throughout the lives we have led together thus far. I cannot deny seeing that the charming Mr. Bingley has taken a place in your heart that no man ever even touched before. However, if there is something that hurts me more than knowing that the emptiness remaining in place of your love is one I cannot dare to fill, it is that I have kept from you the whole truth about Mr. Bingley’s departure from Netherfield.
For all this time that has passed since the wintery season, you and I seem to have been mistaken of the reasons for which we now remain without Mr. Bingley in our midst. The author of the same letter that revealed to me the true character of Mr. Darcy also confessed that he himself had removed his friend away from what was believed to be unreturned love. I pray that you know, my dear Jane, the motives of these men were entirely honest despite their falsehood. The blame for this muddle, therefore, is not to be cast on any single individual – not even those in our beloved family who may have exerted forces of a repulsive nature upon others including Mr. Darcy himself. Regardless, I beg you, take heart, courage, and strength, for truly you must not feel so about yourself either. My dear sister, I now arrive at the end of my own letter, and only a prayer remains that you rather arrive at a brighter sense of hope from all that I have told you.
Truly yours, Lizzy
20 February 2007
WRITER’S CRAFT (irony) – What values are communicated through the irony of Mr. Collin’s failed proposal in Pride and Prejudice?
“I am not now to learn… that it is usual with young ladies to reject the addresses of the man whom they secretly mean to accept... I am therefore by no means discouraged by what you have just said, and shall hope to lead you to the altar ere long.” (93)
I remember to have thoroughly enjoyed this scene from the 2005 film version of Pride and Prejudice, starring Keira Knightley and Tom Hollander. The portrayal of such differences between men and women seems to be so ironic yet so true. Prior to his humiliating display, Mr. Collins had made clear his intentions of finding a wife in Longbourn. To this, Mrs. Bennet responded by encouraging the elopement between him and her second daughter Elizabeth, who in her eyes seemed to be least likely to find favor in other men.
As matters thus unfold, the reader as well as the characters themselves can anticipate the critical irony that would be presented by Mr. Collins’ pathetic proposal and Elizabeth’s unrestrained refusal. By Austen’s literary artistry, the societal expectations of female modesty and docility are set at odds with Elizabeth’s individual character. Mr. Collins’ efforts are then, furthermore, exacerbated by his mistaken assumption of Elizabeth’s rejection as a distorted expression of the truth and his determination to fulfill the ideal role of a gallant man in persistent search for love. The incident (or maybe “accident”) seems to be the perfect portrayal of the difficulties involved in the values that society sets on the role of men and women.
How can a character be so annoying yet so amusing? I do believe Mr. Collins to have become an irresistible favorite of mine.
I remember to have thoroughly enjoyed this scene from the 2005 film version of Pride and Prejudice, starring Keira Knightley and Tom Hollander. The portrayal of such differences between men and women seems to be so ironic yet so true. Prior to his humiliating display, Mr. Collins had made clear his intentions of finding a wife in Longbourn. To this, Mrs. Bennet responded by encouraging the elopement between him and her second daughter Elizabeth, who in her eyes seemed to be least likely to find favor in other men.
As matters thus unfold, the reader as well as the characters themselves can anticipate the critical irony that would be presented by Mr. Collins’ pathetic proposal and Elizabeth’s unrestrained refusal. By Austen’s literary artistry, the societal expectations of female modesty and docility are set at odds with Elizabeth’s individual character. Mr. Collins’ efforts are then, furthermore, exacerbated by his mistaken assumption of Elizabeth’s rejection as a distorted expression of the truth and his determination to fulfill the ideal role of a gallant man in persistent search for love. The incident (or maybe “accident”) seems to be the perfect portrayal of the difficulties involved in the values that society sets on the role of men and women.
How can a character be so annoying yet so amusing? I do believe Mr. Collins to have become an irresistible favorite of mine.
WRITER’S CRAFT (hyperbole) – To what extent is Mr. Collin’s character an expression of the stereotypical middle class in Pride and Prejudice?
Mr. Collins, who is cousin to the Bennet daughters, is first noted in the novel in context of the family arrangement by which he was to inherit the Longbourn estate. As a clergyman with the most peculiar personality, Mr. Collins is clearly not well-bred, but he expresses extreme haughtiness by taking pride in his patroness Lady Catherine de Bourgh. More clearly stated, this Mr. Collins appears to substitute his own lack of nobility with the prolific praise of his acquaintances of the upper class in an exaggerated way that illustrates the typical attitudes of the middle class in society.
“You may imagine that I am happy on every occasion to offer those little delicate compliments which are always acceptable to ladies… These are the kind of little things which please her ladyship, and it is a sort of attention which I conceive myself peculiarly bound to pay.” (59)
Every moment of silence or prompt to speak is taken up by Mr. Collins as an opportunity to praise Lady Catherine de Bourgh. From her beauty to her luxury, her activeness to her composure, her pride to her condescension, it is essentially impossible for anything in relation to Lady Catherine de Bourgh to be wrong, and Mr. Collins thus does not cease to talk about her. What seems most disturbing, however, is that part of Mr. Collins’ qualifications for Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s patronage seems to be the mere ability to flatter this patroness, regardless of the content or significance of his praise. Unfortunately, from the reader’s perspective, this incessant flattery seems rather to reverse and degrade the value of Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s noble status as a result.
“You may imagine that I am happy on every occasion to offer those little delicate compliments which are always acceptable to ladies… These are the kind of little things which please her ladyship, and it is a sort of attention which I conceive myself peculiarly bound to pay.” (59)
Every moment of silence or prompt to speak is taken up by Mr. Collins as an opportunity to praise Lady Catherine de Bourgh. From her beauty to her luxury, her activeness to her composure, her pride to her condescension, it is essentially impossible for anything in relation to Lady Catherine de Bourgh to be wrong, and Mr. Collins thus does not cease to talk about her. What seems most disturbing, however, is that part of Mr. Collins’ qualifications for Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s patronage seems to be the mere ability to flatter this patroness, regardless of the content or significance of his praise. Unfortunately, from the reader’s perspective, this incessant flattery seems rather to reverse and degrade the value of Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s noble status as a result.
13 February 2007
PERSONAL - Pride and Prejudice
"There are very few of us who have heart enough to be really in love without encouragement... Bingley likes your sister undoubtedly; but he may never do more than like her, if she does not help him on." (20)
Along the same lines as this quote spoken by Miss Charlotte Lucas during her witty and practical conversation with Elizabeth Bennet, I feel a personal connection of understanding with Jane Bennet, who apparently has difficulties in aptly expressing herself and her emotions to others. In the novel, Jane Bennet is a rather reserved character whom most other characters do not personally understand or even mistaken for being unaffectionate. But this is, of course, with the exception of the deepest understanding of Jane by her younger and closest sister, Elizabeth. Much like Jane Bennet, I also find that my thoughts and feelings are often misunderstood due to my reserved tendencies. Especially as of senior year, many of my friends have approached me and asked me to “open myself up” to them. Some addressed my problem as a lack of consideration for those friends who need and are strengthened by explicit expressions of trust for one another. Others have posed that my biggest problem is my temperament in and of itself, and that it would be better for me and those around me if I were to try to be more directly expressive. At present, I do not have the right answer or best solution to such problems, but I do know of and am thankful for my own “Elizabeths” whom I have found to understand me in spite of my quiet responses to their brilliant friendship.
Along the same lines as this quote spoken by Miss Charlotte Lucas during her witty and practical conversation with Elizabeth Bennet, I feel a personal connection of understanding with Jane Bennet, who apparently has difficulties in aptly expressing herself and her emotions to others. In the novel, Jane Bennet is a rather reserved character whom most other characters do not personally understand or even mistaken for being unaffectionate. But this is, of course, with the exception of the deepest understanding of Jane by her younger and closest sister, Elizabeth. Much like Jane Bennet, I also find that my thoughts and feelings are often misunderstood due to my reserved tendencies. Especially as of senior year, many of my friends have approached me and asked me to “open myself up” to them. Some addressed my problem as a lack of consideration for those friends who need and are strengthened by explicit expressions of trust for one another. Others have posed that my biggest problem is my temperament in and of itself, and that it would be better for me and those around me if I were to try to be more directly expressive. At present, I do not have the right answer or best solution to such problems, but I do know of and am thankful for my own “Elizabeths” whom I have found to understand me in spite of my quiet responses to their brilliant friendship.
12 February 2007
FIVE-STAR QUOTE - Pride and Prejudice
"Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously... Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us." (19)
This quote is spoken by Mary, who is known to be the "most accomplished girl in the neighborhood” and who is most probably a reliable speaker in the novel. Although it is somewhat of a spontaneous response to the Bennets’ criticism of the prideful Mr. Darcy, the quote struck me as a profound statement and a potentially significant concept for the future course of the plot as well.
In the context of personal and social relationships, vanity and pride seem to be wrongly manifested in similar ways. A person who appears to be overtly conscious and concerned of his/her own image may seem both prideful and vain. However, while a vain person, in the essence of the word, may be swayed easily by the trends of his/her surroundings, a person of moderate pride may rather learn to define and guard his/her own identity in a sincere manner.
Having understood pride and vanity from these two different points of view, it would thus be understandable that the prideful Mr. Darcy, in fact, turns out to be a respectable man of honor and integrity. Furthermore, I believe that I would find it ideal as a reader to see such a man give his heart and love to the also prideful Miss Elizabeth Bennet, a spirited young woman with personality and character.
This quote is spoken by Mary, who is known to be the "most accomplished girl in the neighborhood” and who is most probably a reliable speaker in the novel. Although it is somewhat of a spontaneous response to the Bennets’ criticism of the prideful Mr. Darcy, the quote struck me as a profound statement and a potentially significant concept for the future course of the plot as well.
In the context of personal and social relationships, vanity and pride seem to be wrongly manifested in similar ways. A person who appears to be overtly conscious and concerned of his/her own image may seem both prideful and vain. However, while a vain person, in the essence of the word, may be swayed easily by the trends of his/her surroundings, a person of moderate pride may rather learn to define and guard his/her own identity in a sincere manner.
Having understood pride and vanity from these two different points of view, it would thus be understandable that the prideful Mr. Darcy, in fact, turns out to be a respectable man of honor and integrity. Furthermore, I believe that I would find it ideal as a reader to see such a man give his heart and love to the also prideful Miss Elizabeth Bennet, a spirited young woman with personality and character.
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