I have to confess that I more or less expected the ending. It was happy ending and we can say that the characters will live happily ever after. Although it is a little cliché I am not disappointed. Austen manages to make it interesting in my opinion. She does not make Bingly and Darcy go to the Bennet’s and express their love. Instead she adds mystery and drama for that time.
Lydia’s marriage was a scandal. She ran off with a man that was not her husband and then when she does marry him she feels like she’s better than everybody.
“Ah! Jane, I take your place now, and you must go lower, because I am a married woman”(235).
“I am sure my sisters must all envy me. I only hope they may have half my good luck” (236).
Then, we learn that Mr. Darcy is the one that finds Lydia and Wickham and was he that paid what Wickham owed so that they could marry. This not only gives us a clue that he loves Elizabeth but proves that Lydia and Wickham are good for nothing (mantenidos) and are always asking for money.
“Lydia was Lydia still; untamed, unabashed, wild , noisy, and fearless” (234).
“Nothing was to be done that he did not do himself” (241).
“They owed the restoration of Lydia, her character, everything to him”( 243).
Mr. Bingly returns from London and he goes along with Darcy to have dinner at the Bennet’s. After some time and other dinners he finally proposes and Jane was now engaged. Darcy continues to go but does not treat Elizabeth well. She gets frustrated and fears he might not love her anymore.
“He could still be amiable, still pleasing to my uncle and aunt when he was in town; and why not to me? If he fears me, why come him hither? If he no longer cares for me, why silent? Teasins, teasing man. I will think no more about him” (253).
They actually get the chance to talk. Elizabeth thanks him for what he has done concerning Lydia’s marriage. (This happened after the rumors of him proposing to her had reached her. And after Lady Catherine had been extremely rude to Elizabeth)
“If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on this subject forever. ” (274).
We know her feelings have changed and so they are now engaged. People do not believe her at first because she always showed hatred for him. Mr. Bennet was happy for her and Mrs. Bennet was delighted especially because of the money he had.
What seemed to be a simple love story gets complicated. After finishing the book I decided that my favorite topics are characters relationships, how they change throughout the novel. Especially Darcy and Elizabeth’s relationship since it is the one that most changes. If we consider most of the characters, the only ones that don’t change are Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. They still hold the same opinions and attitude from the begging of the novel. Jane and Elizabeth do not change in personality but do change in respect to their relationship. Miss. Bingly and Georgina are cordial to Elizabeth at the end of the novel and Lady Catherine learns to accept the marriage. Maria leaves the chase of officers and Kitty matures. Lydia stays the same but her change is of course her marriage. Austen gives a lot of importance to the characters in the book because they make up the story. And evaluating their behavior and relationships would be interesting. (Especially Darcy and Elizabeth and how they fall in love throughout the novel.)
domingo, 28 de noviembre de 2010
sábado, 27 de noviembre de 2010
Changes.
Relationships between Characters/ Character Change:
“And at that moment she felt that to be the mistress of Pemberley might be something” (181).
“Mrs. Reynolds’s respect for Elizabeth seemed to increase on this intimation of her knowing her master” (183).
“He was always the sweetest-tempered, most generous-hearted boy in the world ” (184).
“Some people call him proud but I am sure I never saw anything of it” (184).
“Their eyes instantly met, and the cheeks of each were over spread with the deepest blush’” (186).
“It is impossible that he should still love me” (189).
“His wish of introducing her sister was a compliment of the highest kind” (190).
“Miss Darcy was exceedingly proud; but the observation of every few minutes convinced her that she was only exceedingly shy” (193).
“All Elizabeth’s anger against him had been long done away; but had she still felt any, it could hardly have stood its ground against the un affected cordiality with which he expressed himself, on seeing her again ”. (193)
“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” (196).
“Miss Bingly was venting her feelings and criticism on Elizabeth’s person, behavior, and dress but Georgina would not join her. Her Brothers recommendation was enough to ensure her favor: his judgment could not err, and he had spoken in such terms of Elizabeth as too leave Georgina without the power of finding her otherwise than lovely and amiable. ” (200).
“ She (Lydia) had gone off to Scotland with one of his officers; to own the truth with Wickham” (202).
“Imprudent as a marriage between Wickham and our poor Lydia would be we are anxious to be assured it has taken place” (203).
“But she was convinced that Lydia had wanted only encouragement to attach herself to anybody” (207).
“All that i required of you to assure you daughter, by settlement, for equal share of five thousdand pounds…. To enter into and engagement of allowing her during your life one hundred pounds per annum” (224).
Characters continue to change and as they change so do relationships in the book. Elizabeth experiences regret when she learns how good-hearted Mr. Darcy really is. Lydia’s marriage is something unexpected that seems to be connected to many things. First, she is going to marry Wickham. Elizabeth and Jane now the truth about him and feel guilty for not having made that public. On the other hand Mrs. Bennet wants the marriage because he is and eligible man for her daughter. Mr. Bennet does not love the idea but prefers rather than a bad reputation. So, not only do relations between characters are involved but also pride and prejudice. They want Lydia to marry because they are afraid of what people might think of them. And as the novel approaches, Darcy and Elizabeth’s pride is put to a test. Who will give in? We don’t know if one them will, I suspect one them will do it, because we know they still love each other, know even more.
“And at that moment she felt that to be the mistress of Pemberley might be something” (181).
“Mrs. Reynolds’s respect for Elizabeth seemed to increase on this intimation of her knowing her master” (183).
“He was always the sweetest-tempered, most generous-hearted boy in the world ” (184).
“Some people call him proud but I am sure I never saw anything of it” (184).
“Their eyes instantly met, and the cheeks of each were over spread with the deepest blush’” (186).
“It is impossible that he should still love me” (189).
“His wish of introducing her sister was a compliment of the highest kind” (190).
“Miss Darcy was exceedingly proud; but the observation of every few minutes convinced her that she was only exceedingly shy” (193).
“All Elizabeth’s anger against him had been long done away; but had she still felt any, it could hardly have stood its ground against the un affected cordiality with which he expressed himself, on seeing her again ”. (193)
“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” (196).
“Miss Bingly was venting her feelings and criticism on Elizabeth’s person, behavior, and dress but Georgina would not join her. Her Brothers recommendation was enough to ensure her favor: his judgment could not err, and he had spoken in such terms of Elizabeth as too leave Georgina without the power of finding her otherwise than lovely and amiable. ” (200).
“ She (Lydia) had gone off to Scotland with one of his officers; to own the truth with Wickham” (202).
“Imprudent as a marriage between Wickham and our poor Lydia would be we are anxious to be assured it has taken place” (203).
“But she was convinced that Lydia had wanted only encouragement to attach herself to anybody” (207).
“All that i required of you to assure you daughter, by settlement, for equal share of five thousdand pounds…. To enter into and engagement of allowing her during your life one hundred pounds per annum” (224).
Characters continue to change and as they change so do relationships in the book. Elizabeth experiences regret when she learns how good-hearted Mr. Darcy really is. Lydia’s marriage is something unexpected that seems to be connected to many things. First, she is going to marry Wickham. Elizabeth and Jane now the truth about him and feel guilty for not having made that public. On the other hand Mrs. Bennet wants the marriage because he is and eligible man for her daughter. Mr. Bennet does not love the idea but prefers rather than a bad reputation. So, not only do relations between characters are involved but also pride and prejudice. They want Lydia to marry because they are afraid of what people might think of them. And as the novel approaches, Darcy and Elizabeth’s pride is put to a test. Who will give in? We don’t know if one them will, I suspect one them will do it, because we know they still love each other, know even more.
viernes, 26 de noviembre de 2010
Little Black Book.
I have already read fifty more pages of the novel since I last blogged. I mentioned some topics that recur in that novel that interest me. Character relations are my favorite and in these fifty pages many things happen that relate to it.
“My dear Eliza he must be in love with you, or he would never have called on us in this familiar way” (135).
“More than once did Elizabeth in her ramble within the park unexpectedly meet met Mr. Darcy. She felt all the perverseness of the mischance that should bring him where no else was brought ..” (136).
“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.” (142).
“What he told me was merely this: that he congratulated himself on having lately saved a friend from the inconveniences of a most imprudent marriage ” (139).
"He was the cause, his pride and caprice were the cause of all that Jane had suffered and still continued to suffer. He had ruined for awhile every hope of happiness for the most affectionate, generous heart in the world; and no one could say how lasting an evil he might have inflicted” (140).
“I had not been long in Hertfordshire before I saw, in common with others that Bingly preferred your eldest sister to any other young woman in the country” (147).
“Mr. Wickham was to the last so steady that in his will he particularly recommended it to me to promote his advancement in the best manner that his profession might allow, and if he took orders, desired that a valuable family living might be his as soon as it became vacant” (150).
“Her feelings as she read were scarcely to be defined” (153).
“Elizabeth had frequently unite with Jane in an endeavor to check the imprudence of Catherine and Lydia; but while they were supported by their mother’s indulgence what chance could there be of improvement?” (159).
“I am glad you are back, Lizzy” (165).
The quotes above show that everybody is involved with each other up to the point where they affect important decisions. The biggest shock of the fifty pages was Darcy’s declaration. Austen did give the reader some proof that there was attraction between them, but the reader never expects such a declaration. Those words spoken by Darcy are what reveal the “sneaky" connections of the novel. Because of the declaration and Elizabeth’s rejection comes the letter, where Darcy explains everything. He accepts he does not want Bingly to marry Jane and also the truth about Wickham. How he tried to take advantage of what the Darcies had done for him and how he planned to marry Georgina only for the money.
That letter is like a little black book that reveals the mischievous aspects of the novel and characters. All of them are involved in each other’s life and first impression change. Characters change and so do their feelings. As I said before these relationships are what trigger the novel.
“My dear Eliza he must be in love with you, or he would never have called on us in this familiar way” (135).
“More than once did Elizabeth in her ramble within the park unexpectedly meet met Mr. Darcy. She felt all the perverseness of the mischance that should bring him where no else was brought ..” (136).
“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.” (142).
“What he told me was merely this: that he congratulated himself on having lately saved a friend from the inconveniences of a most imprudent marriage ” (139).
"He was the cause, his pride and caprice were the cause of all that Jane had suffered and still continued to suffer. He had ruined for awhile every hope of happiness for the most affectionate, generous heart in the world; and no one could say how lasting an evil he might have inflicted” (140).
“I had not been long in Hertfordshire before I saw, in common with others that Bingly preferred your eldest sister to any other young woman in the country” (147).
“Mr. Wickham was to the last so steady that in his will he particularly recommended it to me to promote his advancement in the best manner that his profession might allow, and if he took orders, desired that a valuable family living might be his as soon as it became vacant” (150).
“Her feelings as she read were scarcely to be defined” (153).
“Elizabeth had frequently unite with Jane in an endeavor to check the imprudence of Catherine and Lydia; but while they were supported by their mother’s indulgence what chance could there be of improvement?” (159).
“I am glad you are back, Lizzy” (165).
The quotes above show that everybody is involved with each other up to the point where they affect important decisions. The biggest shock of the fifty pages was Darcy’s declaration. Austen did give the reader some proof that there was attraction between them, but the reader never expects such a declaration. Those words spoken by Darcy are what reveal the “sneaky" connections of the novel. Because of the declaration and Elizabeth’s rejection comes the letter, where Darcy explains everything. He accepts he does not want Bingly to marry Jane and also the truth about Wickham. How he tried to take advantage of what the Darcies had done for him and how he planned to marry Georgina only for the money.
That letter is like a little black book that reveals the mischievous aspects of the novel and characters. All of them are involved in each other’s life and first impression change. Characters change and so do their feelings. As I said before these relationships are what trigger the novel.
jueves, 25 de noviembre de 2010
Some Ideas.
From the moment we start reading we can guess the novel is going to be about pride and prejudice or at least something related to it. The novel is mainly a love story. It starts off with a mother of five daughters and how she wants them to marry well. That is the first clue that it will talk about love. Then Mr.Bingly comes up, another hint because he will probably marry one of the daughters. Austen gives us another clue when Mr.Darcy arises and the way he treats Elizabeth. When the Bennet sisters stay at Mr.Bingly’s house, Miss.Bingly gets jealous when she notices how Darcy looks at Elizabeth. That again, is Austen giving us another clue.
Besides love, there are other topics that recur in the novel, prejudice is one them. The whole novel is based on it and society in that time was to. What people thought about you was very important and that relates to social classes. We see the high society and the middle class and even if it is a broad topic it still affects some characters or situations in the novel. For example, at some point Jane does feel pressure when she receives a letter from Ms.Bingly saying that his brother had gone to London and was with Darcy’s sister. Mr. Collins is another example of this. He is an idiot and I don’t like him. The way he was so sure that Elizabeth would marry him and how he brags about Miss. De Bough, makes me think he just cares to be in the “V.I.P” list of the time.
Arranged marriages can be a datable topic. They don’t actually appear in the novel but that’s how it can be seen. Mrs.Bennet wants a wealthy man for their daughters and in some way chooses for them. Elizabeth’s aunts also tell her that she should not marry Mr. Wickham because he is not wealthy enough. I know that that’s how things were done back then. But comparing it with today’s society may be something interesting. Also, Elizabeth can be seen as a rebel, the one that goes against what is known as normal.
I love how Austen exposes the relationship between characters. And I think that would be really interesting to look at. Each of the five sisters is different and their mother acts differently with each of them. Jane and Elizabeth have a stronger bond between them than with the others. The way Jane and Bingly act compared to how Darcy and Elizabeth flirt with each other. The characters in my opinion are the essence of the novel. How they act and the way they are connected by some reason is what triggers novel. Because an act one characters does ends up affecting many if not all of them.
There can be many things to discuss about this novel. Those were just some ideas that interest me, especially the character one. Of course they can all change as I finish reading.
Besides love, there are other topics that recur in the novel, prejudice is one them. The whole novel is based on it and society in that time was to. What people thought about you was very important and that relates to social classes. We see the high society and the middle class and even if it is a broad topic it still affects some characters or situations in the novel. For example, at some point Jane does feel pressure when she receives a letter from Ms.Bingly saying that his brother had gone to London and was with Darcy’s sister. Mr. Collins is another example of this. He is an idiot and I don’t like him. The way he was so sure that Elizabeth would marry him and how he brags about Miss. De Bough, makes me think he just cares to be in the “V.I.P” list of the time.
Arranged marriages can be a datable topic. They don’t actually appear in the novel but that’s how it can be seen. Mrs.Bennet wants a wealthy man for their daughters and in some way chooses for them. Elizabeth’s aunts also tell her that she should not marry Mr. Wickham because he is not wealthy enough. I know that that’s how things were done back then. But comparing it with today’s society may be something interesting. Also, Elizabeth can be seen as a rebel, the one that goes against what is known as normal.
I love how Austen exposes the relationship between characters. And I think that would be really interesting to look at. Each of the five sisters is different and their mother acts differently with each of them. Jane and Elizabeth have a stronger bond between them than with the others. The way Jane and Bingly act compared to how Darcy and Elizabeth flirt with each other. The characters in my opinion are the essence of the novel. How they act and the way they are connected by some reason is what triggers novel. Because an act one characters does ends up affecting many if not all of them.
There can be many things to discuss about this novel. Those were just some ideas that interest me, especially the character one. Of course they can all change as I finish reading.
domingo, 21 de noviembre de 2010
Words To Know.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
1. Incumbent: imposed as an obligation or duty.
2. Barbarously: lacking refinement or culture.
3.Abhorrence: one that is disgusting, loathsome, or repellent.
4. Encroaching: to take another's possesions gradually or stealthily.
5.Pompous: excessive self-esteem or exagerated dignity.
6.Transient: pssing with time, transitory.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
1. Incumbent: imposed as an obligation or duty.
2. Barbarously: lacking refinement or culture.
3.Abhorrence: one that is disgusting, loathsome, or repellent.
4. Encroaching: to take another's possesions gradually or stealthily.
5.Pompous: excessive self-esteem or exagerated dignity.
6.Transient: pssing with time, transitory.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/
Wrong Choice.
One of the best things Jane Austen does with her novel is describe the characters. From her description the reader gets the perfect image of their personality and even how they would appear physically. Being that the novel is based on relationships, the character’s description is crucial. From this depends whether the reader will fully understand the relationship. If the author does not manage to bring the character to life the relationship will not make as much sense because they character’s personality guides the relationship and how they react with the different characters in the novel.
Compared to the books I have read in the past, with this one I actually feel like I know the characters. When I read I picture the movie in my mind I have my personal image of each character. I have found that this is easier with movie. First because you actually see the character and second because they are physically similar to their personality. With Pride and Prejudice this was the case. As I watched the movie, the characters appeared just as I had pictured them. The three younger sisters, Kitty, Lydia, and Mary act foolish, jumpy and silly just like in the book. Mr. Darcy’s entrance in the ball was perfect, with his chin up looking at everyone as if he were saying he was better. Jane is very beautiful just like in the book and when she is talking with Mr. Bingly her sweetness is reflected. Kiera Knightly plays an excellent Elizabeth Bennet. Not only is she physically different from the other four sisters, but they way she talks to Mr. Darcy is the same as Austen puts it. So far I was pleased with the movie.
But I must say that the director made a mistake. The book describes Mr.Bingly as “good looking and gentlemanlike; he had a pleasant countenance, and easy unaffected manners” (6). I imagined him almost like Mr. Darcy only tenderer. Instead the movie portrays him as the complete opposite. He has the look of a silly kid always with an annoying smile. And every time he said something it was foolish or was making really bad jokes. What a shame. It would have been a perfect movie, almost like the book but Bingly’s character messes it up.
I must admit I did not watch the whole movie so he may change at the end but I really doubt it.
Compared to the books I have read in the past, with this one I actually feel like I know the characters. When I read I picture the movie in my mind I have my personal image of each character. I have found that this is easier with movie. First because you actually see the character and second because they are physically similar to their personality. With Pride and Prejudice this was the case. As I watched the movie, the characters appeared just as I had pictured them. The three younger sisters, Kitty, Lydia, and Mary act foolish, jumpy and silly just like in the book. Mr. Darcy’s entrance in the ball was perfect, with his chin up looking at everyone as if he were saying he was better. Jane is very beautiful just like in the book and when she is talking with Mr. Bingly her sweetness is reflected. Kiera Knightly plays an excellent Elizabeth Bennet. Not only is she physically different from the other four sisters, but they way she talks to Mr. Darcy is the same as Austen puts it. So far I was pleased with the movie.
But I must say that the director made a mistake. The book describes Mr.Bingly as “good looking and gentlemanlike; he had a pleasant countenance, and easy unaffected manners” (6). I imagined him almost like Mr. Darcy only tenderer. Instead the movie portrays him as the complete opposite. He has the look of a silly kid always with an annoying smile. And every time he said something it was foolish or was making really bad jokes. What a shame. It would have been a perfect movie, almost like the book but Bingly’s character messes it up.
I must admit I did not watch the whole movie so he may change at the end but I really doubt it.
"The Woman" (Of Pride and Prejudice)
Yesterday I saw a movie called The Women. It lasted about two hours and not once did a man appear. The movie tells the story about four friends and the whole point is that they represent the different women that we see today (well most of them). It doesn’t generalize about all women because they are all rich and live in New York. So it’s the typical story of woman that go everyday to Saks fifth avenue to get their nails done and their calendars are full of social events so they feel they actually do something with their lives.
One of the four friends is a successful business woman that practically lives in her office. Another one represents the modern liberal woman, she is a lesbian. The third one would be the “normal” woman, she is a married stay at home mom. And the last one can also be considered normal, with the so called ideal life. Also married with a daughter and a rich husband, the only flaw is that he cheats on her and she is in denial that her marriage is not perfect. There is a fifth woman, one that always exists. She is the mistress also known as the gold digger. As the movie happens the three friends try to discover who that mistress is and the one who is being cheated on discovers her husband is having an affair so she dumps him. While they do this, the viewer gets the idea of how each of these women lives and what her priorities are.
Jane Austen does this in a similar way. Even though this is not the main theme of the novel it is present. Each woman that appears in the novel represents a stereotype of a woman. Elizabeth can be seen as the liberal one. She disagrees with her mother and is a “rational creature speaking the truth from her heart” (83). Jane is the typical one from her time. Beautiful and intends to find a husband that will give her a good life. She does things the way they are supposed to be done. Lydia and Mary are the foolish ones. The ones that today would not care about anything g but the image that they have a perfect marriage.
Without a doubt the woman that we see today are really different from the ones in the book, still one can relate and see that although times have changes, those differences still exist. In every case there is the easy woman. I thought I would not find one the novel because of the time period but I was wrong. Mr. Collins asks Elizabeth to marry her and she says no, that was obviously expected but then we learn he proposes to Charlotte (Elizabeth’s best friend) and she accepts. Having known Mr. Collins for only a few days and accepting his offer only for “the pure and disinterested desire of an establishment” (93) Charlotte may be seem like the easy woman on the novel. Yes, all of the women except Elizabeth marry which ever man that can give them a good life but at least they worry about liking him a little. Just like spending the rich man’s money was the whole point for the gold digger in the movie, “marriage had always been her (Charlottes) object; it was the only honorable provision for well-educated young women of small fortune” (93). She did not care about the man, just about being married so she is easy because then she would marry which ever man that would have proposed the idea to her only because getting married was something that should be done.
jueves, 18 de noviembre de 2010
I Smell Trouble.
Pride and Prejudice is a typical love story. If we don’t consider that it talks about a different society and people live according to different “rules”, it still narrates the relationship between characters and flirting is abundant during the novel. As any love story there are two characters that stand out more, in this case we know those are Miss Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy. From the beginning of the novel we know this. She is, of the five sisters the one that has the worst relationship with her mother and is thought to be a “headstrong foolish and girl” by her (84). That makes her different to her sisters that always follow the rules and live the way their mother wants them to live. Mr. Darcy is introduced as “the proudest most disagreeable man in the world” (6). They stand out from the rest of the people that seem to be normal for the society.
The first encounter between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth is at the ball. She was the only girl not dancing and before Darcy and her even spoke a word she had insulted her indirectly saying there was no “another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with” (7). From this moment I noticed a sense of attraction from Elizabeth. Even though he was rude, there was something about him that called her attention. When Elizabeth and Jane stay at the Bingly’s place for a few days attraction between these two also appears. Even Miss. Bingly noticed it and wanted Elizabeth to leave because she “suspected enough to be jealous” (38).
There has not come a point in the novel yet where the characters accept they like each other. But Austen does give us hints that there is some attraction. So it would be perfect, a perfect love story. Jane would marry Mr. Bingly and eventually Darcy and Elizabeth would end up together. That was what I thought until Mr. Wickham appeared and caught Elizabeth’s eye. It would still be a love story but a more complicated one. I think that Wickham and Darcy will fight for Elizabeth and she would have to choose one of them. To make it more interesting, Austen makes them hate each other, and before we actually know their whole story she gives us hint. They were in town, the sisters were with Wickham and his friend Mr. Denny and when they see Darcy “Mr. Wickham after a few moments touched his hat-a salutation to which Mr. Darcy just deigned to return” (55). I guess Mr. Darcy has a right to hate him. His father did prefer Wickham over him. But since Lizzy does seem to like both characters I smell a problem will arise.
The first encounter between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth is at the ball. She was the only girl not dancing and before Darcy and her even spoke a word she had insulted her indirectly saying there was no “another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with” (7). From this moment I noticed a sense of attraction from Elizabeth. Even though he was rude, there was something about him that called her attention. When Elizabeth and Jane stay at the Bingly’s place for a few days attraction between these two also appears. Even Miss. Bingly noticed it and wanted Elizabeth to leave because she “suspected enough to be jealous” (38).
There has not come a point in the novel yet where the characters accept they like each other. But Austen does give us hints that there is some attraction. So it would be perfect, a perfect love story. Jane would marry Mr. Bingly and eventually Darcy and Elizabeth would end up together. That was what I thought until Mr. Wickham appeared and caught Elizabeth’s eye. It would still be a love story but a more complicated one. I think that Wickham and Darcy will fight for Elizabeth and she would have to choose one of them. To make it more interesting, Austen makes them hate each other, and before we actually know their whole story she gives us hint. They were in town, the sisters were with Wickham and his friend Mr. Denny and when they see Darcy “Mr. Wickham after a few moments touched his hat-a salutation to which Mr. Darcy just deigned to return” (55). I guess Mr. Darcy has a right to hate him. His father did prefer Wickham over him. But since Lizzy does seem to like both characters I smell a problem will arise.
martes, 16 de noviembre de 2010
He's Mine.
On Sunday I was watching a novela. A typical Colombian story, where the man falls in love with the woman he is not supposed. There were two wealthy families one of them had a son and the other a daughter who obviously was madly in love with the son. And wanted to marry him just because he was “ Mr.Right”. One day he goes to the girl’s house and falls in love with the maid that worked there. As the story continued, he visited the house very often and the lady stared to realize that he was not there to see her but the maid.
The situations are different. In Pride and Prejudice there is no maid, still I could not help but relate it with the book. In the beginning of the novel Darcy shows no interest for Elizabeth in fact he says that she is “tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt me” (7). But as the novel continues he is attracted by her beauty and attitude until the point where “she attracted him more than he liked” (44). Miss Bingly is very confident that she is better and Elizabeth and always tries to impress Mr.Darcy. Until she realizes that he’s not interested in her and saw he was interested in Elizabeth. She “suspected enough to be jealous”(38.)
Then it hit me, both situations are alike because of jealously. In both cases there is one woman that think she’s better than the other but the man ends up falling for the “less” one. Jealously is present in most love stories. It is more like the chase for the man and the competition between the women to see which one can get him. Even though Austen wrote this novel about 200 years there are some aspects that although differently happened in that time period but also in this one. If you think about it jealously is present in our every day lives. And what it really becomes is a competition to see who can get the prize.
lunes, 15 de noviembre de 2010
Gotta Love Mommy.
Mrs. Bennet. The mother of five daughters from the beginning of the novels expresses her urge in wanting her daughters to marry well. From the moment she hears about Mr. Bingly she tells her husband that’s a “fine thing for our girls” (1). It is understandable that after having raised them she seeks a good life for them with someone wealthy. Still I see her a little intense. There are examples from the book that prove this:
When Jane receives the letter from Miss.Bingly inviting to her house, she says that Jane can’t go in the carriage and “had better go on horseback, because it seems likely to rain and then you must stay all night.” (22)
She gets lucky and it rains. Because of the rain Jane gets sick and must stay there until she gets better. Mrs. Bennet does not seem to care very much that her daughter is sick instead she thinks that “as long as she stays there, it is all very well.” (23)
Desperate to leave, Elizabeth asks her mother for the carriage and she tells them that “they could not possibly have the carriage before Tuesday” (44). As another resort, Elizabeth begs Jane to ask Mr. Bingly for his carriage. He lends it to them and the girls “were not received home very cordially by their mother”(45) because they did not stay as long as she wanted.
Up to now in the book there have been no fights between the mother and the girls because of her intensity. Perhaps the girls know the she does this for their own good. Or that that’s normal for a mother. Considering that the novel was written about 200 years ago we can’t compare it to a modern situation but it does serves as an example to see how times have changed. Now days, you never see a mother choosing a husband for her daughter. Sure she might give her opinion or be in disagreement but still it is not her decision. In a hidden way, this book alludes to arranged marriages because even if it seems normal that Mrs.Bennet chooses for her daughters and they agree with it, the girls don’t choose. I think they are raised with the mentality that that is how it’s supposed to be or at least the book puts it that way.
I am against arranged marriages. We should be able to choose who we want to be with and if we choose learn, face it and learn from it. Still it could be soon the other way, which they choose for us because they want what’s best for us. In this book this is the case and also the time period. But my point is that even if Mrs.Bennet and mothers in general are intense we love them.
When Jane receives the letter from Miss.Bingly inviting to her house, she says that Jane can’t go in the carriage and “had better go on horseback, because it seems likely to rain and then you must stay all night.” (22)
She gets lucky and it rains. Because of the rain Jane gets sick and must stay there until she gets better. Mrs. Bennet does not seem to care very much that her daughter is sick instead she thinks that “as long as she stays there, it is all very well.” (23)
Desperate to leave, Elizabeth asks her mother for the carriage and she tells them that “they could not possibly have the carriage before Tuesday” (44). As another resort, Elizabeth begs Jane to ask Mr. Bingly for his carriage. He lends it to them and the girls “were not received home very cordially by their mother”(45) because they did not stay as long as she wanted.
Up to now in the book there have been no fights between the mother and the girls because of her intensity. Perhaps the girls know the she does this for their own good. Or that that’s normal for a mother. Considering that the novel was written about 200 years ago we can’t compare it to a modern situation but it does serves as an example to see how times have changed. Now days, you never see a mother choosing a husband for her daughter. Sure she might give her opinion or be in disagreement but still it is not her decision. In a hidden way, this book alludes to arranged marriages because even if it seems normal that Mrs.Bennet chooses for her daughters and they agree with it, the girls don’t choose. I think they are raised with the mentality that that is how it’s supposed to be or at least the book puts it that way.
I am against arranged marriages. We should be able to choose who we want to be with and if we choose learn, face it and learn from it. Still it could be soon the other way, which they choose for us because they want what’s best for us. In this book this is the case and also the time period. But my point is that even if Mrs.Bennet and mothers in general are intense we love them.
sábado, 13 de noviembre de 2010
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
1. vouchsafed:to condescend, to grant or bestow. A privalege.
2.inquitous:lack of justice or a wicked act.
3.laconic:concise
4.panegyric:a lofty creation or writing in praise of a person or thing. A eulogy.
5.intrepidity: fearless.
6.self-complacency: pleased with oneself.
7.supercilious: haughtily disdainful or contemptouos, as a person or facil expression.
thefreedictionary.com
dictionary.com
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
1. vouchsafed:to condescend, to grant or bestow. A privalege.
2.inquitous:lack of justice or a wicked act.
3.laconic:concise
4.panegyric:a lofty creation or writing in praise of a person or thing. A eulogy.
5.intrepidity: fearless.
6.self-complacency: pleased with oneself.
7.supercilious: haughtily disdainful or contemptouos, as a person or facil expression.
thefreedictionary.com
dictionary.com
miércoles, 10 de noviembre de 2010
Your Pride Hurt Mine.
There are two different types of pride. One is more a personality or defines a person’s character like his ego. The other one is a positive feeling of accomplishment. In the first chapters of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice we encounter different characters and two of them caught my attention because they happen to fall into a situation where both sense of pride are reflected.
The novel begins with the Bennet’s, a family of five sisters and the want their mother has for them to marry a wealthy man. Mr. Bingly appears as a suitable man for one of the daughters and as a meeting with him is established Darcy appears. A good friend of Bingly and was the “proudest, most disagreeable man in the world” (7). They were all at the ball and Elizabeth one of the sisters was not dancing instead she heard a conversation between the two friends where Mr. Darcy showed all his pride. When Bingly told him to dance he answered that there “is not another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with”(7). If I were Elizabeth, a woman at the ball not dancing at the moment I would not want to ever see Darcy again regardless of how handsome he was.
Pride is reflected in the example above. Clearly there is no one that thinks higher of himself than Darcy and there is nothing wrong with being proud if you know how to manage it. Up to know from what I have read I know he has friends and most people think highly of him until they meet him. But it depends on who that person is because Darcy chooses how to act with each person depending if they are good enough for him or not. So basically depending who are, and your social status depends whether Mr. Darcy’s pride will affect you or not, because he will judge you or not. And Elizabeth could have “forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine” (13).
The novel begins with the Bennet’s, a family of five sisters and the want their mother has for them to marry a wealthy man. Mr. Bingly appears as a suitable man for one of the daughters and as a meeting with him is established Darcy appears. A good friend of Bingly and was the “proudest, most disagreeable man in the world” (7). They were all at the ball and Elizabeth one of the sisters was not dancing instead she heard a conversation between the two friends where Mr. Darcy showed all his pride. When Bingly told him to dance he answered that there “is not another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with”(7). If I were Elizabeth, a woman at the ball not dancing at the moment I would not want to ever see Darcy again regardless of how handsome he was.
Pride is reflected in the example above. Clearly there is no one that thinks higher of himself than Darcy and there is nothing wrong with being proud if you know how to manage it. Up to know from what I have read I know he has friends and most people think highly of him until they meet him. But it depends on who that person is because Darcy chooses how to act with each person depending if they are good enough for him or not. So basically depending who are, and your social status depends whether Mr. Darcy’s pride will affect you or not, because he will judge you or not. And Elizabeth could have “forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine” (13).
martes, 2 de noviembre de 2010
A Vicious Circle.
Besides everything else, Hamlet is a story about revenge. Since the moment that Hamlet knows that his father was killed by his uncle he plans a way to revenge his father’s death. Looking into other details we find that is not the only revenge situation there is. When Hamlet kills Polonius, Laertes also seeks for revenge. Hamlet even kills Rosencrantz and Guildenstern for betraying him and helping the king. So there is revenge all around. But when the play actually ends the revenge situation that appears at the beginning does not make sense. Yes Claudius dies, Hamlet makes him drink the poisoned cup and cuts him with the poisoned dagger. But Gertrude and Leartes also die and Hamlet dies too. So Hamlet gets his revenge, but why did he die? And why did the others die as well when the only one that “should” have dies was Claudius. Maybe it’s was a way of showing that everyone that kills dies, again showing revenge.
All humans seek revenge when something bad is done to us. I think its natural and we try to cover it up with the excuse that justice is being served. Hamlet’s actions fit this situation perfectly. His uncle killed his father so it seems fairs that he would kill him. But then Hamlet is also killed because of revenge. One may argue that that is unfair but then that goes back to the same point. Revenge is like vicious circle that does not end, because there is always going to be a reason to in this case, kill someone else. If we were to consider this situation now days, Hamlets actions would not be tolerated and he would have committed the crime and suffer the consequences as well as his uncle. It would not be ok just because the person he killed had killed his father.
That is one thing that Shakespeare wanted to prove with the ending of the play or at least that is one thing I understood from it. Revenge is what triggers the play and most of the characters in it, because we believe that revenge is the same as justice when it is not. Even Shakespeare try to prove this when Laertes says “he is justly served”(Act. V S. II. 348) when the king dies. And that is why every one dies in the end. Because revenge does not leave anything good and because Shakespeare had to put an end to the circle that was created at the beginning. Even Gertrude dies and she did not do anything wrong because if she was left alive she could have wanted to seek revenge of Hamlet for killing Claudius or of Claudius for killing her son. The only one that is left alive is Horatio “to tell my (Hamlet’s) story”. We can all learn that revenge is not the answer.
All humans seek revenge when something bad is done to us. I think its natural and we try to cover it up with the excuse that justice is being served. Hamlet’s actions fit this situation perfectly. His uncle killed his father so it seems fairs that he would kill him. But then Hamlet is also killed because of revenge. One may argue that that is unfair but then that goes back to the same point. Revenge is like vicious circle that does not end, because there is always going to be a reason to in this case, kill someone else. If we were to consider this situation now days, Hamlets actions would not be tolerated and he would have committed the crime and suffer the consequences as well as his uncle. It would not be ok just because the person he killed had killed his father.
That is one thing that Shakespeare wanted to prove with the ending of the play or at least that is one thing I understood from it. Revenge is what triggers the play and most of the characters in it, because we believe that revenge is the same as justice when it is not. Even Shakespeare try to prove this when Laertes says “he is justly served”(Act. V S. II. 348) when the king dies. And that is why every one dies in the end. Because revenge does not leave anything good and because Shakespeare had to put an end to the circle that was created at the beginning. Even Gertrude dies and she did not do anything wrong because if she was left alive she could have wanted to seek revenge of Hamlet for killing Claudius or of Claudius for killing her son. The only one that is left alive is Horatio “to tell my (Hamlet’s) story”. We can all learn that revenge is not the answer.
Suscribirse a:
Comentarios (Atom)