Pride and Prejudice Part 2
through vol 2, ch. 11
Well, gentle readers, we’ve made it to the halfway point of P&P. Ending on this scene is particularly painful. Having read this book numerous times, I am hard fighting the temptation to binge read to the end, but I’m forcing myself to hang out in this moment and feel all the feels along with Lizzie and Darcy. Ouch.
On a lighter note, this week my husband and I went camping in Wisconsin and I used some precious hiking-backpack real estate to bring Jane along for some reading with a view.
Let’s take a look at the ground we covered this week.
Chapters 18-23
Summary:
This section opens with the much-awaited Netherfield ball. Elizabeth, disappointed by Mr. Wickham’s absence, dances with Mr. Collins and Mr. Darcy. Both Sir William and Mrs. Bennet wantonly discuss the generally-held expectation of the marriage between Jane and Bingley. The rest of the Bennets, (Jane and Elizabeth excepted, Mr. Collins DEFINITELY included), find some way to make themselves ridiculous in public.
Chapters 19-20 are taken up with the (comically cringy) proposal of Mr. Collins to Elizabeth and her family’s reaction to it. We then find out that the Bingleys are leaving Netherfield for town and Caroline Bingley makes clear her design that her brother will marry Miss Darcy. Part one ends with the announcement of Mr. Collins’ engagement to Charlotte Lucas and Mrs. Bennet being in yet another “most pitiable state”.
things to note:
Thinking of adopting the habit of filling any conversational silences with, “What say you of books?” (ch 18)
On a more serious note, the word “bewitching” is used yet again for Lizzy’s effect on Mr. Darcy. I find the word choice intriguing here. Later he’ll admit how he has striven against his seemingly uncontrollable love and desire for Elizabeth. Keep in mind the contrast between prudence and passion in romantic choices - we’ll see that a lot.
Remember how upset Mrs. Bennet was in chapter one when Mr. Bennet Claimed that he wouldn’t go visit Mr. Bingley? That was because social norms dictated that in order to develop an acquaintance with, or even speak to, someone (especially of a higher social status), one had to be formally introduced. This is why Elizabeth was horrified in chapter eighteen when Mr. Collins brazenly makes his way to introduce himself to Mr. Darcy. One of the many cringy moments of this chapter…maybe second only to Mrs. Bennet’s overt rudeness regarding Mr. Darcy,
“What is Mr. Darcy to me, pray, that I should be afraid of him? I am sure we know him no such particular civility as to be obliged to say nothing he may not like to hear.” (ch 18)
What to say about Charlotte’s engagement to Mr. Collins…this shouldn’t be entirely surprising given Charlotte’s somewhat mercenary approach to marriage that was pointed out earlier in volume one, yet with Lizzy we cannot quite be “reconciled to the idea of so unsuitable a match.” (ch 22)
Vol 2, Chapters 1-6
Summary:
Mrs. Bennet’s brother and sister-in-law come for a visit to Longbourn. Mrs. Gardiner is taken into confidence about the goings on between Jane and Mr. Bingley, (whose continued absence from Netherfield has cast doubt on the likelihood of his and Jane’s potential marriage) as well as Mr. Wickham and Mr. Darcy.
Mr. Collins returns to Hertfordshire for his wedding, and Charlotte invites Lizzy to join her father and sister in paying a visit to Hunsford in the coming months. Jane, who has accompanied the Gardiners back to London for a visit, is disappointed by Miss Bingley’s coldness towards her and gives up any hope of a renewed romance with Mr. Bingley.
Elizabeth joins Sir William and Maria Lucas in traveling to Hunsford. Mr. Collins enjoys showing off his home to Lizzy and is delighted by an invitation for them all to dine with Lady Catherine at Rosings. Lady Catherine loftily questions Elizabeth about her family and education, and is perturbed at Elizabeth’s bold “impertinence”.
things to note:
We have here yet another conversation between the sisters about how they see and discern people and motives. We, as the reader, can see more clearly than both of them, and the idea of prejudice leading to skewed perceptions is coming up again and again.
Mrs. Gardiner, as the kind and wise confidant of the elder Bennet sisters, opens the interesting conversation about Wickham in chapter three:
“Do not involve yourself, or endeavor to involve him in an affection which the want of fortune would make so very impudent…if he had the fortune he ought to have, I should think you could not do better…” (vol 2, ch 3)
I think that Austen really shines in the nuance surrounding marriage. Here again is the prudence vs. passion theme. As with all things, the ideal lies in the golden mean. On one side we have the marriage of Charlotte and Mr. Collins, continually praised as a “most prudent marriage” on her part given her prospects, on the other we’ll have the marriage based purely on passion later on (also see other of Austen works for this example, i.e the parents of Fanny Price in Mansfield Park). Wickham is a prime example of someone who vacillates between these two motives, let’s keep an eye on him.
A few quick notes on Elizabeth’s meeting with Lady Catherine. First, it brings up directly a theme that has been subtly running all through the story, namely, the education/preparation of women.
“Do your sisters play and sing?
“One of them does.”
“Why did not you all learn? — You ought all to have learned…-Do you draw?
“No, not at all.”
“What, none of you?”
“Not one.”
“That is very strange. But I suppose you had no opportunity…Has your governess left you?”
“We never had any governess.”
“No governess! How was that possible?…Your mother must have been quite a slave to your education…Without a governess you must have been neglected.”
“Compared with some families, I believe we were; but such of us as wished to learn, never wanted the means…Those who chose to be idle, certainly might.” (vol 2, ch 6)
This section not only hearkens back to the “list of attainments” for an accomplished woman put forward by Miss Bingley and Mr. Darcy in the first section, but also brings up an issue that will play out even more as we get farther into the story, namely, the consequences of negligence in formation/education.
P.S., Lady Catherine is the worst.
Vol 2, Chapters 7-11
Summary:
Mr. Darcy arrives at Rosings for a visit, along with his (more agreeable) cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam. Elizabeth has frequent interactions with both the cousins during her stay, and is puzzled at Mr. Darcy’s continued attentions to her.
During a tête-à-tête with Colonel Fitzwilliam, Elizabeth learns that Mr. Darcy has taken credit for “having lately saved a friend from the inconveniences of a most imprudent marriage” (ch 10), and she recognizes this as a reference to Bingley and Jane.
Later that day Elizabeth excuses herself from joining the rest of her party at Rosings, and is shocked when Mr. Darcy enters the parsonage and begins declaring his love for her. Elizabeth, deeply offended at the way he speaks of her family and disadvantages during his proposal, rejects him vehemently and accuses him of ruining the happiness of both Jane and Mr. Wickham.
things to note:
In our introduction to Colonel Fitzwilliam we have yet another man whose manners and “address” are contrasted with Darcy,
The drawing room scene at the beginning of chapter eight is pure gold.
First, Lady Catherine trying to butt in to every conversation is hilarious:
“What is it that you are saying, Fitzwilliam? What is it you are talking of? What are you telling Miss Bennet? Let me hear what it is.” (vol 2, ch 8)
A small, but important, detail is mentioned in this scene that we should make note of. Following Lady Catherine’s rude comments regarding Lizzy practicing her music and Charlotte’s open invitation to use the piano forte….in Mrs. Jenkinson’s room, of course…
“Mr. Darcy looked a little ashamed of his aunt’s ill breeding, and made no answer.” (vol 2, ch 8)
I won’t quote at length here, but just do yourself a favor and go re-read the banter between Darcy, Elizabeth, and Fitzwilliam when Darcy approaches her at the piano. This is all SO revealing.
In the beginning of chapter nine we have the first one-on-one conversation between Lizzy and Darcy since their dance at the Netherfield ball. Lizzy speaks quite openly to him of her true feelings towards Mr. Collins - something that wouldn’t have been appropriate unless she considered him an intimate acquaintance. Then Darcy does a little fishing…
“It must be very agreeable to her to be settled within so easy a distance of her own family and friends.”
“An easy distance do you call it? It is nearly fifty miles.”
“And what is fifty miles of good road? Little more than half a day’s journey. Yes, I call it a very easy distance.”
“I should never have considered the distance as one of the advantages of the match…”
“It is a proof of your own attachment to Hertfordshire. Anything beyond the very neighborhood of Longbourn, I suppose, would appear far.” (vol 2, ch 9)
Elizabeth, blind as per usual to Mr. Darcy’s feelings, (quite a forgivable offence given his aloofness AND the fact that she believes him to be engaged, at least in some manner, to Miss de Bourgh), assumes he’s making a reference to Jane and Bingley; however, the intensity with which he questions her gives readers to think otherwise.
Charlotte’s suspicions regarding Mr. Darcy being in love with Lizzy are repeatedly laughed off by her. Perhaps, though, given the fact that on several occasions in the story so far Elizabeth herself has pointed out Charlotte’s being “sensible”, of “great understanding”, etc., we ought not be too surprised when Charlotte’s suspicions are realized.
For the sake of time I won’t say much about the proposal. This one still hurts every time. Anyone else?
As I said before, this is a tough place to end, especially for those of you on a first read, but stay with us! This is pretty much dead center of the novel, so we’re right in the heart of it.
Also, not saying Darcy did a great job at this, but as a mom to all boys I will be 100% teaching them that the only acceptable way to begin a proposal is:
“You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.” (vol 2, ch 11)
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Your note on Lizzie “bewitching” Darcy, as well as your note to, “Keep in mind the contrast between prudence and passion in romantic choices,” has me thinking that Lizzie’s rejection of Darcy not only helps give each time to grow in their understanding of themselves, and also in their understanding (and therefore appreciation) of each other, but that also it gives their relationship a chance for success which it might not have had without it. What I mean is, it’s perhaps possible that if Lizzie had accepted Darcy’s initial proposal, his passion would have faded and left a foundation which would not have been firm enough to support a long term happy marriage. It’s too easy to look at the end of a relationship, see that the people were tailor-made for each other, and assume that they were always going to “work out.” But this has me thinking that how a relationship begins and how the foundation was laid before vows were made, is essential. The people involved are obviously essential, but so are the conditions upon which they begin their relationship.
I always feel like Austen is critiquing society more than she is critiquing Charlotte. She does offer some censure of Charlotte’s moral failing in accepting Mr. Collin’s proposal, but she is also careful to point out that society has formed women like Charlotte to accept such a proposal because it’s (seemingly) their only viable option for security and respectability. Austen herself lived pretty dependent on other relatives as an unmarried woman, so she knows the costs that can come with making the choice of greater integrity. I also love how Austen points out the double standard in Elizabeth’s thinking/society’s at large. When Wickham later distances himself from her to chase after an heiress, Elizabeth is very understanding/not upset. For women, as it is today, there is often more criticism of their romantic choices/men are allowed to do things but when women do them it’s objectionable