The Matter of Chance relative to Business

Pride and Prejudice is largely a marriage plot. Many hopeful marriages all with similar troubles. 

Throughout the plot there are several marriage conflicts. Bingley and Jane, Bingley and Georgiana, Darcy and Elizabeth, Darcy and Caroline, Collins and Elizabeth, Collins and Charlotte... etc. 

Collins first proposes to Elizabeth who promptly turns him down. After moaning and saying how it is just because Elizabeth is a woman and enjoys the chase that she turns him down (and then figuring out uhm no she really just doesn't like him). Collins proposes to Elizabeth's good friend Charlotte Lucas. 

Right after Elizabeth turns down Collins, Jane is concerned about how Elizabeth is dealing. Elizabeth is not shy to reveal her feelings on the matter and declares to her "dear Jane [that] Mr. Collins is a conceited, pompous, narrow-minded, silly man; [Jane] know[s] he is, as well as [Elizabeth] do[es]; and [Jane] must feel as well as [Elizabeth] do[es], that the woman who marries him, cannot have a proper way of thinking" (133). This proper way of thinking translates into Elizabeth's general thoughts on marriage. That the proper way is of love and that the improper way is of business and convenience.

Elizabeth nearly directly contradicts herself when she comments on Wickham's hasty connection with Miss King. She declares their arrangement as the ways of the world, "the mortifying conviction that handsome young men must have something to live on, as well as the plain" (148). Whether she is consoling herself for being "comparative[ly] insignifican[t]" (147). Or truly just felt Wickham was a casual acquaintance is unclear. But Elizabeth is not quiet on her opinion and is clear, pride clouding both judgement and friendship. 

Marriage is a important drama in Austen's literary works. The complex marriage plot and subplot in Pride and Prejudice is captivating. And the line between love and business reveals important characteristics of several characters.

Thanksgiving Thanks with a twist of P&P

Thanksgiving may be the most white privilege holiday in existence. Actually Thanksgiving is the most white privilege holiday in existence. However, that doesn't mean there isn't some merit in Thanksgiving being celebrated. 
My theory on life is family is great in small doses. Few things illustrate this as well as Pride and Prejudice. I often forget how much family can be a pain, until Thanksgiving. Having everyone under one house for an entire day is a mess. However, I have a bit more appreciation for Pride and Prejudice after having sat through a day of bickering. 
Austen beautifully combines several different family dynamics within one novel. Bingley and his sister could not be more different. But Darcy and his sister are actual sibling goals (coincidence? I think not). Mrs. Bennet and her sister Mrs. Gardiner also could not be more different. The difference between the two woman allow a balancing point for Jane and Elizabeth to play off of. Need another example of family dynamics? Jane and Elizabeth compared to Kitty and Lydia and then Mary. 
Brontë might feel that Austen's writing was flat and uninteresting. But within the upper society and small world of north central England Austen created a vast world of character differences. 
Hating Thanksgiving day? Be glad you don't have to live in a house with Mrs. Bennet. Or be related to Mr Collins. And there is always dreaming of the beautiful Darcy and his lovely sister. Maybe practise the Piano to kill the time, or go on a 3 mile walk to avoid the family. If all of these seem out of question just pick up a book and enjoy the weather. 

Blinded by Prejudice

As one could probably deduce from the title; Pride and Prejudice reflects on two major character traits (and possibly flaws). In the previous post I commented on Pride, particularly its manifestation in the character of Mr. Darcy. 
While Mr. Darcy and Miss Elizabeth Bennet both display pride and prejudice, in the first volume of the novel Elizabeth is far more prejudiced than Darcy seems to be. 
While there are several examples of Elizabeth's prejudice there is one key example of being blinded by her prejudice. Her inability to listen to what Miss Caroline Bingley, Mr Bingley (indirectly through Jane), and Jane had to say about how trustworthy Wickham really is. 
She goes to such lengths as to hold Wickham's word so close to truth, that not only did she dislike Darcy because of it, but disliked Mr. Bingley by association (89).
I admire how delicately Austen set up the situation. The reader is set up to trust Wickham and despise Darcy. However, once the reader knows the conclusions there are hints even in these early encounter's that point to Wickham's true character. 
Elizabeth is prejudiced throughout the novel. Prejudiced against Darcy's pride, Darcy's wealth, and Darcy's quiet demeanour. All of these prejudices lead Elizabeth to be blind to the flaws of others, and even the flaw of her own prejudice. 

A Prideful Disgrace

Taking a look at a passage in the first six chapters of Pride and Prejudice: what does Austen seem to be saying about pride? Is it a negative or a positive attribute? Or is it neither?

            Throughout Pride and Prejudice Austen uses the attribute of pride as both a positive and negative trait. Austen explores the manifestation of pride in the character of Mr. Darcy. In the time of Austen it took dedication, luck, and family name to achieve wealth and status. Often this dedication requires a strict demeanor. The achievement of Darcy is a positive attribute of his pride that is seen by the “understanding [that] Darcy [i]s the superior” to Bingley (Pride and Prejudice 18). While his cleverness and looks are appealing “his manners, though well bred, [a]re not inviting” (Pride and Prejudice 18). The combination of his superiority combined with his coldness created a duality of character within Darcy’s pride. In Austen’s time in the entirety of society, and particularly in upper class circles, manners were extremely important. At a dance like the one presented in the early chapters of Pride and Prejudice women were to be courted and asked to dance by wealthy, attractive, kind men. Darcy’s dislike of dancing led him to be considered as “a most disagreeable, horrid man, not at all worth pleasing” (Pride and Prejudice 15). Dances are meant for courting, for being approached and wanted, Darcy’s pride makes him an outsider to these events. While his pride led him to be someone to be courted, it also inhibited him from participating to a full extent. The duality of pride is important throughout the book; the positive and negative attributes are what make Darcy a dynamic character. Austen uses pride as a benefit and a deduction from the harmony of society.