2) Compose a blog response using 2-3 direct quotations from the text. Remember to respond to each other. I look forward to your responses.
Below is the Cozy Classics version of the novel...
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Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Due Tuesday, October 15th - "Pride & Prejudice" by Jane Austen - Pages 182-210 (Chapters XLVI - L)
1) Read Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen (pages 182-210, chapters XLVI - L).
2) Compose a blog response using 2-3 direct quotations from the text. Remember to respond to each other. I look forward to your responses.
Below is the Cozy Classics version of the novel...
2) Compose a blog response using 2-3 direct quotations from the text. Remember to respond to each other. I look forward to your responses.
Below is the Cozy Classics version of the novel...
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I was very surprised to find out that Lydia would become married to Mr. Wickham after reading this section. Although I was surprised with the marriage, Lydia would be my first assumption to who would marry a man like Mr. Wickham out of the Bennet sisters due to her history in liking the military men and being addicted to having the attention be on her. Also, based on the information the reader is given in chapter 47, everyone else is shocked as well. When Elizabeth and Jane are talking to each other about the current situation, Jane says, “‘Colonel Forster did own that he had often suspected some partiality, especially on Lydia’s side, but nothing to give him any alarm’”(194). This information about nobody expecting this surprise marriage to occur supports the character traits that have been given to Lydia up to this point. She seems to be an impulsive character who tends to rejoice whenever she is the center of attention, and what better way to do that then to marry a man you have not known for more than a year without the consent of your parents? Throughout this chaos, however, the narrator finds a way to redirect the story back to the situation between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. But, this time Elizabeth seems to have changed her mind about Darcy when the narrator says, “She was convinced that she could have been happy with him; when it was no longer likely they should meet”(208). The tug of war within Elizabeth’s mind and heart has finally ended, and the winner is Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth realizes how similar to each other herself and Mr. Darcy are and she regrets ever denying him the opportunity to become married to her. Now, the chance of another marriage proposal coming from Mr. Darcy seems extremely improbable because she has already denied him once, and because her sister is now married to his worst enemy Mr. Wickham. So, chapters 46-50 leave the reader off with a lot of new information and even more questions to go with the information as much has occurred in the last section of reading.
ReplyDeleteI love how Jane Austen puts the most outlandish, crazy things in her books but then makes them seem very reasonable. When you first read the Lydia ran off with Wickam, it seems like she just threw darts on a board and got that, but when you start to think about it, it makes some sense. We know that Wickam wanted to marry Darcy’s sister when she was around Lydia’s age so when you combine that with how Lydia loves attention and military men, it makes sense in a way. What I love about the scene is how Mrs. Bennett says, “Why did the Forsters ever let her go out of their sight? I am sure there was some great neglect or other on their side” (192). I like the line because in any scene with Lydia and another military man in it, she always has their attention and wrapped around her finger. So it looks like that Mrs. Bennett is oblivious to her love for attention and maybe impulsiveness because if she knew she loved attention, very impulsive, and knew about Mr. Wickam’s charm, maybe she wouldn’t blame the Forsters and blame Wickam instead. Another quote that I liked was said by Jane on page 194, “But to expose the former faults of any person, without knowing what their present feelings were, seemed unjustifiable.” When I read it, I immediately thought back to Elizabeth wanted to tell everyone about what Darcy apparently did to Wickam. How she wanted to tell everyone what he did without even asking about Darcy’s side of the story. I love how Austen has characters say lines that relate to past storylines in the novel.
ReplyDeleteAt first when I had read that Lydia was going to be married to Wickham I was confused because it seemed crazy to me that with Lydia’s age it would be a good idea. I then realized though, that it isn’t all to crazy because of how she is portrayed throughout the book because she was always seeking attention from wherever she could find it. I was also surprised to see how happy Mrs. Bennet was about the marriage because they would have to pay Mr. Wickham to marry Lydia which defeats the whole purpose in Mrs. Bennet’s eyes of marriage. It was also shocking to me how far Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth have come, from Mr. Darcy being insulting and not wanting to dance with her at the ball to Elizabeth denying his engagement to now Elizabeth covering up for him with Wickham and his sister.Throughout the book I also love how blunt and honest Elizabeth is with everyone, especially when she says, “I do indeed,” replied Elizabeth, colouring. “I told you, the other day, of his infamous behaviour to Mr. Darcy; and you yourself, when last at Longbourn, heard in what manner he spoke of the man who had behaved with such forbearance and liberality towards him. And there are other circumstances which I am not at liberty—which it is not worth while to relate; but his lies about the whole Pemberley family are endless.” It is interesting because during this time women were supposed to keep quiet and keep their head down, especially when at the status of the Bennets and she does basically the exact opposite. I also find it very interesting how fast our views of the characters as the reader shift because of how Austen writes it, it feels as though you have a love hate relationship with everyone in the novel.
ReplyDeleteFirst thing we find out is that Lydia has run off with Mr. Wickham to get married. Which may appear crazy at first, but then we sort of realize that Mr. Wickham’s trying to get back at Elizabeth. “ all astonishment that Mr. Wickham should marry a girl, whom it was impossible he could marry for money; and how Lydia could ever have attached to him, had appeared incomprehensible” (187). As the reader we know that Mr. Wickham is a scammer, and only marries young girls to steal their families fortune. But the Bennetts don’t have a fortune! So he must be marrying her to get back at Elizabeth. This situation makes the family go crazy, and they are trying to locate the couple. Mr. Bennett goes to London to try to find them. And Colonel Foster who was with the two the night they ran off, brings a note to the family that Lydia had left at their house. “ You need not send them word at Longbourn of my going, if you do sign my name Lydia Wickham. What a good joke it will be! I can hardly write for laughing” (195). Lydia is the youngest Bennett and potentially the first Bennett sister to get married. We never find out in these chapters if the two actually wed or not. Lydia is believed to be in London according to Mr. Bennett, and they get consent from the family to wed. The two getting married would hurt the chances of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth’s getting married, because Mr. Wickham is estranged from the Darcy family and because it will cause quite a stir in the town when everyone discovers that Wickham and Lydia eloped. It’s a shameful act and will hurt the family. Excited to see how it will affect the relationships.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that Lydia ran away with Wickham, and how both Darcy and Elizabeth blame themselves for not exposing him. I think that Darcy and Elizabeth are starting to trust each other more as Elizabeth told Darcy about Jane’s letter, possibly hoping that Darcy would help and do something. “Darcy was fixed in astonishment. “When I consider,” she added in a yet more agitated voice, “that I might have prevented it! I, who knew what he was. Had I but explained some part of it only—some part of what I learnt, to my own family! Had his character been known, this could not have happened. But it is all—all too late now.” “I am grieved indeed,” cried Darcy; “grieved—shocked. But is it certain—absolutely certain?” (185). The Bennet family is extremely worried for Lydia as this could be scandalous and could lead to a poor reputation on the Bennet family as Lydia, a teenager, is running off with an older man unless they marry. Throughout the novel, Lydia has always wanted attention, especially from the military men, so I wasn’t too surprised when this happened. I like how Mr. Gardiner leads the search for Lydia as he takes responsibility for losing her. “And Mr. Gardiner, after general assurances of his affection for her and all her family, told her that he meant to be in London the very next day, and would assist Mr. Bennet in every endeavor for recovering Lydia” (192). Mr. Gardiner also informs the family that in order for Lydia and Wickham to marry, they need her equal share of five thousand pounds.
ReplyDeleteChapters 46 to 51 mainly reflect upon Lydia’s plans to marry Mr. Wickham in Scotland. Starting around page 182, Elizabeth gets a frantic letter from Jane, who explains the shocking news. “Dearest Lizzy, I hardly know what I would write, but I have bad news for you, and it cannot be delayed. Imprudent as the marriage between Mr. Wickham and our poor Lydia would be, we are now anxious to be assured it has taken place, for there is but too much reason to fear they are not gone to Scotland “(183). Elizabeth feels ill after hearing that her beloved sister and goes to talk to Mr and Mrs. Gardiner. As she goes to find them, she stumbles upon Mr. Darcy who after understanding what exactly happening, seems genuinely concerned about the manner, “Good God! what is the matter?” cried he, with more feeling than politeness; then recollecting himself, “I will not detain you a minute; but let me, or let the servant go after Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner. You are not well enough; you cannot go yourself.” (184). By this point, I couldn’t help but to feel the distress of the other characters, not to mention the show Mrs. Bennett is putting on for no one but herself. Knowing the Mr. Wickham can’t carry Lydia for wealth, it only seems that Lydia is nothing more than an inconvenience for Mr. Wickham. This is obviously not the case, since both Lydia and Mr. Wickham want to tie the knot and everyone seems to be on board with it. Fortunately Mr. Wickham and Lydia reappear and Mr. Wickham is given a large sum of money to support himself and Lydia from Mr. Bennet and Mr. Gardiner. Nearing the end of his life, Mr. Benett is taking things more seriously with how he is going to pass on his wealth to his daughters and whether Mr. Wickham is even a right for Lydia to begin with.
ReplyDeleteAlright so we have to start this off by addressing the elephant in the room. YES ELIZABETH LIKES DARCY. JESUS. It took her this long to get onto the guy and realize HE’S JUST A QUIET SHY GUY GIRL. When Elizabeth is thinking to herself “She began now to comprehend that he was exactly the man who, in disposition and talents, would most suit her. His understanding and 216 temper, though unlike her own, would have answered all her wishes.” it’s pretty obvious she’s trying to say that “Yes everybody Darcy has now won me over.” Ironic considering she said he’d never win her over. So that’s bombshell number one, that being that Elizabeth changes her mind about Darcy. Bombshell number two though is what’s probably gonna wreck and destroy bombshell one UNLESS SOMEONE does something about it. Elizabeth’s worst fears are now realized, and Lydia’s gonna get married to that SOB Wickham. I mean, it’s pretty clear Elizabeth doesn’t want this. Especially when she’s going off about Darcy, then has an “Oh shit” moment remembering her sister is about to marry Wickham in Chapter 50 “for since her marriage would so shortly give the proper termination to the elopement, they might hope to conceal its unfavorable beginning from all those who were not immediately on the spot.“. It’s also pretty clear when she states it at the end of the chapter she’s REEEEEEEALLY not happy about this “Elizabeth was surprised, however, that Wickham should consent to such a scheme, and had she consulted only her own inclination, any meeting with him would have been the last object of her wishes.” Granted in that piece Elizabeth is saying that she’s going to see what this is about instead of flat out deny, but she’s still really unhappy here. Remember, she has a pretty damn good chance with Darcy, and the problem is that Wickham can ruin that chance with one tiny little thing, that being he either gets Lydia in bed before a marriage ORRRR he marries her. Either way Mr. Bennet and Mr. Gardiner need to just pull the muskets out at this point and treat Wickham as though he’s taken Lydia as a hostage. In more simple terms: they need to SWAT Wickham. I mean it’s either that or they best hope their butts off that Wickham doesn’t do anything stupid ($100.00 says he does). I swear to god though if Wickham doesn’t go away I hope Mr. Bennet gets angry to the point where he flips a table and has a hulk moment, smashing Wickham right into a wall. At this point the story can go wherever. We could see an epic movie style comeback for the Bennets, or see them fall down a hole and never be able to get out. It’s one way or the other.
ReplyDelete-Paul Yannalfo
While first reading this section of Pride and Prejudice, I was surprised that even Lydia, as young as she was, would think it would be a good idea to run off with a man she hardly knew. At that point in time, you were expected to decide with your family and the family of the one you plan to marry before you even considered doing it. It surprised me that she wouldn’t have thought of the consequences of running off with Wickham. I was also surprised that Wickham would even do it either since we had already learned that he was in it for the money and we see that with his relationship with Ms. Darcy, and Ms. King. In the letter Lydia had written to Mrs. Forster she said, “You will laugh when you know where I am gone, and I cannot help laughing myself at your surprise to-morrow morning, as soon as I am missed”(195). I was kind of surprised to see that she was thinking of the whole thing as a joke and that everyone else would think it would be funny but in reality it was devastating the whole family and their reputation was on the line and all of them were really worried instead of thinking it was funny. In Mr. Collins’s letter to Mr. Bennet, he writes, “Let me advise you then, my dear Sir, to console yourself as much as possible, to throw off your unworthy child from you affection for ever, and leave her to reap the fruits of her own heinous offence”(199). The whole letter was complete full of him bragging and trying to sound sympathetic but in his own way as he does so often in this book. That part just made me wonder whether Mr. Bennet may actually listen to Mr. Collins and forget his daughter because of her actions with Mr. Wickham. He also mentions that her actions are going to affect all of the other daughters and no one will want to marry them because of what Lydia has done.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter 46 we find out that Lydia ran off with Mr. Wickham. Jane sends letters to Elizabeth to warn her about what Lydia is doing. Jane tells her that she has not heard from them. This worries Elizabeth because she realizes that if they do not get married the Bennet family reputation will be tarnished. When Elizabeth panics and tries to find someone she is greeted by Mr. Darcy. “Oh! where, where is my uncle?” cried Elizabeth, darting from her seat as she finished the letter, in eagerness to follow him, without losing a moment of the time so precious; but as she reached the door it was opened by a servant, and Mr. Darcy appeared.” (190) After explaining to Darcy what is happening he imminently blames himself for not exposing Wickham’s true character. Elizabeth accepts his apology and decides she must return home to Longbourn. On the way home Mr. Gardiner tries to comfort Elizabeth by telling her that Mr. Wickham will definitely marry Lydia because it would also ruin his own reputation if he doesn’t. However Mr. Wickham’s past behaviors reveal that he may do the same thing to Lydia. As Lydia returns home she finds her father has gone to London in search of Lydia while her mother is overwhelmed with emotions. Jane reaches out to Elizabeth to reassure her that no one could have known about the relationship. Mr. Bennet is still unable to find Lydia as he searches every inn in London. Mr. Collins decides to send a letter to the Bennet’s, accusing them of poor parenting and saying Lydia’s behavior reflects on the family. In chapter 49 we learn that Lydia and Mr. Wickham have been located. Mr. Wickham plans on marrying Lydia as long as he gets a small income from the Bennets. Mr. Bennet has no opposition to this and agrees with Mr. Wickham’s wishes. “These are conditions which, considering everything, I had no hesitation in complying with, as far as I thought myself privileged, for you.” (210) The Gardiners have paid a large amount of money to get Mr. Wickham to agree to the marriage. The Bennet’s know they will now owe them large amount of money. We learn that Elizabeth now has a completely different opinion on Mr. Darcy. She states that if he were to propose again she would most definitely accept. However, she finds it unlikely after everything that has happened. Overall a lot of things have happened in these past few chapters which have made a great turning point in the novel.
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ReplyDeleteIn this section of the novel we find out that Lydia runs off with Mr. Wickham. Although this may be a shock, it makes perfect sense. Mr. Wickham is known for marrying younger girls and stealing their family fortunes, but in this case the Bennets do not have any money, so this means he is marrying Lydia to get back at Elizabeth. “All astonishment that WIckham should marry a girl, whom it was impossible he could marry for money; and how Lydia could ever have attached to him, had appeared incomprehensible” (186). The Bennets were in a craze at this situation and Mr. Bennet travels to London to try and locate the couple. Lydia has always been an attention seeker so this doesn't surprise me that she ran off with Mr. Wickham. Mr. Gardiner was responsible for losing her so he leads the search to try and find her. “After general assurance of his affection for her and all her family, told her that he meant to be in London the very next day, and would assist Mr. Bennet in every endeavor for recovering Lydia” (192). This situation might affect the other Bennet daughter because no one will want to marry them after what Lydia has done.
Maddy Francis
I found it interesting that Lydia ran away with Wickham, even after she knew that Elizabeth was at one point interested with Wickham. It seems that Darcy and Elizabeth are disappointed and angry that they could've told Lydia about how horrible Wickham is. During these chapters Darcy and Elizabeth get to understand each other, and Elizabeth now fully understands what happened with Wickham and Darcy. “Darcy was fixed in astonishment. “When I consider,” she added in a yet more agitated voice, “that I might have prevented it! I, who knew what he was. Had I but explained some part of it only—some part of what I learnt, to my own family! Had his character been known, this could not have happened. But it is all—all too late now.” “I am grieved indeed,” cried Darcy; “grieved—shocked. But is it certain—absolutely certain?” (185). The Bennet family is upset and worried that Lydia will cause the family name to be brought with disgust. If that happens, other men wouldn't think of marrying the daughters of that type of family.
ReplyDeleteNick Criniti
ReplyDeleteDuring chapters 46-50 Elizabeth is visiting her aunt and uncle and it so happens to be that they live near Mr. Darcys house. Elizabeth is blown away by Darcys house and how big and beautiful it is. As Elizabeth is touring the house Darcy comes out of no where after a little joyride. They both catch each other by surprise. Lydia Bennet decides to run off with Mr. Wickam and Elizabeth is in shock. “she is lost forever.” Elizabeth now thing Lydia will never be seen again. When Mr. Bennet finds out he is very unhappy. “I will not encourage the impudence of either, by receiving them at Longbourn.” He doesn't want o see Lydia at the moment but he probably wont see her again. Reading through these chapters everything in the Bennet family is going downhill and everyones unhappy.
In chapter 46-50 we start to get a glimpse of some real excitement that could potentially destroy the Bennett family name. Lydia was “gone off to scotland with one of his officers; to own the truth, with Wickham!” (pg. 182) . Only when it is agreed to give Mr. Wickham a large amount of money that he agrees to marry her and save the family name. In these chapters we see the true side that Darcy has despised. We also see the Elizabeth have a completely new perspective on Darcy from previous chapters and their roles even seem flipped. Elizabeth’s sister is meant to marry Mr. Wickham just as Darcy’s sister, Georgiana, was meant to. I’m interested in seeing what Mr. Wickham has planned for the future. I think he is going to try and take the Bennett’s house away.
ReplyDeleteBen Weeden
During this section of “Pride and Prejudice” we found out that Lydia and Mr. Wickham ran away together. Elizabeth finds out by getting a letter from jane that says “Dearest Lizzy, I hardly know what I would write, but I have bad news for you, and it cannot be delayed. Imprudent as the marriage between Mr. Wickham and our poor Lydia would be, we are now anxious to be assured it has taken place, for there is but too much reason to fear they are not gone to Scotland “(183). Later on, we find out that they ran away and got married. While finding out that they got married was a good thing because it didn’t destroy their family name. Her family except for her mother was still mad. Darcy and Elizabeth blame themselves for not exposing him.“Darcy was fixed in astonishment. “When I consider,” she added in a yet more agitated voice, “that I might have prevented it! I, who knew what he was. (185). Also in these chapters, the relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy gets stronger. I hope to see further improvements in relationships in future chapters.
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