V. AGREE OR DISAGREE. COMMENT ON THE FOLLOWING:
Charlotte Lucas was as foolish as Mrs. Bennet.
T Mr. Bennet discovered that Charlotte Lucas, whom he had been used to think tolerably sensible, was as foolish as his wife, and more foolish than his daughter.
Elizabeth felt hurt by Charlotte Lucas.
F She didn’t feel hurt, but she was disappointed in Charlotte. Between Elizabeth and Charlotte there was a restraint which kept them mutually silent on the subject; and Elizabeth felt persuaded that no real confidence could ever subsist between them again.
Charlotte Lucas was anticipating the hour of Longbourn possession.
F Mrs. Bennet thought so, but not Charlotte. Whenever Charlotte came to see them, Mrs. Bennet concluded her to be anticipating the hour of possession.
Elizabeth changed her opinion about Mr. Bingley.
T That Mr. Bingley was really fond of Jane, she doubted no more than she had ever done; and much as she had always been disposed to like him, she could not think without anger, hardly without contempt, on that easiness of temper, that want of proper resolution, which now made him the slave of his designing friends, and led him to sacrifice of his own happiness to the caprice of their inclination.
Jane and Elizabeth didn’t mention Mr. Bingley’s name because they were disappointed with him.
T. They tried not to mention his name.
Some people like to be crossed in love.
T. Mr. Bennet said: ‘Next to being married, a girl likes to be crossed
a little in love now and then. It is something to think of, and it gives her a sort of distinction among her companions.’
Everybody in Hertfordshire considered Mr. Darcy to be the worst of men.
F. Jane didn’t think so. Miss Bennet was the only creature who could suppose there might be any extenuating circumstances in the case, unknown to the society of Hertfordshire; her mild and steady candour always pleaded for allowances, and urged the possibility of mistakes—but by everybody else Mr. Darcy was condemned as the worst of men.
The Gardiners were very amiable people.
T. Mr. Gardiner was a sensible, gentlemanlike man, greatly superior to his sister, as well by nature as education, well-bred and agreeable. Mrs. Gardiner, who was several years younger than Mrs. Bennet and Mrs. Phillips, was an amiable, intelligent, elegant woman, and a great favourite with all her Longbourn nieces.
Young men often fall in love with pretty girls for a few weeks, and when accident separates them, easily forget them.
T. Mrs. Gardiner said: ‘But these things happen so often! A young man, such as you describe Mr. Bingley, so easily falls in love with a pretty girl for a few weeks, and when accident separates them, so easily forgets her, that these sort of inconsistencies are very frequent.’
Jane accepted her aunt’s invitation hoping to see Mr. Bingley.
T. I think that despite all the disappointments, Jane still hoped to see Mr. Bingley.
Mrs. Gardiner asked Elizabeth not to fall in love with Mr. Wickham.
T. Mrs. Gardiner said Elizabeth: ‘You are too sensible a girl, Lizzy, to fall in love merely because you are warned against it; and, therefore, I am not afraid of speaking openly. Seriously, I would have you be on your guard. Do not involve yourself or endeavour to involve him in an affection which the want of fortune would make so very imprudent. I have nothing to say against HIM; he is a most interesting young man; and if he had the fortune he ought to have, I should think you could not do better. But as it is, you must not let your fancy run away with you. You have sense, and we all expect you to use it. Your father would depend on YOUR resolution and good conduct, I am sure. You must not disappoint your father.’
F. They continued to correspond, but their former trust was lost.
F. She understood that, but she didn’t want to think about it. Jane said: ‘I am sure, be incapable of triumphing in her better judgement, at my expense, when I confess myself to have been entirely deceived in Miss Bingley’s regard for me. If I were not afraid of judging harshly, I should be almost tempted to say that there is a strong appearance of duplicity in all this. But I will endeavour to banish every painful thought, and think only of what will make me happy—your affection, and the invariable kindness of my dear uncle and aunt.’
F. She understood that she wasn’t in love with Mr. Wickham: ‘I am now convinced, my dear aunt, that I have never been much in love; for had I really experienced that pure and elevating passion, I should at present detest his very name, and wish him all manner of evil. But my feelings are not only cordial towards HIM; they are even impartial towards Miss King. I cannot find out that I hate her at all, or that I am in the least unwilling to think her a very good sort of girl. There can be no love in all this…’
VI. ANSWER THE QUESTIONS OR SPEAK ON THE FOLLOWING:
Mrs. Bennet was in fact too much overpowered to say a great deal while Sir William remained; but no sooner had he left them than her feelings found a rapid vent. In the first place, she persisted in disbelieving the whole of the matter; secondly, she was very sure that Mr. Collins had been taken in; thirdly, she trusted that they would never be happy together; and fourthly, that the match might be broken off. Two inferences, however, were plainly deduced from the whole: one, that Elizabeth was the real cause of the mischief; and the other that she herself had been barbarously misused by them all; and on these two points she principally dwelt during the rest of the day. Nothing could console and nothing could appease her. Nor did that day wear out her resentment. A week elapsed before she could see Elizabeth without scolding her, a month passed away before she could speak to Sir William or Lady Lucas without being rude, and many months were gone before she could at all forgive their daughter. Mr. Bennet’s emotions were much more tranquil on the occasion, and such as he did experience he pronounced to be of a most agreeable sort; for it gratified him, he said, to discover that Charlotte Lucas, whom he had been used to think tolerably sensible, was as foolish as his wife, and more foolish than his daughter!
Jane confessed herself a little surprised at the match; but she said less of her astonishment than of her earnest desire for their happiness; nor could Elizabeth persuade her to consider it as improbable. Kitty and Lydia were far from envying Miss Lucas, for Mr. Collins was only a clergyman; and it affected them in no other way than as a piece of news to spread at Meryton.
It was very hard for her to bear Mr. Bingley’s absence. Mrs. Bennet kept reminding Jane that he didn't come, and didn't notice that it hurt her daughter. But Elizabeth's support helped Jane a lot. In addition, her character was not characterized by despondency, so she tried to be distracted by other things and not think about his absence.
Jane always thought that you can't judge anyone, because there are always circumstances that justify people. About Miss Lucas she said: ‘Consider Mr. Collins’s respectability, and Charlotte’s steady, prudent character. Remember that she is one of a large family; that as to fortune, it is a most eligible match; and be ready to believe, for everybody’s sake, that she may feel something like regard and esteem for our cousin.’
She tried to defend Mr. Bingley saying: ‘I entreat you, dear Lizzy, not to pain me by thinking THAT PERSON to blame, and saying your opinion of him is sunk. We must not be so ready to fancy ourselves intentionally injured. We must not expect a lively young man to be always so guarded and circumspect It is very often nothing but our own vanity that deceives us. Women fancy admiration means more than it does.’
Mrs. Gardiner thought that Mr. Bingley didn’t really love Jane: ‘It seems likely to have been a desirable match for Jane. I am sorry it went off. But these things happen so often! A young man, such as you describe Mr. Bingley, so easily falls in love with a pretty girl for a few weeks, and when accident separates them, so easily forgets her, that these sort of inconsistencies are very frequent.’
To Mrs. Gardiner, Wickham had one means of affording pleasure, unconnected with his general powers. About ten or a dozen years ago, before her marriage, she had spent a considerable time in that very part of Derbyshire to which he belonged. They had, therefore, many acquaintances in common; and though Wickham had been little there since the death of Darcy’s father, it was yet in his power to give her fresher intelligence of her former friends than she had been in the way of procuring.
Mrs. Gardiner had seen Pemberley, and known the late Mr. Darcy by character perfectly well. Here consequently was an inexhaustible subject of discourse. In comparing her recollection of Pemberley with the minute description
which Wickham could give, and in bestowing her tribute of praise on the character of its late possessor, she was delighting both him and herself. On being made acquainted with the present Mr. Darcy’s treatment of him, she tried to remember some of that gentleman’s reputed disposition when quite a lad which might agree with it, and was confident at last that she recollected having heard Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy formerly spoken of as a very proud, ill-natured boy.
Mrs. Gardener invited Jane in London so that she could take her mind off Mr. Bingley. Jane wrote to Elizabeth that she had seen Miss Bingley twice in London, and felt that Miss Bingley was not very happy to see her, and was very cold to her. This convinced Jane that there was duplicity and deception in Caroline's behavior. Then Jane decided not to keep in touch with her anymore.