Pick one interesting sentence/section that illuminates the text for you and explain how.
Categories
Tags
Rules of Engagement
Welcome, Class of 2012! I hope you will find this blog to be a useful, expedient mechanism for sharing your writing and responding to the writing of others. Furthermore, I hope you have some fun! There are some rules, however, of which you must be aware.First Rule
This blog is educational. It is not a space for chatting with your friends (you have facebook, twitter, tumblr, etc. for that). You'll be expected to respond to your classmates' writing, but I want you to think of them more as colleagues than friends on this site. The "fun" mentioned above will be in taking others' ideas to task in friendly debate. Therefore...Second Rule
Writing on this site is FORMAL. For a GRADE. You will be graded on the quality of your response, both in terms of content and mechanics. Remember that people out there in the world can and will peek in to see what you're writing, so make it your best effort every time.Third Rule
Text message/Chat abbreviations are just that -- for texting and chatting. You won't be LOL-ing, btw, when I pwn ur grade, lolz! (For the record, I love txt lingo -- and it has its place -- but my job is to teach you to write formally -- not be your bff -- hence the requirement that you write with a formal tone here).Fourth Rule
Comment on the comments of others, but remember that there's a person behind that comment. People have a tendency to think that it's okay to be cruel online and to "speak" to others in ways they wouldn't speak to others in real life. Remember: I know who you are...and even if I didn't, you should always be civil.Fifth Rule
Always use the same username in your comments. If you use a name that isn't already known to me, I'll assume you aren't one of my students and I'll delete the comment -- which means you'll have to write it again under your usual username, and that would not be fun.Archives
Blogroll
-
Recent Posts
-
Recent Comments
- RM on Dickinson Close Reading
- L.R on Whitman Close Reading
- RM on Whitman Close Reading
- L.R on Whitman Close Reading
- J.L. on Dickinson Close Reading
-
Blog Stats
- 56,834 hits
Pages
Meta
web{er}log · Just another WordPress.com weblog
“Indeed, the sharpest image we have of it is of the ‘charming prospect over that gravel walk’ (p. 45). This pointed nondescriptness has an analogy in Bingley’s character, and a blandness already suggested in him as here intensified.” (69)
This made me realize how much each person’s house describes there character. Bingley is a boring character, therefore his house is just as boring. Darcy is Mysterious therefore his house is the same. I think it’s cool how Jane Austen characterized everyone’s estate the same way she characterized them. It gives us another thing to look out for. And when we don’t understand a character fully, we look to the description of their estate to get a better understanding of that character. It’s an interesting idea.
“If Elizabeth, when Mr. Darcy gave her the letter, did not expect it to contain a renewal of his offers, she had formed no expectation at all of its contents. But such as they were, it may be well supposed how eagerly she went through them, and what a contrariety of emotion they excited. Her feelings as she read were scarcely to be defined. With amazment did she first understand that he believed any apology to be in his power” (138).
This section of the book made me realize how often we assume things about others and how often we set our minds into believing things about them. We are quick to judge people and when they surprise us by acting against our intial thought of them, we’re either embarrassed or impressed. It’s interesting how Jane Austen’s ideas can still be applied to today’s society and the behavior of humans. It makes me think that everyone’s behavior is repeative and maybe people aren’t really different from individuals from the past.
Setting: Mr. Darcy may perhaps have heard of such a place as Gracechurch-street, but he would hardly think a month’s ablution enough to cleanse him from its impurities…” (97)
This sentence illuminates the fact that the people residing inside their rich estates are so closed off to the world they don’t even know how the other half lives. They think of the lower classes so, inferior that they relate class rank to cleanliness and meaninglessness in location. That sentence just shows how unaware,ignorant, and stuck up they truly are.
Character: He expressed no regret for what he had done which satisfied her; his style was not penitent, but haughty. (138)
This sentence reassures the fact that Mr.Darcy is indeed insolent and prideful making his character that much more interesting. He illuminates the audience on his mysterious behavior so, that we begin to see him unravel and open up to us. In reality his pride is what makes him so refined and attractive to Elizabeth.
“In the disguised maneuvering to win Darcy, Pemberley becomes the image to which characters respond with their own kinds of pride.” (69)
I thought this sentence was quite interesting since it states that Pemberley symbolizes a place of pride. From chapter forty three I found out that during Elizabeth’s stay at Darcy’s house their true pride is revealed. When Elizabeth is in Darcy’s house the housekeeper explains that Darcy treats his servants nicely and never seems to be a boaster. This reveals Darcy’s true pride that he isn’t actually what others think he is. In addition, he shows his true self by altering his behavior by acting polite and well mannered to Mr. Gardiner and Mrs. Gardiner. Also, his house is described with having many pictures of himself, showing that he is proud of who he is. This shows that Jane Austen uses different landmarks as a symbol for something such as Perberley symbolizes pride.
“Much of the suspense of the novel is dependent on whether Elizabeth will successfully make such progress. The brilliance of Austen’s artistry lies in that we are able to follow so closely the landmarks in Elizabeth’s development. The suspense involved, however, is not merely a matter of controlled point of view. For there is as much anticipation of discovering what Pemberley-and consequently Darcy- will be, as there is in following Elizabeth’s progress.” (68)
I never looked at Elizabeth’s life as a progress in the making. I merely saw it as someone who was conflicted and unsure about what to do with her life. Now after reading, “Setting and Character in Pride and Prejudice”, I see that Elizabeth truly has a lot to deal with and everything she does effects her next decision. For instance, when Mr. Whickham told her about Darcy she immediately was quick to judge him and deny his proposal. I am starting to think that she is just unable to get her life together because she is like her sisters, but not really. Their interests differ from hers when it comes down to a suitor for a husband. My perception of Elizabeth now is that she is not trying to be like everyone else and pick a man based on his flirtatiousness. I believe that is a quality she doesn’t mind having but she is looking for a man who is driven and different. After reading this article I see that she is having a tough time deciding if she wants to be with Darcy or not because he is what she’s looking for, but not what she is use to.
“( mr. Collins) the greatest part of his life have been spent under the guidance of an illiterate and miserly father”
Thie quote really reached out to because, it amazes me how no matter how someone is acedemically, the natural instinct of parenting still rises through. Mr Collins father was unable to read, yet that was mr Collins greatest part of life. Again it just goes to show te symbolism d family. People could look upon mr Collins father and would see someone who they think is nothing. But to mr Collins, regardless of his fathers characteristics, mr collins sees him as the greatest person ever. Which I for one, think builds such a strong character.
“. . . the correspondence between Pemberley and Darcy remains unclear in the early stages of the action. While the early scenes of the work are built around Netherfield and Rosings, Pemberley remains in the distance; we hear much about it, but are not permitted to see it. Two revelatory ratios are established early, but one quantity in the third ratio remains unknown. Thus, while Netherfield is to Bingley as Rosings is to Lady Catherine, the unknown quantity that is Pemberley creates certain mystery about Darcy” (66).
At first the readers are introduced to a snobbish Darcy, unworthy of really anything from our first encounters. However, we soon realize that Darcy isn’t like everyone else and most of all that his pride sets him apart. Pemberley represents the irretrievable dreams that everyone seeks, not just then, but people and human beings in general. Because dreams and riches are usually only attained with hard work and facing obstacles; Jane Austen puts her audience through a real life situation while reading. Just as Pemberley creates a mystery about Darcy; riches create a mystery or dreaming about what it would be like to be those people who have the riches we want.
“If the process of association advanced in a straight forward manner, we ought to have a most cold, forbidding picture of Permberley. And this because insofar as we are close to Elizabeth we ought to think its owner cold and forbidding.” (70-71)
This passage made me think of Elizabeth tour of Permberley when she thought Darcy was out for the day. If Permberley does indeed reflect its owner, Darcy, than the people that work inside Permberley, like housekeeper or maids, reflect of the kindness within Darcy we do not see until later in the second half of the book. Like Darcy, Permberley gives a “most cold” outer shell but has a large amount of kindness within.
“They were all of them warm in her admiration; and at that moment she felt that to be mistress of Pemberley might be something!” This particularly stood out to me because it shows an important theme in the book; class. Before the estate was shown and given details about, Elizabeth had not been interested in Darcy and now that she sees what she can be a part of, she develops feelings for him.
“And this because insofar as we are close to Elizabeth we ought to think its [Pemberly] owner cold and forbidding. . . . But the house, as we have been led to imagine it, does not at all reflect what we know of it’s master, whose attributes, while they might include nobility and inimitability, certainly do not seem to number delightfulness among them.” (70-71)
This illuminates the text for me because I didn’t realize Jane Austen used setting to correlate with the characters. When we are first introduced to Mr. Darcy, we find him very proud, while he is staying at Nethefield. Yet, his home doesn’t correspond with the way he acts, thus rendering us to believe that there has to be more to his character. It was only when Elizabeth was staying at Pemberly that she started to realize that her initial feelings about Darcy must be wrong. From this point further, they both start to really fall in love with each other and pride starts to exit as Darcy tries to help the Bennets family and Elizabeth is thankful yet embarassed.
“When Mr. Darcy gave her the letter, she did not expect it to contain a renewal of his offers, she had formed no expectation at all of its contents….with amazement did she first understand that he believed any apology to be in his power” (138).
This section of the novel really made me reflect upon the numerous times in which I have taken the liberty to essentially ‘judge a book by it’s cover’. The author Jane Austin knows that this is simply an act of human nature and as a result she emphasizes it between the relationship of Darcy and Elizabeth. Nevertheless, besides noticing the relevance of the my errors and Elizabeth’s this section really highlights an important theme within this book and that’s human nature. Throughout the book their are many scenes that express the social cliches that occur in everyday life, but none are more exemplary than this one because it expresses the excitement people receive and the utter remorse when assumptions are mistaken.
Have you seen any pleasant men? Have you had any flirting? I was in great hopes that one of you would have got a husband before you came back. Jane will be quite an old maid soon, I declare. She is almost three and twenty! Lord, how ashamed I should be of not being married before three and twenty!” (149).
This section of the novel illustrates the views of people during this time period; it also provides us the setting of the time period, which is the nineteenth century. Flirting was a way for women show their interest in men. It was expected that women married young. Speaking from a twenty-first century point of view, the idea of being ashamed for not marrying at twenty three doesn’t seem like a reason to be ashamed. This section just shows how narrow minded individuals were.
“Have you seen any pleasant men? Have you had any flirting? I was in great hopes that one of you would have got a husband before you came back. Jane will be quite an old maid soon, I declare. She is almost three and twenty! Lord, how ashamed I should be of not being married before three and twenty!” (149).
This section of the novel illustrates the views of people during this time period; it also provides us the setting of the time period, which is the nineteenth century. Flirting was a way for women show their interest in men. It was expected that women married young. Speaking from a twenty-first century point of view, the idea of being ashamed for not marrying at twenty three doesn’t seem like a reason to be ashamed. This section just shows how narrow minded individuals were.
” Elizabeth is of course able to adjust unselfconsciously to the atmosphere of Netherfield and Rosings because she is unimpressed and unmoved by either. This reflect Jane Austen’s … purpose is to create through dialogue a picture of a third setting, that of Pemberley…”
This connection between Elizabeth’s ability to adapt to her surrounding Vs. her feelings towards the owner is Jane Austen’s motive. She makes her readers know that Elizabeth is at her most interesting when she is at Pemberley which is Mr. Darcy’s residence. When I read this quote I thought of Elizabeth and her mood while visiting other estates. Or even when she walks in the garden and just happens to run into Darcy more often, Austen say Elizabeth finds the encounters not coincidental but it feels as if she likes being admired. I think this happens a lot for many females, they get excited when they are in the place where their love interest is present.
“When Elizabeth connects the notions of her love and Pemberley she reminds us of the relation of character to setting, the structural system of Pride and Prejudice which allows Jane Austen to accomplish her end-to present ironically the maturing of a well disposed girl …” (74).
I am shocked to discover the significance of the setting in the novel. I believe myself to be a good reader and have acquired an abundant amount of tools as a reader to understand certain things without having to read Spark Notes or a scholarly journal; however I would have been totally lost to the emphasis Jane Austen placed on the ‘relation of character to setting.’ It is not that I did not catch the numerous remarks to the different estates or question Jane Austen’s purpose in the extensive descriptions of the setting, but I figured the quotes such as the one made by Mr. Bingley, ‘I declare I do not know a more aweful object than Darcy, on particular places; at his own house especially,’ were clearly justifications for Darcy’s behavior and would explain his sudden change in the future, as it did (50-51). This account just made me realize that it might be helpful to read journals as such, in order to get the full grasp of the novel you have just finished.
“Have you seen any pleasant men? Have you had any flirting? I was in great hopes that one of you would have got a husband before you came back. Jane will be quite an old maid soon, I declare. She is almost three and twenty! Lord, how ashamed I should be of not being married before three and twenty!” (149).
This text stood out to me because it basically described the importance of marriage in this novel. It was highly important to get married at a young age; therefore, their future will be set in stone. Usually women and men did not get married for the right reaons: love. They often got married for financial stability. For example, George Wickham got married only to clear his debt and Charlotte married Collins to live a comfortable life. The entire novel was based on marriage and the pride people will put aside just to get married. Sad to say that people in the 18th century were extremely desperate to have a life time partner.
Have you seen any pleasant men? Have you had any flirting? I was in great hopes that one of you would have got a husband before you came back. Jane will be quite an old maid soon, I declare. She is almost three and twenty! Lord, how ashamed I should be of not being married before three and twenty!” (149).
This quote shows the values of women in the 19th century. Ms.Bennet is encourages all her children, which happen to all be women, to get married. Women have to get married by a certain age or they are considered an ” old maid”. Today,there is no age limit on what age women can get married. Marriage is a reoccurring theme in “Pride and Prejudice”. Another example of marriage being encouraged was with Lydia and Wickham .Ms.Bennet was also thrilled that her daughter Lydia got married. It was not important that she ran off with Mr.Wickham even though she did not know him.