- Pride is a very common failing I believe. By all that I have read, I am convinced that it is very common indeed, that human nature is particularly prone to it, and that there are very few of us who do not cherish a feeling of self-complacency on the score of some quality or other, real or imaginary. Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us. – Mary Bennet (Vol. 1 Chapter 5)
- It is particularly incumbent on those who never change their opinion to be secure of judging properly at first. – Elizabeth Bennett (Vol. 1 Chapter 18)
- Importance may sometimes be purchased too dearly. – Elizabeth (Vol. 2 Chapter 3)
- I do not mean to say that a woman may not be settled too near her family. The far and the near must be relative, and depend on many varying circumstances. Where there is fortune to make the expense of traveling unimportant, distance becomes no evil. – Elizabeth (Vol. 2 Chapter 9)
- Had Elizabeth’s opinion been all drawn from her own family, she could not have formed a very pleasing picture of conjugal felicity or domestic comfort. (Vol. 2 Chapter 19)
- Mr. Bennet had very often wished, before this period of his life, that instead of spending his whole income, he had laid by an annual sum for the better provision of his children, and of his wife, if she survived him. He now wished it more than ever. (Vol. 3 Chapter 8)
- But how little of permanent happiness could belong to a couple who were only brought together because their passions were stronger than their virtue,....... (Vol. 3 Chapter 8)
- I know that you could be neither happy nor respectable, unless you truly esteemed your husband, unless you looked up to him..........My child, let me not have the grief of seeing you unable to respect your partner in life. – Mr. Bennet to Elizabeth (when learning of her love for Darcy) (Vol. 3 Chapter 17)
And there were SO many others!
Earlier I mentioned that the "language" made it difficult for me to read. I found it interesting how many words I didn't know, or at least didn't understand in a particular context......like "saloon". So, at the risk of advertising a severe lack of vocabulary on my part I will include just some of the words I had to look up.
prepossession: an attitude, belief, or impression formed beforehand : prejudice
obsequiousness: exhibiting servile compliance; fawning
Whist: a card game ancestral to bridge, played with a full deck by two teams of two players
eclat: acclaim, enthusiastic approval
hauteur: haughtiness or arrogance; loftiness
probity: complete and confirmed integrity; uprightness
sennight: the space of seven nights and days : week
complaisance: the inclination to comply willingly with the wishes of others; amiability
dissemble: to disguise or conceal behind a false appearance
entailed: restriction of inheritance to a limited class of descendants for at least several generations
preferment: advancement or promotion in dignity, office, or station
diminution: a reduction in the worth of something caused by an action of a third party or entity
saloon: the principal room (salon) of an 18th century mansion, often at the centre of a suite of state rooms
curricle: a light, open, two-wheeled carriage, drawn by two horses abreast
copse: a thicket of small trees or shrubs
panegyric: elaborate praise or laudation
equipage: equipment or furnishings, or a horse-drawn carriage
brooking: to put up with; tolerate
Looking forward to hearing/reading your impressions of this book!
Love,
Aunt Louise
I have been hesitating to post a comment because I don't want to be negative. However, I did want to show my support in reading the book and sharing my views.
ReplyDeleteMy difficulty with this story lies merely in the fact that I can't relate to these girls whose only goal is to sit around and wait to be married. I just want to jump in and tell them that there's more to life. However, in that day and age there really wasn't. It just makes me sad for them and I really can't feel sympathetic to their struggles at all.
Sorry- I know I am in the huge minority of people who don't care for this book.
(I copied the ice cream recipes, but haven't tried them yet. It's mostly spur of the moment when we get out the ice ceam maker, so I haven't done any where you have to cook items. I would love to get your lemon ice cream recipe, though, if you wouldn't mind sharing it!)
Tori, I definitely see that point of view also. At times it just drives me nuts!! Especially the mother, oooh don't you just hate her sometimes? I'm still confused as to why Mr. Bennet still prefers Mr. Wickham to his other 2 son-in-laws at the end of the book. That through me for a loop. I think why I keep liking it so much is because I feel I can relate personally in some way to some of the characters, or I know people who are so much like the characters that it seems very personal to me.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I probably should have read this book with a dictionary by my side and I didn't understand all the language, it was so poetic. I found myself repeatedly thinking, "That's exactly how I feel, and I never even knew it because I didn't know how to put it into words!" or "Exactly! That's what I wish I could say!"
Always a good read. Thanks Grandma! When does "My Antonia" start? What's it about?? I've never even heard of it.
I'M SO EXCITED TO SEE THESE COMMENTS! I'm so glad that you are still reading with us! And once again I am wowed by your insights! By the way.....Julie too made some excellent observations just one post back. You will want to read it for sure!
ReplyDeleteTori, here is the Lemon Ice Cream recipe you asked for. (Can't remember if it's for 1 gallon or 6 quarts. Probably 6 qts. You might need to adjust the recipe if you have a smaller ice cream freezer.)
• Grate lemon rind from lemons until you have 3 tablespoons worth.
• Juice 12 lemons and strain.
• Dissolve 6 cups sugar in 12 cups half & half.
• Slowly stir lemon juice into the sugar and cream mixture. (Doing it slowly will keep the curdling to a minimum.)
• Freeze mixture for about 15 minutes then open freezer and add 3 tablespoons of grated lemon rind.
• Freeze.
• Allow to ripen for a few hours before serving.
Thanks, Tori and Rachel, for getting things started.
ReplyDeleteFollowing how the Bennett family gets its girls married is hilarious, especially considering how it reflects the social conditions of the period. Even the language of interpersonal relationships suggests elements of battle.
I think of the time Mrs. Bennett marshaled the family horse, Jane's safety and health, and even the weather in a strategy to penetrate the walls of Netherfield (and Bingley's heart - tear drop). Then there was the memorable transaction between Elizabeth and Miss Bingley, who had just not so subtly indicated that the militia's move out of Meryton must be a "great loss to your (The Bennett) family." Austen writes that Elizabeth could sense the tension mounting in the room and, "exerting herself vigorously to repel the ill-natured attack, she presently answered the question in a tolerably disengaged tone." Then of course, you have all of the tense conversations between Darsey and Elizabeth, each one acting like a little battle in a protracted war.
Anyway, that's one of the many elements I really enjoyed.
Looking forward to My Antonia!
Ben
PS: Rachel, I thought Mr. Bennett was being characteristically sarcastic when he made the comment about Wickham. You have to admire that Dad's easy going nature. I don't know that I'd be able to crack jokes in those circumstances!
The end of the novel makes me insane because of how Mr. Bennett reacts to Wickham. He is so cordial, and I tell you what, if someone did that to my daughter, he would be met with a shotgun at the very moment of his arrival. I'm all for "good manners", however I think their good manners were to a fault. It seems that you never really got to know someone because they had to put up pretenses about what they were thinking, or about their opinions. Like her or hate her, Mrs. Bennett at least was herself no matter whom (is it who or whom) she was around.
ReplyDeleteI highly doubt that I would have ever fit in with such a society as I would not be able to bite my tongue. That is precisely the reason why I admire Elizabeth so much, although I must agree with Tori that I cannot imagine sitting around waiting to be married. Nor can I imagine marrying for any other reason than love. If this is an accurate depiction of society during Jane Austin's life, then I pity with all my heart the women back in the day. Sense and Sensibility gets me even more riled up too, but I won't go there. I would suggest reading or watching the movie though.
Natalie
Nat