Brittany's P&P Book Club Answers

1. For many people, P&P is their favorite Austen novel. Why do you think that’s true? Is that true for you? Why after 200 years, is this novel still so popular?

I like Pride very much (although my love for Persuasion slightly outweighs it). I think it’s because (especially in a Latter-day Saint culture) we see shadows of our society in theirs and the circumstances and characters in the novel are easy to relate to (or maybe even aspire to) it. Add the romance of a period setting and it is a recipe for popularity.

2. Jane is the eldest and is supposed to be the most beautiful of the Bennet daughters. Could Jane be the main heroine of P&P? Besides Jane Bennet, Jane Fairfax in Emma is also named Jane. Both of them are beautiful, lovely and everything desirable. What do you think of that, considering the author’s first name? J

Jane Bennet (in her circumstances) could definitely be set up as the formulaic main heroine in P&P but Austen smartly makes Elizabeth the focus.

I think it’s very cheeky that the Janes are lovely and desirable. I love it.

3. Compare and contrast male and female attitudes towards marriage in the novel. Think about Wickham, Charlotte Lucas and Lizzie. What kind of relationship between a man and a woman did Jane Austen idealize?

I think there is a similarity between the sexes regarding some views on marriage. Some people in the novel (on both sides of the gender line) view marriage as a business or social contract; devoid of love. (Think of how Caroline Bingley or Mr. Collins view marriage.)

I think Austen idealized a marriage full of love; however it seems that she was obviously torn with the money issue, as it appears in all of her novels. How does the necessary evil of money fit in with love? Does money beget love? How does the lack of money dissolve relationships? If money is necessary, is there such thing as a balance between the two? What if there were a balance between the two?...

4. In what ways was Lydia’s outcome predictable? What hints did you see? Lydia and Wickham pose a danger to the Bennet family as long as they are unmarried and unchecked. But as a married couple, with little improvement in their behavior, this danger vanishes. What do you think of that?

Lydia’s immature ideals and behavior regarding men is the indicator. I think the shift in Mrs. Bennet’s attitude toward them from when they are not married to when they are is interesting. She also shifts her attitude toward Mr. Darcy and it is not because Lizzie loves him, it is only because of the thought of her daughter marrying him and getting his money. As married people I think Lydia and Wickham seem to become each other’s problem, whereas as single people they are the problem of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. Of course when they are unchecked and unmarried, there was the potential of social discipline and consequences that the whole Bennet family would feel.

5. What are Wickham’s motivations for engaging himself to Georgiana? For seducing Lydia? Compare him to Mr. Willoughby of Sense & Sensibility.

Wickham’s motives for doing anything involve lust, revenge or money. With Georgiana he was making a grab for a piece of the Darcy fortune. With Lydia he was thinking of revenge… and of his libido. It’s ironic that it is only when he marries Lydia that he gets [some] of the Darcy fortune. Mr. Willoughby has similar qualities and motives (think of how they are both at first, set up to be dashing, good catches), but I think Willoughby is much more of a scoundrel than Wickham is.

6. For you, who is the most interesting character in the novel?

For me, Charlotte Lucas is the most interesting character in the novel. (See #8)

7. Not everyone in P&P marries. Jane Austen suggests that in order to marry well a woman must be pretty, respectable, and have money. In the world of Pride and Prejudice, which of these is most important? Who else in that society is likely to make a good match? Think of Caroline Bingley, Georgiana Darcy, Kitty Bennet, Mary Bennet, Miss DeBourgh, etc.

Hmm, being pretty, respectable and loaded seem to carry equal amounts of weight. I would think Caroline Bingley and possibly Miss DeBourgh would make “good” matches in the sense of marrying a man of fortune. Whether or not they would intentionally seek out a man for the purpose of having a happy marriage is something else all together. Kitty Bennet may have an attractive personality and good looks, but she is (at this age anyway) not very respectable and has no fortune; she may marry, but my guess is, like Lydia she will probably marry an officer. Mary has no fortune and has not the beauty or social graces that her older sisters have; I’m wondering that if Mary did not change, would she find anyone to marry. Mary missed a huge opportunity with Mr. Collins! (LOL) Georgiana Darcy has all three attributes, so I am confident in saying that in that society she alone (out of the girls on the above list) has the best chance for having a “good” match (marrying for both money and love).

8. Was Charlotte Lucas right to marry Mr. Collins? Why and why not? With Charlotte Lucas, was Jane Austen making a social criticism of her era’s view of marriage?

With the Lucas-Collins match I most definitely think Austen was making a social criticism on the then-current view of marriage. However, she used a sympathetic character to do it, which is very interesting.

Charlotte of course was right to marry Mr. Collins because he was her one and only shot at unburdening her family financially and socially, having children of her own and to gain social status and acceptance. Charlotte was wrong to marry Mr. Collins because he’s… you know… Mr. Collins. LOL

9. Would Mary have married Mr. Collins had he thought to ask her? Would they make a better match?

I think it is a shame Mr. Collins did not think of poor Mary when he came to Longbourn. By marrying Mary he would have fulfilled his desire to marry a Bennet daughter and keep the estate in the immediate family. I believe they may have been a better match than he and Charlotte, but then who would Charlotte marry? J

10. Is Mr. Bennet a positive or negative figure? Is he a good father and husband?

He seems very middle-of-the-road with a slight lean toward being a negative figure. I don’t think he is a particularly terrible father; yes he could have been more involved and attentive, but there are worse fathers and husbands.

11. P&P was originally titled First Impressions. Discuss both titles. What role do first impressions play in P&P? Do any of the characters change during the course of the novel, or is it our perspective that changes? To you, which characters remained the same?

I love First Impressions as a title but I think the title Pride & Prejudice encompasses and includes so many more characters in the book. That being said, first impressions are so important in this novel! Our first impression of Lady Catherine is exactly what she is. Our first impression of Wickham is deceiving. In some ways Mr. Darcy is the same throughout the novel, (his servants have always loved him and his character) in other ways he grows and sheds some of his pride (and prejudices). J

New Poll!

Yay! A new poll. I'll only do one this time so I do not overwhelm you with a bunch. But hopefully you'll vote. You can vote for more than one, too, especially if you have different reasonings or accountings for why you love to hate them--or hate to love them! It can be for any reason that the villain is your favorite.

• He's not so bad, but just so clueless
• His sweet/funny/ridiculous way of unintentionally blocking our heroes and heroines from their regular course of adventures
• He's so scheming
• He's so conniving
• He's so charmingly bad
• He's the most dastardly of the dastardlies
• He's well-written

Or anything! Whatever your reasoning, let's hear some comments about it. This is the most intriguing part--why we do or do not like the characters an author creates. There are so many reasons that can be quite various. And that's what my book/reading lover self likes to talk about.

So, seriously--let's hear something!

Favorite Persuasion Female Secondary Characters

4 votes (actually 6)

Mrs. Mary E. Musgrove 2 (50%)
Mrs. Musgrove 0 (0%)
Miss Henrietta Musgrove 0 (0%)
Mrs. Sophia Croft 1 (25%)
Mrs. Harville 1 (25%)
Mrs. Smith 1 (25%)
Lady Russell 1 (25%)
Mrs. Clay 0 (0%)

Favorite NA Female Secondary Characters

5 votes

Mrs. Allen 2 (40%)
Mrs. Thorpe 0 (0%)
Miss Thorpe (not Isabella) 0 (0%)
Mrs. Morland 3 (60%)

Favorite Emma Female Secondary Characters

5 votes (actually 6)

Mrs. Isabelle W. Knightley 0 (0%)
Mrs. Anne T. Weston 3 (60%)
(the infamous) Mrs. Churchill 0 (0%)
Mrs. Bates 0 (0%)
Miss Hetty Bates 2 (40%)
Mrs. Augusta H. Elton 1 (20%)

Favorite MP Female Secondary Characters

2 votes (not a popular poll)

Lady Maria W. Bertram 1 (50%)
Mrs. Maria B. Rushworth 0 (0%)
Mrs. Julia B. Yates 1 (50%)
Mrs. Norris 0 (0%)
Mrs. Price 0 (0%)
Mrs. Grant 0 (0%)

Favorite P&P Female Secondary Characters

5 votes (actually 8)

Mrs. Bennet 0 (0%)
Miss Mary Bennet 1 (20%)
Miss Kitty Bennet 0 (0%)
Miss Lydia Bennet 0 (0%)
Lady Catherine de Bourgh 1 (20%)
Miss Anne de Bourgh 0 (0%)
Miss Georgiana Darcy 2 (40%)
Mrs. Gardiner 3 (40%)
Mrs. Charlotte L. Collins 1 (20%)
Miss Maria Lucas 0 (0%)
Mrs. Louisa B. Hurst 0 (0%)

Favorite S&S Female Secondary Characters

4 votes (actually 7--poll counter has issues)

Mrs. Dashwood 1 (25%)
Miss Margaret Dashwood 1 (25%)
Mrs. Fanny F. Dashwood 0 (0%)
Miss Anne Steele 3 (75%)
Miss Lucy Steele 1 (25%)
Mrs. Jennings 1 (25%)
Mrs. Charlotte J. Palmer 0 (0%)
Lady Middleton 0 (0%)
Mrs. Ferrars 0 (0%)
Miss Sophia Grey 0 (0%)

Favorite Austen "Villainess"...or Rival

4 votes

Lucy Steele 1 (25%)
Sophia Grey 0 (0%)
Caroline Bingley 0 (0%)
Jane Fairfax 0 (0%)
Harriet Smith 0 (0%)
Mary Crawford 2 (50%)
Isabella Thorpe 0 (0%)
Louisa Musgrove 1 (25%)
Elizabeth Elliot 0 (0%)

Favorite Austen Heroine

So these polls have been sitting with results for over a month. Sorry about that. Here are the results for posterity. I have quite a few wonderings about some answers. Maybe I'll comment on them later. But for now I'm going to get these up and try to come up with a new poll.

7 votes

Elinor Dashwood 1 (14%)
Marianne Dashwood 2 (28%)
Elizabeth Bennet 2 (28%)
Jane Bennet 0 (0%)
Emma Woodhouse 1 (14%)
Harriet Smith 0 (0%)
Fanny Price 1 (14%)
Susan Price 0 (0%)
Catherine Morland 0 (0%)
Eleanor Tilney 1 (14%)
Anne Elliot 2 (28%)

My First Children's Book

(Created for the Cowboy Fairy Tales K-5 Storytime next week.)

A Texas Fairy Tale: Rapunzel

(or whatever you call her)

First, you must fill in the blanks with a name or phrase. That in ( ) are just suggestions.

The ol’ ______(Windmill)
Crazy ______(Velma)
Purty ______ (Tumbleweed)
Charmin’ _______ (Pete)
The Hair Call ________ (Throw me some rope, darlin’! )

Now round up some dogies and read the story aloud. Whenever you come to the blank, call out the corresponding name/phrase that you came up with.

Once upon a time in Texas, the best spot o’ land that side o’ the Mississippi was owned by a crazy ranch lady named ___. One day she had found a purty baby left at her barn door. Not knowin’ what to do with a baby and a-feared the baby would scare the cattle and jes’ make a mess o’ everythin’

(which we know is jes’ silly ’cause that’s jes’ what babies do until they grow outta that, but then that’s why she was the crazy ranch lady)

she put the baby up in the little room way up high above the ol’___. It was a nice, neat little place where the baby would be safe and not bother the cattle. Crazy ___ named the purty baby ___ and visited her every day.

As she grew up, Purty ___ became very beautiful. She also had lots and lots of hair. When the ol’ stairs of the ol’ ___ broke, Crazy ____ used Purty ___’s hair to climb up to the little room for her daily visits. Purty___ liked her little room. It looked out all over the Texas prairie. She saw many wonderful Texas things, but what Purty ___ loved most of all was The Out West Ranch. It was jes’ beautiful.

What Purty ____ didn’t know was that The Out West Ranch was owned by Charmin’ ____, son of the lifelong enemy of Crazy ___. Charmin’ ___’s Pa had been her competition since the dawn o’ the cattle industry—er, at least, the dawn o’ her cattle industry. His cattle beat out her cattle in every state fair and rodeo there could possibly be. And it plum drove the crazy ranch lady, well…crazy! Crazy___ did not like him when he was alive, and now she didn’t like his son, Charmin’ ___.

One day, Charmin’ ___ was passin’ the ol’ ____ on his way to town to get some feed for the horses when he saw Crazy ___ climbin’ down some golden hair.

“Now that’s interestin’,” he said. “I wonder who belongs to that beautiful mane o’ golden hair.” He decided to come back the next day and find out.

Sure enough, the next day Charmin’ ___ came by and saw Crazy ___ come to the ol’ ___. She looked up to the top and gave out The Hair Call, “________!”

Down came the mane o’ golden hair, and up Crazy ____ climbed. Charmin’ ___ saw that it was attached to Purty ____. He’d heard stories a-plenty about a girl up in the ol’ ___, but he figured that was jes’ more crazy talk ‘bout Crazy ___. But now he could see that the stories were real! And that Purty ___ was jes’ as purty as the stories said she was.
Charmin’___ decided he wanted to meet Purty ___. So he walked up to the ol’___ and let out The Hair Call, “_________!”

Immediately, Purty ___ let down her mane o’ golden hair. And Charmin’ ___ climbed up.

“Howdy!” he introduced himself as he bowed deeply. Purty ___ curtsied back. (She was a real Texas lady.) The two struck up a fast friendship, and every day Charmin’ ___ found some excuse to come by the ol’ ___ and climb up Purty ___’s mane o’ golden hair for a visit.

After a good amount o’ days, Charmin’ ___ asked Purty ___ if she would be his wife, and she happily agreed. ’Course, by now Purty ___ knew that Charmin’ ____ was the ranch rival of Crazy ____, and Charmin’ ___ knew that Purty ___ was her adopted daughter. They had a problem the size of Texas.
How in tarnation was Charmin’ ___ goin’ to ask Crazy ___ for Purty __’s hand in marriage?

Easy as fried chicken! Charmin’ ___ waited until Crazy ___ came for her next visit. And a’fore she could start to fumin’, he told her how much he loved Purty ___ and that he wanted to marry her. Then Charmin’ ____ made an offer Crazy ____ couldn’t refuse:
“Iffen we join ranches, then I could raise up all our cattle to be the best around and you could provide the best land our side o’ the Mississippi.”

It was a deal to beat! And Crazy ___ was not so crazy as to refuse it. She was overjoyed to welcome Charmin’ ___into the family.

That left jes’ one other problem.

How was Purty ___ ever s’posed to get outta the ol’ ___?!

…What do you think?....


And so the Purty Charmin’ couple lived happily ever after on the Crazy Out West Ranch.


The End.

Meredith's P&P Book Club Answers

1. For many people, P&P is their favorite Austen novel. Why do you
think that’s true? Is that true for you? Why after 200 years, is this
novel still so popular?

Okay, I'm not sure if it's my fav. Austen, but it is one of my
favorite books. Persuasion is probably my favorite Austen, but not
one of my (very small in number) favorite books. That doesn't really
make sense, but there you go. I think so many people like it because
the characters are relatable and it really it super hilarious, even
now.

2. Jane is the eldest and is supposed to be the most beautiful of the
Bennet daughters. Could Jane be the main heroine of P&P? Besides Jane
Bennet, Jane Fairfax in Emma is also named Jane. Both of them are
beautiful, lovely and everything desirable. What do you think of that,
considering the author’s first name?

I've wondered about that. It could be just that Jane was a super
common name back then. Because if I was putting a Meredith in a book,
she was be way more awesome than Jane Fairfax. But maybe it just
amused her to put in characters with her name.

3. Compare and contrast male and female attitudes towards marriage in
the novel. Think about Wickham, Charlotte Lucas and Lizzie. What kind
of relationship between a man and a woman did Jane Austen idealize?

Wickham is scum! I think really the most telling attitude is
Charlotte Lucas's. It seems crazy to us now, but really, women back
in the day did not have the kind of opportunities we have. So her
"practical" view of marriage would probably never come from a man, who
can go out and get a job. Lizzie's just special.

4. In what ways was Lydia’s outcome predictable? What hints did you
see? Lydia and Wickham pose a danger to the Bennet family as long as
they are unmarried and unchecked. But as a married couple, with little
improvement in their behavior, this danger vanishes. What do you think
of that?

It's been such a long time since I read the book the first time, but
I remember being really surprised that Lydia ended up with Wickham.
Not that she ended doing something totally dumb, though. As for the
danger to the family, I think that's a lot of the difference from then
to now. Now we would want them to never see or speak to each other
again, because once they're married, you're stuck with a c?!p in-law. [Heidi-censored ;) ]

5. What are Wickham’s motivations for engaging himself to Georgiana?
For seducing Lydia? Compare him to Mr. Willoughby of Sense &
Sensibility.

Wickham just wants money and/or the ladies. With Georgiana, he was
really planning ahead, in that he wanted to be provided for. With
Lydia, he was just trying to satisfy immediate wants. I think he and
Willoughby are a lot alike, except that Willoughby actually did love
Marianne, while I'm not sure Wickham ever loved anyone but himself.
But Willoughby still sucks.

6. For you, who is the most interesting character in the novel?

Ooh, good question. I'm not sure I can pick just one. How about the
Bennet family as a whole. It's so interesting the way they all relate
to each other, and the differences between the sisters, or the
differences between Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Gardiner. It makes you wonder
about how they were raised.

7. Not everyone in P&P marries. Jane Austen suggests that in order to
marry well a woman must be pretty, respectable, and have money. In the
world of Pride and Prejudice, which of these is most important? Who
else in that society is likely to make a good match? Think of Caroline
Bingley, Georgiana Darcy, Kitty Bennet, Mary Bennet, Miss DeBourgh,
etc.

I'll say respectable. At least for the good matches. The reason I
say that is because of Jane and Lizzie, who for sure make the best
matches, mostly because they're awesome. They're also pretty, but
their awesomeness is what really snags them the good fellas. I'm sure
that Georgiana Darcy will make a great match. Caroline Bingley will
probably make a "good" match, but I'll bet she's not very happy.
Kitty will make a middling match, Mary will marry someone weird, and
Miss DeBourgh will remain single.

8. Was Charlotte Lucas right to marry Mr. Collins? Why and why not?
With Charlotte Lucas, was Jane Austen making a social criticism of her
era’s view of marriage?

For Charlotte, I think it was the right thing to do. But it's not a
fun or cool thing for her to have to do. I definitely think it's a
criticism of the time. The fact that awesome Charlotte gets trapped
in this kind of relationship isn't fair.

9. Would Mary have married Mr. Collins had he thought to ask her?
Would they make a better match?

Probably. Poor Mary. I think if Mr. Collins could get past his thing
with people's looks, they probably would have made a good match. But
their kids would have been totally screwed.

10. Is Mr. Bennet a positive or negative figure? Is he a good father
and husband?

I love Mr. Bennet. He's hilarious. But I don't think he's a good
father at all. I think he really loves his family, but he certainly
doesn't treat them very well, or take care of them very well. And he
was stupid enough to marry Mrs. Bennet, so he can't complain that his
wife if dumb. I think he would have been a great "cool bachelor
uncle" type.

11. P&P was originally titled First Impressions. Discuss both titles.
What role do first impressions play in P&P? Do any of the characters
change during the course of the novel, or is it our perspective that
changes? To you, which characters remained the same?

Some of the characters definitely change, esp. Elizabeth and Darcy.
But our perspective about them changes, too. I really hated Darcy for
the first part of P&P the first time I read it, but by the end I loved
him a lot. I thought that my perspective had just changed. But when
I read it again, I realized that he had changed too. He's really a
jerk in the beginning. Not as much as I originally thought, but
still, he wasn't super nice in the beginning. Other people, like
Wickham, don't change. We just grow to understand them better. First
impressions are very important with Elizabeth and Darcy, but I'm still
glad Austen changed the title. Pride and Prejudice is more catchy.

My P&P Book Club Answers

1. For many people, P&P is their favorite Austen novel. Why do you think that’s true? Is that true for you? Why after 200 years, is this novel still so popular?
I think it’s a favorite for some because of the ’95 film version! :-) But honestly, I think it’s because it is her work with the most relatable characters. I think readers enjoy the banter between Darcy and Elizabeth. Both proposal scenes are hilarious. Who doesn’t enjoy agreeing with Mr. Bennet that he has 3 very silly daughters indeed? The awkwardness of the first meeting at Pemberly is one we could all relate to in some way. And then the joy that two people who are very suited for each other eventually do come together. It is a favorite as far as it being the first Austen I read. But of her stories, style, and characters put together, it is not my favorite.

2. Jane is the eldest and is supposed to be the most beautiful of the Bennet daughters. Could Jane be the main heroine of P&P? Besides Jane Bennet, Jane Fairfax in Emma is also named Jane. Both of them are beautiful, lovely and everything desirable. What do you think of that, considering the author’s first name? :-)
I don’t think Jane is the main heroine. I think she’s the supporting heroine that helps you see some of Lizzie’s flaws (as well as good sense and playful nature) and how she improves upon them. A true heroine in a novel should be one who experiences some sort of growth. You don’t see that in Jane Bennet.

As for the name, I don’t think she’s saying something. I could be wrong. But it seemed that Jane Fairfax was meant to be portrayed as annoying because she was so “perfect” and that though she is everything desirable, she was not desirable. But then, maybe Austen was making a statement on that—trying to be everything considered desirable and was still not so, particularly because of her social status.

3. Compare and contrast male and female attitudes towards marriage in the novel. Think about Wickham, Charlotte Lucas and Lizzie. What kind of relationship between a man and a woman did Jane Austen idealize?
Wickham needed to marry money to help him in the way he used to living, but didn’t mind anything extramarital. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was fine with those after marriage, too. Charlotte needed marriage for security—to get her out of her parents’ home and giving her the opportunity to run her own home. Love didn’t matter, nor did intense wealth. As long as she could have a comfortable home and lifestyle, she would be willing to put up with anything else. Which she did…. Lizzie wants to marry for love. I think that was Austen’s ideal. Wealth did not matter, nor did station. Love could conquer all—though many might make the journey a little smoother.

4. In what ways was Lydia’s outcome predictable? What hints did you see? Lydia and Wickham pose a danger to the Bennet family as long as they are unmarried and unchecked. But as a married couple, with little improvement in their behavior, this danger vanishes. What do you think of that?
Actually, the first time I ever read the book I was surprised at the exact outcome. I never thought she would go that far. But predictable behavior patterns that I could see would be her constant flirtation. Lead a man on with some tempting and eventually he will follow with the intention to take. Couples may be silly, poor, snobbish, rude, or mean, but as long as they are married they are committing no huge crime against society. A shame that the world doesn’t even think that way anymore.

5. What are Wickham’s motivations for engaging himself to Georgiana? For seducing Lydia? Compare him to Mr. Willoughby of Sense & Sensibility.
Wickham wants revenge on Darcy and Georgiana’s fortune. Lydia? He just wanted some action. Maybe even he was taking a little revenge on Lizzie because she no longer had interest in him after the Miss King incident—though that may be stretching it a bit. Willougby first sought our Marianne for fun and pleasure (seeing as she had no fortune). Maybe even a bit of revenge toward Colonel Brandon (because I assume he knew who Eliza was and I could see awful Willoughby doing something like that). That he genuinely fell for Marianne was not too bad at first because he had a promising inheritance. But once the inheritance was taken away, he had no money and his mercenariness took over. The two are very similar. Right down to the beginning letters. It’s so “wicked,” “wily,” and “womanizing” can flow well with their names.

6. For you, who is the most interesting character in the novel?
Lizzie. She’s the one I get to know more of, the one I see change a lot, and the one whose thoughts I’m more privileged to be a part of. Because I relate to her and in many ways would like to be like her, I probably put more interest to her than exists in the book. But that’s why we are readers—to read in some things that others may not read.

7. Not everyone in P&P marries. Jane Austen suggests that in order to marry well a woman must be pretty, respectable, and have money. In the world of Pride and Prejudice, which of these is most important? Who else in that society is likely to make a good match? Think of Caroline Bingley, Georgiana Darcy, Kitty Bennet, Mary Bennet, Miss DeBourgh, etc.
I think of those 3 choices, the part of the P&P world Austen wants to be more important is respectable. Caroline has money and will probably make some wealthy match that will not have happiness. How could there be with her snotty, conniving personality traits? The book indicates that Kitty has better influence and society once Lizzie is married, which makes me think she will be more respectable in the long run. And though not having wealth herself, being related to it may improve her chances and I think she could be decently happy. For Mary, it is said that she stays home with her mother. I don’t think she has much desire for marriage unless “another Mr. Collins” comes by. Miss de Bourgh I doubt will ever find marriage, but to no fault of her own. Money she has. Respectability of course. But if she had beauty it probably was twisted away (unintentionally) by her over-bearing mother. And said mother would be so particular over any suitor that now cannot be Darcy that she’d probably drive them all away before Anne even knew of their existence! Georgiana will make the best match, having all 3 assets as well as a brother and sister-in-law who will make sure all else is in place, too.

8. Was Charlotte Lucas right to marry Mr. Collins? Why and why not? With Charlotte Lucas, was Jane Austen making a social criticism of her era’s view of marriage?
Considering how life was for females, I can see why she was right for security purposes. But I cannot bring myself to that much unhappiness for the rest of my life. I definitely think Austen was giving her opinion on society’s view of marriage.

9. Would Mary have married Mr. Collins had he thought to ask her? Would they make a better match?
Every movie version I’ve ever seen puts that twist into it. But I honestly never got that when I read the book. I can’t remember, but does it say that Mary is ugly? Or just plain? I mean, I know Lizzie’s beauty outshone her, but I never thought Mary was ugly. (And I hate that movies like to portray her as such—except in the LDS version). My guess is Mr. Collins went for Lizzie because of her beauty and her happier countenance. Obviously Mary’s brain and philosophizing never came to his notice before, during, or after the Lizzie “courtship.” My guess is it never would have. Had Mary been a little more forthcoming in society and tried to dress herself even a little (for Charlotte was plain, and yet still made an effort to look her best), then maybe she stood a chance. But my guess is he wouldn’t have ever come to ask her. And if somehow he had, would Mary have answered yes? Maybe. Maybe not. Perhaps she’d never thought of marrying. Who is to say? But I think Lady Catherine was definitely happier with Charlotte than she ever would have been with Mary.

10. Is Mr. Bennet a positive or negative figure? Is he a good father and husband?
Some movies portray him as very positive. The book doesn’t show him as negative, just that he did have some brusque things about him, or at times could be too careless and not present for his family. Just because you made the mistake in your choice of marriage partner, that does not give you the excuse to hide away in your library and do as you want when you want. And just because somehow you have an income that supports your family does not mean you don’t have to help in any other ways to raise your family. He has weaknesses, but he could be a lot worse than he is. So, umm….neutral?

11. P&P was originally titled First Impressions. Discuss both titles. What role do first impressions play in P&P? Do any of the characters change during the course of the novel, or is it our perspective that changes? To you, which characters remained the same?
Both titles still work. In fact, some editions have “first impressions” as the subtitle. First impressions are the main reason that the pride & prejudice become instigated in this novel. Both Darcy and Elizabeth form impressions of each other at the first meeting and hold to those opinions—Lizzie particularly. It is only as they later get to know more of each other that they realize how much in common they have and how suitable they are for each other. It is scary how much of an impact first impressions have on others and we would wish people would learn lessons to get to know others better before having personal opinions that affect your relations with them. However, that is not the case. Thus, we must be careful of our first impressions!

P&P Book Club Questions

Is everyone ready to talk about one of the most talked about books there could be?! I never tire of talking of one of my favorite Austens (only because it's the first I read od hers and we have a special bond). Here are the questions. The meeting is this coming Thursday, the 16th. So send along some responses and let's have some discussing. I'll try to do better with discussing this time as I won't be preparing for a trip and am hoping I won't be sick.

1. For many people, P&P is their favorite Austen novel. Why do you think that’s true? Is that true for you? Why after 200 years, is this novel still so popular?

2. Jane is the eldest and is supposed to be the most beautiful of the Bennet daughters. Could Jane be the main heroine of P&P? Besides Jane Bennet, Jane Fairfax in Emma is also named Jane. Both of them are beautiful, lovely and everything desirable. What do you think of that, considering the author’s first name? J

3. Compare and contrast male and female attitudes towards marriage in the novel. Think about Wickham, Charlotte Lucas and Lizzie. What kind of relationship between a man and a woman did Jane Austen idealize?

4. In what ways was Lydia’s outcome predictable? What hints did you see? Lydia and Wickham pose a danger to the Bennet family as long as they are unmarried and unchecked. But as a married couple, with little improvement in their behavior, this danger vanishes. What do you think of that?

5. What are Wickham’s motivations for engaging himself to Georgiana? For seducing Lydia? Compare him to Mr. Willoughby of Sense & Sensibility.

6. For you, who is the most interesting character in the novel?

7. Not everyone in P&P marries. Jane Austen suggests that in order to marry well a woman must be pretty, respectable, and have money. In the world of Pride and Prejudice, which of these is most important? Who else in that society is likely to make a good match? Think of Caroline Bingley, Georgiana Darcy, Kitty Bennet, Mary Bennet, Miss DeBourgh, etc.

8. Was Charlotte Lucas right to marry Mr. Collins? Why and why not? With Charlotte Lucas, was Jane Austen making a social criticism of her era’s view of marriage?

9. Would Mary have married Mr. Collins had he thought to ask her? Would they make a better match?

10. Is Mr. Bennet a positive or negative figure? Is he a good father and husband?

11. P&P was originally titled First Impressions. Discuss both titles. What role do first impressions play in P&P? Do any of the characters change during the course of the novel, or is it our perspective that changes? To you, which characters remained the same?

Dear John

Yes. Well, I have a new love. He first entered my life when I was quite low. Illness, you see. Perhaps I wouldn't love him as much as I do if not for him being there for me as no one else was. He is with me even now, and he makes my heart so happy.

The only unfortunate thing is his name. John. Too many Johns in my life. Too many J names in my life. But if it is attached to such a man, I can bear it. And love it. And I do love it. I love him.

And thus we see how pathetic a creature I truly am. For, yes, I do fall in love with men who...aren't real. "It's my curse." And I wonder if it's one reason I'm still single! :-)

But as I am single and at least until that status changes, I choose to glory, revel, and joy in my love for a man who was created by God....through Charles Dickens.

My dear friends, readers, followers, and Austen lovers, I am pleased to introduce to you

John Rokesmith

of Our Mutual Friend

What's that? He looks familiar to you? Well he might, for he is also known as Nephew Fred.

And I will admit that even in 7th grade I had a crush on this man, in spite of it being two different characters. Well, he plays Dickens men well. I don't need to bother seeing any other character played by him. My heart is happy here.

But I digress. Let me introduce more of my dearest to you. Here, he meets Bella.

I've often liked the name, in spite of the attack it has had from the Twilight craze. Thus, meet the woman I live through vicariously. Yes, even in her shallow, mercenariness at the beginning to her wonderful transformation that helps show the true heart of gold she has always had--and which my dear John always knew she had.

His happiness is my happiness.

His sadness my sorrow.

Though others might say a bit odd and even creepy, I love his intensity.

His devotion.

His loyalty.

His constancy.

His true heart.

He is a man among men.

But as amazing as that wondrous story is, Dickens gives us a second one just as wonderful.

Meet Lizzie.

And Eugene Wrayburn. (Next time I'm counting how often his name is said in the movie!)

There story is a much different one, but one I follow just as happily and eagerly. I love what I've seen Keeley in. And Paul is so wonderful of Horatio fame, how could I not urge his cause in spite of the awful moustache and persistent, um, laziness. Yet Keeley as Lizzie brings out the best of Paul as Eugene. And I love it.

I love the movie. I look forward to the book.

But it may not be to the liking of all. And there are detestable characters a-plenty. (If you really love Col. Brandon in the new S&S, I strongly caution you for this movie.) There is humor. Romance. Mystery. Sorrow. Poverty. Death. Marriage. Birth. Joy. It's Dickens--what else would you expect?

I have discovered that there are a few scenes which I have not seen--and they are the ones I had most hoped would be in the movie. Now I anxiously await the DVD of special features that I may joy in that, too. So much more I could say. And will very soon I'm sure. But I hope you have enjoyed meeting my newest love.

I now post a few music videos I found on YouTube. But with an intense warning. If you want to experience the greatest joy and discovery of this film, I would urge you to watch the film before these videos. The videos do give enough away that you might not enjoy as much as I did when I first encountered the movie and had no idea what to expect as it went along. It is something I love about watching new movies and reading new books.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ob1Rzh2TBDQ

I'm Here, I'm Here!

Or, more like I'm Back, I'm Back. And while I'm up late because I'm trying to readjust to time changes again, I still know I need to get to bed. So, let me tempt you to come back to read by mentioning that I have a new favorite crush and I'm totally in love with him! Will tell all later.