2/12: Pride and Prejudice p. 88-183

Selected ideas from the section:

Elizabeth's ignorance of Darcy's history and stubbornness to decipher his persona reflects just as much on her character as it does on his apparant misdeeds.

• "Both, for I have always seen a great similarity in the turn of our minds..." (90)
• "Sir William could not have interrupted any two people in the room who had less to say for themselves" (91)
• "...Mr. Darcy would consider his addresssing him without introduction as an impertinent freedom..." (95)
• "Could there by finer symptoms? Is not general incivility the very essence of love?" (139)
• Without admitting it, Elizabeth appears to be making the motions that would ordinarily build a relationship rather than support a rift between people. She is able to so well understand Darcy's character that she offers advise on how to best approach him to Mr. Collins. She both compares herself to Darcy and makes familiar comments that might be taken as impolite with an acquantance. Elizabeth comments quite freely on the fact that she and Darcy had not been speaking very much at all upon being interrupted by Sir William, while throughout Collins's attempted proposal, she maintains proper decorum. She is only too happy to point out the flaws she sees in Darcy, only to later define love by its aspects of incivility, a trait with which she nearly defines Darcy. Elizabeth seems eager to publicize her distaste for Darcy, which only leads us to questions what else must be motivating the attacks.

• "She was resolved against...whose blind partiality provoked her" (p. 88-89)
• "...but he will vouch for the good conduct, the probity and honour of his friend..." (94)
• "...whether he may be equally capable of retaining them, is less certain" (91)
• Although Elizabeth receives many accounts supporting his character and intentions, she refuses to by swayed by them. Bingley is every loyal to Darcy and recommends his friend when needed. Elizabeth stands with Bingley on all other accounts and is hopeful of his potential proposal to Jane, and yet will not let him defend his friend. Darcy himself defends his actions related to the Wickham ordeal, and yet Elizabeth refuses to hear him.

• "...his claims on Mr. Darcy, and all that he had suffered from him, was now openly acknowledged" (135)
• Elizabeth chooses sides in the Darcy/Wickham animosity based solely on the testimony of each man involved. With no substantial reason, she chooses Wickham's story over Darcy's even with Bingley's support of Darcy. Elizabeth has no one to attest to the good intentions of Wickham and yet wholeheartedly believes what he tells her.

Mr. Collins' seemingly rehearsed lines only add to the spectacle of his character.

• "Pardon me for neglecting to profit by your advice, which on every other subject shall be my constant guide..." (96)
• "...nothing remains for me but to assure you in the most animated language of the violence of my affection" (104)
• "...your wish of increasing my love by suspense, according to the usual pracice of elegant females" (106)
• Collins speaks as if he has prepared responses he deems fit for certain situations; that would be proper to say.

• "The stupidity with which he was favoured by nature, must guard his courtship from any charm that could make a woman wish for its continuance..." (120)
• This quote sums up Collins' proposals.