. . . it was not in her nature to question the veracity of a young man of such amiable appearance as Wickham.
Of Jane Bennet
Pride and Prejudice, Vol. 1, Ch. 17
Category Archives: Jane Bennet
Such amiable appearance
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Filed under Character, Jane Bennet, Pride and Prejudice, Wickham
Such low connections
The Bingley sisters discuss Jane’s chances of marrying well:
“I have an excessive regard for Jane Bennet, she is really a very sweet girl, and I wish with all my heart she were well settled. But with such a father and mother, and such low connections, I am afraid there is no chance of it.”
“I think I have heard you say, that their uncle is an attorney in Meryton.”
“Yes; and they have another, who lives somewhere near Cheapside.”
“That is capital,” added her sister, and they both laughed heartily.
“If they had uncles enough to fill all Cheapside,” cried Bingley, “it would not make them one jot less agreeable.”
“But it must very materially lessen their chance of marrying men of any consideration in the world,” replied Darcy.
Pride and Prejudice, Vol 1, Ch 8
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If she should die
“. . . if your daughter should have a dangerous fit of illness, if she should die, it would be a comfort to know that it was all in pursuit of Mr. Bingley, and under your orders.”
Mr. Bennet, to his wife, who had forced Jane to ride to Netherfield on horseback through the rain
Mrs. Bennet may have been ridiculous, but she still had some power over her daughters, even though they had so much more sense than she did.
Pride and Prejudice, Vol 1, Ch 7
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Filed under Health, Jane Bennet, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Bingley, Mrs. Bennet, Power, Pride and Prejudice
A good memory is unpardonable
Alas… just one more evening of P&P on Sunday.
“You are joking, Lizzy. This cannot be!-engaged to Mr. Darcy! No, no, you shall not deceive me. I know it to be impossible.”
“This is a wretched beginning indeed! My sole dependence was on you; and I am sure nobody else will believe me, if you do not. Yet, indeed, I am in earnest. I speak nothing but the truth. He still loves me, and we are engaged.”
Jane looked at her doubtingly. “Oh, Lizzy! it cannot be. I know how much you dislike him.”
“You know nothing of the matter. That is all to be forgot. Perhaps I did not always love him so well as I do now. But in such cases as these, a good memory is unpardonable. This is the last time I shall ever remember it myself.”
Lizzy and Jane discussing Lizzy’s engagement to Mr. Darcy
Pride & Prejudice, Volume 3, Chapter 17
Another lovely icon from the icon contest at Jane Austen Today, this one from Mandie at ATUA.
Filed under Darcy, Elizabeth Bennet, Jane Bennet, Love, Marriage, Pride and Prejudice
Marrying without affection
“‘Oh, Lizzy! do anything rather than marry without affection.'”
Jane to Lizzy on her engagement to Darcy, a quote which no doubt echoes Austen’s own thoughts (and sounds very much like her advice to her niece, Fanny)
Pride and Prejudice, volume 3, chapter 17
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If he possibly can
“He is just what a young man ought to be,” said she [Jane], “sensible, good-humored, lively; and I never saw such happy manners!-so much ease, with such perfect good breeding!”
“He is also handsome,” replied Elizabeth, “which a young man ought likewise to be, if he possibly can. His character is thereby complete.”
Lizzy and Jane on meeting Bingley
Pride & Prejudice, volume 1, chapter 4
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On compliments
“Compliments always take you by surprise, and me never.”
Lizzy to Jane
Pride and Prejudice, volume 1, chapter 4
Again a character trait I understand, though perhaps not so admirable.
Filed under Elizabeth Bennet, Jane Bennet, Pride, Pride and Prejudice
I am not so good…
“To take the good of everybody’s character and make it still better, and say nothing of the bad-belongs to you alone.”
Lizzy to Jane
Pride and Prejudice, volume 1, chapter 4
I have friends like this, but I think I am really much more of a Lizzy.
Filed under Character, Elizabeth Bennet, Jane Bennet, Pride and Prejudice
Dear Lizzy!
“‘Well, he certainly is very agreeable, and I give you leave to like him. You have liked many a stupider person.”
Lizzy giving Jane a bit of a hard time about Bingley, just after they’ve met at the Meryton ball (tongue in cheek, of course).
Pride & Prejudice, volume 1, chapter 4 (emphasis mine)
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The very essence of love
Happy Valentine’s Day, gentle readers! I looked for something from Jane that would be rather inspiring about love, but she actually has more sharp than flowery comments (as you would expect), so I offer you this from dear Lizzy, one of Austen’s oft-quoted lines on the nature of love:
“‘I never saw a more promising inclination. He was growing quite inattentive to other people, and wholly engrossed by her. Every time they met, it was more decided and remarkable. At his own ball he offended two or three young ladies by not asking them to dance, and I spoke to him twice myself, without receiving an answer. Could there be finer symptoms? Is not general incivility the very essence of love?‘”
Lizzy to her Aunt Gardiner, attempting to explain just how “violent” Bingley’s affections for Jane are
Pride & Prejudice, volume 2, chapter 2 (emphasis mine)
Filed under Elizabeth Bennet, Jane Bennet, Love, Men, Mr. Bingley, Pride and Prejudice
The Jane Austen Guide to Life: Thoughtful Lessons for the Modern Woman (May, 2012)
A Walk with Jane Austen: A Journey into Adventure, Love, and Faith