One of our favorites from dear Mr. Collins…
“‘My dear Miss Elizabeth, I have the highest opinion in the world of
your excellent judgment in all matters within the scope of your
understanding . . .”
Mr. Collins to Lizzy, when he insists on speaking to Mr. Darcy though they have not been introduced, and she tries to stop him
Pride & Prejudice, volume 1, chapter 18
Image from bbc.co.uk
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Filed under a Woman's mind, Elizabeth Bennet, Insults, Mr. Collins, Pride and Prejudice
“‘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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Filed under Elizabeth Bennet, Jane Bennet, Marriage, Pride and Prejudice
“‘I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.'”
Darcy, answering Lizzy’s question about how he ever began to fall in love with her in the first place
Pride and Prejudice, volume 3, chapter 18
My brother was able to get my wireless network back up and running yesterday. Whoo-hoo!
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Filed under Darcy, Elizabeth Bennet, Love, Pride and Prejudice
“There are few people whom I really love, and still fewer of whom I think well. The more I see of the world, the more am I dissatisfied with it; and everyday confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters, and of the little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of either merit or sense.”
Lizzy talking to her sister Jane, upon hearing of Charlotte’s wedding and after a letter from Caroline Bingley, hinting at her brother’s supposed indifference
Pride & Prejudice, Volume 2, Chapter 1
Lovely Jennifer Ehle icon is from the icon contest a while back at Jane Austen Today, created by Sands at the web forum A Truth Universally Acknowledged.
Filed under Elizabeth Bennet, Friendship, Love, Pride and Prejudice
“Mary wished to say something very sensible, but knew not how.”
Mr. Bennet tries to provoke Mary into commenting on “the forms of introduction,” in the midst of all the hoopla about meeting Bingley
Pride & Prejudice, volume 1, chapter 2
Poor Mary! I empathize…
Image
©BBC 1994 for Masterpiece™
Filed under a Woman's mind, Conversation, Mary Bennet, Pride and Prejudice
“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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Filed under Elizabeth Bennet, Jane Bennet, Men, Mr. Bingley, On being a gentleman, Pride and Prejudice
This week, the grandaddy of all Austen adaptations (and my personal absolute all-time favorite), Pride & Prejudice. Whoo-hoo!
So many quotes… not sure where to start. But I love this line from Mrs. B.
“Not that I have much pleasure indeed in talking to anybody. People who suffer as I do from nervous complaints can have no great inclination for talking. Nobody can tell what I suffer!-But it is always so. Those who do not complain are never pitied.”
Dear Mrs. Bennet, talking to Charlotte Lucas after her great disappointment in not getting Lizzy to accept Mr. Collins
Pride & Prejudice, volume 1, chapter 20 (emphasis mine)
Such a great pity party line!
Alison Steadman as Mrs. Bennet. Image copyright BBC. Watch an interview with Alison on the role of Mrs. B. at the BBC site.
Mr. Collins and his dreadful proposal…
“You must give me leave to flatter myself, my dear cousin, that your
refusal of my addresses is merely words of course. My reasons for
believing it are briefly these: — It does not appear to me that my
hand is unworthy your acceptance, or that the establishment I can offer
would be any other than highly desirable. My situation in life, my
connections with the family of De Bourgh, and my relationship to your
own, are circumstances highly in its favor; and you should take it into
farther consideration that in spite of your manifold attractions, it is
by no means certain that another offer of marriage may ever be made
you. Your portion is unhappily so small that it will in all likelihood
undo the effects of your loveliness and amiable qualifications. As I
must therefore conclude that you are not serious in your rejection of
me, I shall chuse to attribute it to your wish of increasing my love by
suspense, according to the usual practice of elegant females.”
Pride and Prejudice, volume 1, chapter 19
Thanks to Mollands for the illustration.
Filed under Elizabeth Bennet, Money, Money and Marriage, Mr. Collins, Pride and Prejudice, Proposals
Love that Mr. Bennet!
“About a month ago I received this letter, and about a fortnight ago I answered it, for I thought it a case of some delicacy, and requiring early attention.”
Mr. Bennet, on receiving the letter from Mr. Collins about his visit
Pride & Prejudice, volume 1, chapter 13
Filed under Mr. Bennet, Pride and Prejudice
My boxes of books arrived Friday!
“I want to tell you that I have got my own darling Child from London;-on Wednesday I received one Copy, sent down by Falknor, with three lines from Henry to say that he had given another to Charles & sent a 3d by the Coach to Godmersham.”
letter to Cassandra, on receiving her first copy of Pride and Prejudice
January 29, 1813 [79]
(Unfortunately, I left my camera at my parents’ this weekend, so I’ve not been able to take pictures.)
Filed under Austen family, Letters, Pride and Prejudice, Writing
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
