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Unit 7 Pride and Prejudice

(1959018449) - ΜΑΡΙΑ ΔΕΡΜΙΤΖΑΚΗ

Περιγραφή Μαθήματος

The news that a wealthy young gentleman
named Charles Bingley has rented the manor
known as Netherfield Park causes a great stir
in the neighbouring village of Longbourn,
especially in the Bennet household. The
Bennets have five unmarried daughters, and
Mrs Bennet, a foolish and fussy gossip, is the
sort who agrees with the novel’s opening
words: “It is a truth universally acknowledged
that a single man in possession of a good
fortune must be in want of a wife.” She sees
Bingley’s arrival as an opportunity for one of
the girls to obtain a wealthy spouse, and she
therefore insists that her husband call on the
new arrival immediately. The Bennets invite
him to dinner shortly afterwards, but he is
called away to London. Soon, however, he
returns to Netherfield Park with his two sisters,
his brother-in-law, and a friend named Darcy.

Watch a scene from the film :

Mr Bingley and his guests go to a ball in the
nearby town of Meryton. The Bennet sisters
attend the ball with their mother. The eldest
daughter, Jane, dances twice with Bingley.
Within Elizabeth’s hearing, Bingley exclaims to
Darcy that Jane is “the most beautiful creature”
he has ever beheld. Bingley suggests that
Darcy dance with Elizabeth, but Darcy refuses,
saying, “she is tolerable, but not handsome
enough to tempt me.” He proceeds to declare
that he has no interest in women who are
“slighted by other men.” Elizabeth takes an
immediate and understandable dislike to Darcy.
Because of Darcy’s comments and refusal to
dance with anyone not rich and well bred, the
neighbourhood takes a similar dislike; on the
other hand, they declare Bingley to be quite
“amiable.”

Watch a scene from the film :

Bingley has inherited a hundred thousand
pounds from his father, but for now, in spite
of his sisters’ complaints, he lives as a tenant.
His friendship with Darcy is “steady,” despite
the contrast in their characters, illustrated in
their respective reactions to the Meryton ball.
Bingley, cheerful and sociable, has an excellent
time and is taken with Jane; Darcy, cleverer but
less tactful, finds people dull and even criticizes
Jane for smiling too often.

Bingley’s sisters exchange visits with the
Bennets and attempt to befriend Elizabeth and
Jane. Meanwhile, Bingley continues to pay
attention to Jane, and Elizabeth decides that
her sister is very much in love with him but
conceals it very well. Elizabeth says it is better
for a young woman to be patient until she is
sure of her feelings.
E.

Darcy finds himself attracted to Elizabeth.
He begins listening to her conversations at
parties, much to her surprise. At one party at the
Lucas house, Sir William attempts to persuade
Elizabeth and Darcy to dance together, but
Elizabeth refuses. Shortly afterwards, Darcy tells
Bingley’s unmarried sister that “Miss Elizabeth
Bennet” is now the object of his admiration.

Miss Bingley spends the following night in a similar fashion, trying to attract Darcy’s attention: first by reading, then by criticizing the foolishness of balls, and finally by walking about the room. Only when she asks Elizabeth to walk with her, however, does Darcy look up, and then the two women discuss the possibility of finding something in his character to ridicule. He states that his only fault is resentment — “my good opinion once lost is lost forever.” Elizabeth replies that it is hard to laugh at a “propensity to hate everybody,” and Miss Bingley, observing Elizabeth monopolizing Darcy’s attention once again, insists on music. The next morning, Elizabeth writes to her mother to say that she and Jane are ready to return home.

In the evening, Elizabeth observes Miss Bingley
piling compliments upon Darcy as he writes to his
sister. The conversation turns to Bingley’s style
of letter writing and then to Bingley’s impetuous
behaviour, which entangles Elizabeth and Darcy
in an argument over the virtues of accepting the
advice of friends. Afterwards, Miss Bingley plays “a
lively Scotch air” on the pianoforte, and Elizabeth
again refuses to dance with Darcy. Her refusal only
increases his admiration, and he considers that
“were it not for the inferiority of her connections, he
should be in some danger.” Miss Bingley, observing
his attraction, becomes jealous and spends the
following day making fun of Elizabeth’s family,
inviting Darcy to imagine them connected to his
proud and respectable line.