All Books End

What happened next...........

Mr. Bennet came back home after trying to find his daughter. While he was there they all received a letter from Mr. Gardiner that said that he found Mr. Wickham and Lydia together. He also asked for  Mr. Bennet's  permissions and signatures so that his daughter could get quickly married. Mrs. Bennet was beyond excitement and couldn't wait to see her daughter. Since London was a bit far away they invited Lydia and her husband to stay with them for some days after their wedding and before they went to their new home. In contrast of Mrs. Bennet, Mr. Bennet was really mad at Lydia for doing what she did and for escaping. Lydia came to London along with her husband, as planned. While the sisters were talking all together about her wedding, Lydia accidentally revealed that Mr. Darcy was there, but she didn't say why. Elizabeth was so curious that she wrote to Mrs. Gardiner so that she could tell her the truth. A few days later Elizabeth received Mrs. Gardiner's letter and she found out the reason. Mr. Darcy was at their wedding because he helped Mr. Gardiner find the couple in London and he payed off everything so that Lydia and Wickham could get married with no troubles. Elizabeth couldn't believe this. The next day, the whole family at Longbourn received very god news: Mr. Bingley was  coming back to Netherfield and was coming to have dinner that day.  When Mr. Bingley came Mr. Darcy came with him too. They had a good time all together. Elizabeth was expecting Mr. Darcy to tell her something but he didn't, they only talked about his sister Georgiana and her time at Pemberley actually. When they were about to leave, Jane expressed her feelings towards Mr. Bingley about him leaving her and not coming back in a long time. A few days passed and one day at Longbourn, Mr. Bingley asked Jane to marry him and she accepted. She was very happy and the whole family was too. One day they were all siting at the breakfast room when Lady Catherine de Bourgh came and lectured Elizabeth on private. She told her that she found out that Mr. Darcy had asked her to marry him before. She warned Elizabeth of not getting in her way because Mr. Darcy was already engaged to her daughter since he was born. Elizabeth was quite surprise and told her that if Mr. Darcy asked her again and if she loved him she was going to accept him no matter what. The next day a carriage came by to Longbourn with two men Mr. Bingley, who now came very often since he was engaged to Jane, and Mr. Darcy. The Bennets and their guests walked down to Meryton together. Elizabeth was walking with Darcy, but she couldn't contain herself more and she told him that her feelings for him have changed and that she loves him. Mr. Darcy said the same and by the end of the day they were engaged. When Elizabeth told Mrs. Bennet his true story, she was sorry for not liking him and was happy for how rich and powerful Elizabeth will be. Finally Elizabeth got married to Mr. Darcy and they went to live at Pemberley. Mrs. Bennet by the end of the book, was the same nervous and silly woman, even though three of her daughters were correctly married just as she wished. As for Mr. Bennet, we can really say that he missed his daughters a lot, especially Elizabeth. Jane saw Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy a lot and she and Mr. Bingley bought a residence near Pemberley. Lydia was happy with Wickham but wanted money from Elizabeth, Elizabeth didn't accept though. Kitty and Mary visited their sisters a lot in their free time and for the Gardiners we can say that they were always welcome at Pemberley since they were the ones who brought Mr. and Mrs. Darcy back together in the 1st place.

Just thought that..........

"She began now to comprehend that he was exactly the man who, in disposition and talents, would most suit her. His understanding and temper, though unlike her own, would have answered all her wishes. It was an union that must have been to the advantage of both; by her 
ease and liveliness, his mind might have been softened, his manners improved, and from his 
judgment, information, and knowledge of the world, she must have received benefit of greater 
importance."(261)


Elizabeth started realizing that Mr. Darcy was the man for her. She didn't appreciate or know this before because she judged him too much. Now that she knows the whole story, she can see and think of him in a different way. I personally would've never imagined Elizabeth saying this when I was first   reading the book. But just as my prediction in the last blog post, I think that she is starting to doubt in  whether or not telling Mr. Darcy what she really feels. But, why didn't Elizabeth tell this to Mr. Darcy while she was at Pemberley?

“I do, I do like him,” she replied, with tears in her eyes; “I love him. Indeed he has no improper pride. He is perfectly amiable. You do not know what he really is; then pray do not pain me by speaking of him in such terms.”

After Mr. Darcy's proposal, Mr. Bennet called Elizabeth to the library. He was confused about Mr. Darcy and was warning Elizabeth to think things well because he is not a nice man. But since Elizabeth knew Mr. Darcy very well now, she told her father that she loved him and that he had a different story. I think that Elizabeth is a very headstrong and firm girl that doesn't need other people's  approval to do something that she likes, to think what she wants or to love someone. She is very sure of herself and of  the decisions she makes. I have to say that she has taught me a lot of things and has inspired me a lot.




In conclusion......

I have to say that I have enjoyed reading this book a lot. As I said before, it has taught me a lot of things and it has inspired me a lot, especially Elizabeth Bennet. I have to say that I am a little bit sad that the book has come to an end because I really loved the story and the way in which Jane Austen described and represented both pride and prejudice along the book. I have a special taste on classics. I love how writing and literature was performed in those times, were all of these amazing books were written. For the past 3 years I have chosen classics for my reading. I think that just as they teach us a lot of things about life in the past, they also show us how those values and some ways of thinking are still present in a our modern and actual time. I really recommend people to read this book, not only because it is a well-known book, but because it a  book with real meanings. I really look forward to reading other books from Jane Austen, and I hope that you all follow my advice on reading it as well. I have to say that if I would've chosen a different book to read, I would've never discovered and learned what I just did in Jane Austen's masterpiece, Pride and Prejudice.

Changing Mindsets

What happened...

Elizabeth  was still confused and surprised by Mr. Darcy´s proposal. The next day she went out for a walk. While standing at the park gate she saw a man walking towards her, it was Mr. Darcy. When came past her, he stoppped, handed her a letter and walked away. At the Collins´s home, Elizabeth opened  it up. Inside, Mr. Darcy said that he was planning to separate Mr. Bingley and Jane because he thought that Jane didn´t love him enough, but that he was wrong about that and he felt sorry. He also explained the real story between him and Mr. Wickham, Mr. Darcy gave Mr. Wickham the 1000 pounds that Mr. Darcy´s father had left for him. But since Mr. Wickham wanted to study law, he asked for 3000. Years later Mr. Wickham was broke and with no money, but his other plan was to develop a relationship  with Miss Darcy, who was Mr. Darcy´s sister. Fortunately Mr. Darcy found  out early and stopped him.  She started to read the letter over and over again, until she realized that Mr. Darcy was actually blameless. Suddenly there is a big transformation in Elizabeth´s way of thinking, and she starts feeling ashamed of herself. She also starts accepting that her sister Jane didn´t show much love for Bingley. When she went back home she told Charlotte and Mr. Collins that she had to go back home. She thanked them a lot for the good time she had and traveled back home. On the way home, Elizabeth met Jane and they both traveled together. They also met Lydia and Kitty on the way, and went to eat together in a place close by to were Mr. Bennet´s carriage was waiting for them. Their younger sisters had news for them, Mr. Wickham was not seeing Mary King anymore. At home, they were invited to a dinner party at Meryton, since it was the last day of the military regiment in town. These were bad news for Kitty and Lydia since they spent a lot of time with the soldiers. Elizabeth didint go because she did not want to see Mr. Wickham. Mr. and Mrs. Forster, though, invited Lydia to go with them to Brighton with the regiment. She was delighetd and gratified!  The next day Lydia went to Brighton with Mr. and Mrs. Forster. That day Elizabeth traveled too with Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner to the town of Derbyshire. Elizabeth was having a great time until she realized that Pemberley, which was Mr. Darcys home, was close by.  Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner were disscusing to meet Pemberley. It was finally arranged between them and they decided they were going to visit the house. When they got there they were received by the housekeeper, since the family was away. They were all astonished by its beauty and luxury. The housekeeper  took them  all around the house. Elizabeth noticed that it was much more beautiful and elegent than Rosings. The way in which the housekeeper talked about her master, Mr. Darcy, was very pleasant and admiring. While they were discovering the horse stables, river and park, Elizabeth saw Mr. Darcy arriving , and since he saw her too, he walked towards her. They both greeted politely and talked for a while about Pemberley. When the talk was over, Elizabeth went to join her uncle and aunt and started feeling embarrassed. The next day they were invited to Pemberley to meet some friends. Mr. Bingley was there and Elizabeth asked him about his life in London. That day she was presented by Mr. Darcy to his sister Georgiana. Elizabeth realized that she was shy but very kind hearted. After the party, she received two letters from Jane that carried bad news. In them Jane said that Lydia, while she was at Brighton with the regiment, escaped with Mr. Wickham to get married. Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Bennet were starting to look for her but the whole family was very worried and they begged Elizabeth and Mr. Gardiner to come back so that Mr. Gardiner can help their father with the search for Lydia. The Gardiners and Elizabeth came back home quickly. Mr. Bennet was not at home since he went to look for information about her young daughter.

Thinking and thinking......

"There certainly was some great mismanagement in the education of those two young men. One has got all the goodness, and the other all the appearance of it."

Elizabeth finally told Jane about Mr. Darcy´s proposal and his letter. They were both mostly surprised by the real Mr. Wickham and his story. Here is how we can see the great difference between Mr. Wickham and Mr. Darcy. As said say above, one has all goodness and the other only had its appearance. Mr. Darcy is for sure the one who has all goodness, and Mr. Wickham the one who was the appearance of being good.  They are both really different from each other since Mr. Darcy doesn't want approval and false promises but Mr. Wickham is his opposite. By reading this quote I also realized that it says a lot about them being  why they have been prejudiced by so many people, for good or for bad. Most judged Mr. Darcy in a ill and negative way, while the same people also judged Mr. Wickham in a good way without knowing for sure his real story.

  " Mr. Darcy's letter she was in a fair way of soon knowing by heart. She studied every sentence; and her feelings towards its writer were at times widely different. When she remembered the style of his address, she was still full of indignation; but when she considered how unjustly she had condemned and upbraided him, her anger was turned against herself; and his disappointed feelings became the object of compassion."

After reading Mr. Darcy's letter, Elizabeth felt a mixture of emotions. She felt angry, sorry, ashamed and compassionate too. I do think that I feel empathy for Elizabeth right now since I am sure that all of us have judged someone at least once and the feeling afterwards is really horrible. But just as I feel empathy towards Elizabeth I also feel it for Mr. Darcy because his heart was broken by a person that he admired and appreciated very much . He was also prejudiced by this person and he is aware of that. After all, I can say that this quote says a lot about the effects of Mr. Darcy's letter in both characters. 

Finally........

I have to say that these chapters have brought a lot of change in some of the character's lives and ways of thinking. Starting with Mr. Darcy's letter that made Elizabeth change her mind about Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham and made her feel very ashamed of herself . Lydia escaping with Mr. Wickham also brought a lot of change in the Bennet's family emotions and life. I can say that the main point of interest and worry was when Elizabeth received Jane's letter of  Lydia's bad news. I wasn't surprised, though, by this since Lydia was very independent and saw the soldiers a lot. She flirted with them and was capable of doing anything, even the most unexpected. I can say that I am really excited to continue reading the next chapters and my prediction is that Lydia will somehow be found,  but in trouble and that Elizabeth is going to start doubting in telling Mr. Darcy or not, that she has changed her mind with his letter. I also noticed that Mr. Darcy, even if he felt some pride inside, he fought it and faced it for someone he loved. As John Ruskin said "“It is better to lose your pride with someone you love rather than to loose that someone you love with your useless pride.”

The Big Refusal

What happened next.....

Mr. Collins and Charlotte Lucas got married a couple of months after the proposal. Sadly Elizabeth was not going to be able to see Charlotte as often since she was leaving to Hunsford, which was Lady Catherine de Bourgh´s estate and Mr. Collins´s home. Mrs. Bennet´s brother and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, were visiting Longbourn and were planning to stay with them for some days. Mrs. Gardiner was talking to Elizabeth one day about Jane and how hard it must be for her to accept that Mr.  Bingley is gone  and that he is not coming back. They were  discussing about  her lovely spirit and charming soul  that isn't rejected and forgotten easily. Mrs. Gardiner invited Jane to stay with her for a while in London for a change. While they were talking,  Mrs. Gardiner  also talked to Elizabeth about her relationship with Mr. Wickham . She warned her to not fall in love with him since it can bring trouble, she knew who Mr. Wickham was. Elizabeth answered saying that she was not in love with him and that they also wouldn't form a good match together. Later Elizabeth received a letter from Charlotte saying that she is invited to visit them at Hunsford in March. Months passed and March  came soon enough and Elizabeth went to  Hunsford. When she arrived, Mr. Collins couldn't stop talking about the beautiful  life he had with Charlotte so that Elizabeth could regret not marrying him, but it didn't work. The next day they were all invited for dinner at Rosings, which was Lady Catherine's home. There, Elizabeth realized that Lady Catherine was a very authoritative, boring and very snobby person. She even lectured and showed her disagreement towards the fact that Elizabeth never had a governess, as if it was her fault.  A few days passed and they heard that Mr. Darcy was expected to arrive in a couple of days. When Mr. Darcy came they met his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, who was staying at Rosings too. When Mr. Darcy saw Elizabeth he asked about her family and she asked him about Jane and if he had seen her, but he said he didn't. Days passed and Elizabeth saw Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam at Rosings very often. One day she was in Charlotte's home by herself, when Mr. Darcy came. She was impressed when he surprised her with a marriage proposal. But Elizabeth refuses him by saying that she feels nothing for him, that he is the last man in the world who she would ever marry and that she doesn't want to marry the person who ruined her beloved sister's happiness.

What I think.....
"But I have other provocations. You know I have. Had not my feelings decided against you—had they been indifferent, or had they even been favourable, do you think that any consideration would tempt me to accept the man who has been the means of ruining, perhaps for ever, the happiness of a most beloved sister?" (162)

Mr. Darcys proposal left Elizabeth very surprised and shocked. This was not something she expected or even saw coming. I do feel empathy towards Elizabeth because if I had the same information she had about Mr. Darcy and his plan to separate Jane and Mr. Bingley, I would've also rejected his proposal. But even though she was extremely suprised by this act of love from the last man in the world whom she would think of marrying, she could have reponded more politely. Here is how we all realize that Elizabeth´s pride is also big and powerful, since it also made her judge Mr. Darcy before knowing him and his true story.

“Darcy: 'I certainly have not the talent which some people possess, of conversing easily with those I have never seen before. I cannot catch their tone of conversation, or appear interested in their concerns, as I often see done.'
Elizabeth:'My fingers do not move over this instrument in the masterly manner which I see so many women's do. They have not the same force or rapidity, and do not produce the same expression. But then I have always supposed it to be my own fault -- because I would not take the trouble of practicing. It is not that I do not believe my fingers as capable as any other woman's of superior execution.”(150)

Elizabeth was playing the piano when Mr. Darcy came to see her and they started talking about he being shy at their first ball. He said that he does not have the ability of talking and socializing with new people. But Elizabeth tries to explain that Mr. Darcy is to blame, by comparing him to her  experience with the piano. I do have a connection with Mr. Darcy on this topic because most of the time, I am also very shy around people I don't know and I am sure that all of us have gone through that at least once. But the thing is that we cant blame those people for not talking about things we like and for not pleasing us. It is our fault for not trying to find better ways to socialize with new people or trying harder. Also as a pianist, I can assure you that without practice and farther interest it is not very possibe for you to improve on a song or technique. Great piano players are made by practice and effort, but not by luck.


My final thoughts.......

In my opinion the last chapters have been really unexpected and stunning. I was really surprised when Mr. Darcy proposed to Elizabeth since didn't even see it coming.  We aready knew from previous chapters that Mr. Darcy liked Elizabeth , but I thought that his pride was so big, that it would prevent him from ever showing his love for Elizabeth. I am also realizing that pride is not only found in Mr. Darcy's character but in Elizabeth too, since she uses it to reject Mr. Darcy in a impolite and superior manner. She also says that he is the last man whom she would ever marry.

 

 My prediction for the following chapters is that Elizabeth will realize that she judged Mr. Darcy too harshly an that this will be the main point of prejudice in the book. I think that because prejudice is on the book´s title and I'm sure that there is another side in Mr. Darcy's stories. Finally, I can say that I am really glad I chose this book for my reading since it has taught  me a lot of things and it has made me see the world in a different way.