P&P Ch. 10-12

1) "''Tis an etiquette I despise,' said he. 'If he wants our society, let him seek it. He knows where we live. I will not spend my hours in running after my neighbours every time they go away, and come back again'" (Austen 253).

I think this quote is a societal critique on Austen's part. Obviously, it has been made known by Mrs. Bennet and their neighbors that, when someone new enters the neighborhood, the patriarch of the house must be the one to introduce themselves and their family. Austen wrote this just before society was beginning to change, and she uses Mr. Bennet as a mouthpiece for society's changing views. He argues the practicality of it, that Bingley already knows the Bennets are in Hertforshire, and he knows where they live. So, why should he have to waste his time running over there if Bingley will just keep leaving town? Mr. Bennet makes perfect sense in that regard, and that is probabl what Austen is going for when she criticizes this societal tradition.

2) "[Bingley] was received by Mrs. Bennet with a degree of civility, which made her two daughters ashamed, especially when contrasted with the cold and ceremonious politeness of her curtsey and address to [Mr. Darcy]. Elizabeth particularly, who knew that her mother owed to the latter the preservation of her favourite daughter from irremediable infamy, was hurt and distressed to a most painful degree by a distinction so ill applied" (255).

This is a perfect quote to show how Elizabeth feels everytime she sees Darcy now. She can not see him without thinking that he is the reason her family has been able to stay together. Not only that, but her mother never helps anything ever. Yes, Mrs. Bennet does not know how exactly how Darcy has helped them, but she still acts distant towards him. She is cold only to him, but to everyone else, especially Bingley, she is her usual, annoyingly happy self. Elizabeth tries to tell Mr. Darcy just how appreciative she is, but she can never get him alone throughout his entire visit. All the while, Mrs. Bennet is embarassing them completely.