P&P Ch. 16-END

1) "But think no more of the letter. The feelings of the person who wrote, and the person who received it, are now so widely different from what they were then, that every unpleasant circumstance attending it ought to be forgotten. You must learn some of my philosophy. Think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure" (Austen 282).

This quote struck me as odd, considering it was Elizabeth who said it. I actually quite like the philosophy, 'Think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure'. Although, for Elizabeth to say it, it seems contradictory. For the first half of the novel, all Elizabeth did was remember the past, instead of letting it go. The entire reason she hated Darcy in the beginning was because he hurt her pride. That obviously did not give her pleasure, but she still remembered that one reason, accumulating others on top of that. This philosophy is alot like how Jane thinks: she chooses to see and reember only the good of a person. If Elizabeth had followed this philosophy from the beginning, instead of just saying to dismiss the discussion on Mr. Darcy's letter, the whole novel would have been changed. Elizabeth would have accepted Mr. Darcy's proposal, and she would have been the lady of Pemberly when she went there.

2) "'And if I had not a letter to write myself, I might sit by you, and admire the evenness of your writing, as another young lady once did. But I have an aunt, too, who must not be longer neglected" (292).

This quote made me laugh. Now that Elizabeth and Darcy are engaged, everything is happy between them. So, Darcy begins writing to people to let them know of their engagement. The way Elizabeth responds is priceless. She basically referrences Miss Bingley. I can picture them both laughing at that, Elizabeth laughing and Darcy simply smiling as Elizabeth gets up to write her own. This is also the only mention of Caroline in a long while. It shows that Elizabeth still remembers how many other women would love to be married to Mr. Darcy, but out of all of them, she was the lucky winner. Better luck next time, Not-so-sweet Caroline.