P&P Ch. 6-11

1) "Elizabeth soon perceived that though [Lady Catherine de Bourgh] was not in the commission of the peace for the county, she was a most active magistrate in her own parish, the minutest concerns of which were carried to her by Mr. Collins; and whenever any of the cottagers were disposed to be quarrelsom, discontented or too poor, she sallied forth into the village to settle their differences, silence their complaints, and scold them into harmony and plenty" (Austen 130).

In tonight's reading we are first introduced to Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and we see she is very condescending, but it does not seem in a bad way. It is a type of condescending that you just brush of and think nothing of. She always has to know what everyone his doing and have everyone in her care and patronage under her thumb. Everyone should do things her way. The perfect example of this is Mr. Collins, her own little pet dog. He praises her as though she was a god, and is constantly at her beck and call. As Austen puts it, Lady Catherine would be perfectly fit to be a queen were it not for the fact she was merely a patroness. She is also highly interested in music, and always comments on others when they try to either play or sing. Every time someone plays, she mentions that if they practiced they would be better, like she also knows everything.

2) "That [Elizabeth] should receive an offer of marriage from Mr. Darcy! that he should have been in love with her for so many months! so much in love as to wish to marry her in spite of all the objections which had made him prevent his friend's marrying her sister, and which must appear at least with equal force in his own case, was almost incredible! it was gratifying to have inspired unconsciously so strong an affection. But his pride, his abominable pride, his shameless avowal of what he had done with respect to Jane, his unpardonable assurance in acknowledging, though he could not justify it, and the unfeeling manner in which he had mentioned Mr. Wickham, his cruelty towards whom he had not attempted to deny, soon overcame the pity which the cnsideration of his attachment had for a moment excited" (149).

In this reading, Darcy finally makes his move. You have to ive him some credit--this is a woman he has fallen madly in love with and he is very socially awkward. Having to reveal all this to her so he can relieve his pain is probably a terrifying thing. It is easy to see that Elizabeth is affected by the proposal as well. It seems like she would have fallen into his arms had she not remembered what he did to Jane and Bingley's relationship. That was a difference from the book and the movie. The movie went into detail explaining why Darcy did it, but the book never mentions. Still, though, his reasons were somewhat amiable. He was doing it in his friend's best interest. No matter what evil may have befallen because of it, his motives were still, in their urpose, amiable. Considering she had just found out Darcy was the one to break up Bingley and Jane, I can understand her reaction, but it soehow feels like she's being too hard on Darcy. Here he is professing his love for her, no easy feat in the least, and she is absolutely tearing him down. Yes, the sabotage of Jane and Bingley's relationship is a major reason, but still. Elizabeth even brings up Mr. Wickham, who has and should not have any more relevance to the story whatsoever. I can not help feeling bad for Darcy after this.