Chapter Questions
Chapters 1 & 2
1.
What is the relationship between Mr. and Mrs.
Bennet? How does Austen convey the tone Mr. Bennet uses with his wife?
Mr. and Mrs. Bennet is husband and wife.
Austen conveys the tone Mr. Bennet uses with his wife as, “…a sarcastic humour,
reserve, and caprice….” (p.7).
2.
Why is Mrs. Bennet so interested in the young
man’s arrival?
Mrs. Bennet is so interested in
the young man’s arrival, in this case Mr. Bingley’s arrival, is because she
wants him to marry one of her daughters. As Mrs. Bennet had heard that Mr.
Bingley is a man of good fortune, Mrs. Bennet wishes for one of her daughters
to become his wife so they could share his fortune.
Chapters 3 - 6
1.
Despite Bingley’s appearance as a most
eligible bachelor, what is revealed about his family, his age, and his
inexperience?
Despite Bingley’s appearance as a
most eligible bachelor, it is revealed that Bingley is not only young and has
never dated anyone before but his family also has a large fortune and is very
wealthy.
2.
How is Elizabeth’s fun at Darcy’s expense
different from his own behaviour toward her and her friends and family?
Whilst Elizabeth is an easy going
and carefree woman, Darcy’s behaviour is stiff, which makes him socially
awkward towards Elizabeth and her friends and family. The difference between
Darcy and Elizabeth is how Elizabeth is easy to get along with who often pleases
the people around her, where Darcy is seems to be continually giving offense
and is quite unapproachable.
3.
Do you agree with Mrs. Lucas’s distinction
between pride and vanity and her conclusion that Darcy has a right to feel
proud?
I agree with Mrs. Lucas’s
distinction between pride and vanity and her conclusion that Darcy has a right
to feel proud because she explains that pride often has an excuse for it. Miss
Lucas also elaborates on the fact that Darcy was, “…a young man, with family,
fortune, everything in his favour…” (p.21). She basically explains that it was
expected for an individual to hold such pride when they have everything they
deserve to be proud of. Thus I also agree that Darcy has the right to feel
proud.
4.
Why might Miss Bingley be eager to criticise
the Bennet girls and their mother? How does she indirectly draw attention to
the differences Darcy and Elizabeth’s families?
Miss Bingley would be eager to criticise
the Bennet girls and their mother because she does not want Darcy to take
interest in any of the girls as she wishes to marry Darcy herself. She
indirectly draws attention to the differences between Darcy and Elizabeth’s
families by ranting about the ball and the difference in their social class,
“You are considering how insupportable it would be to pass many evenings in
this manner – in such society….” (p.27). Miss Bingley also talks about how vain
the Bennet family is. “…the insipidity and yet the noise; the nothingness and
yet the self importance of all these people!” (p.27).
5.
What is revealed about the characters of Mary
and Elizabeth by their piano performance?
Whilst Mary’s piano skills were much higher
than Elizabeth, Elizabeth, “….had been listened to with much more pleasure…”
(p.16). Whereas Mary, “…had neither genius nor taste… [where] it had given her
likewise a pedantic air and conceited manner, which would have injured a higher
degree of excellence than she had reached.” (p.25).
6.
What effect does Elizabeth’s teasing have on
Darcy? Is Elizabeth intentionally trying to provoke Darcy’s attention? Note his
continued attraction, despite her “inferiority.”
Elizabeth’s teasing had attracted
Darcy unintentionally. Although Elizabeth was described as having, “…hardly a
good feature in her face…” (p.24) Darcy discovered how Elizabeth’s eyes were
actually somehow mesmerizing to him, then began to notice more of her playful,
easy going personality and her light and pleasing figure. From these new
observations, Darcy became more attracted towards Elizabeth and began to wish
to know more about her.
