I don't believe miss bates thinks at all. For me she is "everybody" because she reports all that happens before her eyes, as an unconscious journalist. She is so deprived of herself, so near to be no one, that she need to fill her void with other people's lives. (For example her monologue at the ball scene is not simply ridicolus, it's horrorific!) She is the biggest fear for Emma's future: "If I thought I should ever be like Miss Bates - so silly, so satisfied, so smiling, so prosing, so undistinguishing, and unfastidious and so apt to tell everything relative to everybody about me, I would marry tomorrow".
For years, I thought Jane Austin’s characters were unrealistic caricatures until a fellow mom told me that her daughter would have been in a higher level at their sport than mine.... if her daughter hadn’t quit. We really haven’t changed that much in the past 200 years.
A cousin of mine once told me she will be an amazing driver once she learns how. We were two years away from learning at the time. So yes, Jane is on the money!
@@mar6781 I think that's different though. Sounds like she was excited and couldn't wait to learn and just knew she will be determined to be good at it. It's like saying you will be a great spouse when you find the right partner.. Different from someone just claiming that would have been superior at something HAD they any interest in it. It's just a strange way to say you're better than other people.
That’s very interesting. You hear authors talk about how they know their characters, and it will seems like Jane Austen is really good about knowing her characters and knowing her readers. I always thought of Darcy at this party as kind of being dragged there by Bingley, not really wanting to go, and feeling like every woman and her daughter is going to be after him for his money. After a lifetime of watching people go after his family for money, he is just over it.
Absolutely Hanna! - Austen knows her characters and their idiosyncrasies. Clearly keeping her characters 'in character' was imperative to JA. She wrote to her niece (Anna Austen, who was herself writing a novel at the time) criticising the fact that Anna's heroine's character was inconsistent: "I like your Susan very much; she is a sweet creature, her playfulness of fancy is very delightful. I like her as she is now exceedingly, but I am not quite so well satisfied with her behaviour to George R. At first she seems all over attachment and feeling, and afterwards to have none at all; she is so extremely confused at the ball, and so well satisfied apparently with Mr. Morgan. *She seems to have changed her character* ." (9-18 September 1814)
“Go after his family for money,” oh yes! Wickham and Georgianna for one. I’m sure he is quite accustomed to this sort of thing, especially considering we know he spends some time in the London social scene.
Public Assemblies were not generally popular with members of the ton. They were looked upon as a bit of a free-for-all where people would be obliged to mix with persons beneath themselves. Let's face it, NONE of the young Ladies in Austen's books would have been granted vouchers for Almack's, no matter how genteel they might appear to be to a modern audience.
Most of the young ladies mentioned by Austen were members of the landed gentry and thus had high social status, as was true for example of the Miss Bertrams and the Miss Elliots. Moreover the Bennet sisters were also landed gentry and their father's annual income of £2,000 placed him in the top 1 per cent of British society and, presumably, Sir Thomas Bertram and Sir Walter Elliot had even higher incomes.
I grow up in China, and read the pride and prejudice first time, in Chinese. It was a green cover children's edition published by 北京出版社. Since then I've re-read and collected all existing Chinese translation of the book in my teens. I remembered my first english version was one of those penguin classics and then I had the audio books in my ancient mp3 player. I bought David Shepard's annotated version on amazon last year and the smart youtube algorithm led me here. I've been watching the channel for a while. I love all these close readings, especially the part that discuss writing techniques. It bring me to a new level of fondness of the book and Austen. Please keep posting Dr.Octavia! You've got a non-native speaker fan here!
As an introvert myself I didnt see any of Darcy's attitude as rude or anything other than introverted and antisocial until his comment about Lizzy. Said comment, after we learn he's been fighting "temptation" for her all along, is all the more hilarious in retrospect. Having almost lost his beloved sister to Wickham's scheme to extort him for money, having had to face the gawking and sucking up of others for his wealth, and seemingly also being introverted by nature, no wonder he was so grouchy, uncomfortable and distrustful.
I find it wonderful that >200 years after the Jane Austen published her novel we are all still enjoying it, discussing it and being amazed at her cleverness and skill as a writer. Just wonderful.
The introduction of Mr. Darcy framed the collective Prejudice of his Pride. The story wouldn't have been quite as compelling if we didn't later experience a sense of his transformation and see our own prejudice.
Great point Adora. Part of the point of the novel is for readers to see that they too have succumbed (perhaps) to the prejudice that they scorn / laugh at in others.
An aspect of his pride is his sense of duty. He sees himself as a responsible adult, yet, he seemed not to sense that Wickham tried to use Darcy's sister as a means of getting back at Darcy because he ended the source of money to support Wickham.
As very shy and socially anxious person from a tiny mexican city that loves people who talk, dance and drink, I never bought the "proud and rude" narrative. It hit too close to home and I knew he was one of my own. lol
My husband is from a very small town (I am not so I am used to a bit of anonymity when I go out) and the first time we attended a sporting event together I very much understood how Mr. Darcy must've felt in that moment.
I feel the same. I’m reserved so people often think I’m stuck up. I’m not. I have trust issues, but I, unlike Darcy, exchange civilities with strangers.
I think Mr Darcy is an introvert who, with all the pressure of being surrounded and gawked at by strangers for the whole evening, verbally lashed out about Lizzy to Bingley. Like he couldn’t even take his friends teasing in that moment. He would have probably said that about any Lady his friend brought up. Lizzy overheard and of course, came to her own conclusions about his character as well. And why shouldn’t she continue to think so with everyone confirming her own opinion. I love how subtle Austen is and your analysis of her text ❤️
I completely agree Claudia! - I also love how subtle Austen's writing is! As you say - one can understand &/or sympathise with _both_ characters's positions _and_ see why they are misguided. Quite brilliant!
That was my assumption too-I’m quite socially anxious, and there have been times where I was very close to lashing out & saying something very out of character because it all got to be too much. Although now I’m wondering if people I initially met at parties were surprised to find out I wasn’t a grisly growly person when we hung out one-on-one.
Perhaps we should bear in mind that Darcy is quite young to have been given such an enormous inheritance and all the responsibilities that go with that. He has lost his parents, having only the awful Lady Catherine, his cousin the Colonel and his little sister. He will be very anxious about her and, being conscientious by nature, feeling guilty that she was nearly lost. He was rather young to be a guardian, with no wife to help him. He may still be grieving for his father, also sickened by the way he is being chased by every ambitious mother for miles around. He will be sick of flattery. After, all he is a catch. No wonder he is ill at ease. And possibly rather depressed. When I was a young student I didn’t see any of this. But now I’m more experienced. My admiration for Jane Austen just grows with the years.
Wow I didn't even realize that the proud and arrogant opinion of Mr. Darcy by Meryton started from Mrs. Bennet and could be from Eliza's playful comments to her friends herself. Which hones in the point how brutal the gossiping nature is and paints a horrifying picture of one careless comment by Darcy immediately spread around the room and sets his character. The very nature that Darcy looks down on during his proposal scene and which Lizzy had been painfully aware and embarrassed later on. Darcy has the bias against the overly enthusiastic mothers and the women looking for husbands, while Lizzy has her bias against Darcy who not only insults her but refuses to make effort to be friendly with everyone. Truly a pride and prejudice moment between two parties.
I read P & P as a teenager and I’m amazed how a dizzy superficial reader (myself 50 years ago) still remembers the characters and plot so vividly. I think that is an amazing tribute to Jane Austen’s talent. I love that Dr Cox has added so many more layers for me!
Isn't it amazing how great literature grabs hold of us and stays a lifetime? I was introduced to P&P in High School English (third year) nearly 55 years ago; the instructor was the best teacher I ever had, as he encouraged a love of literature I've carried with me ever since. God bless Joe Palmisano.
I'm an introvert and is socially awkward sometimes. As soon as it mentioned Darcy was stared at and gossiped about in front of him, I knew he would be perceived as being rude for not wanting to mingle. That's exactly how I'd behave to avoid being the centre of attention lol. Darcy is an introvert through and through
A very interesting reading, thank you! The way that Darcy is interpreted by the crowd is particularly striking as a contrast to the introduction of Georgiana later in the book. Georgiana is introduced in a sitting room at an inn, not a ball room. Lizzy is flattered by the attention and eager to please/be pleased, not mortified and insulted. Unlike Mr. Darcy, the pride which the people of Lambton attribute to Georgiana is immediately understood to stem from shyness and discomfort. The wisdom of that crowd is dismissed and Mrs. Gardner and Lizzy "do her justice and pity her." The whole incident is perhaps an exaggerated hint at what a more fortuitous first meeting between Darcy and Elizabeth might have been like.
A great comparison! And perhaps shows Lizzy's development too (having learnt from her misjudging of Darcy from their introduction)? "Since her being at Lambton, she had heard that Miss Darcy was exceedingly proud; but the observation of a very few minutes convinced her that she was only exceedingly shy" (ch.44).
A very interesting point. I think that maybe Lizzie was less inclined to think harshly of Georgiana after reading Darcy’s letter. She thinks of Georgiana being naive and vulnerable rather than being proud. And she meets her later in the novel when she is supposedly reformed after reading Darcy’ s letter and she’s trying not to act or think in haste about anyone, including Bingley. She doesn’t believe Wickham’s description of Georgiana at this point ( knowing he can’t be trusted) and doesn’t give much weight to what the people of lambton believe as she isn’t closely acquainted with them. I think that the meeting with Georgiana definitely tilted the balance towards a more favourable opinion of Darcy in Lizzie’s mind.
Great point. We see Lizzy's development through the comparison between her response to meeting Darcy and then meeting Georgiana. And perhaps her greater understanding of their shyness (which isn't a character trait she shares)? So much so, she can later ask of Darcy, "What made you so shy of me, when you first called, and afterwards dined here?" (ch.60).
@@DrOctaviaCox Also it needs to be said: Darcy comes off very well as a caring, indulgent brother. In his own turf, where he is both comfortable and distracted by caring for his sister and focusing on her shyness rather than his own discomfort, he cuts a much better figure. Knowing that he had saved her from Wickham similarly primes Elizabeth to feel protective of her and they are united in this feeling. (I just rewatched the BBC series, during which Miss Bingley purposefully mentions Wickham to upset Elizabeth, but mostly, unknowingly, upsets Georgiana - don't remember if the book has an equivalent, but Elizabeth and Darcy uniting in wanting to care for his sister is a pretty strong point).
I read the line "His character was decided" as Austen being a bit punny with her readers. Meaning A) is "It was clear to everyone was a jerk he was," with "decided" meaning something like "Obvious" or "Pronounced," and Meaning B) is the one given in the video, "Everyone else at the party collectively decided he was a jerk."
Great observation. And, yes, I think JA is doing exactly that. A confirms B for the reader - he clearly was disagreeable so of course Meryton found him disagreeable!
I love how Austen seems to call back to this moment later in the book, when we're introduced to Georgiana. "Georgiana's reception of them was very civil, but attended with all the embarrassment which, though proceeding from shyness and the fear of doing wrong, would easily give to those who felt themselves inferior the belief of her being proud and reserved. Mrs. Gardiner and her niece, however, did her justice, and pitied her."
A wonderful combination of a defense of Darcy and a demonstration of Austen's brilliance as a writer, both of which I approve of entirely and enjoy, but let's not forget that Darcy, like Lizzy, is at the beginning of his arc, and while we are obviously guided to view her in a favorable light and him in an unfavorable light at this point, and it is certainly unfair to the character, he does behave pretty horribly (though perhaps understandably, again, just like Lizzy), first when he chooses to insult Lizzy in public and right after he drew her attention by looking at her, which wasn't an innocent mistake by him, and then as he sabotages the Bingley-Jane connection, and obviously in his abominable proposal. So, yes, of course we, the readers, were judging him too harshly, and perhaps not judging Lizzy harshly enough, but he certainly was not blameless in this, as he himself eventually realizes, which, naturally, makes him even more wonderful and makes us want to defend him in retrospect even more, which just goes to show how well Austen has manipulated us all throughout the process, and again through repeated readings. She really was extraordinary.
I do think it is startling to notice that Lizzie agrees with the collective of Meryton regarding Darcy. Later, we suspect she does not, in fact, hold the citizens of Meryton in high regard, and is even, upon receipt of Darcy's letter to her after his failed proposal, quite ashamed of the gossipy attitudes of many of them, her own family included. You begin to see that, had she been more keenly self-aware, and aware of those voices around her in Meryton, she may not have indulged them with regard to Darcy at all, from the outset. But of course she must have her journey to self-awareness as her story!
I think we forget sometimes that for all Lizzie's sass and humour, she is only about 19 or 20 at the start of the novel. And she's used to being considered one of the top picks of Meryton by virtue of being a Bennet. So to suddenly have this posh, good looking guy totally dismiss her must have been quite a blow to her own pride. It really hit me as I've got older as such a classic teenage girl switch from 'ooh he's so cute' to 'omg, what does anyone see in him he's so up himself', with all of Meryton basically being like, 'you don't need him anyway, he's awful, you can do so much better!'
I felt like she has some sort of pride of her own as well. In some of the passages within the novel, Lizzy explicitly stated that she has better judgement of situations and people compared to her sisters and takes pride in that. Her pride was also reaffirmed by her being her father's favorite and Mr. Bennet has stated (in front of their family) that Lizzy is more witty and clever than the rest of her sisters
I always thought of it this way: Darcy entered the room as Mothers looked at him as an object to obtain. They were looking at him as something to be gotten for their daughters. Mrs. Bennet was angry because she had five daughters to marry and he wouldn't have anyone one of them. It was a wonder when Darcy does ask Lizzy for a dance, that he would because of Mrs. Bennet's quest to have her daughters married. I am sure it wasn't the first Ballroom he went into with over thrilled Mothers looking to poach a husband for her daughter. I am sure that as the saying goes this was not Mr. Darcy's only rodeo, and probably very aware that his status would make him a magnet for all in the room. In the proposal scene, he asks whether he should delight in her family's situation that was so much lower than his. That made me think, he really didn't want to be there because he knew the drill, he knew that he wouldn't find a dance partner that was of his own status, and he knew that he would be the object of attention.
Indeed! - the very first thing we are told about him is explicitly about him being the centre of everyone's attention: "Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention of the room" (ch.3). For a shy person this would no doubt be very off-putting. It is also noted by the crowd that he danced and talked only to his own party, which suggests that they have been scrutinising his every move. It's also clear that the general conversation involves comparing Darcy unfavourably to Bingley: "What a contrast between him and his friend! Mr. Darcy danced only once with Mrs. Hurst and once with Miss Bingley, declined being introduced to any other lady, and spent the rest of the evening in walking about the room, speaking occasionally to one of his own party" (ch.3). No wonder he's ill at ease!
@@DrOctaviaCox It is a fair estimate in his defense, especially at the new gatherings to be looked at as a prize turkey. However, that does not excuse him entirely. Yes, the town is certainly gossip-mongers in which everybody knew everything all along, but in this instance they are correct in his arrogance and being above his company. It is a pivotal plot point that he actually DOES try to improve himself and his manners in order to be worth winning Eliza; Austen makes it clear during the proposal scene that Darcy had ZERO doubt that Eliza would say yes to him because hey, I'm rich and noble, who wouldn't want me? So, in the same manner that the townsfolk view him mercenarily as a prize, he also thinks the same of himself. Its a shock to his core that Eliza proves his view of the "lower" people wrong by refusing him. It isn't so much true that he wouldn't "perform to strangers", as he has no problem (per other accounts) engaging himself in conversation and "being lively in other places" among the people of rank, or "his own kind". And even as a landowner dealing with the even lower classes (people tied to the land and whatnot) he is charitable and able to easily work with them. So he does have the capability, he just refused to use it with the "lower gentry".
Thank you, CrimsonAlice. Yes, I agree - Darcy is very aware that he is a 'prize' for husband-hunters. He has daily reminders from Caroline Bingley! In the video, I'm not trying to argue that Darcy is not displaying pride and indeed prejudice in this scene, but to draw attention to the reciprocal nature of the pride and prejudice of both parties (the other party being Meryton) at the assembly. And to suggest that readers might notice both.
@@CrimsonAlice I thank you for your excellent comment! I hate how people (especially of the modern audience coming from the 2005 movie) excuse him for his rude actions for the sake of being 'introverted' or 'shy'. Mr.Darcy is a bold, confident and proud character; he was very much responsible for his wrong doings and thankfully came to realize it in the end.
@@Sunset248-j3t I agree that Darcy is not shy. I do see him as introverted, though. A person can be bold, confident, proud AND introverted. It is very common for people to assume introversion is shyness or weakness when it is not. Darcy continues to display introverted tendencies even after overcoming his pride. He is still reserved and would prefer to keep his story and actions to himself. He does not desire the attention of others.
I just love to listen to these videos and then re-read Austen's novels, it gives a new perspective, and it's like reading the stories for the first time yet again.
The subtle conflation of Mrs Bennet's opinion with "everybody's" is seen in the very first line of the novel ("It is a truth universally acknowledged..."), and a large part of Lizzie's growth comes from her social circle expanding as she interacts with the Gardiners, Fitzwilliam, Georgiana, Mrs Reynolds, and other people who do not hold Mrs Bennet's narrow view of the world. Incidentally, as a therapist, I often hear clients say "EVERYBODY thinks [massive oversimplification]"... when they almost always really mean "my mother thinks [massive oversimplification]"!
Darcy was undoubtedly an introvert, but was drawn to friends (and a woman) who were more skilled conversationalists. Also, his parents died young so, unlike many young men his age he had the responsibility of running his estate and parenting his sister, a responsibility for which he is painfully aware he nearly failed. In the Regency Era, most young men were still waiting to inherit and spending their days drinking and gambling while their fathers ran the estate. Regency Era aristocracy was notoriously decadent and corrupt. Mr. Darcy would have had reason to feel ill-at-ease at many social events.
Mr. Darcy explicitly says later in the book that has father had died 5 years ago when Lizzy is at hunsford with the Collins's. Which means he died about 4 years ago at the beginning of the novel. So for four years he's had the burden of this enormous estate. he's nearly lost his sister to a vindictive fortune Hunter and he's desperately trying to be a good landlord and a good friend but he's also in out of his depth because he wasn't really properly prepared for the job. I get the feeling his father's death was some kind of sudden illness that swept through the area and killed both his father and then shortly after Mr Wickham Senior. The death of mr. Wickham senior would have actually been a major blow to Darcy because Mr Wickham senior had been managing the Estates. So losing both his father and then very shortly after the main manager who had been running it for a long time he's left with a crap ton of responsibility that he really doesn't know how to do. I can imagine that would be a little traumatizing for a guy even at 24 which since mr. Darcy plainly says that the final successful proposal that he is 8 + 20 at the time she reject his first proposal. Men were expected to grow up and sort of be debauched and whatever until about 26 and then come home and start learning the family business learning whatever they're supposed to do and then by 29-30 settle down pick a wife and move on. So that educational time when he should have been riding around with Mr Wickham senior learning how to do all of this landlord stuff and talking to his father about the investment was taken away from him right at the age he should have been learning it. A man coming of age in the Regency period meant 20 or 21 depending on the details of their parents will and or the particulars of parliamentary decrees at the time. For young men brought up for the church like Mr Wickham Junior was he should have been presented to a living at 24 or 25. Gone in for some religious education and examination, then been ordained. All of which is quite frankly a much lower stress job than anything about being a landowner especially of an estate so large that it could easily belong to a Lord. Lizzie even says at one point "how much of pleasure or pain is it in mr. Darcy's hands to give" by being such a huge landowner. That's also how much headache and how much desire to do right by his tenants to keep up the family name and reputation is he under? But he also can't afford to let his tenant take advantage of his Youth and inexperience to the point that he's not making what he should because he's got a sister to take care of and the reputation of his family and estate to protect. Imagine mr. Darcy's life kind of like a young Carefree Prince called back to take care of a small intimately connected Kingdom when he really wasn't ready for the job yet. Running a larger Estate is basically like running a small Kingdom. Ultimately it was the landlord who was on the hook if the tenant didn't pay their taxes to the government... just in simple numbers an Estate that produces a clear £10,000 a year means that's at the very lowest £100,000 worth of land. Remembering that the book takes place in 1811 approximately during the Napoleonic Wars there's a huge shortage of gentleman. women are fighting over men with any kind of decent income. In a household with no sons and all daughters, living in absolute dread of the entail that's the level of desperation Mrs Bennett is feeling. The collective everyone at the meryton assembly also seems to be heavily influenced by mrs. Bennett's views. In part from their shared concerns of their being so few gentlemen because of the war and how are they going to get their daughters married off. It also hints that she may have been plotting and scheming for one of her daughters to marry this very rich man only for him to slight Lizzie ticking her off even more. I've been writing a Pride and Prejudice fanfiction continuation lately and I was putting it together that Lydia is so insipid and so focused on marriage and so much like her mother basically because The Narrative tells us that ever since Jane turned 16 it's in the business of mrs. Bennet life to get her daughter's married. When I calculated this that means that for literally half of Lydia's life she's hearing her mom talk about nothing but getting all of the daughters married off. Once Lizzie blows the whole thing with mr. Collins that would have saved them from the entail and finally let her mother relax. Lydia feels like it's her chance to steal the glory from all of her older sisters to get married first. Lydia has had her head filled with all of this stuff about marriage since she was 7 years old.... It's Not really a Wonder then that she makes very poor decisions.
Wrong. Don't know where you got the impression that Darcy was incompetent. Did you read the book or just watch some film version? We know from Darcy's housekeeper that he was entirely capable of managing the family estate and much admired by his dependents.
Mr Darcy is terribly socially awkward. At the party at which Elizabeth refuses to dance with him at sir williams urging Mr D to do so Mr D has been stalking Elizabeth around the room listening in to her conversations with others in a most unsubtle way. He’s trying to gather the nerve to speak with her. When she finally calls him out on it he had been hovering near her but not with the intention of initiating a conversation. Poor dude.
@@matildeheinzendossantos1313 I don't know where those fics are, but I do know where to find tons of them. Are you a regular JAFF reader? If not, would you like a list of sites?
There were social classes and Mr. Darcy is from a higher class than the Meryton society. There is the old adage, “Watch who you date because you an fall in love with anyone.” Even an unintentional encounter such as a dance on “ the wrong side of the tracks “ could be perilous. That’s why Darcy didn’t want to be there, he sensed the danger. Sure enough, accommodating his friend, he enters into harms way and is inescapably attracted to Miss Elizabeth Bennett. As he readily admits to Miss Bennett when he proposes. Had he refused to attend a lower class ball, his entire conundrum would have been avoided. Alas, then we would not have had this marvelous story that we enjoy over and over.
4:26 I’m glad I’m not the only one that laughs out loud to this book. So many times it cracks me up, usually more with each re-reading (it’s my fave). The characters are ridiculous in their own special ways, and the writing and word choice/tone is so on point. It kills me every time. 😂
I guess another reason that Darcy gained the prejudice of Meryton was his challenging of the first group think of the novel. "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." He did this by behaving in a way that a single man in search of a wife should not behave.
In the Regency era, Society was *known* for staring & gossiping, even in front of the targets of interest. It could very well be that Darcy didn't think *these people* had a right to behave like London society. It may explain his cold behavior, but it still doesn't excuse it. Nor should it; part of the point of the novel is him learning to present himself better.
Yeah, we can't give Darcy too much of a pass, either. In an era where courtesy and manners were so important, he really did walk into someone's home and insult one of the friends of the host - and loudly enough that several people heard him do it. If Lizzy's growth was more internal - being more discerning with regard to people's character regardless of her personal liking of them - then Darcy's was external. He needed to learn how to conduct himself regardless of his own liking of the people involved. (imo!)
Let's remember what Mr Darcy did say, however: "At such an assembly as this, it would be insupportable. Your sisters are engaged, and there is not another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with.” "I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men." "Darcy, on the contrary, had seen a collection of people in whom there was little beauty and no fashion, for none of whom he had felt the smallest interest, and from none received either attention or pleasure." He's not shy. He's proud and fairly conceited at the beginning of the story. The people of Meryton had a pretty good take on his attitude. A rich, handsome man is undoubtedly accustomed to being stared at, and I see no evidence that it impacted him at all. He did indeed consider himself above his company, and stated it in no uncertain terms.
People mistake introverts fror crippling anxiety. Sure, many introverts are shy and anxious and don't know how to talk to people, but want to. I am an introvert but I don't talk to people because people are idiots and IDGF about their opinions.
You've managed to make me feel SORRY for Darcy, something I'd never felt in the introduction of his character. Thank you for your series and for showing me new interpretations of an old and dear friend. I've seen almost every incarnation of this novel and hope I live to see it come to screen yet again with new actors.
I watched another youtuber's video once, about the "awkward Mr Darcy" theory: the author did not like the 2005 film adaptation because Mr Darcy, unlike the 1995 series, came out as awkward rather than proud. The argument was, they did it to make him palatable to a Hollywood audience. I never thought of it like that, and I'm glad Dr. Cox points out he's also not a performer. Of course he is proud, one can tell at least by the condescending marriage proposal, but I think he is, above all, kind of shy.
I'd love to see more analysis on Mr. Darcy's character and his relationship with Lizzie Bennett. The signs he's falling in love with her and why she stands out to him, compared to his other richer and more higher class choices like Caroline Bingley. Even being willing to reject the match set up by Lady Catherine with her daughter. I'd love to hear an analysis on Lizzie Bennett and Mr. Darcy relationship and how their love and attraction grows. How they make a good match, both in the logical sense as well as the romantic sense.
Just listened again to this. You're so right. *WE* as readers have been set up to have a personal prejudice against Darcy from the off! Such a clever writer isn't she!
As an incredibly shy person especially as a child and teenager and having been called a snob more than a few times (because of my shyness), I completely relate to Mr. Darcy’s character and when Georgianna was introduced I could see so much of myself in her silences and confused silence especially when Caroline Bingley made to upset Elizabeth at the mention of Wickham, but also (I believe unknowingly) upset Georgianna and I’m sure Mr. Darcy, too.
When I first read Pride and Prejudice I was completely shocked by Darcy's rudeness despite KNOWING from my English teacher that he wasn't actually a snob. Austen's framing of Darcy made him look so much worse than I expected that I took on the intended opinion easily and was well into the book before I started reading him differently. Needless to say I noticed NONE of what you outlined here but fell for it hook line and sinker. Lol.
My stepdaughter had P&P as a set book for her GCSE, but found it a bit heavy going and didn't get too far. She was genuinely shocked when I tried to help her with a few test questions ... "What? Elizabeth marries Darcy?" ...
The reader should know that Austen's telling us of what 'everyone' thinks at the ball is in Mrs Bennett's voice, even if she doesn't tell us as much. "Oh my dear, everybody found him to be a most disagreeable man" is what she would say, without bothering herself for one moment to think about whether anyone but herself had said any such thing.
Darcy's own words in a subsequent chapter confirm that Meryton society is not too far from the mark in judging him proud, of considering their company beneath him. He says as much.
One of the most telling things at this point in the novel is when Elizabeth says that she could forgive his pride had he not wounded hers. That seems to be the catalyst that starts it all for Elizabeth. I love that Austen leads us down the garden path for about half the novel, until that letter literally changes EVERYTHING. That was one of many strokes of pure genius that you find in Jane Austen.
I'm sure I've read Pride and Prejudice at least a dozen times. I didn't realize I was falling for the set-up of Mr. Darcy from the start. He so thoroughly reforms our opinion of him in the end that I've always just glossed over his introduction. But then, I've only ever read Jane Austen for my own enjoyment, outside of any academic context. Recently stumbled upon your videos and I am loving revisiting all her works with you through your educated literary lens. I thought I couldn't enjoy Jane Austen more. I was wrong. Thanks Dr Cox.
When I first read P&P as a teenager I felt Darcy was arrogant but uncomfortable at the Meryton Assembly--the minute he heard the financial discussion he felt as if he was being skinned alive and being judged. As the novel went on I felt he was relaxing, feeling more at home in a new place. After reading the novel a second time in my early 30s I had a different take on Darcy--still arrogant but also shy, even introverted and awkward, so very uncomfortable in a new place with new people, not to mention being stared at by everyone.
This highlights, to me, just how very clever and purposeful Jane Austen was - I certainly never noticed some of these nuances in the narrative voice. And boy does she really hammer all of it home at what I believe is the end of this very chapter when she further pits Bingley’s & Darcy’s personalities and manner against one another with a peek into their post-assembly debrief. The descriptions there do Darcy very few favors, and I do think it’s important to keep in mind though, that the Meryton groupthink isn’t entirely off the mark. We’re told that Mr. Darcy is “continually giving offense”, and while clever, was also “at the same time haughty, reserved, and fastidious, and his manners, though well-bred, were not inviting.” And because Austen, as you put it, primes us so thoroughly, we as readers hear it in the worst way possible!
While acquiring the necessary skills and college classes to become a state-licensed public school teacher, one of the psych classes discussed personality types. Among those were the "slow-to-warm-up" child. My first reaction was: Why that's Fitzwilliam Darcy!! As socially adept as Mr. Darcy was due to his education and rank, he was not one to be the life of the party in a situation where he not only knew only his immediate party, but was fully aware of all the matrons with daughters of marriageable age sizing him up as a well-heeled prospective son-in-law. Who wouldn't bristle at that?
this was a very helpful and insightful look at 1) how cleverly Jane Austin wrote, and 2) how even today we humans can easily be swayed into a wrong impression of others. Love it. Thank you Dr. Cox; I'm more eager than ever to re-read P&P!
I loved your analysis! I feel much closer to Darcy now because as someone who clams up at social gatherings *himself* because of crippling shyness, I've *also* been called proud or even *angry*.
And how galling for Lizzy to realise that it wasn't his treatment of Jane and Mr Wickham that formed her opinion, but that she fell into exactly the same opinions of Darcy as her mother and wider Meryton society, when she feels she she is so much cleverer and more perceptive than either of these
Hi, Octavia. I am a bit late to the party, but wanted to comment that the hyperbolic language "everyone" uses also reminds me of Lizzie's often exaggerated pronouncements. She is much given to heightened utterances like "Every reason in the world to think ill of you", "So immovable a dislike...", "would never" and frequent cries of "impossible". Your videos are very useful so thank you.
I agree. I think this is Ms Austen remininding us that Lizzie is a] her mothers daughter as well as her fathers , and b] in her late teens, not a fully mature woman
That was really interesting - analyzing the scene in the language of the collective narrator. I love how Austen effortlessly manipulates the reader. The true sign of a great artist. I'm still not sure I buy into the most sympathetic reading of Darcy's actions. Contrasting him with Bingley, yes, he's the extravert to Darcy's introvert, but the Meryton crowd can see that Bingley is "interested" in them. Who doesn't like a person who takes a lively interest in them? Darcy exhibits his own prejudice, finding the local yokels a dead bore before he ever meets them. In fact, although the title is supposed to refer to Darcy's pride and Lizzie's prejudice, I often think it's also about Darcy's prejudice and Lizzie's wounded pride (at his "tolerable" comment). Then, there's Mr. Bingley, teasing Darcy about his standoffish behavior, trying to cajole him into mingling more. I doubt this is his first ball he's attended with Darcy, whose behavior appears to be out of character. In fact, Darcy often has seen Bingley "in love," so he's not a stranger to the social scene. Does he only attend London balls, where he knows all the Ton? If so, he's certainly not behaving as a man of that time is expected to behave, leaving young ladies to sit out the dancing and basically snubbing everyone. I believe a refusal to be introduced could be interpreted as snubbing. Just contrast this with the way the officers are expected to conduct themselves. The Duke of Wellington expected his officers to conduct themselves as refined gentlemen in the ballroom, including dancing and providing genteel escort to the ladies present. Besides, Darcy admits himself after his second proposal to Lizzie, that he was brought up with proper manners, but never made to really put them into action. If only Lizzie has room for growth, where is the balance in the book? No, she has had her influence on him, too, and she is not the only one who learned something about herself.
Something that might be overlooked by readers considering Mr. Darcy's behavior: he had recently experienced George Wickham's attempt to elope with his very young sister, for whom he shares a guardianship. I'm not excusing him, but, he is conscientious. Consider how detailed his letter to Lizzy was. His sense of responsibility causes him to fix his mistakes.
When Darcy enters, the people of Meryton are predisposed to think well of him: Bingley's friend, handsome, and rich. But in the next sentence their opinion changes 180 degrees. Why? As Austen goes on to tell us, because he only danced and talked with his friends. Just because she mentions their opinion before the evidence doesn't mean the opinion preceded the evidence. So though their conclusions may be wrong, it's not on the basis on confirmation bias, but on interpretation (or misinterpretation) of actual events. As it happens, they are generally right -- at the beginning of the novel Darcy is outrageously proud. We see this in his initial proposal to Lizzie. Fortunately, his relationship with Lizzie humbles him and makes him rethink his attitude.
As a teenage pride and prejudice was required reading! I didn’t actually appreciate the book until, I became an adult. The first line in chapter one always resonates with me”it’s a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a large fortune, must be in want of a wife.” Whose truth, which universe, and does he really want a wife?
This brings to my mind the fact that "everyone besides Darcy's own party" start with one prejudiced notion of him and very quickly we are led to a completely opposite prejudice. Austen amazes me.
Your analysis is, as always, wonderful. One of the things that I’d love to hear you add is how in many ways-given what we learn about his history with Wickham-Darcy is justified in being suspicious of people who are only interested in him because of his money from the outset of the novel. His closest friend betrayed him on every level for selfishness and money, and would gladly have done with Georgiana what he did with Lydia.
I love this breakdown. It shows the layers of Austen's writing beautifully. Darcy really was being rude though. At the time, in England, there was a major issue of women outnumbering men--thank you Napoleon--and a man at a ball would have been expected to do his social duty by "standing up" with many women over the course of the evening so that fewer women were left without a partner or left to dance with their own sisters or female friends (as Mr. Bennett threatens to limit Kitty to, later in the novel).
I think the characters and actions of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth are much more straightforward than you propose. Mr. Darcy does indeed exhibit a visible level of pride, and Elizabeth does indeed over-react leading to an extreme prejudice about him. Both characters undergo a very real and rapid maturing process as a result of events in the novel. It seems that direct to me.
I've always thought that "Pride and Prejudice" was the most perfect novel in the English language. The composition of the sentences is so beautifully arranged, and the representation of the characters is so slyly hilarious and subversive. The first sentence in the book, "'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." BAM! That drops you right into the plot of the novel. Even though the characters in the novel spend an inordinate amount of time sitting in parlors and reading letters from other characters, you don't feel that the action is slow or meandering. It's a page-turner. There's no pussyfooting around, like in "Frankenstein," where you start off with Robert Walton, the inexperienced ship's captain. Is he the hero of the novel? Nope. OK, then Victor Frankenstein gets dragged in off the ice. Aha! He must be the titular hero. Let's hear his tale. Victor decides he has to deliver his story in a very longitudinal fashion -- starting with his childhood, his hopeless childhood love, his education ... I get it, he feels he needs to give an extensive background so as to explain his actions and motivations later on, but dear GOD, how long are you going to drag it out, Victor? I was promised a monster in this book! WHERE'S THE MONSTER? By the time the poor creature appears, I no longer gave a damn. "Dracula" is another favorite of mine. The pacing is wonderful. What's going to happen next? I must keep reading! And from the standpoint of a strong heroine, you can't get anyone better than Mina Murray, who can be a lady, but can also kick ass and take names. And Jonathan Harker will never realize that Mina is really the powerful one in the relationship, because she'll manage him so beautifully that he'll think himself the luckiest man in the world to have such an adoring and helpful wife. He won't know, but SHE will, and will gain satisfaction from her self-knowledge of her own self-worth. Finally, there's the character of the Texan, Quincey Morris, who's so unselfish, and dies so gallantly. I fell in love with him the moment he stripped off to donate blood to poor doomed Lucy. (Although, as someone who's taken serology/immunology and hematology courses, the idea that blood donations from 4 different random donors wouldn't result in anything but a fatal transfusion reaction is quite ludicrous.)
I could listen to you analyze every page of Jane Austen’s books. I’ve read them all, but now I feel as if I have missed so much of the story on the first read through.
I agree. Dr. Octavia Cox has opened my eyes to some of the nuances I have missed previously. I will enjoy reading Jane Austen's books again (for the 100th time. LOL)
Thank you. Very illuminating. I had previously been blind to the possibility that Mr Darcy might seem proud because he is actually shy. I think it is inaccurate at 10:44 to describe "His character was decided" as being in the past tense. This is the same construction as you have earlier described as the passive voice ("it was discovered" etc). Past tense here would be something more like "had been decided".
I’m an avid Austen fan, can’t get enough of her writing. I’ve often wondered why, and your explanations give me a better understanding of the richness and texture that heretofore I just experienced without knowing why it reached me on such a profound level.
I think there is another issue here, which is that country people like the residents of Meryton were used to feeling looked down upon by the sophisticated people from London, and that this feeling was often exacerbated by differences in economic status. In the case of Mrs. Bennet, this may have been contributed to by the fact that she was the under-educated daughter of a country lawyer, while he was a member of the landed gentry, and a wealthy one, at that. So Mrs. Bennet and other residents of Meryton were accustomed to being regarded as lesser creatures by wealthy visitors from "the City," and sensitive to being slighted by their icy reserve. Bingley's free and open personality and lack of reserve, in meeting and conversing with the local notables, shows that he clearly does not think himself a superior person. Of course, Darcy's comment about the Meryton girls "not being attractive enough to tempt me" was not likely to be very popular, particularly with a family like the Bennets that prided itself on personal appearance and engaging personality, rather than wealth or distinguished lineage, and perhaps most notably by Elizabeth, who was used to being one of the most engaging and sought after women at local events, and whose beauty and personality were sufficient to offset her lack of accomplishments, wealth or distinguished lineage. I am enjoying Prof. Cox's commentary on Austen's literary craftsmanship. I have been a great admirer of her writing for more than fifty years, but it is interesting, engaging, and fun - to finally be provided with insight into how Austen produces her literary effects.
I think that part of Elizabeth's prejudice is founded upon sensitivity about her grandfather's having been a country lawyer, and her uncle being "in trade" in London. There are also disparaging comments about Bingley's family having an undistinguished background as graziers as the means to their wealth. However, Darcy himself seems less affected by this snobbishness. He is friends with Bingley throughout the book, he works closely with Elizabeth's Uncle Gardiner to resolve the Lydia Crisis, and then is willing to include the Gardiners in his circle of acquaintances after he and Elizabeth are married.
Your comment reminded me very much of this section of the novel, in which Mrs Bennet is offended by what she perceives to be Darcy's dismissal of country life: "“The country,” said Darcy, “can in general supply but a few subjects for such a study. In a country neighbourhood you move in a very confined and unvarying society.” “But people themselves alter so much, that there is something new to be observed in them for ever.” “Yes, indeed,” cried Mrs. Bennet, offended by his manner of mentioning a country neighbourhood. “I assure you there is quite as much of that going on in the country as in town.” Everybody was surprised, and Darcy, after looking at her for a moment, turned silently away. Mrs. Bennet, who fancied she had gained a complete victory over him, continued her triumph. “I cannot see that London has any great advantage over the country, for my part, except the shops and public places. The country is a vast deal pleasanter, is it not, Mr. Bingley?” “When I am in the country,” he replied, “I never wish to leave it; and when I am in town it is pretty much the same. They have each their advantages, and I can be equally happy in either.” “Aye-that is because you have the right disposition. But that gentleman,” looking at Darcy, “seemed to think the country was nothing at all.” “Indeed, Mamma, you are mistaken,” said Elizabeth, blushing for her mother. “You quite mistook Mr. Darcy. He only meant that there was not such a variety of people to be met with in the country as in the town, which you must acknowledge to be true.” “Certainly, my dear, nobody said there were; but as to not meeting with many people in this neighbourhood, I believe there are few neighbourhoods larger. I know we dine with four-and-twenty families.” Nothing but concern for Elizabeth could enable Bingley to keep his countenance. His sister was less delicate, and directed her eyes towards Mr. Darcy with a very expressive smile. Elizabeth, for the sake of saying something that might turn her mother’s thoughts, now asked her if Charlotte Lucas had been at Longbourn since her coming away." (P&P, ch.9)
So fascinating! I hadn't noticed the use of passive voice, but now that you point it out it adds to my appreciation of just how clever Austen is in her writing.
I love the idea you presented of Mrs. Bennett as one of Meryton's social ringleaders. Rifling thru memory of scenes with her, I think it must be so, and I like that for her. Credit her with promoting her daughters' sociability from the start. If it had been up to Mr. Bennett, they'd all be standing in a corner, throwing shade.
Lizzie’s reaction to his refusal to dance is priceless. She further aggravates him by making fun of him to everyone. It’s remarkable that his being rich and a potential match doesn’t bother her in the slightest. Which forces darcy to take notice of her and observe her better as he is unaccustomed to such mocking. People are usually very deferential to his opinion which he dislikes.
Caroline Bingley certainly is _very_ deferential towards Darcy. But Bingley's and Darcy's relationship is harder to gauge, isn’t it? After all, Bingley often teases and makes fun of Darcy too (like Lizzy) - for example, Bingley says playfully to Lizzy, in Darcy's earshot, when they are all at Netherfield: "I declare I do not know a more awful object than Darcy, on particular occasions, and in particular places; at his own house especially, and of a Sunday evening, when he has nothing to do" (ch.10). Given that Bingley is Darcy's best friend, it might alert us to the idea that, actually, Darcy doesn't seem to mind gentle mocking (which is good given that he marries Lizzy!).
@@DrOctaviaCox darcy has a definite superior status in society than Bingley but that doesn’t affect their friendship. They genuinely seem to care for each other’s welfare. And maybe darcy also secretly loves that Bingley looks upto him and asks his advice on every little thing. Maybe Bingley helps darcy to enjoy life and not be so serious all the time. And darcy puts up with Caroline and mrs hurst for bingley’s sake.
@@DrOctaviaCox yes you’re right, both Bingley and colonel fitzwilliam mock darcy good naturedly and he takes it in his stride but they are friends and relatives who’ve known him for years. But maybe darcy was shocked that someone like Lizzie who’s basically a stranger and so inferior to him in status would have the audacity to do it and that too so openly. But it was no big deal for Lizzie as was by nature very bold and playful. She was like this with everybody.
After overhearing his comments about her, she had no reason to think him a potential match. Her friend finally pointed out to her that she still wouldn't want someone of his importance for an enemy. Right up until his first proposal she was still convinced he had no interest in her.
@@nidhird Whilst the Bennetts are not as rich as either Darcy or Bingley, they are considered gentry. The Bingleys [and the Lucas family ] are one generation removed from "trade" as it was termed and could be considered inferior to the Bennetts.
Do I agree with your analysis? YESSSS. I have watched several of your videos and have found them all very interesting. Please create as many of the videos that are brewing in your head as possible. I suspect whatever ideas you have would be more interesting than what I would suggest.
Ohmygosh!! These books are amazing. Her writing is phenomenal!!! She never lies to us, she cleverly writes truth veiled in false/limited perspectives of people she’s trying to really tell you about!!
Love your analysis! Please do more of them, it helps reading the original books with added confidence, thinking: aha! I know what Jane Austen means by that! Thank you Dr. Cox! 💝
Thank you very much indeed. I'm really pleased that you are enjoying them. I too find myself rereading Austen and (_every time_) thinking "aha, I'd never noticed that before..."! She's so brilliant & her texts are so highly wrought that they are almost like puzzles. I rather think Austen was being impish when she had Frank Churchill say "I want to puzzle you again" (_Emma_ vol.3, ch.5)
Here's my appropriation of a great Jane Austen line: The more I observe Jane Austen's work, the more am I pleased with her writing and human insights; and every day confirms my belief of the consistency and relevance of her human insights.
“Darcy: 'I certainly have not the talent which some people possess, of conversing easily with those I have never seen before.' - I am a woman but this is 100% me, I am getting better at this with age though. When I was younger I could not speak to strangers unless I had some Dutch Courage. Also if anyone said I liked someone, even when I did I was so embarrassed I would totally deny it so I get him.
It's so funny you mention Mrs. Bennet when reading the negative comments about Mr. Darcy - because I always think of her when I read these! These are the type of words she uses - "most disagreeable" for example.
So I just saw this and it struck me that the narrative that introduces Darcy is very similar to my experience as a shy person. It happened, to often for my liking, that friends told me after a party that people said I seem very arrogant, behind my back. Eventhough I haven't actually said or done anything because I have been just listening and talking to the friends I knew at these Parties. Wich is what Darcy does in the book. Also on top of being super shy, he also probably expect every mother to throw her daughters at him because of his wealth. That simply can't be a situation that makes socializing and attractive prospect to him.
I don't think Darcy is super shy. That is the point Dr Cox is making surely. He is well used to the machinations of maternal fortune hunters and is bored by them. He is open and confident with the Gardiners when he meets them which doesn't suggest shyness for example.
Yes, agreed absolutely. I have often wondered about this book: whose pride? and who's prejudice? The contrast between what we learn of Darcy later, for example, from the Housekeeper at Pemberly, and, of course, of the true history of his dealings with Wickham and the later matter of Lydia & Wickham just doesn't square with the picture of Darcy we are invited - powerfully induced - to form on his first introduction. We eventually feel the tension, as does Elizabeth, between the early 'observations' and what later transpires. Could the first impression have been a grand misunderstanding? we ask, before we are finally given enough to be certain that is so. Surely Darcy's intervention against Jane with Bingly must be seen to decide the matter? One can certainly see how Elizabeth must think so. But must we also think so? We are all aware of how group impressions can be wildly inaccurate. Could this be a case in point? It is almost impossible to interpret Darcy's intervention with Bingly independently of the earlier induced perception of his general character. If, at the time, one were disposed to try, it could surely only have been out of a charity and generosity of character beyond that which it could sensibly be thought rational to extend. But rational it would nevertheless have been. Oooh, I love this Free Indirect Discourse business. What a brilliant technique. What is truth anyway? How would any putative narrator know? All there is are perceptions. If the narrator spoke infallably, independently of the perception of characters within the novel, such a story could never be written. Crikey! I finally understand how fiction is even possible! My dear DOCTAVOX, I am greatly indebted.
In high school I had to read "Pride and Prejudice"... and hated it. Cut to 20 yrs later and I just finished watching the miniseries version with Colin Firth, which I liked very much. And now after hearing your analysis of the text, I really think that I need to reread this book!
What an interesting analysis! The passive voice, group think and confirmation bias are things I sort of knew, but never heard expressed so clearly. Next time I re-read, I will enjoy the layers more thoroughly!
This was fascinating. I love Jane Austen but I haven’t read Pride and Prejudice since I was much younger, and having seen this video, I can’t believe how much I missed! So illuminating! Please keep going!
I just loved this. I love reading Austen and thought I was across all her lovely strategies and wry observations. But thanks to you I just realised how Sneaky she can be. I admit to having been lost in the world of Meryton when reading the scene you describe. Now I realise that I was conscripted there. Thanks for pointing this out.
The automated closed captions show "Meryton society" as "maritime society" which makes for a humorous effect , as if Mr. Darcy is the object of gossip among a large group of sailors -- "the tide of his popularity " indeed.
Hi, I have enjoyed listening to your thoughtful analysis of this section of Pride and Prejudice. In my opinion, one of the interesting things about the novel is that Jane Austen did not give Darcy a title. On the other hand, Jane tells us that he was very rich for £10,000 was a vast annual income when Pride and Prejudice was published in 1813, and we are subsequently told that he had a large estate and belonged to an ancient landed family. Moreover, his mother was from an even grander background for her family belonged to the nobility. In contrast, although the father of Charlotte Lucas had a title, he was a newcomer to high society and had ‘made a tolerable fortune’ in trade at Meryton. Mr Bingley likewise belongs to a family new to exalted social circles and his large annual income of £4,000 or £5,000 is mentioned more than once in the novel. For his part, Mr Bennet (like Fitzwilliam Darcy) was born into the landed gentry and we are told that he had an annual income of £2,000. In other words, he was very comfortably off. For example, seven years after Pride and Prejudice was published a middle-aged clergyman named Patrick Bronte had a much smaller annual income of £170. (This salary is mentioned by Juliet Barker in her book, The Brontes). Furthermore, Patrick Bronte’s income was more than double that of most working men. Consequently, Mr Bennet’s annual income of £2,000 was a mouth-watering sum for the vast majority of people and a respectable income for a member of the landed gentry, the largest tier of the British upper class. In Sense and Sensibility, for example, we are told that another country gentleman, Colonel Brandon of Delaford House, also had £2,000 per annum whereas the small estate of John Willoughby of Combe Magna (another member of the gentry in Sense and Sensibility) only gave him around £600 to £700 a year. Thanks for your commentary and take care.
Thank you Glen. Indeed - Austen does not give Darcy a title (in fact none of her heroes are titled). The economic intricacies of Austen's novels are fascinating. And, exactly as you say, the Bennets are very well off, and _still_ Mr Bennet hasn't made adequate provision for his daughters.
@@DrOctaviaCox Hi. Thanks for your reply. Yes, Mr Bennet certainly neglected his duties as a father in that respect. Moreover, he failed to ensure that the behaviour of some of his daughters was appropriate when they were at social functions.
Yes, indeed - and was inappropriate himself at times too. For instance, his rather cruel comment to Mary: "when Mary had finished her second song, [Mr Bennet] said aloud, “That will do extremely well, child. You have delighted us long enough. Let the other young ladies have time to exhibit.”" (ch.18).
Bear in mind some gentry families were very ancient [e.g. the Arderns traced descent back to Anglo-Saxon times ]and some may have had titles in the past and lost them due an ancestor backing the wrong claimant to the throne. In contrast you have a real contemporary of Jane Austen; the politician Henry Addington, 1st Lord Sidmouth who was the son of a doctor who in the eyes of the upper class would hardly compare to ancient gentry.
I like the analysis very much. I particularly liked your ending when you said about seeing it from Darcy's perspective. It's like watching a nature program. If you are focussing on the gazelles then you hate the lion for catching one. But if the focus is on the lion it's a source of joy almost when the hunt is successful.
I loved the breakdown into narrative voice and fact. It's useful to see the distinction for work situations or indeed for personal relationships. Thank you.
Hi I’m loving all your Austen videos and would you please do an analysis of Lizzie and charlotte’s friendship as I find it very interesting that they continue to remain good friends even with such different outlooks towards life. Thanks
Many thanks Nidhird. I have a video on Charlotte's engagement to Mr Collins which considers the relationship between Charlotte and Lizzy too, which you can watch here: ruclips.net/video/cwFJ-OX8BrM/видео.html
I thought your analysis was awesome. I read somewhere that Darcy was a great example of huge character development, all in the name of love (awwww). However, now I think their characters really don't change much, other than they gradually learn to trust their own true feelings about each other, while simultaneously ignoring the opinions of those around them. This latter interpretation seems to me a much better recipe for a happy-ever-after marriage than the former.
Yeah Mr Darcy doesn't change that much. Its more just that he learns to accept the embarassing behaviour of Lizzy's family - eg Mrs Bennett and Lydia - for the sake of his love for her. I think before he automatically dismissed everyone in the town as maybe not being as intelligent as himself and being rather uncouth because of people like Mrs Bennett and Lydia. But he comes to realise how great Lizzy is despite having some embarassing family members. Lizzy learns to not judge people immediately on first impressions. She misjudged Mr Darcy as being snobbish when really he is a good and decent person. And later she misjudges Mr Wickham because he is so charming on the outside and easily wins everyone over.
For me it was just the opposite. Knowing we were getting all this through the POV of popular opinion I assumed people were misjudging him. But on further roads paying attention to what he says of himself, they weren't totally wrong.
I liked your analysis of Mr. Darcy's character. I have read the book twice from cover to cover seen television episodes on PBS and seen the movie too. I am a voracious reader of English literature.
WOW! absolutely loved this analysis! i didn't really understand that darcy wasn't necessarily "proud" at the start of the book until watching this. your videos on pride and prejudice have really been helping me to better understand the characters and to really appreciate jane austen's brilliance!
Dear Doctor Cox, you are a perfect "story teller" who feels the value of words, and ideas shut in sentences. You show the importance and sens of literature analysis for common human creatures. Am I an insurance broker? Accountant? Ballet dancer? A foreigner reading Jane Austen's novels? It does not matter. The Polish greatest poet, Adam Mickiewicz, wrote a poetical national drama, "Mr Tadeusz" that begins: "Lithuania my beloved homeland...", followed by hundreds of pages of poetry, in which he expressed the wish to his compatriots "read it all, I worked hard for many days and nights to show you the beauty of our land and people living there". It had happened. All Poles of his generation not only read it, but they learnt the whole poem by heart. Those who could read and those who could not. My father who lived three generation after the poet, felt ashamed that he could recite only two or three books out of thirteen. Was this effort of memorising this drama worth doing? My parents, my grandparents though it was correct to learn the drama by heart. Perhaps you Doctor Cox, inderectly, have the same or similar thinking.Your job is great, your way of speaking, represents much more than a flow of phrases in a speech. Thank you.
I find myself wishing you would narrate P&P and S&S on audiobook. You interpret the characters so well. It would be truly enjoyable. I majored in English Literature and Literary Criticism in college (back in the 70s!) and you remind me of my most admired professor. Thanks for all your work and the love you obviously have for what you do. I’m subscribed.
How about the very opening of Pride and Prejudice? ("It is a truth universally acknowledged...") Does that fall under the same category? Austen seems to mock the entire world with that opening line! (Or at least a certain segment of society.)
Do leave any comments that you have. I want to know what you think!
Really great analysis. I now resolve to look for more collective thinking in her other novels. Thank you.
Absolutely my pleasure! Austen's novel Emma is another great example - where there's almost a character called "everybody".
@@DrOctaviaCox miss bates?
Do you mean that you think Miss Bates also aligns her thinking with the "everybody" of Highbury (in Emma)?
I don't believe miss bates thinks at all. For me she is "everybody" because she reports all that happens before her eyes, as an unconscious journalist.
She is so deprived of herself, so near to be no one, that she need to fill her void with other people's lives. (For example her monologue at the ball scene is not simply ridicolus, it's horrorific!)
She is the biggest fear for Emma's future:
"If I thought I should ever be like Miss Bates - so silly, so satisfied, so smiling, so prosing, so undistinguishing, and unfastidious and so apt to tell everything relative to everybody about me, I would marry tomorrow".
I know this comment comes four years later. However, this is one of the best analysis of Mr. Darcy and his pride upon the reader meeting him.
For years, I thought Jane Austin’s characters were unrealistic caricatures until a fellow mom told me that her daughter would have been in a higher level at their sport than mine.... if her daughter hadn’t quit. We really haven’t changed that much in the past 200 years.
Our customs may have changed, but we're pretty much the same.
And Jane Austen pictured us masterfully.
Very funny!
That's hilarious 😂
A cousin of mine once told me she will be an amazing driver once she learns how. We were two years away from learning at the time. So yes, Jane is on the money!
@@mar6781 I think that's different though. Sounds like she was excited and couldn't wait to learn and just knew she will be determined to be good at it. It's like saying you will be a great spouse when you find the right partner.. Different from someone just claiming that would have been superior at something HAD they any interest in it. It's just a strange way to say you're better than other people.
That’s very interesting. You hear authors talk about how they know their characters, and it will seems like Jane Austen is really good about knowing her characters and knowing her readers. I always thought of Darcy at this party as kind of being dragged there by Bingley, not really wanting to go, and feeling like every woman and her daughter is going to be after him for his money. After a lifetime of watching people go after his family for money, he is just over it.
Absolutely Hanna! - Austen knows her characters and their idiosyncrasies. Clearly keeping her characters 'in character' was imperative to JA. She wrote to her niece (Anna Austen, who was herself writing a novel at the time) criticising the fact that Anna's heroine's character was inconsistent:
"I like your Susan very much; she is a sweet creature, her playfulness of fancy is very delightful. I like her as she is now exceedingly, but I am not quite so well satisfied with her behaviour to George R. At first she seems all over attachment and feeling, and afterwards to have none at all; she is so extremely confused at the ball, and so well satisfied apparently with Mr. Morgan. *She seems to have changed her character* ." (9-18 September 1814)
I absolutely agree!
“Go after his family for money,” oh yes! Wickham and Georgianna for one. I’m sure he is quite accustomed to this sort of thing, especially considering we know he spends some time in the London social scene.
Public Assemblies were not generally popular with members of the ton. They were looked upon as a bit of a free-for-all where people would be obliged to mix with persons beneath themselves. Let's face it, NONE of the young Ladies in Austen's books would have been granted vouchers for Almack's, no matter how genteel they might appear to be to a modern audience.
Most of the young ladies mentioned by Austen were members of the landed gentry and thus had high social status, as was true for example of the Miss Bertrams and the Miss Elliots. Moreover the Bennet sisters were also landed gentry and their father's annual income of £2,000 placed him in the top 1 per cent of British society and, presumably, Sir Thomas Bertram and Sir Walter Elliot had even higher incomes.
I grow up in China, and read the pride and prejudice first time, in Chinese. It was a green cover children's edition published by 北京出版社. Since then I've re-read and collected all existing Chinese translation of the book in my teens. I remembered my first english version was one of those penguin classics and then I had the audio books in my ancient mp3 player. I bought David Shepard's annotated version on amazon last year and the smart youtube algorithm led me here. I've been watching the channel for a while. I love all these close readings, especially the part that discuss writing techniques. It bring me to a new level of fondness of the book and Austen. Please keep posting Dr.Octavia! You've got a non-native speaker fan here!
Super late reply but I'm curious about any differences in interpretation you may have had when reading the two different languages
Cool! I love Pride and Prejudice and i want learn Chinese. I've heard it's a more logical language to learn than English. I hope that's true.
As an introvert myself I didnt see any of Darcy's attitude as rude or anything other than introverted and antisocial until his comment about Lizzy.
Said comment, after we learn he's been fighting "temptation" for her all along, is all the more hilarious in retrospect.
Having almost lost his beloved sister to Wickham's scheme to extort him for money, having had to face the gawking and sucking up of others for his wealth, and seemingly also being introverted by nature, no wonder he was so grouchy, uncomfortable and distrustful.
I find it wonderful that >200 years after the Jane Austen published her novel we are all still enjoying it, discussing it and being amazed at her cleverness and skill as a writer. Just wonderful.
Dammit! I never realised how much Jane was indoctrinating me into groupthink when I read this novel. Clever lady.
Ha! - very clever lady.
Little did you dream that you were harboring Lizzy Bennett's prejudices all along! (I hope you got a happy ending.)
Well played, Jane.
So it wasn't just me who fell for everything?
@@lexicornix7530 No, that's the genius of Jane Austen's writing
The introduction of Mr. Darcy framed the collective Prejudice of his Pride. The story wouldn't have been quite as compelling if we didn't later experience a sense of his transformation and see our own prejudice.
Great point Adora. Part of the point of the novel is for readers to see that they too have succumbed (perhaps) to the prejudice that they scorn / laugh at in others.
An aspect of his pride is his sense of duty. He sees himself as a responsible adult, yet, he seemed not to sense that Wickham tried to use Darcy's sister as a means of getting back at Darcy because he ended the source of money to support Wickham.
As very shy and socially anxious person from a tiny mexican city that loves people who talk, dance and drink, I never bought the "proud and rude" narrative. It hit too close to home and I knew he was one of my own. lol
My husband is from a very small town (I am not so I am used to a bit of anonymity when I go out) and the first time we attended a sporting event together I very much understood how Mr. Darcy must've felt in that moment.
It is a shame the people were so prejudiced against him.
LOVE this
I feel the same. I’m reserved so people often think I’m stuck up. I’m not. I have trust issues, but I, unlike Darcy, exchange civilities with strangers.
I think Mr Darcy is an introvert who, with all the pressure of being surrounded and gawked at by strangers for the whole evening, verbally lashed out about Lizzy to Bingley. Like he couldn’t even take his friends teasing in that moment. He would have probably said that about any Lady his friend brought up. Lizzy overheard and of course, came to her own conclusions about his character as well. And why shouldn’t she continue to think so with everyone confirming her own opinion. I love how subtle Austen is and your analysis of her text ❤️
I completely agree Claudia! - I also love how subtle Austen's writing is! As you say - one can understand &/or sympathise with _both_ characters's positions _and_ see why they are misguided. Quite brilliant!
And thank you for the compliment about my analysis. Much appreciated. Octavia
That was my assumption too-I’m quite socially anxious, and there have been times where I was very close to lashing out & saying something very out of character because it all got to be too much. Although now I’m wondering if people I initially met at parties were surprised to find out I wasn’t a grisly growly person when we hung out one-on-one.
That's a great insight.
Perhaps we should bear in mind that Darcy is quite young to have been given such an enormous inheritance and all the responsibilities that go with that. He has lost his parents, having only the awful Lady Catherine, his cousin the Colonel and his little sister. He will be very anxious about her and, being conscientious by nature, feeling guilty that she was nearly lost. He was rather young to be a guardian, with no wife to help him. He may still be grieving for his father, also sickened by the way he is being chased by every ambitious mother for miles around. He will be sick of flattery. After, all he is a catch. No wonder he is ill at ease. And possibly rather depressed. When I was a young student I didn’t see any of this. But now I’m more experienced. My admiration for Jane Austen just grows with the years.
Wow I didn't even realize that the proud and arrogant opinion of Mr. Darcy by Meryton started from Mrs. Bennet and could be from Eliza's playful comments to her friends herself. Which hones in the point how brutal the gossiping nature is and paints a horrifying picture of one careless comment by Darcy immediately spread around the room and sets his character. The very nature that Darcy looks down on during his proposal scene and which Lizzy had been painfully aware and embarrassed later on.
Darcy has the bias against the overly enthusiastic mothers and the women looking for husbands, while Lizzy has her bias against Darcy who not only insults her but refuses to make effort to be friendly with everyone.
Truly a pride and prejudice moment between two parties.
I read P & P as a teenager and I’m amazed how a dizzy superficial reader (myself 50 years ago) still remembers the characters and plot so vividly. I think that is an amazing tribute to Jane Austen’s talent. I love that Dr Cox has added so many more layers for me!
Isn't it amazing how great literature grabs hold of us and stays a lifetime? I was introduced to P&P in High School English (third year) nearly 55 years ago; the instructor was the best teacher I ever had, as he encouraged a love of literature I've carried with me ever since. God bless Joe Palmisano.
I'm an introvert and is socially awkward sometimes. As soon as it mentioned Darcy was stared at and gossiped about in front of him, I knew he would be perceived as being rude for not wanting to mingle. That's exactly how I'd behave to avoid being the centre of attention lol. Darcy is an introvert through and through
A very interesting reading, thank you! The way that Darcy is interpreted by the crowd is particularly striking as a contrast to the introduction of Georgiana later in the book. Georgiana is introduced in a sitting room at an inn, not a ball room. Lizzy is flattered by the attention and eager to please/be pleased, not mortified and insulted. Unlike Mr. Darcy, the pride which the people of Lambton attribute to Georgiana is immediately understood to stem from shyness and discomfort. The wisdom of that crowd is dismissed and Mrs. Gardner and Lizzy "do her justice and pity her." The whole incident is perhaps an exaggerated hint at what a more fortuitous first meeting between Darcy and Elizabeth might have been like.
A great comparison! And perhaps shows Lizzy's development too (having learnt from her misjudging of Darcy from their introduction)? "Since her being at Lambton, she had heard that Miss Darcy was exceedingly proud; but the observation of a very few minutes convinced her that she was only exceedingly shy" (ch.44).
P.S. From whom, one wonders, had she "heard that Miss Darcy was exceedingly proud"?
A very interesting point. I think that maybe Lizzie was less inclined to think harshly of Georgiana after reading Darcy’s letter. She thinks of Georgiana being naive and vulnerable rather than being proud. And she meets her later in the novel when she is supposedly reformed after reading Darcy’ s letter and she’s trying not to act or think in haste about anyone, including Bingley. She doesn’t believe Wickham’s description of Georgiana at this point ( knowing he can’t be trusted) and doesn’t give much weight to what the people of lambton believe as she isn’t closely acquainted with them. I think that the meeting with Georgiana definitely tilted the balance towards a more favourable opinion of Darcy in Lizzie’s mind.
Great point. We see Lizzy's development through the comparison between her response to meeting Darcy and then meeting Georgiana. And perhaps her greater understanding of their shyness (which isn't a character trait she shares)? So much so, she can later ask of Darcy, "What made you so shy of me, when you first called, and afterwards dined here?" (ch.60).
@@DrOctaviaCox Also it needs to be said: Darcy comes off very well as a caring, indulgent brother. In his own turf, where he is both comfortable and distracted by caring for his sister and focusing on her shyness rather than his own discomfort, he cuts a much better figure. Knowing that he had saved her from Wickham similarly primes Elizabeth to feel protective of her and they are united in this feeling. (I just rewatched the BBC series, during which Miss Bingley purposefully mentions Wickham to upset Elizabeth, but mostly, unknowingly, upsets Georgiana - don't remember if the book has an equivalent, but Elizabeth and Darcy uniting in wanting to care for his sister is a pretty strong point).
I not only agree but I also see how we were all duped into sharing the prejudice of popular opinion. Truly this was a cautionary tale!
I read the line "His character was decided" as Austen being a bit punny with her readers. Meaning A) is "It was clear to everyone was a jerk he was," with "decided" meaning something like "Obvious" or "Pronounced," and Meaning B) is the one given in the video, "Everyone else at the party collectively decided he was a jerk."
Agreed. And a subtle hint that the narrator is not on board with the community’s consensus.
Great observation. And, yes, I think JA is doing exactly that. A confirms B for the reader - he clearly was disagreeable so of course Meryton found him disagreeable!
I love how Austen seems to call back to this moment later in the book, when we're introduced to Georgiana.
"Georgiana's reception of them was very civil, but attended with all the embarrassment which, though proceeding from shyness and the fear of doing wrong, would easily give to those who felt themselves inferior the belief of her being proud and reserved. Mrs. Gardiner and her niece, however, did her justice, and pitied her."
But Darcy is not shy; at least Georgiana was civil, dude was super rude.
A wonderful combination of a defense of Darcy and a demonstration of Austen's brilliance as a writer, both of which I approve of entirely and enjoy, but let's not forget that Darcy, like Lizzy, is at the beginning of his arc, and while we are obviously guided to view her in a favorable light and him in an unfavorable light at this point, and it is certainly unfair to the character, he does behave pretty horribly (though perhaps understandably, again, just like Lizzy), first when he chooses to insult Lizzy in public and right after he drew her attention by looking at her, which wasn't an innocent mistake by him, and then as he sabotages the Bingley-Jane connection, and obviously in his abominable proposal.
So, yes, of course we, the readers, were judging him too harshly, and perhaps not judging Lizzy harshly enough, but he certainly was not blameless in this, as he himself eventually realizes, which, naturally, makes him even more wonderful and makes us want to defend him in retrospect even more, which just goes to show how well Austen has manipulated us all throughout the process, and again through repeated readings. She really was extraordinary.
I do think it is startling to notice that Lizzie agrees with the collective of Meryton regarding Darcy. Later, we suspect she does not, in fact, hold the citizens of Meryton in high regard, and is even, upon receipt of Darcy's letter to her after his failed proposal, quite ashamed of the gossipy attitudes of many of them, her own family included. You begin to see that, had she been more keenly self-aware, and aware of those voices around her in Meryton, she may not have indulged them with regard to Darcy at all, from the outset. But of course she must have her journey to self-awareness as her story!
Indeed she must! She is the heroine of a novel, after all.
I think we forget sometimes that for all Lizzie's sass and humour, she is only about 19 or 20 at the start of the novel. And she's used to being considered one of the top picks of Meryton by virtue of being a Bennet. So to suddenly have this posh, good looking guy totally dismiss her must have been quite a blow to her own pride. It really hit me as I've got older as such a classic teenage girl switch from 'ooh he's so cute' to 'omg, what does anyone see in him he's so up himself', with all of Meryton basically being like, 'you don't need him anyway, he's awful, you can do so much better!'
I felt like she has some sort of pride of her own as well. In some of the passages within the novel, Lizzy explicitly stated that she has better judgement of situations and people compared to her sisters and takes pride in that. Her pride was also reaffirmed by her being her father's favorite and Mr. Bennet has stated (in front of their family) that Lizzy is more witty and clever than the rest of her sisters
I always thought of it this way: Darcy entered the room as Mothers looked at him as an object to obtain. They were looking at him as something to be gotten for their daughters. Mrs. Bennet was angry because she had five daughters to marry and he wouldn't have anyone one of them. It was a wonder when Darcy does ask Lizzy for a dance, that he would because of Mrs. Bennet's quest to have her daughters married. I am sure it wasn't the first Ballroom he went into with over thrilled Mothers looking to poach a husband for her daughter. I am sure that as the saying goes this was not Mr. Darcy's only rodeo, and probably very aware that his status would make him a magnet for all in the room. In the proposal scene, he asks whether he should delight in her family's situation that was so much lower than his. That made me think, he really didn't want to be there because he knew the drill, he knew that he wouldn't find a dance partner that was of his own status, and he knew that he would be the object of attention.
Indeed! - the very first thing we are told about him is explicitly about him being the centre of everyone's attention: "Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention of the room" (ch.3). For a shy person this would no doubt be very off-putting. It is also noted by the crowd that he danced and talked only to his own party, which suggests that they have been scrutinising his every move. It's also clear that the general conversation involves comparing Darcy unfavourably to Bingley: "What a contrast between him and his friend! Mr. Darcy danced only once with Mrs. Hurst and once with Miss Bingley, declined being introduced to any other lady, and spent the rest of the evening in walking about the room, speaking occasionally to one of his own party" (ch.3). No wonder he's ill at ease!
@@DrOctaviaCox It is a fair estimate in his defense, especially at the new gatherings to be looked at as a prize turkey. However, that does not excuse him entirely. Yes, the town is certainly gossip-mongers in which everybody knew everything all along, but in this instance they are correct in his arrogance and being above his company. It is a pivotal plot point that he actually DOES try to improve himself and his manners in order to be worth winning Eliza; Austen makes it clear during the proposal scene that Darcy had ZERO doubt that Eliza would say yes to him because hey, I'm rich and noble, who wouldn't want me? So, in the same manner that the townsfolk view him mercenarily as a prize, he also thinks the same of himself. Its a shock to his core that Eliza proves his view of the "lower" people wrong by refusing him. It isn't so much true that he wouldn't "perform to strangers", as he has no problem (per other accounts) engaging himself in conversation and "being lively in other places" among the people of rank, or "his own kind". And even as a landowner dealing with the even lower classes (people tied to the land and whatnot) he is charitable and able to easily work with them. So he does have the capability, he just refused to use it with the "lower gentry".
Thank you, CrimsonAlice. Yes, I agree - Darcy is very aware that he is a 'prize' for husband-hunters. He has daily reminders from Caroline Bingley! In the video, I'm not trying to argue that Darcy is not displaying pride and indeed prejudice in this scene, but to draw attention to the reciprocal nature of the pride and prejudice of both parties (the other party being Meryton) at the assembly. And to suggest that readers might notice both.
@@CrimsonAlice I thank you for your excellent comment! I hate how people (especially of the modern audience coming from the 2005 movie) excuse him for his rude actions for the sake of being 'introverted' or 'shy'. Mr.Darcy is a bold, confident and proud character; he was very much responsible for his wrong doings and thankfully came to realize it in the end.
@@Sunset248-j3t I agree that Darcy is not shy. I do see him as introverted, though. A person can be bold, confident, proud AND introverted. It is very common for people to assume introversion is shyness or weakness when it is not. Darcy continues to display introverted tendencies even after overcoming his pride. He is still reserved and would prefer to keep his story and actions to himself. He does not desire the attention of others.
My favourite You Tube analyst. Excellent content
I just love to listen to these videos and then re-read Austen's novels, it gives a new perspective, and it's like reading the stories for the first time yet again.
The subtle conflation of Mrs Bennet's opinion with "everybody's" is seen in the very first line of the novel ("It is a truth universally acknowledged..."), and a large part of Lizzie's growth comes from her social circle expanding as she interacts with the Gardiners, Fitzwilliam, Georgiana, Mrs Reynolds, and other people who do not hold Mrs Bennet's narrow view of the world. Incidentally, as a therapist, I often hear clients say "EVERYBODY thinks [massive oversimplification]"... when they almost always really mean "my mother thinks [massive oversimplification]"!
The way Austen uses "everybody" in her novels is fascinating - Meryton's "everybody", and also Highbury's (in Emma).
Darcy was undoubtedly an introvert, but was drawn to friends (and a woman) who were more skilled conversationalists. Also, his parents died young so, unlike many young men his age he had the responsibility of running his estate and parenting his sister, a responsibility for which he is painfully aware he nearly failed. In the Regency Era, most young men were still waiting to inherit and spending their days drinking and gambling while their fathers ran the estate. Regency Era aristocracy was notoriously decadent and corrupt. Mr. Darcy would have had reason to feel ill-at-ease at many social events.
Mr. Darcy explicitly says later in the book that has father had died 5 years ago when Lizzy is at hunsford with the Collins's. Which means he died about 4 years ago at the beginning of the novel. So for four years he's had the burden of this enormous estate. he's nearly lost his sister to a vindictive fortune Hunter and he's desperately trying to be a good landlord and a good friend but he's also in out of his depth because he wasn't really properly prepared for the job. I get the feeling his father's death was some kind of sudden illness that swept through the area and killed both his father and then shortly after Mr Wickham Senior. The death of mr. Wickham senior would have actually been a major blow to Darcy because Mr Wickham senior had been managing the Estates. So losing both his father and then very shortly after the main manager who had been running it for a long time he's left with a crap ton of responsibility that he really doesn't know how to do. I can imagine that would be a little traumatizing for a guy even at 24 which since mr. Darcy plainly says that the final successful proposal that he is 8 + 20 at the time she reject his first proposal.
Men were expected to grow up and sort of be debauched and whatever until about 26 and then come home and start learning the family business learning whatever they're supposed to do and then by 29-30 settle down pick a wife and move on. So that educational time when he should have been riding around with Mr Wickham senior learning how to do all of this landlord stuff and talking to his father about the investment was taken away from him right at the age he should have been learning it.
A man coming of age in the Regency period meant 20 or 21 depending on the details of their parents will and or the particulars of parliamentary decrees at the time.
For young men brought up for the church like Mr Wickham Junior was he should have been presented to a living at 24 or 25. Gone in for some religious education and examination, then been ordained. All of which is quite frankly a much lower stress job than anything about being a landowner especially of an estate so large that it could easily belong to a Lord.
Lizzie even says at one point "how much of pleasure or pain is it in mr. Darcy's hands to give" by being such a huge landowner. That's also how much headache and how much desire to do right by his tenants to keep up the family name and reputation is he under? But he also can't afford to let his tenant take advantage of his Youth and inexperience to the point that he's not making what he should because he's got a sister to take care of and the reputation of his family and estate to protect.
Imagine mr. Darcy's life kind of like a young Carefree Prince called back to take care of a small intimately connected Kingdom when he really wasn't ready for the job yet. Running a larger Estate is basically like running a small Kingdom. Ultimately it was the landlord who was on the hook if the tenant didn't pay their taxes to the government... just in simple numbers an Estate that produces a clear £10,000 a year means that's at the very lowest £100,000 worth of land. Remembering that the book takes place in 1811 approximately during the Napoleonic Wars there's a huge shortage of gentleman. women are fighting over men with any kind of decent income. In a household with no sons and all daughters, living in absolute dread of the entail that's the level of desperation Mrs Bennett is feeling.
The collective everyone at the meryton assembly also seems to be heavily influenced by mrs. Bennett's views. In part from their shared concerns of their being so few gentlemen because of the war and how are they going to get their daughters married off.
It also hints that she may have been plotting and scheming for one of her daughters to marry this very rich man only for him to slight Lizzie ticking her off even more.
I've been writing a Pride and Prejudice fanfiction continuation lately and I was putting it together that Lydia is so insipid and so focused on marriage and so much like her mother basically because The Narrative tells us that ever since Jane turned 16 it's in the business of mrs. Bennet life to get her daughter's married. When I calculated this that means that for literally half of Lydia's life she's hearing her mom talk about nothing but getting all of the daughters married off. Once Lizzie blows the whole thing with mr. Collins that would have saved them from the entail and finally let her mother relax. Lydia feels like it's her chance to steal the glory from all of her older sisters to get married first. Lydia has had her head filled with all of this stuff about marriage since she was 7 years old....
It's Not really a Wonder then that she makes very poor decisions.
Wrong. Don't know where you got the impression that Darcy was incompetent. Did you read the book or just watch some film version? We know from Darcy's housekeeper that he was entirely capable of managing the family estate and much admired by his dependents.
@@angelwhispers2060where do you post you fanfics? I'd like to read them
Mr Darcy is terribly socially awkward. At the party at which Elizabeth refuses to dance with him at sir williams urging Mr D to do so Mr D has been stalking Elizabeth around the room listening in to her conversations with others in a most unsubtle way. He’s trying to gather the nerve to speak with her. When she finally calls him out on it he had been hovering near her but not with the intention of initiating a conversation. Poor dude.
@@matildeheinzendossantos1313 I don't know where those fics are, but I do know where to find tons of them. Are you a regular JAFF reader? If not, would you like a list of sites?
I loved this analysis of the community and language. Austen was such a genius!
Thank you very much. I agree - total genius! Octavia
Indeed!! I read through every comments in this community, and still occasionally find some Easter eggs. Delightful.
There were social classes and Mr. Darcy is from a higher class than the Meryton society. There is the old adage, “Watch who you date because you an fall in love with anyone.” Even an unintentional encounter such as a dance on “ the wrong side of the tracks “ could be perilous. That’s why Darcy didn’t want to be there, he sensed the danger. Sure enough, accommodating his friend, he enters into harms way and is inescapably attracted to Miss Elizabeth Bennett. As he readily admits to Miss Bennett when he proposes. Had he refused to attend a lower class ball, his entire conundrum would have been avoided. Alas, then we would not have had this marvelous story that we enjoy over and over.
4:26 I’m glad I’m not the only one that laughs out loud to this book. So many times it cracks me up, usually more with each re-reading (it’s my fave). The characters are ridiculous in their own special ways, and the writing and word choice/tone is so on point. It kills me every time. 😂
Ha! - me too
Yeesss!! Me too
I guess another reason that Darcy gained the prejudice of Meryton was his challenging of the first group think of the novel.
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."
He did this by behaving in a way that a single man in search of a wife should not behave.
In the Regency era, Society was *known* for staring & gossiping, even in front of the targets of interest. It could very well be that Darcy didn't think *these people* had a right to behave like London society. It may explain his cold behavior, but it still doesn't excuse it. Nor should it; part of the point of the novel is him learning to present himself better.
Yeah, we can't give Darcy too much of a pass, either. In an era where courtesy and manners were so important, he really did walk into someone's home and insult one of the friends of the host - and loudly enough that several people heard him do it. If Lizzy's growth was more internal - being more discerning with regard to people's character regardless of her personal liking of them - then Darcy's was external. He needed to learn how to conduct himself regardless of his own liking of the people involved. (imo!)
Let's remember what Mr Darcy did say, however: "At such an assembly as this, it would be insupportable. Your sisters are engaged, and there is not another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with.”
"I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men."
"Darcy, on the contrary, had seen a collection of people in whom there was little beauty and no fashion, for none of whom he had felt the smallest interest, and from none received either attention or pleasure."
He's not shy. He's proud and fairly conceited at the beginning of the story. The people of Meryton had a pretty good take on his attitude. A rich, handsome man is undoubtedly accustomed to being stared at, and I see no evidence that it impacted him at all. He did indeed consider himself above his company, and stated it in no uncertain terms.
People mistake introverts fror crippling anxiety. Sure, many introverts are shy and anxious and don't know how to talk to people, but want to. I am an introvert but I don't talk to people because people are idiots and IDGF about their opinions.
You've managed to make me feel SORRY for Darcy, something I'd never felt in the introduction of his character. Thank you for your series and for showing me new interpretations of an old and dear friend. I've seen almost every incarnation of this novel and hope I live to see it come to screen yet again with new actors.
Absolutely my pleasure, Yvette. Octavia
I watched another youtuber's video once, about the "awkward Mr Darcy" theory: the author did not like the 2005 film adaptation because Mr Darcy, unlike the 1995 series, came out as awkward rather than proud. The argument was, they did it to make him palatable to a Hollywood audience. I never thought of it like that, and I'm glad Dr. Cox points out he's also not a performer. Of course he is proud, one can tell at least by the condescending marriage proposal, but I think he is, above all, kind of shy.
I'd love to see more analysis on Mr. Darcy's character and his relationship with Lizzie Bennett. The signs he's falling in love with her and why she stands out to him, compared to his other richer and more higher class choices like Caroline Bingley. Even being willing to reject the match set up by Lady Catherine with her daughter.
I'd love to hear an analysis on Lizzie Bennett and Mr. Darcy relationship and how their love and attraction grows. How they make a good match, both in the logical sense as well as the romantic sense.
Just listened again to this.
You're so right.
*WE* as readers have been set up to have a personal prejudice against Darcy from the off!
Such a clever writer isn't she!
As an incredibly shy person especially as a child and teenager and having been called a snob more than a few times (because of my shyness), I completely relate to Mr. Darcy’s character and when Georgianna was introduced I could see so much of myself in her silences and confused silence especially when Caroline Bingley made to upset Elizabeth at the mention of Wickham, but also (I believe unknowingly) upset Georgianna and I’m sure Mr. Darcy, too.
When I first read Pride and Prejudice I was completely shocked by Darcy's rudeness despite KNOWING from my English teacher that he wasn't actually a snob. Austen's framing of Darcy made him look so much worse than I expected that I took on the intended opinion easily and was well into the book before I started reading him differently. Needless to say I noticed NONE of what you outlined here but fell for it hook line and sinker. Lol.
Oh I think Austen plays with readers and very much intends them to see Darcy through Lizzy's (and indeed Meryton's) eyes!
My stepdaughter had P&P as a set book for her GCSE, but found it a bit heavy going and didn't get too far. She was genuinely shocked when I tried to help her with a few test questions ... "What? Elizabeth marries Darcy?" ...
Me too I see Darcey differently now and am a bit shamed by my own prejudice I definitely learned something ty 💕
The reader should know that Austen's telling us of what 'everyone' thinks at the ball is in Mrs Bennett's voice, even if she doesn't tell us as much. "Oh my dear, everybody found him to be a most disagreeable man" is what she would say, without bothering herself for one moment to think about whether anyone but herself had said any such thing.
Darcy's own words in a subsequent chapter confirm that Meryton society is not too far from the mark in judging him proud, of considering their company beneath him. He says as much.
One of the most telling things at this point in the novel is when Elizabeth says that she could forgive his pride had he not wounded hers. That seems to be the catalyst that starts it all for Elizabeth.
I love that Austen leads us down the garden path for about half the novel, until that letter literally changes EVERYTHING. That was one of many strokes of pure genius that you find in Jane Austen.
I'm sure I've read Pride and Prejudice at least a dozen times. I didn't realize I was falling for the set-up of Mr. Darcy from the start. He so thoroughly reforms our opinion of him in the end that I've always just glossed over his introduction. But then, I've only ever read Jane Austen for my own enjoyment, outside of any academic context. Recently stumbled upon your videos and I am loving revisiting all her works with you through your educated literary lens. I thought I couldn't enjoy Jane Austen more. I was wrong. Thanks Dr Cox.
Thank you, Jennifer. Lovely words to say. Octavia
When I first read P&P as a teenager I felt Darcy was arrogant but uncomfortable at the Meryton Assembly--the minute he heard the financial discussion he felt as if he was being skinned alive and being judged. As the novel went on I felt he was relaxing, feeling more at home in a new place. After reading the novel a second time in my early 30s I had a different take on Darcy--still arrogant but also shy, even introverted and awkward, so very uncomfortable in a new place with new people, not to mention being stared at by everyone.
This highlights, to me, just how very clever and purposeful Jane Austen was - I certainly never noticed some of these nuances in the narrative voice. And boy does she really hammer all of it home at what I believe is the end of this very chapter when she further pits Bingley’s & Darcy’s personalities and manner against one another with a peek into their post-assembly debrief. The descriptions there do Darcy very few favors, and I do think it’s important to keep in mind though, that the Meryton groupthink isn’t entirely off the mark. We’re told that Mr. Darcy is “continually giving offense”, and while clever, was also “at the same time haughty, reserved, and fastidious, and his manners, though well-bred, were not inviting.” And because Austen, as you put it, primes us so thoroughly, we as readers hear it in the worst way possible!
Darcy is an introvert, possibly with social anxiety; two concepts unknown in Austen's time.
While acquiring the necessary skills and college classes to become a state-licensed public school teacher, one of the psych classes discussed personality types. Among those were the "slow-to-warm-up" child. My first reaction was: Why that's Fitzwilliam Darcy!! As socially adept as Mr. Darcy was due to his education and rank, he was not one to be the life of the party in a situation where he not only knew only his immediate party, but was fully aware of all the matrons with daughters of marriageable age sizing him up as a well-heeled prospective son-in-law. Who wouldn't bristle at that?
this was a very helpful and insightful look at 1) how cleverly Jane Austin wrote, and 2) how even today we humans can easily be swayed into a wrong impression of others. Love it. Thank you Dr. Cox; I'm more eager than ever to re-read P&P!
I loved your analysis! I feel much closer to Darcy now because as someone who clams up at social gatherings *himself* because of crippling shyness, I've *also* been called proud or even *angry*.
And how galling for Lizzy to realise that it wasn't his treatment of Jane and Mr Wickham that formed her opinion, but that she fell into exactly the same opinions of Darcy as her mother and wider Meryton society, when she feels she she is so much cleverer and more perceptive than either of these
Hi, Octavia. I am a bit late to the party, but wanted to comment that the hyperbolic language "everyone" uses also reminds me of Lizzie's often exaggerated pronouncements. She is much given to heightened utterances like "Every reason in the world to think ill of you", "So immovable a dislike...", "would never" and frequent cries of "impossible". Your videos are very useful so thank you.
I agree. I think this is Ms Austen remininding us that Lizzie is a] her mothers daughter as well as her fathers , and b] in her late teens, not a fully mature woman
That was really interesting - analyzing the scene in the language of the collective narrator. I love how Austen effortlessly manipulates the reader. The true sign of a great artist.
I'm still not sure I buy into the most sympathetic reading of Darcy's actions. Contrasting him with Bingley, yes, he's the extravert to Darcy's introvert, but the Meryton crowd can see that Bingley is "interested" in them. Who doesn't like a person who takes a lively interest in them? Darcy exhibits his own prejudice, finding the local yokels a dead bore before he ever meets them.
In fact, although the title is supposed to refer to Darcy's pride and Lizzie's prejudice, I often think it's also about Darcy's prejudice and Lizzie's wounded pride (at his "tolerable" comment).
Then, there's Mr. Bingley, teasing Darcy about his standoffish behavior, trying to cajole him into mingling more. I doubt this is his first ball he's attended with Darcy, whose behavior appears to be out of character. In fact, Darcy often has seen Bingley "in love," so he's not a stranger to the social scene. Does he only attend London balls, where he knows all the Ton? If so, he's certainly not behaving as a man of that time is expected to behave, leaving young ladies to sit out the dancing and basically snubbing everyone. I believe a refusal to be introduced could be interpreted as snubbing.
Just contrast this with the way the officers are expected to conduct themselves. The Duke of Wellington expected his officers to conduct themselves as refined gentlemen in the ballroom, including dancing and providing genteel escort to the ladies present.
Besides, Darcy admits himself after his second proposal to Lizzie, that he was brought up with proper manners, but never made to really put them into action. If only Lizzie has room for growth, where is the balance in the book? No, she has had her influence on him, too, and she is not the only one who learned something about herself.
Something that might be overlooked by readers considering Mr. Darcy's behavior: he had recently experienced George Wickham's attempt to elope with his very young sister, for whom he shares a guardianship. I'm not excusing him, but, he is conscientious. Consider how detailed his letter to Lizzy was. His sense of responsibility causes him to fix his mistakes.
When Darcy enters, the people of Meryton are predisposed to think well of him: Bingley's friend, handsome, and rich. But in the next sentence their opinion changes 180 degrees. Why? As Austen goes on to tell us, because he only danced and talked with his friends. Just because she mentions their opinion before the evidence doesn't mean the opinion preceded the evidence. So though their conclusions may be wrong, it's not on the basis on confirmation bias, but on interpretation (or misinterpretation) of actual events.
As it happens, they are generally right -- at the beginning of the novel Darcy is outrageously proud. We see this in his initial proposal to Lizzie. Fortunately, his relationship with Lizzie humbles him and makes him rethink his attitude.
As a teenage pride and prejudice was required reading! I didn’t actually appreciate the book until, I became an adult. The first line in chapter one always resonates with me”it’s a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a large fortune, must be in want of a wife.” Whose truth, which universe, and does he really want a wife?
This brings to my mind the fact that "everyone besides Darcy's own party" start with one prejudiced notion of him and very quickly we are led to a completely opposite prejudice. Austen amazes me.
Your analysis is, as always, wonderful. One of the things that I’d love to hear you add is how in many ways-given what we learn about his history with Wickham-Darcy is justified in being suspicious of people who are only interested in him because of his money from the outset of the novel. His closest friend betrayed him on every level for selfishness and money, and would gladly have done with Georgiana what he did with Lydia.
I love this breakdown. It shows the layers of Austen's writing beautifully. Darcy really was being rude though. At the time, in England, there was a major issue of women outnumbering men--thank you Napoleon--and a man at a ball would have been expected to do his social duty by "standing up" with many women over the course of the evening so that fewer women were left without a partner or left to dance with their own sisters or female friends (as Mr. Bennett threatens to limit Kitty to, later in the novel).
I think the characters and actions of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth are much more straightforward than you propose. Mr. Darcy does indeed exhibit a visible level of pride, and Elizabeth does indeed over-react leading to an extreme prejudice about him. Both characters undergo a very real and rapid maturing process as a result of events in the novel. It seems that direct to me.
I've always thought that "Pride and Prejudice" was the most perfect novel in the English language. The composition of the sentences is so beautifully arranged, and the representation of the characters is so slyly hilarious and subversive. The first sentence in the book, "'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." BAM! That drops you right into the plot of the novel. Even though the characters in the novel spend an inordinate amount of time sitting in parlors and reading letters from other characters, you don't feel that the action is slow or meandering. It's a page-turner.
There's no pussyfooting around, like in "Frankenstein," where you start off with Robert Walton, the inexperienced ship's captain. Is he the hero of the novel? Nope. OK, then Victor Frankenstein gets dragged in off the ice. Aha! He must be the titular hero. Let's hear his tale. Victor decides he has to deliver his story in a very longitudinal fashion -- starting with his childhood, his hopeless childhood love, his education ... I get it, he feels he needs to give an extensive background so as to explain his actions and motivations later on, but dear GOD, how long are you going to drag it out, Victor? I was promised a monster in this book! WHERE'S THE MONSTER? By the time the poor creature appears, I no longer gave a damn.
"Dracula" is another favorite of mine. The pacing is wonderful. What's going to happen next? I must keep reading! And from the standpoint of a strong heroine, you can't get anyone better than Mina Murray, who can be a lady, but can also kick ass and take names. And Jonathan Harker will never realize that Mina is really the powerful one in the relationship, because she'll manage him so beautifully that he'll think himself the luckiest man in the world to have such an adoring and helpful wife. He won't know, but SHE will, and will gain satisfaction from her self-knowledge of her own self-worth. Finally, there's the character of the Texan, Quincey Morris, who's so unselfish, and dies so gallantly. I fell in love with him the moment he stripped off to donate blood to poor doomed Lucy. (Although, as someone who's taken serology/immunology and hematology courses, the idea that blood donations from 4 different random donors wouldn't result in anything but a fatal transfusion reaction is quite ludicrous.)
Ah yes , the blood donation without cross matching 😂😂😂😂😂
Bingley and Darcy is the most stereotypical introvert-extrovert friendship.
I could listen to you analyze every page of Jane Austen’s books. I’ve read them all, but now I feel as if I have missed so much of the story on the first read through.
I agree. Dr. Octavia Cox has opened my eyes to some of the nuances I have missed previously. I will enjoy reading Jane Austen's books again (for the 100th time. LOL)
Thank you. Very illuminating. I had previously been blind to the possibility that Mr Darcy might seem proud because he is actually shy. I think it is inaccurate at 10:44 to describe "His character was decided" as being in the past tense. This is the same construction as you have earlier described as the passive voice ("it was discovered" etc). Past tense here would be something more like "had been decided".
I’m an avid Austen fan, can’t get enough of her writing. I’ve often wondered why, and your explanations give me a better understanding of the richness and texture that heretofore I just experienced without knowing why it reached me on such a profound level.
I think there is another issue here, which is that country people like the residents of Meryton were used to feeling looked down upon by the sophisticated people from London, and that this feeling was often exacerbated by differences in economic status. In the case of Mrs. Bennet, this may have been contributed to by the fact that she was the under-educated daughter of a country lawyer, while he was a member of the landed gentry, and a wealthy one, at that. So Mrs. Bennet and other residents of Meryton were accustomed to being regarded as lesser creatures by wealthy visitors from "the City," and sensitive to being slighted by their icy reserve. Bingley's free and open personality and lack of reserve, in meeting and conversing with the local notables, shows that he clearly does not think himself a superior person.
Of course, Darcy's comment about the Meryton girls "not being attractive enough to tempt me" was not likely to be very popular, particularly with a family like the Bennets that prided itself on personal appearance and engaging personality, rather than wealth or distinguished lineage, and perhaps most notably by Elizabeth, who was used to being one of the most engaging and sought after women at local events, and whose beauty and personality were sufficient to offset her lack of accomplishments, wealth or distinguished lineage.
I am enjoying Prof. Cox's commentary on Austen's literary craftsmanship. I have been a great admirer of her writing for more than fifty years, but it is interesting, engaging, and fun - to finally be provided with insight into how Austen produces her literary effects.
I think that part of Elizabeth's prejudice is founded upon sensitivity about her grandfather's having been a country lawyer, and her uncle being "in trade" in London. There are also disparaging comments about Bingley's family having an undistinguished background as graziers as the means to their wealth. However, Darcy himself seems less affected by this snobbishness. He is friends with Bingley throughout the book, he works closely with Elizabeth's Uncle Gardiner to resolve the Lydia Crisis, and then is willing to include the Gardiners in his circle of acquaintances after he and Elizabeth are married.
Your comment reminded me very much of this section of the novel, in which Mrs Bennet is offended by what she perceives to be Darcy's dismissal of country life:
"“The country,” said Darcy, “can in general supply but a few subjects for such a study. In a country neighbourhood you move in a very confined and unvarying society.”
“But people themselves alter so much, that there is something new to be observed in them for ever.”
“Yes, indeed,” cried Mrs. Bennet, offended by his manner of mentioning a country neighbourhood. “I assure you there is quite as much of that going on in the country as in town.”
Everybody was surprised, and Darcy, after looking at her for a moment, turned silently away. Mrs. Bennet, who fancied she had gained a complete victory over him, continued her triumph.
“I cannot see that London has any great advantage over the country, for my part, except the shops and public places. The country is a vast deal pleasanter, is it not, Mr. Bingley?”
“When I am in the country,” he replied, “I never wish to leave it; and when I am in town it is pretty much the same. They have each their advantages, and I can be equally happy in either.”
“Aye-that is because you have the right disposition. But that gentleman,” looking at Darcy, “seemed to think the country was nothing at all.”
“Indeed, Mamma, you are mistaken,” said Elizabeth, blushing for her mother. “You quite mistook Mr. Darcy. He only meant that there was not such a variety of people to be met with in the country as in the town, which you must acknowledge to be true.”
“Certainly, my dear, nobody said there were; but as to not meeting with many people in this neighbourhood, I believe there are few neighbourhoods larger. I know we dine with four-and-twenty families.”
Nothing but concern for Elizabeth could enable Bingley to keep his countenance. His sister was less delicate, and directed her eyes towards Mr. Darcy with a very expressive smile. Elizabeth, for the sake of saying something that might turn her mother’s thoughts, now asked her if Charlotte Lucas had been at Longbourn since her coming away."
(P&P, ch.9)
And thank you. I'm glad you find my videos fun and engaging and interesting. Austen is such a literary wizard.
So fascinating! I hadn't noticed the use of passive voice, but now that you point it out it adds to my appreciation of just how clever Austen is in her writing.
I love the idea you presented of Mrs. Bennett as one of Meryton's social ringleaders. Rifling thru memory of scenes with her, I think it must be so, and I like that for her. Credit her with promoting her daughters' sociability from the start. If it had been up to Mr. Bennett, they'd all be standing in a corner, throwing shade.
Mrs Bennett and her sister ,
Mrs. Phillips....😉☺
Lizzie’s reaction to his refusal to dance is priceless. She further aggravates him by making fun of him to everyone. It’s remarkable that his being rich and a potential match doesn’t bother her in the slightest. Which forces darcy to take notice of her and observe her better as he is unaccustomed to such mocking. People are usually very deferential to his opinion which he dislikes.
Caroline Bingley certainly is _very_ deferential towards Darcy. But Bingley's and Darcy's relationship is harder to gauge, isn’t it? After all, Bingley often teases and makes fun of Darcy too (like Lizzy) - for example, Bingley says playfully to Lizzy, in Darcy's earshot, when they are all at Netherfield:
"I declare I do not know a more awful object than Darcy, on particular occasions, and in particular places; at his own house especially, and of a Sunday evening, when he has nothing to do" (ch.10). Given that Bingley is Darcy's best friend, it might alert us to the idea that, actually, Darcy doesn't seem to mind gentle mocking (which is good given that he marries Lizzy!).
@@DrOctaviaCox darcy has a definite superior status in society than Bingley but that doesn’t affect their friendship. They genuinely seem to care for each other’s welfare. And maybe darcy also secretly loves that Bingley looks upto him and asks his advice on every little thing. Maybe Bingley helps darcy to enjoy life and not be so serious all the time. And darcy puts up with Caroline and mrs hurst for bingley’s sake.
@@DrOctaviaCox yes you’re right, both Bingley and colonel fitzwilliam mock darcy good naturedly and he takes it in his stride but they are friends and relatives who’ve known him for years. But maybe darcy was shocked that someone like Lizzie who’s basically a stranger and so inferior to him in status would have the audacity to do it and that too so openly. But it was no big deal for Lizzie as was by nature very bold and playful. She was like this with everybody.
After overhearing his comments about her, she had no reason to think him a potential match. Her friend finally pointed out to her that she still wouldn't want someone of his importance for an enemy. Right up until his first proposal she was still convinced he had no interest in her.
@@nidhird Whilst the Bennetts are not as rich as either Darcy or Bingley, they are considered gentry. The Bingleys [and the Lucas family ] are one generation removed from "trade" as it was termed and could be considered inferior to the Bennetts.
This is a very good lesson generally in how prejudices are formed socially and "Groupthink"
Do I agree with your analysis? YESSSS. I have watched several of your videos and have found them all very interesting. Please create as many of the videos that are brewing in your head as possible. I suspect whatever ideas you have would be more interesting than what I would suggest.
Ohmygosh!! These books are amazing. Her writing is phenomenal!!! She never lies to us, she cleverly writes truth veiled in false/limited perspectives of people she’s trying to really tell you about!!
Love your analysis! Please do more of them, it helps reading the original books with added confidence, thinking: aha! I know what Jane Austen means by that! Thank you Dr. Cox! 💝
Thank you very much indeed. I'm really pleased that you are enjoying them. I too find myself rereading Austen and (_every time_) thinking "aha, I'd never noticed that before..."! She's so brilliant & her texts are so highly wrought that they are almost like puzzles. I rather think Austen was being impish when she had Frank Churchill say "I want to puzzle you again" (_Emma_ vol.3, ch.5)
Here's my appropriation of a great Jane Austen line:
The more I observe Jane Austen's work, the more am I pleased with her writing and human insights; and every day confirms my belief of the consistency and relevance of her human insights.
“Darcy: 'I certainly have not the talent which some people possess, of conversing easily with those I have never seen before.' - I am a woman but this is 100% me, I am getting better at this with age though. When I was younger I could not speak to strangers unless I had some Dutch Courage. Also if anyone said I liked someone, even when I did I was so embarrassed I would totally deny it so I get him.
It's so funny you mention Mrs. Bennet when reading the negative comments about Mr. Darcy - because I always think of her when I read these! These are the type of words she uses - "most disagreeable" for example.
So I just saw this and it struck me that the narrative that introduces Darcy is very similar to my experience as a shy person. It happened, to often for my liking, that friends told me after a party that people said I seem very arrogant, behind my back. Eventhough I haven't actually said or done anything because I have been just listening and talking to the friends I knew at these Parties. Wich is what Darcy does in the book.
Also on top of being super shy, he also probably expect every mother to throw her daughters at him because of his wealth. That simply can't be a situation that makes socializing and attractive prospect to him.
I don't think Darcy is super shy. That is the point Dr Cox is making surely. He is well used to the machinations of maternal fortune hunters and is bored by them. He is open and confident with the Gardiners when he meets them which doesn't suggest shyness for example.
Yes, agreed absolutely. I have often wondered about this book: whose pride? and who's prejudice? The contrast between what we learn of Darcy later, for example, from the Housekeeper at Pemberly, and, of course, of the true history of his dealings with Wickham and the later matter of Lydia & Wickham just doesn't square with the picture of Darcy we are invited - powerfully induced - to form on his first introduction. We eventually feel the tension, as does Elizabeth, between the early 'observations' and what later transpires. Could the first impression have been a grand misunderstanding? we ask, before we are finally given enough to be certain that is so.
Surely Darcy's intervention against Jane with Bingly must be seen to decide the matter? One can certainly see how Elizabeth must think so. But must we also think so? We are all aware of how group impressions can be wildly inaccurate. Could this be a case in point?
It is almost impossible to interpret Darcy's intervention with Bingly independently of the earlier induced perception of his general character. If, at the time, one were disposed to try, it could surely only have been out of a charity and generosity of character beyond that which it could sensibly be thought rational to extend. But rational it would nevertheless have been.
Oooh, I love this Free Indirect Discourse business. What a brilliant technique. What is truth anyway? How would any putative narrator know? All there is are perceptions. If the narrator spoke infallably, independently of the perception of characters within the novel, such a story could never be written.
Crikey! I finally understand how fiction is even possible! My dear DOCTAVOX, I am greatly indebted.
In high school I had to read "Pride and Prejudice"... and hated it. Cut to 20 yrs later and I just finished watching the miniseries version with Colin Firth, which I liked very much. And now after hearing your analysis of the text, I really think that I need to reread this book!
I find your comments very helpful. Thank you.
What an interesting analysis! The passive voice, group think and confirmation bias are things I sort of knew, but never heard expressed so clearly. Next time I re-read, I will enjoy the layers more thoroughly!
My pleasure, Lisa. Unpeeling the layers is the most fun bit! Octavia
This was fascinating. I love Jane Austen but I haven’t read Pride and Prejudice since I was much younger, and having seen this video, I can’t believe how much I missed! So illuminating! Please keep going!
I always preferred Darcy to Bingley.
Colin Firth's portrayal of Darcy was superb.
I just loved this. I love reading Austen and thought I was across all her lovely strategies and wry observations. But thanks to you I just realised how Sneaky she can be. I admit to having been lost in the world of Meryton when reading the scene you describe. Now I realise that I was conscripted there. Thanks for pointing this out.
The automated closed captions show "Meryton society" as "maritime society" which makes for a humorous effect , as if Mr. Darcy is the object of gossip among a large group of sailors -- "the tide of his popularity " indeed.
Hi, I have enjoyed listening to your thoughtful analysis of this section of Pride and Prejudice.
In my opinion, one of the interesting things about the novel is that Jane Austen did not give Darcy a title. On the other hand, Jane tells us that he was very rich for £10,000 was a vast annual income when Pride and Prejudice was published in 1813, and we are subsequently told that he had a large estate and belonged to an ancient landed family. Moreover, his mother was from an even grander background for her family belonged to the nobility.
In contrast, although the father of Charlotte Lucas had a title, he was a newcomer to high society and had ‘made a tolerable fortune’ in trade at Meryton. Mr Bingley likewise belongs to a family new to exalted social circles and his large annual income of £4,000 or £5,000 is mentioned more than once in the novel.
For his part, Mr Bennet (like Fitzwilliam Darcy) was born into the landed gentry and we are told that he had an annual income of £2,000. In other words, he was very comfortably off. For example, seven years after Pride and Prejudice was published a middle-aged clergyman named Patrick Bronte had a much smaller annual income of £170. (This salary is mentioned by Juliet Barker in her book, The Brontes). Furthermore, Patrick Bronte’s income was more than double that of most working men.
Consequently, Mr Bennet’s annual income of £2,000 was a mouth-watering sum for the vast majority of people and a respectable income for a member of the landed gentry, the largest tier of the British upper class. In Sense and Sensibility, for example, we are told that another country gentleman, Colonel Brandon of Delaford House, also had £2,000 per annum whereas the small estate of John Willoughby of Combe Magna (another member of the gentry in Sense and Sensibility) only gave him around £600 to £700 a year.
Thanks for your commentary and take care.
Thank you Glen.
Indeed - Austen does not give Darcy a title (in fact none of her heroes are titled). The economic intricacies of Austen's novels are fascinating. And, exactly as you say, the Bennets are very well off, and _still_ Mr Bennet hasn't made adequate provision for his daughters.
@@DrOctaviaCox Hi. Thanks for your reply. Yes, Mr Bennet certainly neglected his duties as a father in that respect. Moreover, he failed to ensure that the behaviour of some of his daughters was appropriate when they were at social functions.
Yes, indeed - and was inappropriate himself at times too. For instance, his rather cruel comment to Mary: "when Mary had finished her second song, [Mr Bennet] said aloud, “That will do extremely well, child. You have delighted us long enough. Let the other young ladies have time to exhibit.”" (ch.18).
This is obviously embarrassing for Mary, but also for the other young ladies too.
Bear in mind some gentry families were very ancient [e.g. the Arderns traced descent back to Anglo-Saxon times ]and some may have had titles in the past and lost them due an ancestor backing the wrong claimant to the throne. In contrast you have a real contemporary of Jane Austen; the politician Henry Addington, 1st Lord Sidmouth who was the son of a doctor who in the eyes of the upper class would hardly compare to ancient gentry.
Thank you for this series. Austen is one of my favorite authors. Keep up the Great work.
Ha! Me too - as you might have guessed! She's brilliant.
I like the analysis very much. I particularly liked your ending when you said about seeing it from Darcy's perspective. It's like watching a nature program. If you are focussing on the gazelles then you hate the lion for catching one. But if the focus is on the lion it's a source of joy almost when the hunt is successful.
I loved the breakdown into narrative voice and fact. It's useful to see the distinction for work situations or indeed for personal relationships. Thank you.
A delightful and illuminating discussion of something I've taken for granted for the decades that I've been loving this novel.
Hi I’m loving all your Austen videos and would you please do an analysis of Lizzie and charlotte’s friendship as I find it very interesting that they continue to remain good friends even with such different outlooks towards life. Thanks
Many thanks Nidhird. I have a video on Charlotte's engagement to Mr Collins which considers the relationship between Charlotte and Lizzy too, which you can watch here: ruclips.net/video/cwFJ-OX8BrM/видео.html
I thought your analysis was awesome. I read somewhere that Darcy was a great example of huge character development, all in the name of love (awwww). However, now I think their characters really don't change much, other than they gradually learn to trust their own true feelings about each other, while simultaneously ignoring the opinions of those around them. This latter interpretation seems to me a much better recipe for a happy-ever-after marriage than the former.
Yeah Mr Darcy doesn't change that much. Its more just that he learns to accept the embarassing behaviour of Lizzy's family - eg Mrs Bennett and Lydia - for the sake of his love for her. I think before he automatically dismissed everyone in the town as maybe not being as intelligent as himself and being rather uncouth because of people like Mrs Bennett and Lydia. But he comes to realise how great Lizzy is despite having some embarassing family members.
Lizzy learns to not judge people immediately on first impressions. She misjudged Mr Darcy as being snobbish when really he is a good and decent person. And later she misjudges Mr Wickham because he is so charming on the outside and easily wins everyone over.
For me it was just the opposite. Knowing we were getting all this through the POV of popular opinion I assumed people were misjudging him. But on further roads paying attention to what he says of himself, they weren't totally wrong.
Austen has created a blueprint of gossip with an almost scientific exactness.
Dr. Octavia Cox, thank you so much for these classes, they are a delight!
Thank you very much indeed Renata - I'm very pleased you find my videos delightful! Octavia
I liked your analysis of Mr. Darcy's character. I have read the book twice from cover to cover seen television episodes on PBS and seen the movie too. I am a voracious reader of English literature.
WOW! absolutely loved this analysis! i didn't really understand that darcy wasn't necessarily "proud" at the start of the book until watching this. your videos on pride and prejudice have really been helping me to better understand the characters and to really appreciate jane austen's brilliance!
Dear Doctor Cox, you are a perfect "story teller" who feels the value of words, and ideas shut in sentences.
You show the importance and sens of literature analysis for common human creatures. Am I an insurance broker? Accountant? Ballet dancer? A foreigner reading Jane Austen's novels? It does not matter.
The Polish greatest poet, Adam Mickiewicz, wrote a poetical national drama, "Mr Tadeusz" that begins: "Lithuania my beloved homeland...", followed by hundreds of pages of poetry, in which he expressed the wish to his compatriots "read it all, I worked hard for many days and nights to show you the beauty of our land and people living there". It had happened. All Poles of his generation not only read it, but they learnt the whole poem by heart. Those who could read and those who could not.
My father who lived three generation after the poet, felt ashamed that he could recite only two or three books out of thirteen.
Was this effort of memorising this drama worth doing? My parents, my grandparents though it was correct to learn the drama by heart. Perhaps you Doctor Cox, inderectly, have the same or similar thinking.Your job is great, your way of speaking, represents much more than a flow of phrases in a speech. Thank you.
" I want to know what you think!" - I think it's very well done
I am a shy person and have been looked at as proud and rude before. No, I'm just too shy to talk to strangers. I'm with Mr. Darcy.
This is amazing! just what I was looking for, thank you for making these! I wished they were more popular. I've shared them!
Thank you so much. Really glad you are enjoying them. Brilliant - share as far and wide as you can! - it’s much appreciated.
I find myself wishing you would narrate P&P and S&S on audiobook. You interpret the characters so well. It would be truly enjoyable.
I majored in English Literature and Literary Criticism in college (back in the 70s!) and you remind me of my most admired professor. Thanks for all your work and the love you obviously have for what you do. I’m subscribed.
Can you think of any other examples of collective Free Indirect Discourse GroupThink in Austen?
Also in P&P about Wickham: "All Meryton seemed striving to blacken the man who, but three months before, had been almost an angel of light."
How about the very opening of Pride and Prejudice? ("It is a truth universally acknowledged...") Does that fall under the same category? Austen seems to mock the entire world with that opening line! (Or at least a certain segment of society.)
Ha, yes! - great example Val. Meryton doing it's thing again!