*Series:* ruclips.net/p/PLzcoQ_vebs-T2HiyFRu1TzCiioISLXLRq _One morning, about a week after Bingley’s engagement with Jane had been formed, as he and the females of the family were sitting together in the dining-room, their attention was suddenly drawn to the window by the sound of a carriage; and they perceived a chaise and four driving up the lawn. It was too early in the morning for visitors; and besides, the equipage did not answer to that of any of their neighbours. The horses were post; and neither the carriage, nor the livery of the servant who preceded it, were familiar to them. As it was certain, however, that somebody was coming, Bingley instantly prevailed on Miss Bennet to avoid the confinement of such an intrusion, and walk away with him into the shrubbery. They both set off; and the conjectures of the remaining three continued, though with little satisfaction, till the door was thrown open, and their visitor entered. It was Lady Catherine de Bourgh._ _They were of course all intending to be surprised: but their astonishment was beyond their expectation; and on the part of Mrs. Bennet and Kitty, though she was perfectly unknown to them, even inferior to what Elizabeth felt._ _She entered the room with an air more than usually ungracious, made no other reply to Elizabeth’s salutation than a slight inclination of the head, and sat down without saying a word. Elizabeth had mentioned her name to her mother on her Ladyship’s entrance, though no request of introduction had been made._ _Mrs. Bennet, all amazement, though flattered by having a guest of such high importance, received her with the utmost politeness. After sitting for a moment in silence, she said, very stiffly, to Elizabeth,-_ _“I hope you are well, Miss Bennet. That lady, I suppose, is your mother?”_ _Elizabeth replied very concisely that she was._ _“And that, I suppose, is one of your sisters?”_ _“Yes, madam,” said Mrs. Bennet, delighted to speak to a Lady Catherine. “She is my youngest girl but one. My youngest of all is lately married, and my eldest is somewhere about the ground, walking with a young man, who, I believe, will soon become a part of the family.”_ _“You have a very small park here,” returned Lady Catherine, after a short silence._ _“It is nothing in comparison of Rosings, my Lady, I dare say; but, I assure you, it is much larger than Sir William Lucas’s.”_ _“This must be a most inconvenient sitting-room for the evening in summer: the windows are full west.”_ _Mrs. Bennet assured her that they never sat there after dinner; and then added,-_ _“May I take the liberty of asking your Ladyship whether you left Mr. and Mrs. Collins well?”_ _“Yes, very well. I saw them the night before last.”_ _Elizabeth now expected that she would produce a letter for her from Charlotte, as it seemed the only probable motive for her calling. But no letter appeared, and she was completely puzzled._ _Mrs. Bennet, with great civility, begged her Ladyship to take some refreshment: but Lady Catherine very resolutely, and not very politely, declined eating anything; and then, rising up, said to Elizabeth,-_ _“Miss Bennet, there seemed to be a prettyish kind of a little wilderness on one side of your lawn. I should be glad to take a turn in it, if you will favour me with your company.”_ _“Go, my dear,” cried her mother, “and show her Ladyship about the different walks. I think she will be pleased with the hermitage.”_ _Elizabeth obeyed; and, running into her own room for her parasol, attended her noble guest downstairs. As they passed through the hall, Lady Catherine opened the doors into the dining-parlour and drawing-room, and pronouncing them, after a short survey, to be decent-looking rooms, walked on._ _Her carriage remained at the door, and Elizabeth saw that her waiting-woman was in it. They proceeded in silence along the gravel walk that led to the copse; Elizabeth was determined to make no effort for conversation with a woman who was now more than usually insolent and disagreeable._ _“How could I ever think her like her nephew?” said she, as she looked in her face._ _As soon as they entered the copse, Lady Catherine began in the following manner:-_ _“You can be at no loss, Miss Bennet, to understand the reason of my journey hither. Your own heart, your own conscience, must tell you why I come.”_ _Elizabeth looked with unaffected astonishment._ _“Indeed, you are mistaken, madam; I have not been at all able to account for the honour of seeing you here.”_ _“Miss Bennet,” replied her Ladyship, in an angry tone, “you ought to know that I am not to be trifled with. But however insincere you may choose to be, you shall not find me so. My character has ever been celebrated for its sincerity and frankness; and in a cause of such moment as this, I shall certainly not depart from it. A report of a most alarming nature reached me two days ago. I was told, that not only your sister was on the point of being most advantageously married, but that you-that Miss Elizabeth Bennet would, in all likelihood, be soon afterwards united to my nephew-my own nephew, Mr. Darcy. Though I know it must be a scandalous falsehood, though I would not injure him so much as to suppose the truth of it possible, I instantly resolved on setting off for this place, that I might make my sentiments known to you.”_ _“If you believed it impossible to be true,” said Elizabeth, colouring with astonishment and disdain, “I wonder you took the trouble of coming so far. What could your Ladyship propose by it?”_ _“At once to insist upon having such a report universally contradicted.”_ _“Your coming to Longbourn, to see me and my family,” said Elizabeth coolly, “will be rather a confirmation of it-if, indeed, such a report is in existence.”_ _“If! do you then pretend to be ignorant of it? Has it not been industriously circulated by yourselves? Do you not know that such a report is spread abroad?”_ _“I never heard that it was.”_ _“And can you likewise declare, that there is no foundation for it?”_ _“I do not pretend to possess equal frankness with your Ladyship. You may ask questions which I shall not choose to answer.”_ _“This is not to be borne. Miss Bennet, I insist on being satisfied. Has he, has my nephew, made you an offer of marriage?”_ _“Your Ladyship has declared it to be impossible.”_ _“It ought to be so; it must be so, while he retains the use of his reason. But your arts and allurements may, in a moment of infatuation, have made him forget what he owes to himself and to all his family. You may have drawn him in.”_ _“If I have, I shall be the last person to confess it.”_ _“Miss Bennet, do you know who I am? I have not been accustomed to such language as this. I am almost the nearest relation he has in the world, and am entitled to know all his dearest concerns.”_ _“But you are not entitled to know mine; nor will such behaviour as this ever induce me to be explicit.”_ _“Let me be rightly understood. This match, to which you have the presumption to aspire, can never take place. No, never. Mr. Darcy is engaged to my daughter. Now, what have you to say?”_ _“Only this,-that if he is so, you can have no reason to suppose he will make an offer to me.”_ *_Pride & Prejudice, Chapter 56_* (Continued below)
_Lady Catherine hesitated for a moment, and then replied,-_ _“The engagement between them is of a peculiar kind. From their infancy, they have been intended for each other. It was the favourite wish of his mother, as well as of hers. While in their cradles we planned the union; and now, at the moment when the wishes of both sisters would be accomplished, is their marriage to be prevented by a young woman of inferior birth, of no importance in the world, and wholly unallied to the family? Do you pay no regard to the wishes of his friends-to his tacit engagement with Miss de Bourgh? Are you lost to every feeling of propriety and delicacy? Have you not heard me say, that from his earliest hours he was destined for his cousin?”_ _“Yes; and I had heard it before. But what is that to me? If there is no other objection to my marrying your nephew, I shall certainly not be kept from it by knowing that his mother and aunt wished him to marry Miss de Bourgh. You both did as much as you could in planning the marriage. Its completion depended on others. If Mr. Darcy is neither by honour nor inclination confined to his cousin, why is not he to make another choice? And if I am that choice, why may not I accept him?”_ _“Because honour, decorum, prudence-nay, interest-forbid it. Yes, Miss Bennet, interest; for do not expect to be noticed by his family or friends, if you wilfully act against the inclinations of all. You will be censured, slighted, and despised, by everyone connected with him. Your alliance will be a disgrace; your name will never even be mentioned by any of us.”_ _“These are heavy misfortunes,” replied Elizabeth. “But the wife of Mr. Darcy must have such extraordinary sources of happiness necessarily attached to her situation, that she could, upon the whole, have no cause to repine.”_ _“Obstinate, headstrong girl! I am ashamed of you! Is this your gratitude for my attentions to you last spring? Is nothing due to me on that score? Let us sit down. You are to understand, Miss Bennet, that I came here with the determined resolution of carrying my purpose; nor will I be dissuaded from it. I have not been used to submit to any person’s whims. I have not been in the habit of brooking disappointment.”_ _“That will make your Ladyship’s situation at present more pitiable; but it will have no effect on me.”_ _“I will not be interrupted! Hear me in silence. My daughter and my nephew are formed for each other. They are descended, on the maternal side, from the same noble line; and, on the father’s, from respectable, honourable, and ancient, though untitled, families. Their fortune on both sides is splendid. They are destined for each other by the voice of every member of their respective houses; and what is to divide them?-the upstart pretensions of a young woman without family, connections, or fortune! Is this to be endured? But it must not, shall not be! If you were sensible of your own good, you would not wish to quit the sphere in which you have been brought up.”_ _“In marrying your nephew, I should not consider myself as quitting that sphere. He is a gentleman; I am a gentleman’s daughter; so far we are equal.”_ _“True. You are a gentleman’s daughter. But what was your mother? Who are your uncles and aunts? Do not imagine me ignorant of their condition.”_ _“Whatever my connections may be,” said Elizabeth, “if your nephew does not object to them, they can be nothing to you.”_ _“Tell me, once for all, are you engaged to him?”_ _Though Elizabeth would not, for the mere purpose of obliging Lady Catherine, have answered this question, she could not but say, after a moment’s deliberation,-_ _“I am not.”_ _Lady Catherine seemed pleased._ _“And will you promise me never to enter into such an engagement?”_ _“I will make no promise of the kind.”_ _“Miss Bennet, I am shocked and astonished. I expected to find a more reasonable young woman. But do not deceive yourself into a belief that I will ever recede. I shall not go away till you have given me the assurance I require.”_ _“And I certainly never shall give it. I am not to be intimidated into anything so wholly unreasonable. Your Ladyship wants Mr. Darcy to marry your daughter; but would my giving you the wished-for promise make their marriage at all more probable? Supposing him to be attached to me, would my refusing to accept his hand make him wish to bestow it on his cousin? Allow me to say, Lady Catherine, that the arguments with which you have supported this extraordinary application have been as frivolous as the application was ill-judged. You have widely mistaken my character, if you think I can be worked on by such persuasions as these. How far your nephew might approve of your interference in his affairs, I cannot tell; but you have certainly no right to concern yourself in mine. I must beg, therefore, to be importuned no further on the subject.”_ _“Not so hasty, if you please. I have by no means done. To all the objections I have already urged I have still another to add. I am no stranger to the particulars of your youngest sister’s infamous elopement. I know it all; that the young man’s marrying her was a patched-up business, at the expense of your father and uncle. And is such a girl to be my nephew’s sister? Is her husband, who is the son of his late father’s steward, to be his brother? Heaven and earth!-of what are you thinking? Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted?”_ _“You can now have nothing further to say,” she resentfully answered. “You have insulted me, in every possible method. I must beg to return to the house.”_ _And she rose as she spoke. Lady Catherine rose also, and they turned back. Her Ladyship was highly incensed._ _“You have no regard, then, for the honour and credit of my nephew! Unfeeling, selfish girl! Do you not consider that a connection with you must disgrace him in the eyes of everybody?”_ _“Lady Catherine, I have nothing further to say. You know my sentiments.”_ _“You are then resolved to have him?”_ _“I have said no such thing. I am only resolved to act in that manner, which will, in my own opinion, constitute my happiness, without reference to you, or to any person so wholly unconnected with me.”_ _“It is well. You refuse, then, to oblige me. You refuse to obey the claims of duty, honour, and gratitude. You are determined to ruin him in the opinion of all his friends, and make him the contempt of the world.”_ _“Neither duty, nor honour, nor gratitude,” replied Elizabeth, “has any possible claim on me, in the present instance. No principle of either would be violated by my marriage with Mr. Darcy. And with regard to the resentment of his family, or the indignation of the world, if the former were excited by his marrying me, it would not give me one moment’s concern-and the world in general would have too much sense to join in the scorn.”_ _“And this is your real opinion! This is your final resolve! Very well. I shall now know how to act. Do not imagine, Miss Bennet, that your ambition will ever be gratified. I came to try you. I hoped to find you reasonable; but depend upon it I will carry my point.”_ _In this manner Lady Catherine talked on till they were at the door of the carriage, when, turning hastily round, she added,-_ _“I take no leave of you, Miss Bennet. I send no compliments to your mother. You deserve no such attention. I am most seriously displeased.”_ _Elizabeth made no answer; and without attempting to persuade her Ladyship to return into the house, walked quietly into it herself. She heard the carriage drive away as she proceeded upstairs. Her mother impatiently met her at the door of her dressing-room, to ask why Lady Catherine would not come in again and rest herself._ _“She did not choose it,” said her daughter; “she would go.”_ _“She is a very fine-looking woman! and her calling here was prodigiously civil! for she only came, I suppose, to tell us the Collinses were well. She is on her road somewhere, I dare say; and so, passing through Meryton, thought she might as well call on you. I suppose she had nothing particular to say to you, Lizzy?”_ _Elizabeth was forced to give in to a little falsehood here; for to acknowledge the substance of their conversation was impossible._ *_Pride & Prejudice, Chapter 56_*
1995's and 2005's resonate the most I think. Lizzy actually, though still smart mouthed and obstinate, looks hurt and ashamed by all the censure and shows a lot of emotion. The best versions of this argument.
sadly 2005 cuts away the heart of this confrontation and the line that sums it all - "he is a gentleman, i am a gentleman's daughter" without it, it's just not as impactful as it ought to be. 1967 was a pleasant surprise though!
@@luigi-1545 2005 mangles the dialog. The two leads memorize the lines but their diction is awful. They mumble or spit out the lines with scarcely a trace of inflection. I think the style of Austen's language is too foreign to them. Dench of course came through and with her chops she ought to. Lady Catherine is a plum role for any senior actress but not in this production. It relied too much on cinematography and not enough on Austen. If all I want is pretty scenery, I'll watch a travelogue.
So in the 1940s version, Lizzy is seemingly unaffected but just pleased, and Lady Catherine is a comedic character who is actually sympathetic to Darcy and his love. What a bizarre scene. 😂 It's like an AU.
And the bit about being able to take away Darcy's money if she wanted must have been made up for that movie. I don't think Lady Catherine had any control over Pemberley.
@@janleonard3101she admitted it in the scene. Yes this version of lady Catherine, while well-played (IMO the second best version next to Barbara Leigh Hunt) is not at all the character from the book. The 1980 version is terrible and the 1960 Italian version has the actors not even facing each other while talking. Terrible direction. 1995 is always the definitive, right down to Lady Catherine’s bloodshot eyes. Her anger and changes of mood are brilliant
@@paladin1726 Oh dear, I didn't watch the rest of the clip after the conversation with Lizzy and now I have egg on my face, but at least I know for sure it wasn't true. Barbara Leigh Hunt's performance is absolutely brilliant and one of my favorite scenes in the miniseries.
The Director of the 2005 film seemed more concerned with making it look good than any book or period accuracy. It's just a good looking lightweight romcom.
In this scene, I prefer the versions that have “Obstinate, headstrong girl!” line and Lizzy stands her ground for being a gentleman’s daughter and can equally confront Lady Catherine. I think 1995 version has it all (and my favorite), but I also like that the 1967 version is the only one that has Lizzy bringing her parasol.
That reminds me. Aside from the parasol detail here, 1967 also seems to be the only adaptation that has featured the "walk in shrubbery" scene at Netherfield at the end of Chapter 10. The 1980 adaptation had the first part of the scene with Caroline Bingley teasing Darcy about Elizabeth's family, but only the 1967 version seems to have shown it in full.
@@Love.and.Freindship Yes, you’re right, I saw that scene and compared to the 1980 the 1967 one has the full version of the scene. I love that each P&P has at least one full scene from the book that is not featured in any other versions, like chapter 10 ‘walking in shrubbery’ in the 1967 version, chapter 54 ‘a large party at Longbourn’ in the 1980 version, and chapter 39 ‘meeting Lydia and Kitty at the inn’ in the 1995 version.
@@feynevan I have been toying with the idea of making a video of such "unique" scenes that were shown only in one screen adaptation. Two scenes I had noted were this shrubbery scene and the dinner party at Longbourn. There must be more. (Thanks for mentioning the inn scene. I'll note it down. Please let me know in case you happen to notice any others. 🙂)
Edna May Oliver, as Lady Catherine (1940 -- MGM) was a well loved character actress who appeared in many Hollywood versions of literary classics. Sir Laurence Olivier (at age 33) was played Darcy and Greer Garson played Elizabeth Bennet. Jane Bennet is played by Maureen O'Sullivan (the mother of actress Mia Farrow) Maureen became famous for being "Jane" in the Tarzan series of films (from 1932 to 1948) with Johnny Weissmuller. Mr. Bingley is played by the South African-born English actor Bruce Lester; who early in his career (1934-1958) was also known as Bruce Lister. He was in over 60 films. Never a leading man he was considered to be a handsome, talented and reliable supporting actor.
The earlier versions were polite "confrontations." between the two women with cutting undertones. The last two on the other hand (1995 and 2005), the venom is on full display and as such is far more engaging to watch as a viewer. You see Lady Catherine for the woman she really is. Prideful, arrogant and full of contempt for those beneath her.
I would have called the last two overly shrill, but some of that is down to my lack of enthusiasm for Ehle and Knightley, and my positive hatred for 1995's take on most of the "comedic" characters, including Lady Catherine.
@@hcu4359 - I think Jennifer Ehle and Keira Knighltey give solid performances but Barbara Leigh-Hunt and Judi Dench really seal it and show just how formidable and arrogant Lady Catherine is. She is a woman who is well aware of her position and is not afraid to use it to intimidate others to bend to her will. The other actresses who played the part previously got the snobby attitude and cutting remarks down well, but Hunt and Dench tuned into the vindictive side of this woman making her the unpleasant creature she really is.
@@woohooboy to me, that's what makes their lady Catharines seem fake and cartoony. The others (barring the overly nice 1940 version) are equally vindictive without being so disney villainess.
*Note to the viewers:* In the Italian version, the face off between Lady Catherine and Elizabeth happens _after_ its scene of Darcy's second proposal. The 1995 clip had to be truncated at the end due to copyright restrictions.
Thank you so much for all your hard work on this series, I really enjoy the comparisons of each moment with the various screen versions and the text -- the whole is so carefully done. Once again, thank you. I look forward to the next one. By the way, I love that your channel "name" is spelled exactly as the young Jane Austen wrote it 💕
Thank you! I'm happy that you enjoyed watching these videos. And about the channel name, one cannot be a "Janeite" without that "ei", isn't it? (Pun intended) 😉
It is interesting to view this scene and consider the question of 'genre' and theatre history. The 1940s version rewrites Lady Catherine to make her into the grand old dame of the screwball comedy. The Italian version gives us a glorious Lady Catherine who fits a mould that harks back to Roman comedy.
In the 1980 scene we see Lizzie thinking at 30:53 as she deftly threads together a noncommittal parry, whereas later in the scene her responses to Lady C's demands become less elegant and more impulsive.
![Meeting Lady Catherine de Bourgh [EXT] - Pride & Prejudice (1940,1957,1961,1967,1980,1995,2005)](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/fog1lhHT6Eg/mqdefault.jpg)
*Series:* ruclips.net/p/PLzcoQ_vebs-T2HiyFRu1TzCiioISLXLRq
_One morning, about a week after Bingley’s engagement with Jane had been formed, as he and the females of the family were sitting together in the dining-room, their attention was suddenly drawn to the window by the sound of a carriage; and they perceived a chaise and four driving up the lawn. It was too early in the morning for visitors; and besides, the equipage did not answer to that of any of their neighbours. The horses were post; and neither the carriage, nor the livery of the servant who preceded it, were familiar to them. As it was certain, however, that somebody was coming, Bingley instantly prevailed on Miss Bennet to avoid the confinement of such an intrusion, and walk away with him into the shrubbery. They both set off; and the conjectures of the remaining three continued, though with little satisfaction, till the door was thrown open, and their visitor entered. It was Lady Catherine de Bourgh._
_They were of course all intending to be surprised: but their astonishment was beyond their expectation; and on the part of Mrs. Bennet and Kitty, though she was perfectly unknown to them, even inferior to what Elizabeth felt._
_She entered the room with an air more than usually ungracious, made no other reply to Elizabeth’s salutation than a slight inclination of the head, and sat down without saying a word. Elizabeth had mentioned her name to her mother on her Ladyship’s entrance, though no request of introduction had been made._
_Mrs. Bennet, all amazement, though flattered by having a guest of such high importance, received her with the utmost politeness. After sitting for a moment in silence, she said, very stiffly, to Elizabeth,-_
_“I hope you are well, Miss Bennet. That lady, I suppose, is your mother?”_
_Elizabeth replied very concisely that she was._
_“And that, I suppose, is one of your sisters?”_
_“Yes, madam,” said Mrs. Bennet, delighted to speak to a Lady Catherine. “She is my youngest girl but one. My youngest of all is lately married, and my eldest is somewhere about the ground, walking with a young man, who, I believe, will soon become a part of the family.”_
_“You have a very small park here,” returned Lady Catherine, after a short silence._
_“It is nothing in comparison of Rosings, my Lady, I dare say; but, I assure you, it is much larger than Sir William Lucas’s.”_
_“This must be a most inconvenient sitting-room for the evening in summer: the windows are full west.”_
_Mrs. Bennet assured her that they never sat there after dinner; and then added,-_
_“May I take the liberty of asking your Ladyship whether you left Mr. and Mrs. Collins well?”_
_“Yes, very well. I saw them the night before last.”_
_Elizabeth now expected that she would produce a letter for her from Charlotte, as it seemed the only probable motive for her calling. But no letter appeared, and she was completely puzzled._
_Mrs. Bennet, with great civility, begged her Ladyship to take some refreshment: but Lady Catherine very resolutely, and not very politely, declined eating anything; and then, rising up, said to Elizabeth,-_
_“Miss Bennet, there seemed to be a prettyish kind of a little wilderness on one side of your lawn. I should be glad to take a turn in it, if you will favour me with your company.”_
_“Go, my dear,” cried her mother, “and show her Ladyship about the different walks. I think she will be pleased with the hermitage.”_
_Elizabeth obeyed; and, running into her own room for her parasol, attended her noble guest downstairs. As they passed through the hall, Lady Catherine opened the doors into the dining-parlour and drawing-room, and pronouncing them, after a short survey, to be decent-looking rooms, walked on._
_Her carriage remained at the door, and Elizabeth saw that her waiting-woman was in it. They proceeded in silence along the gravel walk that led to the copse; Elizabeth was determined to make no effort for conversation with a woman who was now more than usually insolent and disagreeable._
_“How could I ever think her like her nephew?” said she, as she looked in her face._
_As soon as they entered the copse, Lady Catherine began in the following manner:-_
_“You can be at no loss, Miss Bennet, to understand the reason of my journey hither. Your own heart, your own conscience, must tell you why I come.”_
_Elizabeth looked with unaffected astonishment._
_“Indeed, you are mistaken, madam; I have not been at all able to account for the honour of seeing you here.”_
_“Miss Bennet,” replied her Ladyship, in an angry tone, “you ought to know that I am not to be trifled with. But however insincere you may choose to be, you shall not find me so. My character has ever been celebrated for its sincerity and frankness; and in a cause of such moment as this, I shall certainly not depart from it. A report of a most alarming nature reached me two days ago. I was told, that not only your sister was on the point of being most advantageously married, but that you-that Miss Elizabeth Bennet would, in all likelihood, be soon afterwards united to my nephew-my own nephew, Mr. Darcy. Though I know it must be a scandalous falsehood, though I would not injure him so much as to suppose the truth of it possible, I instantly resolved on setting off for this place, that I might make my sentiments known to you.”_
_“If you believed it impossible to be true,” said Elizabeth, colouring with astonishment and disdain, “I wonder you took the trouble of coming so far. What could your Ladyship propose by it?”_
_“At once to insist upon having such a report universally contradicted.”_
_“Your coming to Longbourn, to see me and my family,” said Elizabeth coolly, “will be rather a confirmation of it-if, indeed, such a report is in existence.”_
_“If! do you then pretend to be ignorant of it? Has it not been industriously circulated by yourselves? Do you not know that such a report is spread abroad?”_
_“I never heard that it was.”_
_“And can you likewise declare, that there is no foundation for it?”_
_“I do not pretend to possess equal frankness with your Ladyship. You may ask questions which I shall not choose to answer.”_
_“This is not to be borne. Miss Bennet, I insist on being satisfied. Has he, has my nephew, made you an offer of marriage?”_
_“Your Ladyship has declared it to be impossible.”_
_“It ought to be so; it must be so, while he retains the use of his reason. But your arts and allurements may, in a moment of infatuation, have made him forget what he owes to himself and to all his family. You may have drawn him in.”_
_“If I have, I shall be the last person to confess it.”_
_“Miss Bennet, do you know who I am? I have not been accustomed to such language as this. I am almost the nearest relation he has in the world, and am entitled to know all his dearest concerns.”_
_“But you are not entitled to know mine; nor will such behaviour as this ever induce me to be explicit.”_
_“Let me be rightly understood. This match, to which you have the presumption to aspire, can never take place. No, never. Mr. Darcy is engaged to my daughter. Now, what have you to say?”_
_“Only this,-that if he is so, you can have no reason to suppose he will make an offer to me.”_
*_Pride & Prejudice, Chapter 56_*
(Continued below)
_Lady Catherine hesitated for a moment, and then replied,-_
_“The engagement between them is of a peculiar kind. From their infancy, they have been intended for each other. It was the favourite wish of his mother, as well as of hers. While in their cradles we planned the union; and now, at the moment when the wishes of both sisters would be accomplished, is their marriage to be prevented by a young woman of inferior birth, of no importance in the world, and wholly unallied to the family? Do you pay no regard to the wishes of his friends-to his tacit engagement with Miss de Bourgh? Are you lost to every feeling of propriety and delicacy? Have you not heard me say, that from his earliest hours he was destined for his cousin?”_
_“Yes; and I had heard it before. But what is that to me? If there is no other objection to my marrying your nephew, I shall certainly not be kept from it by knowing that his mother and aunt wished him to marry Miss de Bourgh. You both did as much as you could in planning the marriage. Its completion depended on others. If Mr. Darcy is neither by honour nor inclination confined to his cousin, why is not he to make another choice? And if I am that choice, why may not I accept him?”_
_“Because honour, decorum, prudence-nay, interest-forbid it. Yes, Miss Bennet, interest; for do not expect to be noticed by his family or friends, if you wilfully act against the inclinations of all. You will be censured, slighted, and despised, by everyone connected with him. Your alliance will be a disgrace; your name will never even be mentioned by any of us.”_
_“These are heavy misfortunes,” replied Elizabeth. “But the wife of Mr. Darcy must have such extraordinary sources of happiness necessarily attached to her situation, that she could, upon the whole, have no cause to repine.”_
_“Obstinate, headstrong girl! I am ashamed of you! Is this your gratitude for my attentions to you last spring? Is nothing due to me on that score? Let us sit down. You are to understand, Miss Bennet, that I came here with the determined resolution of carrying my purpose; nor will I be dissuaded from it. I have not been used to submit to any person’s whims. I have not been in the habit of brooking disappointment.”_
_“That will make your Ladyship’s situation at present more pitiable; but it will have no effect on me.”_
_“I will not be interrupted! Hear me in silence. My daughter and my nephew are formed for each other. They are descended, on the maternal side, from the same noble line; and, on the father’s, from respectable, honourable, and ancient, though untitled, families. Their fortune on both sides is splendid. They are destined for each other by the voice of every member of their respective houses; and what is to divide them?-the upstart pretensions of a young woman without family, connections, or fortune! Is this to be endured? But it must not, shall not be! If you were sensible of your own good, you would not wish to quit the sphere in which you have been brought up.”_
_“In marrying your nephew, I should not consider myself as quitting that sphere. He is a gentleman; I am a gentleman’s daughter; so far we are equal.”_
_“True. You are a gentleman’s daughter. But what was your mother? Who are your uncles and aunts? Do not imagine me ignorant of their condition.”_
_“Whatever my connections may be,” said Elizabeth, “if your nephew does not object to them, they can be nothing to you.”_
_“Tell me, once for all, are you engaged to him?”_
_Though Elizabeth would not, for the mere purpose of obliging Lady Catherine, have answered this question, she could not but say, after a moment’s deliberation,-_
_“I am not.”_
_Lady Catherine seemed pleased._
_“And will you promise me never to enter into such an engagement?”_
_“I will make no promise of the kind.”_
_“Miss Bennet, I am shocked and astonished. I expected to find a more reasonable young woman. But do not deceive yourself into a belief that I will ever recede. I shall not go away till you have given me the assurance I require.”_
_“And I certainly never shall give it. I am not to be intimidated into anything so wholly unreasonable. Your Ladyship wants Mr. Darcy to marry your daughter; but would my giving you the wished-for promise make their marriage at all more probable? Supposing him to be attached to me, would my refusing to accept his hand make him wish to bestow it on his cousin? Allow me to say, Lady Catherine, that the arguments with which you have supported this extraordinary application have been as frivolous as the application was ill-judged. You have widely mistaken my character, if you think I can be worked on by such persuasions as these. How far your nephew might approve of your interference in his affairs, I cannot tell; but you have certainly no right to concern yourself in mine. I must beg, therefore, to be importuned no further on the subject.”_
_“Not so hasty, if you please. I have by no means done. To all the objections I have already urged I have still another to add. I am no stranger to the particulars of your youngest sister’s infamous elopement. I know it all; that the young man’s marrying her was a patched-up business, at the expense of your father and uncle. And is such a girl to be my nephew’s sister? Is her husband, who is the son of his late father’s steward, to be his brother? Heaven and earth!-of what are you thinking? Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted?”_
_“You can now have nothing further to say,” she resentfully answered. “You have insulted me, in every possible method. I must beg to return to the house.”_
_And she rose as she spoke. Lady Catherine rose also, and they turned back. Her Ladyship was highly incensed._
_“You have no regard, then, for the honour and credit of my nephew! Unfeeling, selfish girl! Do you not consider that a connection with you must disgrace him in the eyes of everybody?”_
_“Lady Catherine, I have nothing further to say. You know my sentiments.”_
_“You are then resolved to have him?”_
_“I have said no such thing. I am only resolved to act in that manner, which will, in my own opinion, constitute my happiness, without reference to you, or to any person so wholly unconnected with me.”_
_“It is well. You refuse, then, to oblige me. You refuse to obey the claims of duty, honour, and gratitude. You are determined to ruin him in the opinion of all his friends, and make him the contempt of the world.”_
_“Neither duty, nor honour, nor gratitude,” replied Elizabeth, “has any possible claim on me, in the present instance. No principle of either would be violated by my marriage with Mr. Darcy. And with regard to the resentment of his family, or the indignation of the world, if the former were excited by his marrying me, it would not give me one moment’s concern-and the world in general would have too much sense to join in the scorn.”_
_“And this is your real opinion! This is your final resolve! Very well. I shall now know how to act. Do not imagine, Miss Bennet, that your ambition will ever be gratified. I came to try you. I hoped to find you reasonable; but depend upon it I will carry my point.”_
_In this manner Lady Catherine talked on till they were at the door of the carriage, when, turning hastily round, she added,-_
_“I take no leave of you, Miss Bennet. I send no compliments to your mother. You deserve no such attention. I am most seriously displeased.”_
_Elizabeth made no answer; and without attempting to persuade her Ladyship to return into the house, walked quietly into it herself. She heard the carriage drive away as she proceeded upstairs. Her mother impatiently met her at the door of her dressing-room, to ask why Lady Catherine would not come in again and rest herself._
_“She did not choose it,” said her daughter; “she would go.”_
_“She is a very fine-looking woman! and her calling here was prodigiously civil! for she only came, I suppose, to tell us the Collinses were well. She is on her road somewhere, I dare say; and so, passing through Meryton, thought she might as well call on you. I suppose she had nothing particular to say to you, Lizzy?”_
_Elizabeth was forced to give in to a little falsehood here; for to acknowledge the substance of their conversation was impossible._
*_Pride & Prejudice, Chapter 56_*
Lady Catherine must be such a fun part to play. Virtually nothing an actress could do would be too over-the-top for her.
I love Elizabeth Garvie in the 1980s version. She is so pretty and she plays the part of Lizzie beautifully. Her Mr Darcy was a bit wooden though.
1995's and 2005's resonate the most I think. Lizzy actually, though still smart mouthed and obstinate, looks hurt and ashamed by all the censure and shows a lot of emotion. The best versions of this argument.
sadly 2005 cuts away the heart of this confrontation and the line that sums it all - "he is a gentleman, i am a gentleman's daughter" without it, it's just not as impactful as it ought to be. 1967 was a pleasant surprise though!
@@luigi-1545
2005 mangles the dialog. The two leads memorize the lines but their diction is awful. They mumble or spit out the lines with scarcely a trace of inflection. I think the style of Austen's language is too foreign to them. Dench of course came through and with her chops she ought to. Lady Catherine is a plum role for any senior actress but not in this production. It relied too much on cinematography and not enough on Austen. If all I want is pretty scenery, I'll watch a travelogue.
@@valkyriesardo278 thank you! thars exactly what i thought.
So in the 1940s version, Lizzy is seemingly unaffected but just pleased, and Lady Catherine is a comedic character who is actually sympathetic to Darcy and his love. What a bizarre scene. 😂 It's like an AU.
And the bit about being able to take away Darcy's money if she wanted must have been made up for that movie. I don't think Lady Catherine had any control over Pemberley.
@@janleonard3101she admitted it in the scene. Yes this version of lady Catherine, while well-played (IMO the second best version next to Barbara Leigh Hunt) is not at all the character from the book.
The 1980 version is terrible and the 1960 Italian version has the actors not even facing each other while talking. Terrible direction. 1995 is always the definitive, right down to Lady Catherine’s bloodshot eyes. Her anger and changes of mood are brilliant
@@paladin1726 Oh dear, I didn't watch the rest of the clip after the conversation with Lizzy and now I have egg on my face, but at least I know for sure it wasn't true. Barbara Leigh Hunt's performance is absolutely brilliant and one of my favorite scenes in the miniseries.
@@janleonard3101 not so hasty, If you please !
@@paladin1726 😂
Not sure why 2005 movie made an artistic choice to have Lady Catherine come in the middle of night while everyone is in their nightgowns.
So we could have Lizzie going out and meeting Mr darcy i think
@@amaledition339. Indeed, the light of dawn is bewitching for body and soul … pun intended😉🤭
To be fair, it's perfectly in keeping with the historically illiterate, 'sensation novel' style and silliness of the rest of the film...
@@zenocrate4040 well it is not realistic but again it is just a movie
The Director of the 2005 film seemed more concerned with making it look good than any book or period accuracy. It's just a good looking lightweight romcom.
In this scene, I prefer the versions that have “Obstinate, headstrong girl!” line and Lizzy stands her ground for being a gentleman’s daughter and can equally confront Lady Catherine. I think 1995 version has it all (and my favorite), but I also like that the 1967 version is the only one that has Lizzy bringing her parasol.
That reminds me. Aside from the parasol detail here, 1967 also seems to be the only adaptation that has featured the "walk in shrubbery" scene at Netherfield at the end of Chapter 10. The 1980 adaptation had the first part of the scene with Caroline Bingley teasing Darcy about Elizabeth's family, but only the 1967 version seems to have shown it in full.
@@Love.and.Freindship Yes, you’re right, I saw that scene and compared to the 1980 the 1967 one has the full version of the scene. I love that each P&P has at least one full scene from the book that is not featured in any other versions, like chapter 10 ‘walking in shrubbery’ in the 1967 version, chapter 54 ‘a large party at Longbourn’ in the 1980 version, and chapter 39 ‘meeting Lydia and Kitty at the inn’ in the 1995 version.
@@feynevan I have been toying with the idea of making a video of such "unique" scenes that were shown only in one screen adaptation. Two scenes I had noted were this shrubbery scene and the dinner party at Longbourn. There must be more. (Thanks for mentioning the inn scene. I'll note it down. Please let me know in case you happen to notice any others. 🙂)
Edna May Oliver, as Lady Catherine (1940 -- MGM) was a well loved character actress who appeared in many Hollywood
versions of literary classics. Sir Laurence Olivier (at age 33) was played Darcy and Greer Garson played Elizabeth Bennet.
Jane Bennet is played by Maureen O'Sullivan (the mother of actress Mia Farrow) Maureen became famous for being
"Jane" in the Tarzan series of films (from 1932 to 1948) with Johnny Weissmuller.
Mr. Bingley is played by the South African-born English actor Bruce Lester; who early in his career (1934-1958) was also
known as Bruce Lister. He was in over 60 films. Never a leading man he was considered to be a handsome, talented
and reliable supporting actor.
The earlier versions were polite "confrontations." between the two women with cutting undertones. The last two on the other hand (1995 and 2005), the venom is on full display and as such is far more engaging to watch as a viewer. You see Lady Catherine for the woman she really is. Prideful, arrogant and full of contempt for those beneath her.
I would have called the last two overly shrill, but some of that is down to my lack of enthusiasm for Ehle and Knightley, and my positive hatred for 1995's take on most of the "comedic" characters, including Lady Catherine.
@@hcu4359 - I think Jennifer Ehle and Keira Knighltey give solid performances but Barbara Leigh-Hunt and Judi Dench really seal it and show just how formidable and arrogant Lady Catherine is. She is a woman who is well aware of her position and is not afraid to use it to intimidate others to bend to her will.
The other actresses who played the part previously got the snobby attitude and cutting remarks down well, but Hunt and Dench tuned into the vindictive side of this woman making her the unpleasant creature she really is.
@@woohooboy to me, that's what makes their lady Catharines seem fake and cartoony. The others (barring the overly nice 1940 version) are equally vindictive without being so disney villainess.
I totally agree with you! @@hcu4359 I do not care for those as much. I prefer to either read the book or watch the 1980s version.
*Note to the viewers:* In the Italian version, the face off between Lady Catherine and Elizabeth happens _after_ its scene of Darcy's second proposal. The 1995 clip had to be truncated at the end due to copyright restrictions.
Thank you so much for all your hard work on this series, I really enjoy the comparisons of each moment with the various screen versions and the text -- the whole is so carefully done. Once again, thank you. I look forward to the next one. By the way, I love that your channel "name" is spelled exactly as the young Jane Austen wrote it 💕
Thank you! I'm happy that you enjoyed watching these videos. And about the channel name, one cannot be a "Janeite" without that "ei", isn't it? (Pun intended) 😉
It is interesting to view this scene and consider the question of 'genre' and theatre history. The 1940s version rewrites Lady Catherine to make her into the grand old dame of the screwball comedy. The Italian version gives us a glorious Lady Catherine who fits a mould that harks back to Roman comedy.
In the 1980 scene we see Lizzie thinking at 30:53 as she deftly threads together a noncommittal parry, whereas later in the scene her responses to Lady C's demands become less elegant and more impulsive.
“Do you know who [I think] I am?”
FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE LIVE ME ALONE!!!!!