Pride and Prejudice (blog 2)

So far the second part of the book seems to have a wider range of topics. In the first half the only really important characters were Mr. Darcy, Mr. and Miss Bingly, Jane, Elizabeth, and Mr. Collins (even though his importance doesn't really come until later). This next part seems to pretty much focus on developing Elizabeth as a character. First of all they got rid of everyone in that list above except for Mr. Collins but he just became a reason instead of an interacting person and sent Elizabeth to Mr. Collins house where she meets Lady Catherine. Over all this section seems to zone in on Elizabeth.

Another interesting thing about the book is the way it refers to people. All of the people in this book are referred to as Mr., Mrs., or Miss. I know that this is pretty much a part of society at that time but it is fairly annoying and confusing. For example you have to focus when you're reading a part that takes place  in the Bennet house and someone mentions Miss Bennet. I think that if you couldn't always guess who they're talking about that would make this book a pretty difficult read. I'm not sure if Jane Austen used it just because that is just how you talked back then or for something else. For example, I think that she is using this as a way to make a statement on how people have a public face and also have their own unique personality. That would certainly fit with the whole idea of the book. The different titles try to fit people into these neat little boxes, but the Miss Bennets are very different from one another.

One thing that I really enjoyed from this section was when Elizabeth turned down Mr. Collins.
I have to admit, I did not expect to find something that funny in this book. At first you have to feel bad for Mr. Collins because of Elizabeths response to him even before he has asked her. "'Dear Ma'am, do not go. -I beg you will not go. -Mr. Collins must excuse me. -He can have nothing to say to me that anybody need not hear. I am going away my self.'" (page 119). She is pretty rude to him but who would want to have Mr. Collins propose to them. You can't really feel bad for Mr. Collins anymore once he opens his mouth, though. "'Believe me, my dear Miss Elizabeth, that your modesty, so far from doing you any disservice, rather adds to your other perfections.'" (page 120). I think that this is completely awkward since Mr. Collins is so thoroughly clueless he can't even see that the woman he is trying to ask to marry him doesn't even want to be in the same room as him. I find it hard to believe that anyone is really that clueless though so that gives you the other option that he is in denial of that fact. I think that he is just so centered around the buisness aspect of marriage that he finds it impossible to believe that a woman when offered a fairly decent match with no other options on the table would turn it down. He shows that this is the correct option by going on and not believing her repeated refusals. "'When I do myself the honour of speaking to you next on this subject I shall hope to recieve a more favorable answer than you have now given me; though I am far from accusing you of cruelty at present, because I know it to be the established costom of your sex to reject a man on the first application, and perhaps you have even now said as much to encourage my persuit as would be consistent with the true delicacy of the female character.'" (page 123). This comment is out and out rude to Elizabeth and all women of that time, but the worst is yet to come. "'... you should take it into farther consideration that in spite of your manifold attractions, it is by no means certain that anouther offer of marriage may ever be made to you.'" (page 124) This just proves that no woman should have ever married that man.