P&P Plot and Structure Critical Thinking

8 November 2022

## Chapter 3

How things appear and how the reality may differ becomes an important theme.

* At first it appears as if all members of Bingley's party are sophisticated but then Mr Darcy is introduced with his disgusting manners.

Irony (where you as reader are made aware that some people's opinions are misguided) underlines the unreliability of general gossip or judgements.

* Mrs Bennet's description of Mr Darcy appears quite exaggerated.

## Chapter 10

By the time Elizabeth goes home, Darcy has resolved to control his feelings. However, do you think the stay has altered her opinion of him?

I believe that during her stay, Elizabeth may have slightly understood that Mr Darcy is not as bad as she thought him to be. But I do not believe that Elizabeth had developed any feelings for him because she insisted on leaving and rejoiced at the fact that she could return home.

## Chapter 16

Read Ch. 16, from 'Mr Wickham did not play at whist...' to 'He deserves to be publicly disgraced'.

What does the reader learn here?

Darcy's father was the godfather of Mr Wickham. Wickham reveals that Darcy and him hate each other because Darcy had challenged Wickham's rightful inheritance.

## Chapter 19

Read Collins' proposal in Ch. 19, from 'Believe me my dear Miss Elizabeth...' to...impossible for me to do otherwise than decline them'.

**Consider the order of the half-dozen reasons Collins enumerates for wishing to marry her. Why is this a particularly insulting way to begin?**

There has not been any evidence of love between the two and Collins has not bothered to listen to Elizabeth's viewpoint.

**Can you find any evidence for the 'violence of [his] affection' for Elizabeth? What seems to be the personal reason for his wish to marry her?**

Collins constantly pushes his idea of marrying her without even asking her for her input. Personal reason: he feels he must marry because Mrs Jenkinsons told him so.

## Chapter 22

Read the final page of Ch. 22.

* How do different characters react to Charlotte's acceptance of Collins?
	+ Elizabeth is simply shocked and finds the whole ordeal quite awkward.
* What are the advantages Charlotte expects from the marriage?
	+ Collins has a good position and Charlotte expects to have the same.
* Do you agree with Elizabeth's opinion that it is impossible that Charlotte will be happy?
	+ Not entirely. I believe there is to be some degree of happiness in the thought of marriage.

## Chapter 28

Read Ch. 28, from 'Elizabeth was prepared to see him in his glory… to '...he must be

often forgotten.” How does Austen create humour in this description and what is the effect on the reader?

Austen proves to the reader that Collins is not a very good husband through some humorous ways of bringing the walking party around the property. The reader gains the impression that Charlotte is not very happy with Collins.

## Chapters 30-34

As this section is a key turning point in the plot and requires close attention, reread chapters 30-34 and think carefully about:

* clues that Darcy is seeking out Elizabeth's company to learn more about her
* evidence that other characters guess his feelings, even though Elizabeth is blind to them

Darcy is taking risks with conventional ideas about correct behaviour here. According to the moral code of the time, a single man and woman ought not to have been meeting and talking together without a chaperone. This is why their meetings have to appear to be accidental, though they are clearly intentional on his part. What might Austen be suggesting about Darcy's character?

Austen might be implying that Darcy is in fact a pushy fellow who is set on getting his way. Despite the presence of moral codes of the time, Darcy still makes an effort to continue meeting Elizabeth and making them appear accidental. This kind of activity shows that Darcy has no respect for the moral code but nonetheless wants to make it appear as if he does.

## Chapter 34

Reread Darcy's proposal (Ch. 34) from 'While settling this point....to 'But it is of small importance.

**List the reasons Darcy has 'struggled' against his feelings for Elizabeth, though note how he stresses that his love and admiration have overcome his reservations.**

He saw Elizabeth as inferior to him and that her family proved an obstacle.

**Consider why Jane Austen chose to write Collins' proposal as dialogue, whilst here she paraphrases much of what Darcy says. The possible effect here is to place the reader in Elizabeth's shoes. Where does the account reflect her response rather than his words?**

Austen wanted to explain very clearly what Darcy meant whereas with Collins, it was simply a matter of making him appear foolish.

## Chapter 35

Reread Ch 35. Then consider the first part of Darcy’s letter and form your opinion of his motives for separating his friend Bingley from Jane. How does this affect the modern reader’s view of him?

He separated Bingley from Jane because he knew Bingley liked her but Jane did not like him back. He therefore saw did not see it fit for Bingley to continue talking to her due to her family's lack of wealth. The modern reader therefore clearly is expected to view Darcy as somewhat evil for meddling in the affairs of others due to prejudice against those of a lower class.

## Chapter 58

Read Ch. 58. This is the climax of the plot: the moment the reader has been waiting for. All is quickly resolved. Elizabeth, alone with Darcy, opens up the possibility of intimate discussion by thanking him for all he did to help Lydia. Notice how Austen again chooses to write the proposal in reported speech rather than as dialogue.

How much information is given about the changes each has brought about in the other's character? Does the proposal happen as you expected?

Darcy is taught humility by Eliza as he explains he had always been prideful and had assumed she would accept his first proposal, which he regrets. Elizabeth's feelings for Darcy significantly changed, proving that perhaps Eliza's quick judgement of him may have been unjustified.