P& P #7 3/27: 6-10

“‘He likes to have his own way very well,’ replied Colonel Fitzwilliam. ‘But so we all do. It is only that he has better means of having it than many others, because he is rich, and many others are poor’” (174).

            During Elizabeth’s walks in the park, she often awkwardly encounters Mr. Darcy. On one day she meets Mr. Fitzwilliam instead, who talks with her about Mr. Darcy. This quote justifies Mr. Darcy’s behavior again with his wealth. Saying that his wealth gives him the right to act in the way he does.

            Elizabeth also learns in this conversation that Mr. Darcy “saved a friend from the inconveniences of a most imprudent marriage” (176). He did this because there were “some very strong objections against the lady” (176). Elizabeth immediacy makes the connection that Darcy is referring to Jane, and the objections to her are her low rank in society, and her lack of wealth. This infuriates Elizabeth because she had blamed the end of the relationship on Miss Bingley, but now she realizes that Mr. Darcy also played a part in it. Elizabeth is then unable to speak with Darcy, and refuses to attend the next time she is invited to a gathering with him.

 

Lady Catherine finds what quality to be the most important in a future wife:

A. Education

B. Knowledge of the arts

C. Card Playing
D. Musical Talent

P& P #6 3/26: 2-5

“Her heart had been but slightly touched, and her vanity was satisfied with believing that she would have been his only choice, had fortune permitted it” (144).

            This is Elizabeth’s reflection upon Mr. Wickham’s change of feelings for her. After inheriting a sum of wealth, Miss King becomes the object of Mr. Wickham’s attention. Elizabeth has no ill feelings towards him. She says that she was not in love with him because she did not “detest his very name, and wish him all manner of evil” (144). For if Elizabeth truly cared for him, she would now be unspeakably jealous of Miss King. Elizabeth also enjoys the thought that she would have been his first choice if it were not for mercenary motives of Mr. Wickham. This pleases her, and shows her that all of her other qualities are agreeable. The only disadvantage for a man of this time in marrying her is her lower place in society, and her lack of wealth.

            Elizabeth’s aunt later inquires her opinion on the matter during her trip to London. Elizabeth responds by noting that she cannot distinguish the difference “between the mercenary and the prudent motive” (147). Elizabeth makes it clear that she does not mind if a man bases his priorities on the wealth of a woman. She is not surprised that Wickham would chose Miss King simply because of money, and finds him no less agreeable for it. Elizabeth, in this instance, seems to agree with what society dictates should be the goal in a marriage.

 

Elizabeth’s feelings for Wickham have shifted from:

A. Love to hate

B. Attraction to indifference

C. Infatuation to contempt
D. Curiosity to jealousy

P& P #5 3/25: 21-1

“You wish to think all the world respectable, and are hurt if I speak ill of any body […] The more I see of the world the more I am dissatisfied with it” (130).

 

            This quote is Elizabeth taunting Jane about her optimism. Whenever Elizabeth tells Jane of the bad qualities in someone, Jane always defends them. This can be seen in the incident with Darcy and Wickham when Jane defends Darcy: “No man of common humanity, no man who had any value for his character, could be capable of it” (83). Jane cannot understand why Darcy would every treat Wickham in the way Elizabeth has described to her. Jane also attempts to remain optimistic about Mr. Bingley, who has left for London. She tries to defend Miss Bingley’s nature to Elizabeth. Jane only sees that she had good intentions in writing a letter warning her about what was happening. Elizabeth believes that Miss Bingley is trying to keep Mr. Bingley away from Jane. The attitudes towards other of Elizabeth and Jane greatly contrast each other. Jane’s flaw is her failure to recognize the failure in others. Elizabeth, on the other hand, is only able to see failure in others, so long as her first impression of the person was negative, she will continue to find the negative qualities in others.  

The issue that bothers Mrs. Bennet in this section the most is:

A. Jealousy of Mrs. Lucas, who married off one of her daughters

B. Wondering when Bingley will return

C. Keeping her younger daughters away from the officers

D. Mr. Bennet’s health

P& P #4 3/23: 17-20

“Heaven forbid! That would be the greatest misfortune of all! To find a man agreeable whom one is determined to hate! Do not wish me such an evil” (88).

 

            This is Elizabeth’s response to Charlotte’s claim that she will find Mr. Darcy agreeable. The use of the word ‘determined’ clearly shows the prejudice that Elizabeth has for Darcy. Considering the fact that First Impressions was the original title of the book, it is important to remember that Elizabeth always goes by her first impressions of people. This can be seen with both Wickham and Darcy. Elizabeth does not want to find Darcy agreeable, as Charlotte clams, because she has already pre-determined that she will hate him. Elizabeth is prejudice because she applies one instance, her first impression of Darcy, to all of his actions. She is also very inclined to believe any negative things she hears about him. Elizabeth even speaks with Darcy about prejudice: “It is particularly incumbent on those who never change their opinion, to be secure of judging properly at first” (90). Elizabeth is stating that it is necessary for people who judge others based on their first impression, to make an accurate judgment of the other person’s character based upon this first impression. This is very ironic because Elizabeth in one of those people who does not change their opinion of others. She judged Darcy based upon her first impression of him, but this judgment may have been inaccurate.

 

The fundamental flaw with the character Jane Bennet in the novel is:

A. Pride

B. Blind Optimism

C. Vanity

D. Beauty

P& P #3 3.20: 11-16

“The world is blinded by his fortune and consequence, or frightened by his high and imposing manners, and sees him only as he chooses to be seen” (79).

            After Elizabeth notices a strange interaction between Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham, she becomes curious about it. The next day at a party at her aunt’s house, when Mr. Wickham brings up the subject of Mr. Darcy, she inquires further about it. She then learns that Mr. Wickham and Mr. Darcy grew up together, and that Mr. Wickham was supposed to inherit the wealth that now belongs to Darcy. Darcy was jealous of the love that his father showed towards Wickham, and took the estate from Wickham as revenge. Elizabeth asks about Wickham’s opinion on Mr. Darcy. He replies by saying that he knows him too well to give an opinion. He says that because of what has happened he cannot judge Darcy impartially. It is strange that Wickham will show not openly show contempt for Darcy, considering what Darcy has done to him. When Elizabeth complains about how proud Darcy is, Wickham defends Darcy, as seen in the quote. He says that society is too focused on the fact that he is a rich man. Since he is rich they cannot identify with him, and are thus affronted further by his proud mannerisms. Darcy is able to hide behind his wealth. Since this society is so concerned with wealth, it is able to greatly change how one is expected to act. Perhaps since Wickham has known Darcy all his life, Wickham knows there is more to Darcy’s proud character than his wealth.

In Chapters 12-13, Jane Austen is trying to convey Mr. Collins as:

A) Intelligent

B) Foolish

C) Agreeable

D) Disagreeable 

Huck Finn 9: 185-209

1) “I reckon a body that ups and tells the truth when he is in a tight place, is taking considerable many resks, though I ain't had no experience, and can't say for certain; but it looks so to me, anyway; and yet here's a case where I'm blest if it don't look to me like the truth is better, and actuly safer, than a lie”(200).

 

            Huck is again torn between telling the truth or lying. He had already decided previously that he would do whatever is the most advantageous at the time. He chooses to tell Mary Jane the truth about the king and the duke. This shows that Huck’s morals are in proper order. He cannot deal with the king and the duke tricking these innocent people, and stealing all of their possessions. One of the reasons he cannot let them get away with it is his attraction to Mary Jane. Because Huck loves her he chooses to tell the truth. Mary Jane is a good influence on Huck because she inspires him to do the right thing. Huck may go on making the right choices because of Mary Jane, or he may be doing the right thing just because it happens to be the most beneficial at the time.

 

2) “I reckon I’ve thought of her a many and a many and a million times, and of her saying she would pray for me; and if ever I’d a thought it would do any good for me to pray for her, blamed if I wouldn’t a done it or bust” (204).

 

            Huck says that even though he never saw Mary Jane again after she left, he thought about her many times. She offers to pray for him and he would do the same for her if he thought there was any point to do so. This shows that the widow and Ms. Watson’s teachings on prayer have influenced Huck. He appreciates the fact that Mary Jane will pray for him because he has been taught the importance of prayer. However, Huck shows that he still does not fully understand prayer. He does not think that praying for Mary Jane will have any positive effects, so he does not decide to pray for her. Huck still thinks that prayer only works for the right kind of people.

 

Definitions:

1) “They had borrowed a melodeom” (194).

melodeum: noun- a kind of accordion

2) “March off like a passel o' fools and leave eight or nine thous'n' dollars’”(190).

passel: noun- a large quantity or group

Huck and Jim

One day, when we was floating down the muddy, we come ‘cross a raft with four people on it. Two of them was niggers, and t’other two was white men. One of the white men was sittin’ on the edge of the raft fishin’, and t’other white man was watching over the niggers, who was tied up. The white man that was a fishin’ was wearin’ a mighty big straw hat that covered most of his face, He had long black hair comin’ down the sides of his head and he wore ol’ raggedy clothes, and I reckon he was ‘bout thirty years ole’. The white man that was a watchin’ over the niggers was bald and also wore raggedy clothes, and he looked like he was bout thirty too. Then Jim says to me–

“Will ya look at dat! Those men musta done captered those niggers, en is a sailin’ down the river in orders ta’ get the reward.”

            I says–

            “What do you reckon we should do, Jim?”

            “Gawrsh, Huck, I’s a think it’s a bes’ if we jus’ don’t get mixed up en non’ a that. We don’ wan’ no trouble cuz ther’ a mighty good chanse thos’ men will wanna tied meh up, and throw me on dat dere raf’ en get de reward for meh too.”

When we got a little bits closer to the raft we recognized that the niggers were the ones we met at the Grangerfords. I knowed that Jim had gotten to be pretty good friends with them. Then I says–

“Jim ain’t those the niggers we met up at the Grangerfords?”

“Whys yeh I reck’n dey is.”

            “Well if theys is the niggers from the Grangerfords then those two white men is a stealing them because we knowed who they belonged too.”

            “Huck, is you gawna tryn do sumfin’ dangerus? Cuz I’s sure as anythin dat we ain’t yet had our faih shar’ a bad luck from da snake-skin dat you done grabed a hol’ of dat day. If yous is gawna tryn’ free dem niggers I don’ wan’ no par’ en it. Ol’ Jim isa tire’ of de bad luck, chile. I’d be mighty glad if we jus’ kept on a floatin’ without payin’ no ‘tention to dem dere niggers, even if dey’s is mah friends.”

            “Jim I don’t think its right that those two men is a stealing those niggers, I’m gonna try sumthin. You should lay down ‘mungst the truck under this here blanket. We don’t want you to get seen now do we?”

            “Huck Finn yous is one crazy chile’. The craziest I’ve ever met. Always wantin to get a mixed up in de business of otha folk, but I ain’t gawna be en it dis time I reck’n. I’s is just gonna lays down heah, so’s you can go do what yeh like. I wont get no mor’ bad luck.

            So after I made sure that Jim was covered up real hidden and all, I begun to paddle closer to t’other raft.