I finished reading Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen yesterday–just in time for Karl and me to watch it since he gave me the A&E movie version for Valentine’s Day. Of course, we won’t have any time to watch it until the weekend (sigh).

I thoroughly enjoy the detail Austen gives to character development. When you’re reading a book, do you ever wish you could jump into the story? I do all the time. For most of this book, I was content to sit back and watch the drama unfold, particularly towards the end as the main characters realize their affections for one another. However, when Mrs. Bennet enters a scene and keeps going on and on and on with her boastings and put-downs, I get the urge to jump into the story and slap her. Enough already, Woman!

My reactions teach me that I was not brought up with all the “benefits of good society.” Like Elizabeth and Jane, I can speak my mind. However, unlike Elizabeth and Jane, I usually blurt the first thing that comes to mind. Those ladies speak in such a way as to make an insult sound like a complement.

Several notes I took while reading:
1) It is very important for women to guard their hearts! One way to do this is to restrain oneself in the presence of the men, particularly the man one loves. It is only acceptable to openly declare one’s feelings AFTER the man has openly, explicitly declared his. Follow HIS lead. This only applies to unmarried women, of course. Now, this is not a foolproof way of ensuring that one’s heart does not get broken, but there is great protection in modesty. (Modesty applies to much more than clothing). I found myself wishing Elizabeth would just TELL Darcy her feelings. Smile! Make eye contact! Do something! Elizabeth is far too upright for that kind of behavior. Her wisdom is proved right in light of the consequences suffered by her foolish sister, Lydia.
2) It is foolish for a woman to act silly and unrestrained for the sake of male attention. It disturbed me to realize that I saw a lot of myself in Lydia. Not 29 year-old me, but definitely 14 year-old me.
3) Love covers a multitude of sin. Darcy’s love for Elizabeth moved him to overlook the faults of her parents AND do whatever he could to cover the disgrace Lydia brought on the Bennet family. There are good men like Darcy out there. I married a Mr. Darcy.
4) Many times it is prudent to wait and see rather than trying to save everyone. Consequences are the best teachers.
5) There are few things more special than true friendship. I am jealous of Elizabeth and Jane’s relationship with one another. Elizabeth and Jane, though quite different in personality, counseled, encouraged, and helped one another from the heart. Women suffer without the counsel of one good and true friend.

Two important quotes from P&P, of which this world desperately needs to be reminded:
“The more I see of the world, the more am I dissatisfied with it; and every day confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters, and of the little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of either merit or sense.”

“You shall not, for the sake of one individual, change the meaning of principle and integrity, nor endeavor to persuade yourself or me, that selfishness is prudence, and insensibility of danger security for happiness.” (both from p. 87)

As when I read Emma, my reading of P&P introduced me to some new words.

• panegyric–1) a speech or writing in praise of a person or thing: formal eulogy “When you told Mrs. Bennet this morning, that if you ever resolved on quitting Netherfield you should be gone in five minutes, you meant it to be a sort of panegyric, of compliment to yourself–and yet what is there so very laudable in a precipitance which must leave very necessary business undone, and can be of no real advantage to yourself or anyone else?” (p.32)
• laconic–using few words; brief in speech or expression; concise “But their father, though very laconic in his expressions of pleasure, was really glad to see them; he had felt their importance in the family circle.” (p.40)
• quadrille–a card game for four persons, popular in the 1700’s. “She had also asked him twice to dine at Rosings, and had sent for him only the Saturday before, to make up her pool of quadrille in the evening.” (p. 44)
• phaeton–1) a lightweight, four-wheeled carriage with or without a top. It is pulled by one or two horses, and has one or two seats.
• whist–a card game somewhat like bridge for two players. Auction and contract bridge developed from it. “When the card-tables were placed, he had the opportunity of obliging her in return, by sitting down to whist.” (p.50)
• ablution–1) a washing or cleansing as a religious ceremony of purification; 2) a washing or cleansing of one’s body; 3) the water or other liquids used “Mr. Darcy may perhaps have heard of such a place as Gracechurch Street, but he would hardly think a month’s ablution enough to cleanse him from its impurities, were he once to enter it; and depend upon it, Mr. Bingley never stirs without him.” (p.91)
  I think I’ll start using this instead of bath: “It’s time for my daily ablution.” Or in place of cleansers: “Where’s the abluent?” At church: “Jesus alone can provide ablution for sin.”

So far I am enjoying my year of Jane Austen. The next book on my J.A. list is Persuasion. Have you read it? Is there a movie?