tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329734749409535249.post8002535403726162308..comments2020-04-03T18:45:38.078-05:00Comments on the rewards of observation and reflection: Pride & Prejudice Discussion: Chapters 37-42Rewards of Observationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17034910360545245581noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329734749409535249.post-46215071633777009922013-12-09T01:04:06.066-06:002013-12-09T01:04:06.066-06:00Now that you mention it, I felt similarly about th...Now that you mention it, I felt similarly about the narrative. Whereas there are so many day-in, day-out details elsewhere, it stands out when months are zoomed through without much explanation. I like it when time passes more slowly, and we're allowed to focus on the juicy details. Of course, like you said, Lynnelle, the details magnified don't involve the juicyness we're waiting for (i.e. advancing Darcy and Elizabeth's relationship), so there's not as much to relish. Sigh. :-P<br /><br />I hadn't thought about Elizabeth being her father's daughter in the scene where she amuses herself thinking of how she might have been presented at Rosings as Lady Catherine's niece, but that parallel is quite insightful. And for her to have also been "captivated by youth and beauty".... I am really struck with Austen's ability to craft these complex, dynamic female characters. She equally faults her characters regardless of gender, yet does so while comfortably situating them in their gender-specific socioeconomic slot. So how much more interesting for Elizabeth, an unmarried young woman, to follow in her father's ways! <br /><br />That really gives depth to the explanation of the odd coupling of Mr. and Mrs. Bennett, too. At first it seemed a random, albeit welcomed, comment, but it makes much more sense in light of Elizabeth's close miss with Wickham. Interesting, too, how that same passage further explains that Mr. Bennett "was not of a disposition to seek comfort for the disappointment which his own imprudence had brought on, in any of those pleasures which too often console the unfortunate". Later on, Elizabeth herself will be described as not being of a nature which would let her dwell on her misfortunes or let them spoil her outlook. Maybe she likewise parallels her father in her coping strategy?<br /><br />I love your insights, Lynnelle! I'm getting so much more out of reading because of your book club than I would on my own. Thank you again for doing this!maurainellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17213067787650196311noreply@blogger.com