Friday, March 19, 2010

“. . . the death of your daughter would have been a blessing . . .” (286)

›
The Bennet family is concerned that Lydia has run off with Wickham not only because of his reputation, but also because of what a relationsh...

“From this day you must be a stranger to one of your parents. - Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never

›
Mr. Bennet defies convention by telling Elizabeth that he agrees with her and does not want her to marry her distant cousin, despite the fac...

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.” (5)

›
Austen lays out a thesis statement of sorts in the opening line of Pride and Prejudice. The idea that a man must want a wife is one that is ...

Social Classes

›
If it weren’t for social classes, the central drama of Austen’s novel would not be possible because they all center on these distinctions. F...

“. . . his debts of honor . . .” (287)

›
Debts of honor are those an individual owes to his peers, like those incurred while gambling. They are considered something more serious tha...

“Had Elizabeth’s opinion been all drawn from her own family, she could not have formed a very pleasing picture of conjugal felicity or domestic comfo

›
Through this quote, Austen shows just how much of an outsider Elizabeth is in her own family. While her sisters are weak, docile women looki...

“. . . knighthood by an address to the king during his mayoralty. . .” (19)

›
Because he is the mayor, Mr. Lucas has had the opportunity to be knighted, becoming Sir Lucas while his wife assumes the title of Lady Lucas...