A BRIEF PASSAGE FROM "PRIDE AND PREJUDICE"

Indulge me again for a bit with my dear Jane Austen. After writing my earlier post on my life in books, I took up Pride and Prejudice to read last night. What's lovely now about reading Jane is that I can pick up her books and start anywhere, because I know what came before because I've read them so many times, and I can put them down anywhere, because I know what follows. I quote a brief passage which delighted me last night. When I read Jane's books, I stop after reading certain passages to reflect in amazement at her wonderful writing.

Jane's description of the characters of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet:

Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserve, and caprice, that the experience of three-and-twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his character. Her mind was less difficult to develop. She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper. When she was discontented, she fancied herself nervous. The business of her life was to get her daughters married; its solace was visiting and news.

The exchange below takes place after a ball attended by Mrs. Bennet and her five daughters. Mr. Bennet stayed at home with his books, and upon their return, his wife went to his library to give him an account of the ball.

"Oh! my dear Mr. Bennet," as she entered the room, "we have had a most delightful evening, a most excellent ball. I wish you had been there. Jane was so admired, nothing could be like it. Every body said how well she looked; and Mr. Bingley thought her quite beautiful, and danced with her twice. Only think of that my dear; he actually danced with her twice; and she was the only creature in the room that he asked a second time. First of all, he asked Miss Lucas. I was so vexed to see him stand up with her; but, however, he did not admire her at all: indeed, nobody can, you know; and he seemed quite struck with Jane as she was going down the dance. So, he enquired who she was, and got introduced, and asked her for the two next. Then, the two third he danced with Miss King, and the two fourth with Maria Lucas, and the two fifth with Jane again, and the two sixth with Lizzy, and the Boulanger --"

"If he had had any compassion for me," cried her husband impatiently, "he would not have danced half so much! For God's sake, say no more of his partners. Oh! that he had sprained his ancle in the first dance!"

And if you really want to know about the relationships and connections in P&P, I found this wonderful chart to help you out. Click on the chart for the larger view.


Am I going overboard? Is the chart TMI? Is the entire post an unnecessary self-indulgence? Well, it is my blog, after all.