Tim Rezendes
AP English 11
11/29/09
Character Analysis
Character Analysis: Mr. Darcy
Mr. Darcy is a kind, warm-hearted person who continually keeps everyone’s best interests in mind when making decisions.
Mr. Darcy’s lack of social skill caused him to come off as arrogant to those who did not know Mr. Darcy’s true personality. Mr. Darcy is not arrogant in the least, he is simply shy. Elizabeth is the most critical of Darcy as he insulted while he was unaware that she was listening. Mr. Darcy only insulted Elizabeth so as not so seem inferior to Mr. Bingley. Mr. Darcy’s true personality is confirmed when Elizabeth and her aunt and uncle talk to his maid at Pemberly. After a curious inquisition by Elizabeth Mr. Darcy’s maid responds in a way that astonishes Elizabeth: “’I have never had a cross word from him in my life, and I have known him ever since he was four years old’” (Austen 188). This is an accurate description of Mr. Darcy’s personality because it is coming from a person who has known Mr. Darcy since he was a toddler. Mr. Darcy’s kind personality causes him to take everyone’s interests into mind when he makes a decision. For example, when Mr. Darcy decides to break up Jane and Bingley he takes into consideration first the interests of Bingley because he concluded that Jane was not right for him. He also thinks about Elizabeth because he knows it will hurt her but he also knows it is something that has to be done.
Mr. Darcy is a patriarch; he looks out for all those who he cares for with the best of intentions. Mr. Darcy never intentionally betrays those he loves while he is also able to make the tough decision when he is needed to.
Mr. Darcy is like Mr. Genualdo, he always makes a decision that he thinks is right even if it is a decision that is difficult to make.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Character Analysis #1
Tim Rezendes
AP English 11
11/29/09
Character Analysis
Character Analysis: Jane
Throughout the book, Pride and Prejudice, we saw Jane as an optimist in every situation that comes her way.
Jane’s optimistic attitude was both a blessing and a curse. It was impossible for her to think ill of someone which helped her to avoid confrontation; on the other hand, her optimistic outlook on life caused her to be blind to people who were blatantly attempting to cause her harm. The situation that took place involving Mr. Wickham and Lydia is a perfect example of Jane’s eternal optimism that goes much too far in certain situations. When Mr. Wickham and Lydia return Jane makes light of the situation by saying, “We must endeavor to forget all that has passed on either side, I hope and trust they will yet be happy. His consenting to marry her is proof… that he has come to the right way of thinking” (Austen 231). Jane’s ability to so easily forgive and forget and return to her state of blissful optimism consistently leaves her vulnerable to adverse predicaments.
Jane is an autistic child; her optimism makes her easy to be liked by all while her naivety could cause others to take advantage of her. Jane is very susceptible to unpleasant situations with the wrong people because of her optimism as an autistic child is prone to do anything somebody tells them to do.
Jane is like Rachel Rzeznik; she is nice to everybody but this perpetual kindness leaves her blind to poor qualities in others that could affect her own well-being.
AP English 11
11/29/09
Character Analysis
Character Analysis: Jane
Throughout the book, Pride and Prejudice, we saw Jane as an optimist in every situation that comes her way.
Jane’s optimistic attitude was both a blessing and a curse. It was impossible for her to think ill of someone which helped her to avoid confrontation; on the other hand, her optimistic outlook on life caused her to be blind to people who were blatantly attempting to cause her harm. The situation that took place involving Mr. Wickham and Lydia is a perfect example of Jane’s eternal optimism that goes much too far in certain situations. When Mr. Wickham and Lydia return Jane makes light of the situation by saying, “We must endeavor to forget all that has passed on either side, I hope and trust they will yet be happy. His consenting to marry her is proof… that he has come to the right way of thinking” (Austen 231). Jane’s ability to so easily forgive and forget and return to her state of blissful optimism consistently leaves her vulnerable to adverse predicaments.
Jane is an autistic child; her optimism makes her easy to be liked by all while her naivety could cause others to take advantage of her. Jane is very susceptible to unpleasant situations with the wrong people because of her optimism as an autistic child is prone to do anything somebody tells them to do.
Jane is like Rachel Rzeznik; she is nice to everybody but this perpetual kindness leaves her blind to poor qualities in others that could affect her own well-being.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Pride and Prejudice 11/24
Quote
"Elizabeth really believed all his expectations of felicity, to be rationally founded, because they had for basis the excellent understanding, and super-excellent disposition of Jane, and a general similarity of feeling and taste between her and himself" (Austen 265).
Response
The marriage between Jane and Bingley is a marriage based on true love, which is something that rarely happens in these times. Lizzy is extremely happy for her sister because she knows that her marriage will last and that they will be happy forever. They are good for each other because they are almost the same person, they may get taken advantage of but they will always be happy.
Quote
Response
Lizzy's inaccurate first impression forces her to compensate in any way possible, and in some cases she hurt the people who loved her the most. She was always trying to justify her first impression by creating more prejudice opinions of Mr. Darcy. In her reflections of the whole situation she regrets her impressions, better late than never.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Quote
"Elizabeth really believed all his expectations of felicity, to be rationally founded, because they had for basis the excellent understanding, and super-excellent disposition of Jane, and a general similarity of feeling and taste between her and himself" (265).
Response
This quote shows Lizzy to be a revolutionary character for the time period because she is elated that the marriage between Jane and Bingley is based on actual love, not wealth or social status. Most women of the time, Mrs. Bennet is a very good example, would be happy to be married or to see their daughters married; the reasons for the marriage would not matter. This quote also shows the sisterly love between Jane and Lizzy because Lizzy is truly happy because she knows that Jane will be in love forever and live the way she deserves.
Quote
"Mrs. Bennet, with great, civility, begged her lady ship to take some refreshment" (269).
Response
Mrs. Bennet is questionably insane. In the most important situations Mrs. Bennet has no ability to hold her tongue, especially in front of Mr. Darcy who is the most important man out of all the characters in the book. Is seems strange that Mrs. Bennet would show some sort of manners towards Lady Catherine because there is no motivation for it. We see her act with no manners at all towards Mr. Darcy, therefore, social status must not be the reason. The only reason that comes to mind is insanity.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Pride and Prejudice 11/19
Quote
" 'I should be sorrry indeed if it were. We were always good friends; and now we are better' " (Austen 249).
Response
Wickham's attempts to make good impressions on people are made with little effort. Most people in the novel cannot see through Wickham as Lizzie can, which is why most people like him based on first impressions. Lizzie is able to see Wickham for who he truly is and is not fooled by his half-hearted attempts to impress. The elopment of Wickham and Lydia only made relations worse.
Quote
"Darcy had walked away to another part of the room. She followed him with her eyes, envied everyone to whom he spoke, had scarcely enough patience to help anyone to coffee; and then was enraged against herself for being so silly" (260).
Response
This quote shows the regret of Lizzie for rejecting the proposal of Darcy. She cleary sees now how stupid and prejudice she wa; she rejected Darcy based on emotion not reason. Lizzie now knows exactly how Darcy felt before he proposed as roles are now reversed
" 'I should be sorrry indeed if it were. We were always good friends; and now we are better' " (Austen 249).
Response
Wickham's attempts to make good impressions on people are made with little effort. Most people in the novel cannot see through Wickham as Lizzie can, which is why most people like him based on first impressions. Lizzie is able to see Wickham for who he truly is and is not fooled by his half-hearted attempts to impress. The elopment of Wickham and Lydia only made relations worse.
Quote
"Darcy had walked away to another part of the room. She followed him with her eyes, envied everyone to whom he spoke, had scarcely enough patience to help anyone to coffee; and then was enraged against herself for being so silly" (260).
Response
This quote shows the regret of Lizzie for rejecting the proposal of Darcy. She cleary sees now how stupid and prejudice she wa; she rejected Darcy based on emotion not reason. Lizzie now knows exactly how Darcy felt before he proposed as roles are now reversed
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Pride and Prejudice 11/18
Quote
"We must endeavor to forget all that has passed on either side, I hope and trust they will yet be happy. His consenting to marry her is proof, I will believe, that he has come to the right way of thinking" (231).
Response
It is hard to believe that after all that has happened to her family that Jane is still able to be optimistic about everything. Jane's eternal optimism is her true fault, she thinks that she is helping the situation but she is actually making light of something that is very important. She thinks that just because Wickham wanted to marry her that he must love her which is completely false due to Wickham's prior conduct.
Quote
"Five daughters successively entered the world, but yet the son was to come; and Mrs. Bennet, for many years after Lydia's birth had been certain that he would. This event had at last been despaired of, but it was then too late to be saving" (234).
Response
Mr. Bennet's goal in life has been shattered and it is his fault due to his rediculous style of parenting. Mr. Bennet thought that he could easily reach his goals so he slacked off in his parenting, this back fired terribly
"We must endeavor to forget all that has passed on either side, I hope and trust they will yet be happy. His consenting to marry her is proof, I will believe, that he has come to the right way of thinking" (231).
Response
It is hard to believe that after all that has happened to her family that Jane is still able to be optimistic about everything. Jane's eternal optimism is her true fault, she thinks that she is helping the situation but she is actually making light of something that is very important. She thinks that just because Wickham wanted to marry her that he must love her which is completely false due to Wickham's prior conduct.
Quote
"Five daughters successively entered the world, but yet the son was to come; and Mrs. Bennet, for many years after Lydia's birth had been certain that he would. This event had at last been despaired of, but it was then too late to be saving" (234).
Response
Mr. Bennet's goal in life has been shattered and it is his fault due to his rediculous style of parenting. Mr. Bennet thought that he could easily reach his goals so he slacked off in his parenting, this back fired terribly
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Pride and Prejudice 11/17
"Miss Bingley was venting her feelings in criticism on ELizabeth's person, behavior, and dress. But Georgianna would not join her" (Austen 205).
This quote again shows the personalities of the members of the Darcy family. We Geogianna showing so much class and it gives us more of an insight on Darcy, Darcy's good personality is confirmed by the actions of his sister. Georgianna is intelligent enough to disreard anything Miss Bingley says because it is all meant to slander another person; this is not what the Darcy's pride themselves on.
"No, Kitty, I have at least learnt to be cautious, and you will at least feel the effects of it" (228).
Mr. Bennet has finally learnt his lesson on his hands off style of parenting. Throughout his life he has always taken a hands off approach and regarded his daughters actions as funny, he was more of a smart friend than a father. By being able to discipline his daughters he now has no way of controlling them; they can do as they please.
This quote again shows the personalities of the members of the Darcy family. We Geogianna showing so much class and it gives us more of an insight on Darcy, Darcy's good personality is confirmed by the actions of his sister. Georgianna is intelligent enough to disreard anything Miss Bingley says because it is all meant to slander another person; this is not what the Darcy's pride themselves on.
"No, Kitty, I have at least learnt to be cautious, and you will at least feel the effects of it" (228).
Mr. Bennet has finally learnt his lesson on his hands off style of parenting. Throughout his life he has always taken a hands off approach and regarded his daughters actions as funny, he was more of a smart friend than a father. By being able to discipline his daughters he now has no way of controlling them; they can do as they please.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Pride and Prejudice 11/16
Quote
"The possiblity of meeting Mr. Darcy, while viewing the place, instantly occurred" (Austen 184).
Response
Mr. Darcy is constantly on the mind of Elizabeth despite her attempts to supress the thoughts of him. She is constantly attempting to forget Mr. Darcy, especially after realizing that her hatred of him was falsely based. I believe the true feelings of Elizabeth have yet to be revealed.
Quote
"This was praise, of all others most extraordinary, most opposite to her ideas" (187).
Response
Once again Elizabeth's ideas are proven false. Even though Elizabeth was incorrect on her assumptions of Mr. Darcy she still believed him to be somewhat cold and ill-tempered. This opinion is contrary to that of Mr. Darcy's maid, a person who has known him his whole life. Elizabeth's opinions which she trusts most are being constantly proven incorrect thus embarrasing Elizabeth.
"The possiblity of meeting Mr. Darcy, while viewing the place, instantly occurred" (Austen 184).
Response
Mr. Darcy is constantly on the mind of Elizabeth despite her attempts to supress the thoughts of him. She is constantly attempting to forget Mr. Darcy, especially after realizing that her hatred of him was falsely based. I believe the true feelings of Elizabeth have yet to be revealed.
Quote
"This was praise, of all others most extraordinary, most opposite to her ideas" (187).
Response
Once again Elizabeth's ideas are proven false. Even though Elizabeth was incorrect on her assumptions of Mr. Darcy she still believed him to be somewhat cold and ill-tempered. This opinion is contrary to that of Mr. Darcy's maid, a person who has known him his whole life. Elizabeth's opinions which she trusts most are being constantly proven incorrect thus embarrasing Elizabeth.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Pride and Prejudice 11/13
Quote
"She grew absolutely ashamed of herself.-Of neither Darcy nor Wickham could she think, without feeling that she had been blind, partial, prejudiced, absurd" (159).
Response
This quote shows how ashamed Elizabeth is of herself when he realizes that her judgments of Mr. Wickham were completely false. Elizabeth is a very rational person and a mistake like this makes her feel bad about her character. She had been prejudice based on a bad first impression and it had blinded her to the rest of the two men's characters
Quote
"Jane had been deprived, by the folly and indecorum of her own family!" (163).
Response
Jane's unfortunate situation with Mr. Bingley was caused by the absurd nature of Mrs. Bennet. Mrs. Bennet could not control her emotions and she always said what was on her mind even though she was in a public setting. Her personality is the one thing that permitted her from achieving her only dream, finding her five daughters husbands.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Quote
"he addressed himself particularly to her, as if wishing to make her feel what she had lost in refusing him" (Austen 120).
Response
Mr. Collins continues to make a fool out of himself on every occasion possible. He cannot accept the fact that any person could reject him or dislike him. When he is rejected by Lizzy he finds it especially appalling because Lady Catherine told him to choose a wife. Mr. Collins is utterly rediculous.
Quote
"I pity, though I cannot help blaming her... But I pity her, because she must feel that she has been acting wrong, and because I am very sure that anxiety for her brother is the cause of it" (115).
Response
Jane's optimism can be a good thing at times because she can always see the good things in people. Sometimes there are not any good qualities to be noticed and this creates a very big problem. She becomes very vulnerable to other people who want to hurt her because she is unable to realize their true intentions.
"he addressed himself particularly to her, as if wishing to make her feel what she had lost in refusing him" (Austen 120).
Response
Mr. Collins continues to make a fool out of himself on every occasion possible. He cannot accept the fact that any person could reject him or dislike him. When he is rejected by Lizzy he finds it especially appalling because Lady Catherine told him to choose a wife. Mr. Collins is utterly rediculous.
Quote
"I pity, though I cannot help blaming her... But I pity her, because she must feel that she has been acting wrong, and because I am very sure that anxiety for her brother is the cause of it" (115).
Response
Jane's optimism can be a good thing at times because she can always see the good things in people. Sometimes there are not any good qualities to be noticed and this creates a very big problem. She becomes very vulnerable to other people who want to hurt her because she is unable to realize their true intentions.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Pride and Prejudice #5
Quote
"To Elizabeth, however, he voluntarily acknowledged that the necessity of his absence had been self-imposed" (Austen 88).
Response
Mr. Wickham, for lack of a better term, is a punk. He directly contradicts what he said in the previous reading. He stated before that he would not be swayed in his decisions by Mr. Darcy, basically saying that he would go to the ball even if Mr. Darcy was there. Once again through Elizabeth's prejudice towards Mr. Darcy she cannot see what Mr. Wickham is doing. Her intellect is being compromised by her emotion. It seems as though Mr. Wickham was scared of Mr. Darcy so he backed out of the ball at the last second.
Quote
"Janes temper was not desponding, and she was gradually led to hope, through the diffidence of affection sometimes overcame that hope, that Bingley would return to Netherfield and answer every wish of her heart" (92).
Response
Jane is very easily swayed by the opinions of others, she believes whatever anybody tells her. She goes to Lizzy with the thought that Mr. Bingley is leaving based on the unreliable Caroline Bingley and within a few minutes she begins to tak the opinion of Lizzy. She reminds me of Huck Finn as he cannot make his own opinion, he was very easily influenced by society and Pap and Ms. Watson that he never had a chance to think for himself.
"To Elizabeth, however, he voluntarily acknowledged that the necessity of his absence had been self-imposed" (Austen 88).
Response
Mr. Wickham, for lack of a better term, is a punk. He directly contradicts what he said in the previous reading. He stated before that he would not be swayed in his decisions by Mr. Darcy, basically saying that he would go to the ball even if Mr. Darcy was there. Once again through Elizabeth's prejudice towards Mr. Darcy she cannot see what Mr. Wickham is doing. Her intellect is being compromised by her emotion. It seems as though Mr. Wickham was scared of Mr. Darcy so he backed out of the ball at the last second.
Quote
"Janes temper was not desponding, and she was gradually led to hope, through the diffidence of affection sometimes overcame that hope, that Bingley would return to Netherfield and answer every wish of her heart" (92).
Response
Jane is very easily swayed by the opinions of others, she believes whatever anybody tells her. She goes to Lizzy with the thought that Mr. Bingley is leaving based on the unreliable Caroline Bingley and within a few minutes she begins to tak the opinion of Lizzy. She reminds me of Huck Finn as he cannot make his own opinion, he was very easily influenced by society and Pap and Ms. Watson that he never had a chance to think for himself.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Pride and Prejudice #4
Quote
"Mr. Collins, awkward and solemn, apologising instead of attending, and often moving wrong without being aware of it, gave her all the shame and misery which a disagreeable partner for a couple of dances can give" (Austen 68).
Response
Mr. Collins seems blissfully unaware of his rediculous nature. He only thinks what he wants and is unaware of the fool he makes of himself most of the time. He cannot dance and is unaware that he is a bad dancer. Mr. Collins is on the whole socially awkward, he seems to have no place in society.
Quote
"She felt it to be the probable consequence of her allusions to Mr. Wickham, and rejoiced in it" (78).
Response
Elizabeth takes great joy in her attempts to upset Darcy and she has every right to. The strange thing is that Mr. Darcy does not care, I believe it is mostly due to the fact that he is better than everyone else and he knows it, nothing can hurt his pride. Mr. Darcy is hopelessly in love with Elizabeth as she shows absolutely no interest in him at all, she seems to be falling in love with Mr. Wickham
"Mr. Collins, awkward and solemn, apologising instead of attending, and often moving wrong without being aware of it, gave her all the shame and misery which a disagreeable partner for a couple of dances can give" (Austen 68).
Response
Mr. Collins seems blissfully unaware of his rediculous nature. He only thinks what he wants and is unaware of the fool he makes of himself most of the time. He cannot dance and is unaware that he is a bad dancer. Mr. Collins is on the whole socially awkward, he seems to have no place in society.
Quote
"She felt it to be the probable consequence of her allusions to Mr. Wickham, and rejoiced in it" (78).
Response
Elizabeth takes great joy in her attempts to upset Darcy and she has every right to. The strange thing is that Mr. Darcy does not care, I believe it is mostly due to the fact that he is better than everyone else and he knows it, nothing can hurt his pride. Mr. Darcy is hopelessly in love with Elizabeth as she shows absolutely no interest in him at all, she seems to be falling in love with Mr. Wickham
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Pride and Prejudice #3
Quote
"'And yours,' he replied with a smile, 'is wilfully to misunderstand them'" (Austen 43)
Response
With this quote Mr. Darcy seems to be dropping a subtle hint to Elizabeth that his opinion of her is not what she thinks it is. This does not make much of a difference due to the terrible first impression that Mr. Darcy made on Elizabeth. Mr. Darcy comes off as hating everybody but his actual problem is not letting anybody into his life out of pride, he does not open himself up and show people his true personality.
Quote
"He was a tall, heavy looking man of five and twenty. His air was grave and stately, and his manners were very formal" (49).
Response
This is the first interaction we see of Mr. Collins and the Bennets and his first impression is very good. He comes off as a very polite well spoken man. As we have already seen Mr. Collins will soon make a fool out of himself with his disaster of a proposal. Mr. Collins is a hard person to figure out, at one point he will be a respectable man and at another point he could be delivering the worst proposal anyone has ever heard
"'And yours,' he replied with a smile, 'is wilfully to misunderstand them'" (Austen 43)
Response
With this quote Mr. Darcy seems to be dropping a subtle hint to Elizabeth that his opinion of her is not what she thinks it is. This does not make much of a difference due to the terrible first impression that Mr. Darcy made on Elizabeth. Mr. Darcy comes off as hating everybody but his actual problem is not letting anybody into his life out of pride, he does not open himself up and show people his true personality.
Quote
"He was a tall, heavy looking man of five and twenty. His air was grave and stately, and his manners were very formal" (49).
Response
This is the first interaction we see of Mr. Collins and the Bennets and his first impression is very good. He comes off as a very polite well spoken man. As we have already seen Mr. Collins will soon make a fool out of himself with his disaster of a proposal. Mr. Collins is a hard person to figure out, at one point he will be a respectable man and at another point he could be delivering the worst proposal anyone has ever heard
Monday, November 2, 2009
Pride and Prejudice #2
Quote
"If your daughter should have a dangerous fit of illness, if she should die, it would be a comfort to know that it was all in the pursuit of Mr. Bingley, and u nder your orders" (Austen 23).
Response
Once again, Mr. Bennet shows his frustration with the antics of his wife by using sarcasm to deal with her. Mrs. Bennet goes about answering Mr. Bennet's sarcasm with complete oblivion to what is happening. Mrs. Bennet takes sarcasm as seriousness and gives Mr. Bennet an actual answer, which makes it all the more amusing for Mr. Bennet
Quote
"To walk three miles, or four miles, or five miles, or whatever it is, above her ankles in dirt, and alone, quite alone! . . . It seems to show an abominable sort of conceited independence, a most country town indifference to decorum" (26).
"It shews an affection for her sister that is very pleasing" (26).
Response
These two quotes show the complete opposite personalities of Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley. Mr. Darcy is more like a glass half empty type of person with Mr. Bingley being the total opposite. Another difference is that Mr. Darcy is always attempting to find the faults in people out of his arrogance and pride while Mr. Bingley, even though he is very wealthy, tries to find the good in people and seems to give people the benefit of the doubt in most circumstances.
"If your daughter should have a dangerous fit of illness, if she should die, it would be a comfort to know that it was all in the pursuit of Mr. Bingley, and u nder your orders" (Austen 23).
Response
Once again, Mr. Bennet shows his frustration with the antics of his wife by using sarcasm to deal with her. Mrs. Bennet goes about answering Mr. Bennet's sarcasm with complete oblivion to what is happening. Mrs. Bennet takes sarcasm as seriousness and gives Mr. Bennet an actual answer, which makes it all the more amusing for Mr. Bennet
Quote
"To walk three miles, or four miles, or five miles, or whatever it is, above her ankles in dirt, and alone, quite alone! . . . It seems to show an abominable sort of conceited independence, a most country town indifference to decorum" (26).
"It shews an affection for her sister that is very pleasing" (26).
Response
These two quotes show the complete opposite personalities of Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley. Mr. Darcy is more like a glass half empty type of person with Mr. Bingley being the total opposite. Another difference is that Mr. Darcy is always attempting to find the faults in people out of his arrogance and pride while Mr. Bingley, even though he is very wealthy, tries to find the good in people and seems to give people the benefit of the doubt in most circumstances.
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