December 5, 2005

More Pride and Prejudice

Here are a few questions Dimsumdolly and I attacked with fervor during the Pride and Prejudice program on Saturday:

1. If a man is in love, could he be easily persuaded by his friend and siblings to move away from his beloved? (We're talking about Mr Bingley, of course.)

2. Who in the novel marries or wishes to marry for status?

3. Who marries for necessity?

4. Who marries for money?

5. Who marries for security?

6. Who marries upon advice?

7. It's fairly easy to determine the reasons why each character marries, but can anyone figure out why an intelligent and witty man like Mr Bennet married a vulgar and very silly woman like Mrs Bennet?

8. Both Elizabeth and Mr Darcy are proud and prejudiced. How is each so? Think about why or what Elizabeth is proud of.

9. Why is Pride and Prejudice such a cherished novel? Why has it remained on reading lists all these years (or centuries)?

10. (I couldn't think of another question the organizers gave us so here's one of my own.) Does anyone think Lizzie and Colonel Fitzwilliam (Mr. Darcy's cousin) could have had a chance together? If you watch the 1995 mini series, he appears to be rather sweet to Lizzie and they get along very well while Darcy pads around them, smouldering and saying a few lines every now and then. In the book, Fitzwilliam shows a lot of interest in her. (I also happen to think that the actor playing the Colonel looks quite appealing.)

If this question isn't your cup of tea, here's one I just recalled - what is Mr Darcy's first name?

Posted by Monoceros at December 5, 2005 2:25 AM
Comments

I was just wondering the other day what Mr Darcy's first name was! Initially I thought it was Mark and then I realised I had it confused with Bridget Jones' Diary.

And as for number 7, I think it was mentioned in the book that Mr Bennet married that silly woman because she was pretty. Which doesn't reflect very well on him, does it?

Looking forward to the movie though I have never had the chance to catch the miniseries.

Posted by: yAnn at December 5, 2005 10:15 AM

Hi yann! Ha, I'll give the answer to that in another post. =) It's quite a ghastly first name. Thanks for that, it's been too long since I read it. And no, it sure doesn't reflect too well on Mr B. Perhaps Mrs B wasn't so painful to bear when she was young. She got to be the way she is with age, maybe? In any case, you should watch the miniseries. But maybe after you've seen the movie. Those of us who've seen Firth as Darcy can't quite accept anyone else in the role!

Posted by: monoceros at December 5, 2005 10:35 AM

fitzwilliam darcy!

it's a novel that speaks of the class differences which will probably continue to pervade for many years to come even in what people think of as civilised societies... timeless.

then again... different notions of love, loving and being in love etc. are all quite wonderfully manifested in the various characters which is what we all experience at some stage of our lives...

but best of all, fairy-tale-like in some ways although not necessarily void in reality, is the transcendence of darcy's pride (which is groomed by his upbringing, class, status etc.) and circumstances to love lizzy for who she is despite her baggages (a disgraced sister whose husband is not worthy of respect and a mother whose behaviour is more often than not, an embarrassment)... that leaves scores of lassies dreaming of their own darcys and lads trying (perhaps in vain) to metamorphose into a fitzwilliam...

of course, it should work the other way too...

can't wait for your next installments! =C)

Posted by: tiggie at December 5, 2005 12:05 PM

ps maybe colonel fitzwilliam is fitzwilliam darcy's alter ego...

Posted by: tiggie at December 5, 2005 12:06 PM

wow, tiggie, you're good! =) maybe you should be writing some essays on P & P too!

Posted by: monoceros at December 5, 2005 10:46 PM

hee, it's always more fun when you write about it! i still dream of the day(s) when we get to learn creative writing and discuss literature with you, monoceros... this comes close to it though!

keep writing!!! keeps wee tiggie chirpy and i am sure scores of others delighted, as well! =C)

Posted by: tiggie at December 6, 2005 12:21 AM

Fitzwilliam!
Oh my goodness, it is rather ghastly as a first name. I had thought it was his father's name. That name does run in the family quite a bit huh. =P

Gah....I must get my hands on the Firth version, I think he is rather charming and (dare I say it) sexy in a British way.

Posted by: yAnn at December 6, 2005 3:38 AM

Heh, yeah, it's a popular name in that family. Yes, you have to watch that Firth version. He's very understatedly sexy, but still sexy. =)

Posted by: monoceros at December 7, 2005 9:59 AM

i've been meaning to re-read the book, but haven't got down to it yet! i'll be catching the movie soon.

if you haven't got the DVD of the BBC edition - the BBC 10th anniversary edition is out. and going for 12pounds only. =)

i didn't know the alma mater made it compulsory reading, haha.

Posted by: a l at December 7, 2005 7:26 PM

Maybe re-read the book after the movie, a l? It appears to be compulsory in sec. 2 Lit. classes, well at least many many years ago. =) DSD and I hope to catch the movie soon as well, together with Vantan. Thanks for the heads-up on the 10th anniversary edition! Do you know how it differs from the previous edition? Any extra stuff?

Posted by: monoceros at December 8, 2005 2:21 AM

i don't have the earlier edition, so I'm not sure what extras are in this one. But it has a short "making of" feature i believe. haven't got down to watching it yet...

Posted by: a l at December 12, 2005 4:00 AM