Just quickly before we start, I have seen the movie and I read the book back in Gr. 6 so I debated on whether or not this was a good one to start with and decided “Yep”, just to make it clear this is for entertainment purposes only, and also if anyone has trouble understanding Austin maybe this will help a little too. Since Jane did not title any of her chapters I’ve taken the liberty of doing it myself, “winky smiley face” here it goes…
Chapter 1 or Mrs. Bennet Schemes
The chapter, the book, starts out with the line “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” take that how you will. It then leads off with a conversation between Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. Mrs.Bennet mentions that Netherfield Park (a nearby estate) has been rented out, and she goes on to say, very excitedly, that it was a Mr. Bingley, coincidentally the name of my future rabbit, who is the rentee (making up some of my own words here) and that he is single! On top of that he brings in 4 to 5 thousand pounds a year, which is apparently a lot considering how I’m pretty sure Mrs.Bennet almost died from the ecstasy (not the drug) when finding this out.
Mrs. Bennet says this is a wonderful thing for their daughters. Mr. Bennet asks what it has to do with their girls, and Mrs. Bennet says to marry one to him of course! poor, poor Mr. Bennet “shakes head sadly” Then he says “well is he planning on moving here?” Clearly not understanding his wife doesn’t care as long as her daughters are married off and married well. Mrs. Bennet wants Mr. Bennet to go visit Mr. Bingley at once. He trys to get out of it through flattery, by saying that she and the girls should go own their own, or maybe just the girls because Mr. Bingley might want to marry her instead. I’m now feeling really sorry for Mr. Bingley, poor guy.
Mr.Bennet continues flattering Mrs.Bennet, then gets a little sarcastic saying he’ll send them with a note to Mr. Bingley giving him permission to marry whatever girl he likes best, but he’ll throw in a good word for his “little Lizzy.” Mrs. Bennet gets defensive over the rest of their daughters saying Lizzy’s no better then the rest, and goes on to say she’s not as pretty as Jane or good humored as Lydia. And the next couple paragraphs are her scolding her husband for picking favorites. I’m pretty sure Mr. Bennet zoned out a few times, I know I would, and now I’m feeling sorry for the daughters.
Mrs. Bennet is whining about her nerves, which apparently she does often, and Mr. Bennet, having a good sense of humor, says he hopes she’ll get over it and live to see many more young men with lots of money come visit the neighborhood. Jane Austin goes on to tell us that Mr. Bennet is quite the character, and that being married 23 years still wasn’t enough time for Mrs. Bennet to really understand him. Jane also says that Mrs. Bennet just thinks she has nerves and is purely living to marry off all her daughters.
So what I get out of this chapter, besides feeling sorry for basically everyone, is Mrs. Bennet is the man in her and Mr. Bennet’s relationship, and he deals with her through lots of sarcasm… I Like it.
Predictions: In the next chapter we meet the kids, and if we’re lucky the infamous Mr. Bingley!
standinginthestorm 