Chapters 7-12
THEME: THE CHARACTER'S CHARACTERS!
In the last batch of chapters, many first impressions were made by each character upon the others. In Chapters 7-12, we begin to see those first impressions change and shift as the characters are revealed more fully. We become painfully aware that Miss Bingley has the hots for Darcy and that she is annoyingly compliant because of it.
1. Miss Bingley is smothering Darcy in flattery. Yet, Darcy doesn't seem to respond. We know that flattery can feed and swell a person's pride quicker than anything else... Does Darcy's reaction to Miss Bingley's flattery surprise you? Why?
2. Ummm, can you even BELIEVE Mrs. Bennet in these chapters???
3. In Chapter 9, Elizabeth speaks of examining people's characters. Bingley seems offended that Elizabeth claims to have 'seen through him' or 'figured him out' so quickly. Elizabeth tells him that "a deep, intricate character is more or less estimable that such a one as yours." Ouch? Could Elizabeth be judging the character of the people around her too abrruptly?
4. In Chapter 10, Darcy states that "Nothing is more deceitful than the appearance of humility... It is sometimes an indirect boast." True humility is the opposite of pride, but he is saying that FALSE humility is nothing more than pride in disguise. Do any characters appear to have false humility to you? Do any appear to be truly humble?
5. Woo wee! Things get heated at the very end of Chapter 11. Again, we seem to see Elizabeth trying to corner Darcy's character. She tells Darcy quite dramatically: "Your defect is a propensity to hate everyone." What a firecracker she is! Darcy responds: "And yours is wilfully to misunderstand them." Who's character assessment do you think to be more accurate?
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