Discussion Q's Ch. 7-12

Okay, so I read these chapters all at the beginning of last week, so my memory might not be that great. There is so much going on that it is sometimes hard to remember the details. So, if any of my responses don't make sense, please just disregard them and have mercy on a momma getting by on limited sleep! :-)

1. Does Darcy's reaction to Miss Bingley's flattery surprise you? Why?
No. I like that he pretty much ignores her flattery because it is quite annoying how hard she tries to get his attention. I think he does respond in some ways to her, but in a way that shows he is not interested. Poor just isn't getting the hint!

2. Ummm, can you even BELIEVE Mrs. Bennet in these chapters???
She is a funny woman! So completely focused on getting her daughters married...it is sad though that this is her only focus in life...think of all the other amazing things she is missing. It is a bit frustrating though how she will put others down to make her daughters stand out.

3. Could Elizabeth be judging the character of the people around her too abrruptly?
I think she does jump the gun a bit in judging character, but at the same time, she seems like someone who pays close attention to people and is able to read them fairly quickly. I like this in her...this confidence and strength. She seems to be very okay with who she is, not concerned with what others think. (Sorry, bit of a tangent there). :-)

4. Do any characters appear to have false humility to you? Do any appear to be truly humble?
Miss Bingley has some false humility I think. She acts so concerned about Jane one moment and then the next she is pushing for her to leave. Then she seems all chummy with Elizabeth one moment and the next she is putting her down in front of others. I think she definitely struggles with some pride and this false humility she uses to cover it up. I think she struggles with some low self-esteem and acting humble and sweet is her way of gaining attention.

I think Mr. Bingley show some true humility. He has lots of money and a high social standing which could easily lead him to acting very prideful, yet he is very cordial to the Bennett family (as crazy as some of them can be at times) and he never seems to talk illy of others.

5. Lizzie tells Darcy quite dramatically: "Your defect is a propensity to 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?
I'd have to say Mr. Darcy is the one on the money with this one. I think Lizzie is assuming a lot about Mr. Darcy at this point and he is picking up on it. It is so fun watching these two characters begin to interact. I think something is beginning to spark!!!

Discussion Questions. (Chapters 7-12)

Discussion Questions
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?