Chapter 31
Sir Fitzwilliam Darcy – second son of Darcy’s – he is there to reveal what D has done
Sparring between D and E: her strength of character, lack of deference for rank, willingness to
challenge attitudes/views, her wit/humour.
Conflict leads to harmony/revolution
Through discovering growth, they end up happily
‘If I had ever learnt [music], I should have been a great proficient.' – comedy – comical arrogance –
she can’t play piano so may not know much about music
“Mr. Darcy spoke with affectionate praise of his sister’s proficiency.” – JA is presenting a different
view of D that isn’t blinded by E’s prejudice. JA begins to show D’s worth – love and pride (not
vanity) for his sister. Generosity of spirit
“Mr. Darcy looked a little ashamed of his aunt’s ill-breeding and made no answer.” – he is a good
judge of character. “a little ashamed” - His good judgement “aunt’s ill breeding” – rank but not
personal worth
Rest of chapter – E is witty and playful
E “laughed heartily” – playfulness
“for it is provoking me to retaliate” – language of sparring/conflict but the revelation is teasing
“I am not afraid of you,” said he, smilingly. D is presented as though he understands it’s a joke and
he is understanding. He doesn’t take offence – understanding/new warmth
“but prepare yourself for something very dreadful” – comically creates dramatic expectation.
Hyperbole is comical
“He danced only four dances!” – revelation, comically bathetic – anti-climax
“nobody can ever be introduced in a ball-room.” – playful sarcasm – recall her hurt pride
E is deliberately talking about D as if he is not there – she talks about him in the third person to his
cousin. She speaks directly to the Colonel – does not fully acknowledge Darcy’s presence
“My fingers,” said Elizabeth, “do not move over this instrument in the masterly manner" – clever
analogy to make her point
I have always supposed it to be my own fault—because I will not take the trouble of practising. –
implying that he is as fault and her greater self-awareness. His excuse for his socially inept behaviour
We neither of us perform to strangers.” – no pretence only a kind of integrity
“Darcy smiled” – repetition of him smiling
D is flattering her – “privilege of hearing you” – countering her teasing with compliments/flirting.
Flattery/disarming her
We see the proposal coming because we have access to FID and the third person narrative
Chapter 32
,“though I am not certain that I consider her marrying Mr. Collins as the wisest thing she ever did.
She seems perfectly happy, however, and in a prudential light it is certainly a very good match for
her.”
CL is making a life for herself – she realises that prudence is important in marriage
As people experience more of life, they adjust their views of the world accordingly
E’s sense and understanding of the world is developing
“Mr. Darcy drew his chair a little towards her”
D seems uncomfortable and embarrassed - Elizabeth looked surprised. The gentleman experienced
some change of feeling; he drew back his chair, took a newspaper from the table, and glancing over
it, said, in a colder voice:
There are feelings here which aren’t being expressed – we infer some sort of
embarrassment/attempt to cover it up – inner conflict?
CL “My dear, Eliza, he must be in love with you, or he would never have called on us in
this familiar way.” – reader (who has access to Darcy’s conversation with Bingley sisters)
perceives the truth
We see that D is in love with E but E can’t
Last paragraph/text in Ch32 – comical and is CL’s perspective
We infer from movement of chair – D’s desire to be closer to E
CL thinks D is attracted to E – inferring from D’s behaviour
CL’s paragraph – we are more sympathetic to D – D is nicer than we thought he was
Dispassionate, objective observations of CL
“A sacrifice to propriety” – proper expected behaviour
We learn from Fitzwilliam that D has never been like that before – something has changed ad is
affecting his behaviour
“ten minutes together without opening his lips” – he never usually doesn’t talk
“occasionally laughing at his stupidity” - we see something is making him silent – nerves?
Admiration? Uncertainty about his feelings?
“earnest, steadfast gaze” – sincere – in opposition to Wickham and Collins – ‘imaginary’ feelings
We see a more flattering side of D
Chapter 33
From “More than once did Elizabeth…” – comedy here because there is E’s complete obliviousness
She is oblivious because of her blinded prejudice
Comic obliviousness blinded by her prejudice – her lack of insight here contrasts with more
usual perceptiveness
Discrepancy/difference between reader’s understanding and E’s
“Could he have Colonel Fitzwilliam in his thoughts?” - question – comic misreading
, “She felt all the perverseness of the mischance” – mischance is she thinks it’s happened by accident
that he keeps running into her - but it isn’t – reader knows D is deliberately coming to meet her and
spend time with her.
This is the narrator focalized through E’s perspective
E is really perceptive apart from towards D and herself
“voluntary penance” – comically inflicting pain on himself
“very odd” and “odd” – her utter incomprehension and obliviousness
“seemed” x3 – usually E is good at making assumptions with people but with D she is having to try
and interpret it. Repetition – resistant difficulty in fully understand him – Austen casting doubt on E’s
interpretations
A younger son, you know, must be inured to self-denial and dependence – he can’t propose to her
because he isn’t very rich and neither is E so they will both end up poor.
But in matters of greater weight, I may suffer from want of money. Younger sons cannot marry
where they like.” – younger sons cannot marry where they want, and neither can women apart
from Georgiana Darcy but they don’t have the land that generates money.
“Unless where they like women of fortune, which I think they very often do.” Wry, humorous
truthful response – that liking is not a coincidence – money and marriage
Reasons for E not liking D: Personal pride, Wickham’s accusations, keeping Bingley and Jane apart
'...he was the cause, his pride and caprice were the cause, of all that Jane had suffered, and still
continued to suffer. He had ruined for a while every hope of happiness for the most affectionate,
generous heart in the world; and no one could say how lasting an evil he might have inflicted.
Passionate – E’s passion – fury/willingness to condemn. She feels things strongly. Strong
beliefs
Free Indirect Discourse – prose – we’re hearing her perspective
Structurally we have a lot of complex sentences, listing and repetition
Repetition of “suffered” “suffer” shows deep feeling about Jane’s torment and pain.
Emphasizing. Shift from past to present evokes the sustained pain
“no one could say how lasting an evil he might have inflicted” – fear of its endlessness
“the most affectionate, generous heart” – loving hyperbole. Additionally emphasized –
superlative “most”
“evil” – slightly hyperbolic – suggests intentional malice
FID – sense of rapid thought and emotion
her heart swelling with indignation – she is really angry on behalf of Jane that D is trying to keep
Jane and Bingley apart
“There were some very strong objections against the lady,” were Colonel Fitzwilliam’s words; and
those strong objections probably were, her having one uncle who was a country attorney, and
another who was in business in London.” – too middle class – too low status – E’s view of D is that
he thinks Jane’s rent is too low. E thinks he is motivated by class and snobbery
E has some sort of sense that her mum causes some problems – Mrs Bennet doesn’t act with
propriety. She has a bit of doubt as her mother does not behave in the way that is respectable in
society and for us readers.
Sir Fitzwilliam Darcy – second son of Darcy’s – he is there to reveal what D has done
Sparring between D and E: her strength of character, lack of deference for rank, willingness to
challenge attitudes/views, her wit/humour.
Conflict leads to harmony/revolution
Through discovering growth, they end up happily
‘If I had ever learnt [music], I should have been a great proficient.' – comedy – comical arrogance –
she can’t play piano so may not know much about music
“Mr. Darcy spoke with affectionate praise of his sister’s proficiency.” – JA is presenting a different
view of D that isn’t blinded by E’s prejudice. JA begins to show D’s worth – love and pride (not
vanity) for his sister. Generosity of spirit
“Mr. Darcy looked a little ashamed of his aunt’s ill-breeding and made no answer.” – he is a good
judge of character. “a little ashamed” - His good judgement “aunt’s ill breeding” – rank but not
personal worth
Rest of chapter – E is witty and playful
E “laughed heartily” – playfulness
“for it is provoking me to retaliate” – language of sparring/conflict but the revelation is teasing
“I am not afraid of you,” said he, smilingly. D is presented as though he understands it’s a joke and
he is understanding. He doesn’t take offence – understanding/new warmth
“but prepare yourself for something very dreadful” – comically creates dramatic expectation.
Hyperbole is comical
“He danced only four dances!” – revelation, comically bathetic – anti-climax
“nobody can ever be introduced in a ball-room.” – playful sarcasm – recall her hurt pride
E is deliberately talking about D as if he is not there – she talks about him in the third person to his
cousin. She speaks directly to the Colonel – does not fully acknowledge Darcy’s presence
“My fingers,” said Elizabeth, “do not move over this instrument in the masterly manner" – clever
analogy to make her point
I have always supposed it to be my own fault—because I will not take the trouble of practising. –
implying that he is as fault and her greater self-awareness. His excuse for his socially inept behaviour
We neither of us perform to strangers.” – no pretence only a kind of integrity
“Darcy smiled” – repetition of him smiling
D is flattering her – “privilege of hearing you” – countering her teasing with compliments/flirting.
Flattery/disarming her
We see the proposal coming because we have access to FID and the third person narrative
Chapter 32
,“though I am not certain that I consider her marrying Mr. Collins as the wisest thing she ever did.
She seems perfectly happy, however, and in a prudential light it is certainly a very good match for
her.”
CL is making a life for herself – she realises that prudence is important in marriage
As people experience more of life, they adjust their views of the world accordingly
E’s sense and understanding of the world is developing
“Mr. Darcy drew his chair a little towards her”
D seems uncomfortable and embarrassed - Elizabeth looked surprised. The gentleman experienced
some change of feeling; he drew back his chair, took a newspaper from the table, and glancing over
it, said, in a colder voice:
There are feelings here which aren’t being expressed – we infer some sort of
embarrassment/attempt to cover it up – inner conflict?
CL “My dear, Eliza, he must be in love with you, or he would never have called on us in
this familiar way.” – reader (who has access to Darcy’s conversation with Bingley sisters)
perceives the truth
We see that D is in love with E but E can’t
Last paragraph/text in Ch32 – comical and is CL’s perspective
We infer from movement of chair – D’s desire to be closer to E
CL thinks D is attracted to E – inferring from D’s behaviour
CL’s paragraph – we are more sympathetic to D – D is nicer than we thought he was
Dispassionate, objective observations of CL
“A sacrifice to propriety” – proper expected behaviour
We learn from Fitzwilliam that D has never been like that before – something has changed ad is
affecting his behaviour
“ten minutes together without opening his lips” – he never usually doesn’t talk
“occasionally laughing at his stupidity” - we see something is making him silent – nerves?
Admiration? Uncertainty about his feelings?
“earnest, steadfast gaze” – sincere – in opposition to Wickham and Collins – ‘imaginary’ feelings
We see a more flattering side of D
Chapter 33
From “More than once did Elizabeth…” – comedy here because there is E’s complete obliviousness
She is oblivious because of her blinded prejudice
Comic obliviousness blinded by her prejudice – her lack of insight here contrasts with more
usual perceptiveness
Discrepancy/difference between reader’s understanding and E’s
“Could he have Colonel Fitzwilliam in his thoughts?” - question – comic misreading
, “She felt all the perverseness of the mischance” – mischance is she thinks it’s happened by accident
that he keeps running into her - but it isn’t – reader knows D is deliberately coming to meet her and
spend time with her.
This is the narrator focalized through E’s perspective
E is really perceptive apart from towards D and herself
“voluntary penance” – comically inflicting pain on himself
“very odd” and “odd” – her utter incomprehension and obliviousness
“seemed” x3 – usually E is good at making assumptions with people but with D she is having to try
and interpret it. Repetition – resistant difficulty in fully understand him – Austen casting doubt on E’s
interpretations
A younger son, you know, must be inured to self-denial and dependence – he can’t propose to her
because he isn’t very rich and neither is E so they will both end up poor.
But in matters of greater weight, I may suffer from want of money. Younger sons cannot marry
where they like.” – younger sons cannot marry where they want, and neither can women apart
from Georgiana Darcy but they don’t have the land that generates money.
“Unless where they like women of fortune, which I think they very often do.” Wry, humorous
truthful response – that liking is not a coincidence – money and marriage
Reasons for E not liking D: Personal pride, Wickham’s accusations, keeping Bingley and Jane apart
'...he was the cause, his pride and caprice were the cause, of all that Jane had suffered, and still
continued to suffer. He had ruined for a while every hope of happiness for the most affectionate,
generous heart in the world; and no one could say how lasting an evil he might have inflicted.
Passionate – E’s passion – fury/willingness to condemn. She feels things strongly. Strong
beliefs
Free Indirect Discourse – prose – we’re hearing her perspective
Structurally we have a lot of complex sentences, listing and repetition
Repetition of “suffered” “suffer” shows deep feeling about Jane’s torment and pain.
Emphasizing. Shift from past to present evokes the sustained pain
“no one could say how lasting an evil he might have inflicted” – fear of its endlessness
“the most affectionate, generous heart” – loving hyperbole. Additionally emphasized –
superlative “most”
“evil” – slightly hyperbolic – suggests intentional malice
FID – sense of rapid thought and emotion
her heart swelling with indignation – she is really angry on behalf of Jane that D is trying to keep
Jane and Bingley apart
“There were some very strong objections against the lady,” were Colonel Fitzwilliam’s words; and
those strong objections probably were, her having one uncle who was a country attorney, and
another who was in business in London.” – too middle class – too low status – E’s view of D is that
he thinks Jane’s rent is too low. E thinks he is motivated by class and snobbery
E has some sort of sense that her mum causes some problems – Mrs Bennet doesn’t act with
propriety. She has a bit of doubt as her mother does not behave in the way that is respectable in
society and for us readers.
