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Month: January 2022

Pride and Prejudice – Chapters 50 to 54 Analysis Grid

Published by benjaminlewis on January 26, 2022
Chapter Summary Key Themes Character Development Narrative Conventions
Chapter 50 Lydia and Wickham’s marriage is judged before the pair are ‘banished to the North’. Elizabeth finally reaches the much anticipated epiphany that she loves Darcy. Prejudice and marriage. Lydia and Wickham negatively reinforce each other. Epistolary form. (Mr Gardiner’s letter).
Chapter 51 Lydia is married, and it is revealed Darcy was at the wedding. Elizabeth writes to Mrs Gardiner for answers. Marriage, love (or lack thereof), and family. The mystery of Darcy’s character is furthered. Wickham is revealed to be as shallow as ever and Lydia echoes her mother’s negative traits. Authorial voice.
Chapter 52 Mrs Gardiner replies, detailing Darcy’s antics in pursuit of Elizabeth. He convinced Wickham, with the help of large amounts of money, to marry Lydia and settle down, hiding the whole ordeal with the help of Mr Gardiner. Mrs Gardiner begins to suspect Darcy and Elizabeth. Wickham and Elizabeth catch up. Class, wealth, marriage, pride, and prejudice. Darcy’s benevolence is revealed to Elizabeth, allowing her to accept her new feelings for him. Furthermore, his prejudice against her low family is now clearly gone. Elizabeth is not overly prejudiced against Wickham either, despite having good reason to be. A lot of epistolary form.
Chapter 53 Bingley returns! And Darcy, but he may as well have not bothered, giving how much he talks to Elizabeth. Jane and Bingley begin to rediscover their severed love. Masculinity and emotion, love, class, pride, and prejudice. Darcy is clearly a different person when he’s not in the comfort of his own home, but his awkwardness continues to be endearing. Elizabeth’s feelings for him are developed through his inaction, as she becomes frustrated. Narrative voice.
Chapter 54 Jane and Bingley continue to develop their romance, as he takes a seat by her. Elizabeth and Darcy are separated at the table and she begins to doubt his affections. Darcy is forced to endure the conversation of Mrs Bennet. Prejudice, love, class, masculinity and male emotion. Darcy’s continued silence provides Elizabeth with a lot of time to dwell on his potential feelings. She scarifies her pride and accepts that rejecting his proposal was a mistake, as she might have jeopardised her chance at a loving marriage. Narrative voice.

Pride and Prejudice – Chapter 44

Published by benjaminlewis on January 6, 2022

What is the function of Miss Darcy in Chapter 44?

Miss Darcy acts as a metaphor for Elizabeth’s perception of Mr Darcy, as she is once again fooled by preconceived notions into thinking a Darcy sibling is shallow (‘she had heard that Miss Darcy was extremely proud’ p.g. 217), only to be surprised at their true nature. On a narrative level, Miss Darcy’s introduction is somewhat underwhelming, as anxieties over her character and her perceived relationship with Darcy have influenced Elizabeth throughout the novel, which contrast to her shyness; in actuality, she is not really a force at all, let alone a strong narrative one. Alternatively, she could represent the good in Pemberley, and thus Darcy, as the traits Elizabeth finds attractive in him can also be found in her countenance. Darcy introducing his sister to Elizabeth only increases his vulnerability, which in turn strengthens their romantic bond.

How are Elizabeth’s relationships depicted in this chapter?

She is shown to be fiercely loyal to Jane, as Elizabeth is constantly thinking about her in relation to Miss Darcy. It resurfaces her remaining grievances with Mr Darcy, but also her muddled feelings, as romance bubbles. (‘Elizabeth was pleased to find his memory so exact’ and ‘There was not much in the question, nor in the proceeding remark, but there was a look and manner which gave them meaning’, both from p.g. 219).

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