Chapters 24-26

For discussion related to Chapters 24-26

What a web that is being weaved. Can we even remember who is after who and for what.

The Spark Notes suggest that the Gardiners are her most sensible relatives. I don't think so. If Austen is writing about class-conscious courting, I'm lost. The Gardiners are as prejudice as Miss Bingley. So far I think Elizabeth is the only one who has "pride." She is prejudice, too. She believes Wickham about Darcy's past. Where does it end.

The Gardiner's accept Jane to visit in London to "get her mind of things," it is only setting her up to look for Bingley. That doesn't seem like a good solution.

Mr. Bennett seems to be a bumblehead. Does he even work anymore. He seems to retreat to his Library and the only pleasure he gets is to irritate Mrs. Bennett.

Spark Notes states that Mrs. Gardiner is aware that Bingley is too high class for Jane and Jane is too high class for Wickham. Mrs. Gardiner is so aware of this and the bottom line is that the "family" will be affected by this. Big Deal. I figure you marry low and marry high, it all works out. LOL.

I am a little shocked at Elizabeth. She is having a double standard. She thinks its OK for Wickham to marry King for the money, but she doesn't think its OK to marry for a comfortable life (lack of love), meaning Charlotte. She was my hero in this book, now I'm scratching my head on this one.

I think it is more heart-wrenching. I do think now a days in our society it is more acceptable. Women and men have more options and our society is willing to accept these changes.

Example: The movie "The Pursuit of Happyness" with Will Smith is about a gentlemen who was very poor and broke into the stock broker's world. He is now a millionaire. I'm sure he earned the respect of the whole stock broker society. His son who was along with him during the journey has more options because of his hard work.

I found Mr. Bennett to be much like men of this era when it comes to what their daghters are thinking/doing. "better left to the women" and retreating from any serious conversation. Had there been a son in the novel, he may have had another side.
It seems ok somehow if the moneyed perso deigns to marry beneath themselves but not ok for some one of litle $$$ consiquence to desitute themselves by marrying into a poor family.

I think that is a good point. Leave that sort of stuff to the women. It would be interesting to see how different the family dynamics would be if there were a son.