Jane Austen discussion

(Darcy proposes and is refused... Then he gives Elizabeth the letter. Lydia and Kitty meet their sisters on the way back to Longbourne and Lydia goes to Brighton.)

I think Mr.Darcy's first proposal is one of the worst.I still don't know how he thought Lizzy would accept after insulting her and saying he loved her aganist his better judgement,reason and character.

I find Darcy's worse then Mr.Collins.Mr.Collins is more along the lines of the most ridiculous proposal.

You know whilst reading, I actually wrote on the book, Pride and Prejudice proposals are horrible,geeeez!

Why did Mr. Bennet allowed Lydia to go to Brighton with the Forsters? My goodness.This is an instance I believe Mr. Bennet should have said no because he knows how silly Lydia acts around officers. See the nerve of Mrs.Bennet in accepting and promoting that nonsense.

Mr.Bennet is a horriable parent and him letting Lydia go to Brighton was one of his worst parenting moves and seeing as he never troubled himself to make very many that's saying something.

Lydia should never had been allowed to go with them.Lydia such a shameless flirt and acts like a complete fool around all people and give her into the care of a women who is much like herself and around the same age.Madness.I don't care if her husband is good man.She wouldn't see or spend much time with him only with the young wife of his.

It's amazing that she didn't come to a worse fate and would have without Darcy.I am surprised that more of the soldiers didn't take advantage of her.She would have been easy to trick.

She would have been easy to trick, indeed. She sees officers and any sense of reason that she has, flies away.

I agree about Mr Bennet - Lizzy was so right - she should not have gone and without Darcy's help i dread to think what could have happened to her!! SHe would be game for anything and easily persuaded! tut tut, silly girl!

As to Darcy's proposal... I don't think it is awful... i mean what he says is harsh and .... wrong but at least there is genuine feeling there - he is at least honest and you can tell from his words he genuinely cares for her. If she accepted this proposal it would have been awful - glad she didn't accpet this one! Collins is ridiculas.... Darcy is badly done but done with feeling.

Soph, I totally agree with you about the proposal there. It may not have been the most flattering way to put it, but he was being totally honest and Darcy doesn't seem to be able to do anything other than honesty.

I think in "Mr Darcy's Diary" by Amanda Grange, there's a scene where he goes and discusses the proposal with Colonel Fitzwilliam. And his cousin's all "Well, you shouldn't have said THAT. No woman wants to be insulted when she's being proposed to" and Darcy's genuinely confused (to the point of being almost cute :P) and he's all "But I was just being honest".

I think if he'd taken a step back to reconsider he probably wouldn't have said all those things he did - or in the WAY he did - but I have a feeling it had a lot to do with nervousness and all his thoughts and struggles just came pouring out.

Darcy's policy is honesty!

YES! I love Mr Darcy's diary when Colonel Fitz is like you fool Darcy, why did you say that and that and that and Darcy is so confused, yes to the point of being cute!, and we only being honest! Bless him!!

I agree, he was definatley nervous and his words just tumbled out in his eagerness to express his passionate feelings for her, so maybe if he had been more composed he would have said if differently (But i like how it all happened as Lizzy couldn't have accpeted the first one as she didn't know him and I think his passion shown in his words for her is sweet, if said in the wrong way ;))

Soph wrote: "so maybe if he had been more composed he would have said if differently "

"A man who had felt less might" ;)I love that line x)

Btw, sidenote, have you guys seen The Lizzie Bennet Diaries on youtube? It's a pretty good modern take.

That is a great line ;)

I saw some - wasn't keen...

I know, right. It's a pity they didn't include it in the last two adaptations.

Oh, how come?

I know!! All the scenes after the proposal between them (I say all... There aren't loads but there are some ;)) when Lizzy is teasing Darcy etc - they don't include enough of that in the adaptations!

I don't know... It just didn't Suit me. Making it modern. I wasn't hugely keen on Lost in Austen either. It's done well but not for me :)

Yes! Those scenes after the second proposal are my favorite ones between Darcy and Lizzy! I so want someone to include that in an adaptation.

Ah, I know what you mean about Lost in Austen - too much tampering with the original story. Though I don't mind the diaries so much because the modern adaptation just seems to highlight what a good observer of character Austen was. But it's not for everyone, though, I get that.

LadyDisdain wrote: "Btw, sidenote, have you guys seen The Lizzie Bennet Diaries on youtube? It's a pretty good modern take."


I have seen just a few videos. I said I will watch more of it during February. So far, it is just 'ok' for me, after I watch more, I will review it again.

They are my fav scenes between them too!