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Pride and Prejudice Women and Femininity Quotes Page 1
(Chapter.Paragraph)
"It will be no use to us, if twenty such should come, since you will not visit them." (1.32)
Only men may be the first of the family to call on a new neighbor – Mrs. Bennet certainly could not ride over to Netherfield to welcome Mr. Bingley to the neighborhood.
[Miss Bingley:] "Oh! certainly," cried his faithful assistant, "no [woman] can be really esteemed accomplished who does not greatly surpass what is usually met with. A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word; and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions, or the word will be but half-deserved."
"All this she must possess," added Darcy, "and to all this she must yet add something more substantial, in the improvement of her mind by extensive reading."
[Elizabeth Bennet:] "I am no longer surprised at your knowing only six accomplished women. I rather wonder now at your knowing any." (8.51-53)
Mr. Darcy has a very high standard for womanhood. Can Elizabeth measure up? Does Miss Bingley? Elizabeth sure thinks that Miss Bingley and Darcy are being rather over picky, and we tend to agree. Also, check out those skills an accomplished woman is supposed to have. They're cool, sure, but most aren't entirely useful…
"Pardon me for interrupting you, madam," cried Mr. Collins; "but if she is really headstrong and foolish, I know not whether she would altogether be a very desirable wife to a man in my situation, who naturally looks for happiness in the marriage state. If therefore she actually persists in rejecting my suit, perhaps it were better not to force her into accepting me, because if liable to such defects of temper, she could not contribute much to my felicity." (20.4)
Mr. Collins calls Elizabeth foolish. Does the phrase "pot calling the kettle black" come to mind? However, this seems to be one situation where Mr. Collins has a little sense – Elizabeth would definitely not make a good wife for him.
