Despite the fact that Peter already explained the sentence in the class today, I still don't understand the scene in pride and prejudice page 77-78. Can anyone give me some explanation?
1) What is wrong with Mr. Bennet's speech on page 77? Why does Mary become disconcerted? Is it just only she want to sing more but Mr. Bennet oppose her intention or anything else?
2) After Mr. Collins' remark, what happens next? Does Mary stop singing and another girl sing instead?
3) What is the result of Mr. Collins' speech? It just only lightens up the situation or it implies anything else? Why does Mrs Bennet appreciate his speech? When the author says that Mr. Bennet is amused, does it mean that his speech is just only funny and has nothing more?
4) How about Elizabeth's reaction to this speech? In page 78 paragraph 2, does it mean that she feel frustrated with the behavior of her families members, including Mr. Collins?
liu
Monday 23 November 2009
3 comments:
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Liu,
ReplyDeleteFirst, my apologies for the delay in your excellent post being sent out to everyone. That was my fault. I made a mistake when I set up the group. I've since corrected it, so in future, when anyone makes a new post here, an email advice should immediately be sent to everyone.
This is the first time I've tried this, so I hope there will be no more glitches due to my lack of knowledge.
I'm glad you've followed up something you still had questions about.
ReplyDeleteIn the lead up to Mr. Bennet's short instruction to Mary on page 77. We know that Lizzy "endeavoured to prevent" Mary from singing at all (p. 76 - 77). When that failed, and Mary not only sang one song badly but continued on with another, Lizzy caught her father's eye to signal him to stop Mary showing off her poor singing all night. Unfortunately, Mr. Bennet spoke aloud, so everyone could hear him, and Lizzy does not much like his instruction to Mary: "You have delighted us long enough" (p.77), is not very flattering to Mary, which disconcerts her and embarrasses Lizzy. Worse, he then suggests in the same audible voice that other women want to show off as well, which is not particularly polite to them; again, Lizzy is not very pleased with the result of catching his eye in the first place.
Although it is not stated, we can assume that some of the other parties who had been applied to did continue the entertainment after Mr. Collin's remark. Mary would certainly have complied with her father's instruction to stop.
Having now answered your first two questions, I don't want to comment yet on your questions 3) and 4). They are exactly the sort of thoughtful question that it will help everyone to consider and respond to, and my premature comments won't help that.
From your suggestion about the meaning of Mr. Bennet's speech, which indicates that other women want to show off, I think the first part of Mr. Collin's speech about admiring those who sing according to the request might relieve their embarrassment from Mr. Bennet's speech. This should be the part that make Mrs Bennet appreciate him.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the rest of his speech about "the profession of a clergyman" and his respect toward his patron sounds very funny and it is like what Mr. Bennet used to decribe him as a person who has both self-importance and servility. This might make Mr. Bennet very amused.