Pride and Prejudice - Discussion Questions (!!SPOILER ALERT!!)

[Heather]

So, what did you think of Pride and Prejudice? This is a SPOILER THREAD, so if you haven't yet finished the book, please visit the Spoiler Free thread

Here are some discussion questions for you to ponder. You don't have to answer these specifically if you don't want to, but feel free to use them as a springboard for your discussion. Also, if you have any questions, free free to ask them. Tag me (just type Heather and I'll see it) and I can add them to the list of questions.

DISCUSSIONS QUESTIONS:

- Pride and Prejudice has one of the most famous first lines of a novel in history: “ It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” What do you think this line says about the novel? Why is it so famous? What does it say about the characters and/or the world they live in?

- Marriage, as something to be aspired to, is portrayed quite differently in the novel than existing marriages. What married couples do we see in the novel? How would you characterize these relationships?

- The love Elizabeth feels toward Mr. Darcy evolves and deepens largely without direct contact. Does that make you question that love? What causes these feelings of love? Are they realistic?

- Why is Darcy so attracted to Elizabeth? When can we first sense this? Why does it take her so long to see it? Elizabeth’s attraction to Darcy arises very differently. Why is this important?

- Pride and Prejudice is a novel that many Austen fans read and reread. What keeps readers returning to the book once the suspense of whether or not Darcy and Elizabeth will end up together is taken away?

- There is a trend nowadays to write two novels telling the same story, but from two different point of views. How do you think the story in Pride and Prejudice would change if it was from Mr. Darcy’s perspective?

- Many of the important plot turns happen through letters. A letter from Miss Bingley tells Jane that Bingley is gone for good and is supposed to marry Miss Darcy; a letter from Darcy fills Elizabeth and the reader in on the truth about wicked Wickham and lets her draw some new conclusions about him. Why does this information travel through letters? Could it have been revealed face-to-face? Why or why not?


Questions taken from or inspired by: https://www.chipublib.org/pride-and-prejudice-discussion-questions/ & http://www.shmoop.com/pride-and-prejudice/questions.html

[Joanne]

The only thing I know about this story is that everyone loves Mr Darcy, so it came as a shock to me to see him introduced as so unlikable! I'm dying to read on to find out what redeems him.

[RedReadingRoom]

Pride and Prejudice has one of the most famous first lines of a novel in history: “ It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” What do you think this line says about the novel? Why is it so famous? What does it say about the characters and/or the world they live in?

I think both parts of this question come down to the same answer. The line is so quintessentially a product of its time - a time where marrige was the be all and end all.

- Marriage, as something to be aspired to, is portrayed quite differently in the novel than existing marriages. What married couples do we see in the novel? How would you characterize these relationships?

We see the Bennets - the lack of respect for each other that even the girls point out is something that should be avoided. We also have Mr Collins and Charlotte - another marriage to be avoided, where you are just settling for the sake of convenience (could also be argued the most common marriage type of the time). Mr and Mrs Hurst probably fit into this catagory too...

- The love Elizabeth feels toward Mr. Darcy evolves and deepens largely without direct contact. Does that make you question that love? What causes these feelings of love? Are they realistic?

Its a love based on interactions with other people. Darcy shows kindness towards the servants for example and that alters Elizabeths view of what she has seen of him. In a society (such as it is) where status and others options play such a crutial part of how both you view and are viewed by the world, its not an unrealistic take on love. What is love really? Its different for everyone.

- Why is Darcy so attracted to Elizabeth? When can we first sense this? Why does it take her so long to see it? Elizabeth’s attraction to Darcy arises very differently. Why is this important?

Elizabeth is different that the other women that we (and Darcy) see. She is, to an extent, independent in a time where that is unusual for a woman.

- Pride and Prejudice is a novel that many Austen fans read and reread. What keeps readers returning to the book once the suspense of whether or not Darcy and Elizabeth will end up together is taken away?

Guilty of rereading this - also very guilty of re watching the bbc miniseries every time I have a bad day. Theres just something very satisfying about Lizzy discovering that Darcy is a good egg... that she can have both love and money, she doesnt have to settle... there is something very hopeful about that - same as a fairytales 'happily ever after'

- There is a trend nowadays to write two novels telling the same story, but from two different point of views. How do you think the story in Pride and Prejudice would change if it was from Mr. Darcy’s perspective?

From Darcy’s POV i dont think it would be hugely different. They take similar pwths ultimetly. I think an alternate would be more interesting from the POB of and unreliable narrator such as Wickham or Mrs Bennet

- Many of the important plot turns happen through letters. A letter from Miss Bingley tells Jane that Bingley is gone for good and is supposed to marry Miss Darcy; a letter from Darcy fills Elizabeth and the reader in on the truth about wicked Wickham and lets her draw some new conclusions about him. Why does this information travel through letters? Could it have been revealed face-to-face? Why or why not

Again i think this is a product of the time it was written. In much the same way as alot of our communications these days is through electronic text.

[Keri]

- Pride and Prejudice has one of the most famous first lines of a novel in history: “ It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” What do you think this line says about the novel? Why is it so famous? What does it say about the characters and/or the world they live in?

I think thats was definitely the opinion of every mother of a girl of marriageable age. The line sets up what the whole book is about. In this time a woman was only considered successful and fulfilles when she made an advantageous marriage.

- Marriage, as something to be aspired to, is portrayed quite differently in the novel than existing marriages. What married couples do we see in the novel? How would you characterize these relationships?

First, Lizzie's parents. They seem very different. I wondered why Lydia was such an idiot until I read more about mom. The Bingleys only were married because society expected it of them. No one married for love... just convenience and expectation.

- The love Elizabeth feels toward Mr. Darcy evolves and deepens largely without direct contact. Does that make you question that love? What causes these feelings of love? Are they realistic?

Sometimes it does. However, it seemed neither one could have a direct conversation with tge other without sticking their foot in their mouth. The Hallmark of this book is that a first impression can ruin everything. I think when you take the time to know everything about someone and not just the surface stuff, your feelings are truer and more deep.

- Why is Darcy so attracted to Elizabeth? When can we first sense this? Why does it take her so long to see it? Elizabeth’s attraction to Darcy arises very differently. Why is this important?

I think it is because she is so different. She is herself and pretends to be nothing else. I think i first see it when Lizzie is visiting the Bingleys. Lizzies attraction is important because she has to get past the prejudice she holds against him (warranted or not) and see him for who he really is.

- Pride and Prejudice is a novel that many Austen fans read and reread. What keeps readers returning to the book once the suspense of whether or not Darcy and Elizabeth will end up together is taken away?

I think because human nature is so involved in this story. Many times, your greatest enemy is yourself. They each had to get over that first, before coming together.

- There is a trend nowadays to write two novels telling the same story, but from two different point of views. How do you think the story in Pride and Prejudice would change if it was from Mr. Darcy’s perspective?

I think it wouldve taken some of the sudpense out. I loved the first time I read Darcys true feelings... Where did that come from?!?

- Many of the important plot turns happen through letters. A letter from Miss Bingley tells Jane that Bingley is gone for good and is supposed to marry Miss Darcy; a letter from Darcy fills Elizabeth and the reader in on the truth about wicked Wickham and lets her draw some new conclusions about him. Why does this information travel through letters? Could it have been revealed face-to-face? Why or why not?

Sign of the times. Letters were the method of communication. They were handed down to your kids almost like a diary. I think the letters allowed Darcy to express his true feelings without tripping over himself. Im just impressed at all the conversations they had and no emojis were used!