Pride and Prejudice Part 2

 I'm typing this from my computer because there's so much I want to say, I even took notes on it! So I finally got through the book, I almost thought it'd never end because I couldn't fathom how many more loose ends still needed to be tied up.

This contains spoilers so if you haven't read the book, and you read further into this - that's on you.

I knew almost nothing of the book. I understood people read it in high school, I understood it was some kind of romance, and unfortunately that was it. I knew nothing of the characters, I heard the name of the author multiple times but that was it. 

So I dove into it. I don't know if I stated before, but it originally came in three different volumes. I stand by my earlier statement in the other episode on people saying it was boring.

I think all I'm doing is adding more quotes but in deeper detail. The romance is a major theme for sure, but it didn't strike me as it being between Darcy and Elizabeth at first. It came to me, at least in the first volume as almost a Bridgerton book. Though, I was already immediately laughing with Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Bennet. 

The next thing particularly striking, was the relationship between Jane and Elizabeth. I saw quotes everywhere in the book detailing how close they were as sisters. It was touching and often relatable. It was interesting how one sister was excited for Bingely, and the other sister was in complete turmoil over Darcy. But they talked about it with each other. They didn't treat the other with jealousy or some other cruel manner. They lifted each other up. I was especially fond at how angry and protective Elizabeth became when she found out without context, what Darcy did to disrupt her relationship to Bingley. When Darcy tried to propose to her for the first time, Jane was at the forefront of her mind. Later in volume three, Jane says "I am unaffected by this man." Elizabeth clocks her by just smiling. Jane responded with "Why must you tease me so?" And Lizzy (Elizabeth) does this classic move of "Why, I can't smile?" That's such a sister moment. When each of them gets some news, the first thing they do, is run to each other which is just incredibly sweet. I often giggled.

I'm not saying Darcy and Lizzy's relationship wasn't important but I was also seeing other themes involving not so favorite characters, like how Collins was always trying to show off in front her, how his wife never liked him, and Lizzy really couldn't be bothered by him. Fabulous. He was trying to throw absolute shade and she had her own shine. 

Lizzy is obviously a likeable character but I want to break it down even more. She actually breaks down her feelings. She has great emotional intelligence to ponder over them after reading Darcy's letter. And she doesn't just disregard it. She re-reads it and she takes time to process her emotions. Even after she gets her happily ever after with Darcy, she doesn't tell anybody about it at first. She goes up to her room to make sense of everything at first. She is also a lady who stands her ground.

Especially against a character who's a complete Karen in this day and age where she basically breaks into the house, uninvited, critiques everything she doesn't like about the home and immediately demands if Lizzy is engaged to Darcy. Now, I already knew every time someone tried to intimidate Lizzy, her confidence rises. Beautifully done in this scene when the character doesn't get her way. A lot of wisdom in this scene. "You certainly have no right to concern yourself in mine. I must beg, therefore, to be importuned no farther on the subject." I highlighted this passage because sometimes, you need to call someone out. Beautiful quote we can still use today.

And we all get embarrassed by stuff we said in the past: "Oh! do not repeat What I then said. These recollections will not due at all, I assure you, that I have been most heartily ashamed of it." Boom. Now you have a quote to use.

Now that I got that out there, let's get to the relationship between Darcy and Lizzy. Darcy was just one hell of an introvert and I touched on this before. Him being an introvert gets taken the wrong way as him being rude. In the book, as they dine a lot more after Jane announces her engagement, Darcy and Lizzy are both so afraid of talking to each other for the exact same reasons. And when her godforsaken sister runs off with a financially ruined man, Darcy thinks she doesn't want him in the room with her, while at the same time, she doesn't think Darcy wants to see her at all.

Absolutely beautiful scene right there. Most definitely an enemies to lovers. So many funny moments as well. 

Wickham is one hell of a shady character and it doesn't end well for him. Darcy just fixes it without taking credit. and It's funny because between Wickham and Lizzy, Wickham is trying to act innocent and Lizzy, for their whole dialogue just plays him. She knows what's up, she knows the truth but just basically trolls him. Once again, She's a fuckin queen. 

Darcy drops another fabulous quote. If you want to ask your partner if they feel the same towards you after that long awkward pause of not talking to each other, may I recommend this gem: "You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. MY affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on this subject forever." Not only is this quote a heart gripping moment, but in the context of, say...Collins - when Lizzy first says no to him, Collins doesn't take it seriously, saying he'll always try again. When Lizzy puts her foot down, he starts his shit with his other wife and tries flaunting his house about. Wickham just plays innocent to her face after basically being paid off to marry her sister. 

The MEN IN THIS BOOK ARE TRASH. Except for Bingley and Darcy, but Even Darcy was trash there for a sec.

So when Darcy tells her, "One word will silence me," given everything that's happened, it has more weight to it. 

Also, Mr. Bennet, when he finally realizes the consequences after what Lydia did, running off, his first instinct is to just ground the whole house in full lockdown saying "No soldiers, no balls, you're not to take one foot out of this house until you act like a normal human being ten minutes each day," He has a full meltdown and it's so funny. Meanwhile, the other sister just starts crying and saying she didn't do anything wrong. 

Classic right there. 

Also, I absolutely hate the Karen character, Lady Catherine. Gossipy, bitch- just... she's a lot. The only quote that I absolutely liked from her was "I Will not be interrupted. Hear me in silence."

Taken out of context, that quote goes so hard. it's such a brutal command.

And it's funny when you take the context into account because it's just her demanding Lizzy to answer her questions in regards to Lizzy's own love life. Like she's just entitled to other people's lives and information. As always, Lizzy, our girl stands her ground. So it is an atrocious quote

but if you want to put your foot down? That quote works too!

Again, I have no idea why people said this book is boring,

Words of wisdom, class, laughter, hidden insults, tea, shade being thrown. scandals brought to light, two love lives in completely different lights, sisters who are so close, who share all their information together, and of course, families that hate the choice of their members' partners - you have everything in this book.

I will be re-reading this once a year to see if I can spot anymore things I may have missed!