We had many highlights in today's class, the first being Ben G.'s reading of Lady Catherine De Bourgh's lines in Chapter 29. Monty Python met Jane Austen today in a lovely and hilarious "mash up." Lady Catherine came to life in a new way.
We spent most of class looking at Darcy's proposal to Elizabeth and the pride and prejudice in both characters at this crucial moment. We discussed why Austen doesn't allow us to hear Darcy's actual proposal, even though she gives us Collins' proposal in full detail. Austen does give the argument in full between Elizabeth and Darcy. We've known the these two characters through their verbal conflict. They have defined themselves in opposition to one another, and their marriage would bring an end to their verbal parrying. Austen doesn't let them off the hook just yet. Struggle they must.
Elizabeth is quite harsh in her treatment of Darcy, who, rightfully, deserves a certain amount of censure for his pride. Still, she deliberately hurts him, and she is the one left in tears at the end of this exchange.
Finally, if you haven't already seen this video, please do so. It features British actor, Dominic West, most famous in America for his portrayal of Detective McNulty in the HBO series, The Wire. In this clip, he reads from Chapter 34:
http://www.cartenoire.co.uk/cartenoire/page?locale=uken1&PagecRef=653
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