These are my favorite things and Pride and Prejudice Question 18

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Today's the end of my official Blog Tour, which ends with a bang (not a whimper) since Fresh Picks have chosen The Other Mr Darcy as an official Pick for today! I'm very flattered because this isn't a paid ad. The Fresh Picks are chosen by a number of readers who vote for the novel.

The Blog Tour has been a great experience, and I'm sure I'll be having withdrawal symptoms. I was having such a good time reading the reactions to my interviews, meeting people, and answering questions. Sigh. Now I suppose I'll have to settle down and actually write!

I still have the Pride and Prejudice contest going strong here, however, which is wonderful. As usual, I loved your answers, which this time seem to be pretty unanimous. The verdict then, is that Elizabeth is every bit as proud at the beginning as she was at the end, but she has come to recognize Mr Darcy's emotional generosity and his willingness to give without return, which is much more "humbling" than her awareness of their limited circumstances. I like that. To me it puts a finger on the essence of the romance that Jane Austen portrays so beautifully.

The question today is completely different, and gives you a break from all the hard thinking you've been putting into your answers. Have fun with this!

Pride and Prejudice Question 18

What is your favorite quote from the films or the novel(s) that best shows Jane Austen's wonderful humor?

Comments

  1. Lyndsey18 October 2009 at 15:40

    ahh this question is the hardest of all to answer!! Austen's sense of humor is flowing through every one of her works. It's so hard to choose my favorite quote! In P&P I just love the banter between Mr. and Mrs. Bennett; the way he plays with her nerves.

    The scene from P&P that is coming to mind is when Mr. Collins is at the dinner table and makes some cheesey compliment followed by Mr. Bennett saying "It is happy for you that you possess the talent of flattering with delicacy. May I ask whether these pleasing attentions proceed from the impluse of the moment, or are they the result of previous study?" It's such a great piece of sarcasm.

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  2. Jeannette18 October 2009 at 16:56

    I have to say that I find this question "excessively diverting"! But, I beg you, have "a little compassion on my nerves." There are far too many passages in the book to choose from! But, choose I must, and so my favorite quote is from my favorite scene in the McFadyen/Knightly version of P & P:

    "After a pause of some minutes, she addressed him a second time with: -- 'It is your turn to speak now, Mr. Darcy. I talked about the dance and you ought to make some kind of remark on the size of the room, or the number of couples.' He smiled and assured her that whatever she wished him to say should be said. 'Very well. That reply will do for the present. Perhaps by and by I may observe that private balls are much pleasanter than public ones. But now we may be silent'"

    Thus begins a conversation that perfectly expresses all of Lizzie's disdain for Darcy -- "unsocial and taciturn" as he is!

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  3. Elizabeth B18 October 2009 at 17:00

    The scene, for me, has to be between Darcy and Caroline at Netherfield --

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    "Elizabeth Bennet," said Miss Bingley, when the door was closed on her, "is one of those young ladies who seek to recommend themselves to the other sex by undervaluing their own; and with many men, I daresay it succeeds. But in my opinion, it is a paltry device, a very mean art."

    "Undoubtedly," replied Darcy, to whom this remark was chiefly addressed, "there is a meanness to all the arts which ladies sometimes condescend to employ for the purpose of captivation. Whatever bears affinity to cunning is despicable."

    Miss Bingley was not so entirely satisfied with this reply as to continue the subject.

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    Smackdown!

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  4. Laura Hartness19 October 2009 at 00:13

    This one always cracks me up:

    Mrs. Bennet: Have you no consideration for my poor nerves?

    Mr. Bennet: You mistake me, my dear. I have the utmost respect for your nerves. They've been my constant companion these twenty years.

    *************************************************

    I love how Mr. Bennett deals with his wife. She is such a hysterical (literally & humorously) character.

    Laura Hartness

    LauraHartness@gmail.com

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  5. Meredith19 October 2009 at 01:29

    "Both," replied Elizabeth archly; "for I have always seen a great similarity in the turn of our minds. We are each of an unsocial, taciturn disposition, unwilling to speak, unless we expect to say something that will amaze the whole room, and be handed down to posterity with all the eclat of a proverb."

    Satirical. Provocative. Witty. Jane Austen


    I agree with the other posters, that this was not an easier question! LOL!

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  6. Laura's Reviews19 October 2009 at 03:41

    I am going to cheat and pick two quotes, because I can't just pick one!

    I LOVE the first line. "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." This line funny and witty. It is so well known in our culture because it is such an excellent line. You can almost imagine Jane getting tired of the ladies all gossiping about the rich guys in the neighborhood, and striking back with this line.

    As this is such an easy quote, I have a second favorite. I love when Elizabeth and Caroline are taking their stroll about the room and Mr. Darcy says this . . .

    "You either chuse this method of passing the evening because you are in each other's confidence, and have secret affairs to discuss, or because you are conscious that your figures appear to the greatest advantage in walking ; if the first, I should be completely in the way, and if the second, I can admire you much better as I sit by the fire."

    Mr. Darcy! This always gives me a laugh when I'm watching the mini-series or reading the book. Jane had written Mr. Darcy as such a serious fellow and then he says something like this. I think it's pretty funny.

    This is a difficult question. I have so many favorite lines. Austen is funny and witty throughout the novel!

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  7. Milka19 October 2009 at 22:11

    I love the conversation between Jane and Lizzie when Jane asks Lizzie when she trully fell in love with Mr Darcy and Lizzie tells that when she saw the beautiful grouds of Pemberley.

    Also characters like Mrs Bennet and Mr Collins create humor to the story. The actor who plays Mr Collins in the BBC adaptation is humorous just by his outlook. :D

    ReplyDelete

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