Crucible Character Analysis- Judge Danforth

Judge Danforth

Judge Danforth is a selfish man who puts his reputation before the lives of others. Danforth remains a static character throughout the play. He stays self-absorbed, cold-hearted, and determined to protect his reputation from the beginning to the end. Danforth takes advantage of his high position and thinks he "speak[s] God's law" (129) by condemning innocent people to death. How does Danforth know what God wants or what God thinks? Danforth is a cold-hearted judge who does not do his job. As a judge, Danforth is supposed to bring justice to the court, yet he brings justice by making decisions that will benefit him in the long run. The man has the audacity to think he is infallible: "Mr. Hale, you surely do not doubt my justice" (99). Danforth's overflowing pride leads him to believe he is at the same level with God. By condemning the so-called witches, Danforth is actually clearing Salem of the true Christians. Danforth even tells Proctor he "cannot live in a Christian country" (141) when there really is no Christianity left.

Judge Danforth is like a mother bear, protecting her cubs. If another animal comes too close, then she will attack it. Likewise, Danforth will attack anybody that may ruin his reputation. A mother bear hunts down prey to feed her cubs, just like Danforth condemns innocent people to feed his hunger for reputation. A mother bear scavenges for food to keep her cubs alive, just like Danforth hunts for reasons to keep his reputation alive.

Judge Danforth is like a parent who does not allow anybody to question his authority.

9. Crucible pg.127- END

Danforth: "Postponement now speaks a floundering on my part. [...] While I speak God's law, I will not crack its voice with whimpering" (129).

Danforth remains a static character. He stays self-absorbed, cold-hearted, and determined to protect his reputation from the beginning to the end of the play. Danforth takes advantage of his high position and thinks he "speak[s] God's law" (129) by condemning innocent people to death. How does Danforth know what God wants or what God thinks? Danforth is a cold-hearted judge who does not do his job. As a judge, Danforth is supposed to bring justice to the court, yet he brings justice by making decisions that will benefit him in the long run. The man has the audacity to think he is infallible: "Mr. Hale, you surely do not doubt my justice" (99). Danforth's overflowing pride leads him to believe he is at the same level with God.


Elizabeth: "[Giles] stood mute, and died Christian under the law" (135).

Giles is also a static character. Giles stood by his belief and died a martyr. The old man was pressed with stones and encouraged more stones to be pressed upon him, dying a man of faith: "More weight" (135). He died with pride, leaving his sons his land and staying a true Christian. Giles did not need to prove himself to anyone because "God sees everything" (110). In order to stay alive, Giles would have turned away from God, lying that he was a witch. By condemning the so-called witches, Danforth is actually clearing Salem of the true Christians. Danforth has the nerve to tell Proctor he "cannot live in a Christian country" (141) when there really is no Christianity left.

8. Crucible pg. 113-127

Hale: "I may shut my conscience to it no more- private vengeance is walking through this testimony!" (114).

Hale has reached his turning point. He has grown sensibility and has forgotten about his reputation. Hale joined Proctor as the voice of reason. Proctor also mentioned that "vengeance is walking Salem [and] writes the law" (77). Now, it is Hale and Proctor against the judges. After angrily walking out of the court, Hale takes one last chance to convince Rebecca Nurse and the other condemned women to confess of doing witchcraft, knowing that this is the only way to save their lives: "Reverend Hale has returned to bring Rebecca Nurse [and the other condemned women] to God" (125). Parris and the judges have no idea of Hale's intentions, which makes Hale look like a good man, atoning the fact he stormed out of the court room: "I denounce these proceedings, I quit this court!" (120). Hale sees the vengeance among the accusers when Danforth should be the one acknowledging this. If Danforth really does take his job seriously, then he should leave his reputation aside and look at the real sinners in front of him.


Proctor: "For them that quail to bring men out of ignorance, as I have quailed, and as you quail now when you know in all your black hearts that this be fraud- God damns our kind" (120).

Proctor makes his last attempt to shove reason into the judges' heads. If Danforth realizes he made a mistake, then he will be responsible for several hundred lives. In other words, no matter what, Danforth will continue condemning people in order to save his reputation. He puts his superior position before the lives of innocent people. When Giles came up to Danforth with his deposition defending himself, Danforth continued to question him: "Mr. Putnam states your charge is a lie. What say you to that?" (96). Danforth chose to believe Putnum's word over Giles's solid evidence. God will damn those that knowingly commit sin. In Danforth's case, he has committed a sin for every innocent person he put to death. Now, he is trying to find good reason for why those people needed to be hanged, so he does not look like a fallacious man.

7. Crucible pg. 98-113

Proctor: "A man may think God sleeps, but God sees everything" (110).

It may not mean anything to Danforth and the other judges, but it should strike Abigail and her followers. If God sees everything, then He sees their deceitful acts and the evil game they play with society. The girls think they are safe by acting innocent, but if God is watching over them, seeing righteous people being hung and jailed by their hands, then they will be the ones doomed. By calling themselves "God's instrument[s]" (46), they are using God's name as a means of getting out of trouble, showing no actual value for Him. Almost everybody is taking advantage of religion and using it to seek vengeance upon their neighbors. These people know what they are doing is wrong, making themselves the real sinners.


Proctor: "[Elizabeth] only thought to save my name!" (113).

Elizabeth demonstrates her admirable character when she denies Proctor had an affair with Abigail. In the previous act, Proctor insisted that he should be forgiven or at least given some credit for confessing his lechery to her: "Spare me! You forget nothin' and forgive nothin'. Learn charity, woman" (54). Elizabeth showed the compassion Proctor was looking for at the wrong time. Although Elizabeth was crushed by Proctor's misbehavior, she did not give him up to the court. This could have possibly saved her life, but she put her husband ahead of her own desires. Unfortunately, so did Proctor: "I have made a bell of my honor! I have rung the doom of my good name- you will believe me" (111). Proctor ruined his name to save Elizabeth, and she was too kind to let his name be ruined. Everything looks even worse on Proctor because he insisted Elizabeth "[was] an honest woman [and] cannot lie" (111); thus, Elizabeth's confession was viewed without uncertainty. In the attempt to save each other, Proctor and Elizabeth got both of themselves in trouble.

6. Crucible pg. 83-98

Hale: "Excellency, he claims hard evidence for his wife's defense. I think that in all justice you must-" (86).

Giles presented Danforth with solid evidence, but Danforth still wanted proof: "But proof, sir, proof" (96). He does not question Putnum, but Giles, who has experience with the court and "know[s] [his] rights" (95). Giles knows that if he gives up a name, then that person will be investigated or put into jail under suspicion:"I have brought trouble on these people; I have-" (94). Hard evidence was put on the table, but Danforth has the power to believe what he wants. In this case, he is putting Putnum's accusing finger over the solid evidence of Giles. The court is unjust and Hale is beginning to realize this.


Danforth: "Do you know, Mr. Proctor, that the entire contention of the state in these trials is that the voice of Heaven is speaking through the children?" (88).

Danforth is a fool for believing this. He has a powerful position in court and it would be assumed that the man has common sense. Children are young, naive, and do anything in their power to get what they want, either by throwing a tantrum or acting innocent, like Abigail. How does it make sense that "a Christian girl [has the power] to hang old women" (58)? Danforth is putting a child's judgment over an adult's logical standpoint. There is no proof to even say Heaven is speaking through children. It takes one teenage girl to rally up a group of girls and put on a show. Abigail is clever and controls what goes on in the court. It is easy for Danforth to agree with her and the other accusations because he is not being affected by them.

5. Crucible pg. 67-81

Mary Warren: "I cannot charge murder on Abigail. [...] She'll kill me for sayin' that! Abby'll charge lechery on you, Mr. Proctor. [...] She'll ruin you with it, I know she will" (80).

Proctor is outraged when Cheever comes to take Elizabeth away. Proctor tries to keep Elizabeth from going, showing that he really does care about her. When Abigail approached him in the previous readings, he told her not to speak ill of Elizabeth and defended her. Whatever happened with Abigail has passed and he regrets it: "I will cut my hand off before I'll ever reach for you again" (23). Proctor does not care if Abigail accuses him of lechery because he is more concerned about Elizabeth: "Good. Then [Abagail's] saintliness is done with. We will slide together into our pit; you will tell the court what you know" (80). He could also be taking the matter in his own hands because he is sick of "children [...] jangling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance [writing] the law" (77). Proctor represents the strength the other male characters lack in the play. He speaks reasonably and is not afraid of what people think of him.


Proctor: "You are a coward! Though you be ordained in God's own tears, you are a coward now" (79).

Hale's uncertainty has increased, but he is not willing to speak up. He is just as scared as the innocent people who need to claim they were once witches in order to save their lives. Hale is a reverend who is not doing his job. If he has been ordained in the light of God, there is no need to be afraid, or else this shows Hale has doubt in Him. Hale feels guilty when Elizabeth is taken away. There would be no guilt if he agreed that Elizabeth was a witch. Cheever and Herrick seem to be working for Abigail. If she claims somebody is a witch, they hunt that person down without a question. Nobody sees the absurdity of teenage girls empowering the court.

4. Crucible pg. 49- 60

Elizabeth: "John- grant me this. You have a faulty understanding of young girls. There is a promise made in any bed-" (61).

After seven months, Elizabeth still holds Proctor's mistake against him. Even though he admitted to adultery, she has a tough time forgiving him and simply forgetting about it. Elizabeth has reason to despise Abigail, but her emotions cannot interfere with reason. Proctor explains the difficulty of telling the court Abigail is a fraud, but Elizabeth is more concerned that he was alone with her when he found this out: "You were alone with [Abigail]?" (53). Proctor wants Elizabeth to appreciate his honesty and notice the effort he makes to compensate for his misbehavior: "I mean to please you" (50). Knowing a spouse has cheated on you is not easy to forget, but under the circumstances of their strict community and Christian relationship, she has no choice but to deal with it. The deed was committed; now, Elizabeth must move on.


Elizabeth: "[Abigail] thinks to kill me, then take my place" (61).

Unfortunately, Elizabeth is right when she believes Abigail wants to kill her: "[Abigail] drank a charm to kill John Proctor's wife! [Abigail] drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor!" (19). Since Abigail is obsessed with Proctor, she will do anything to get Elizabeth away from him. Abigail also has a strong influence in the court, so Elizabeth needs to be careful: "Where [Abigail] walks the crowd will part like the sea for Israel" (52-53). In other words, it is necessary for Abigail to be stopped before she causes anymore harm to innocent people like Elizabeth.

Pride and Prejudice Essay

Marriage unifies two people into one being, but there are a multitude of reasons for why two people marry. People often make the mistake of marrying a person for their wealth, rather than valuing their partner’s qualities. Others make the decision to marry based on practicality, without care for commitment. The reason that truly justifies a marriage is when two people are blissfully in love and mutually make the decision to spend the rest of their lives together. In a love marriage, nobody benefits more than the other, and there is a growing depth to the relationship, which makes love the most favorable basis for marriage.
In Pride and Prejudice, the characters reveal three types of marital motives through differing relationships. Mr. Wickham is first introduced as a man to die for, with charming good looks and personality. After attracting Elizabeth Bennet, Mr. Wickham immediately shifts his interest to Miss King when he finds out she inherited a large sum of money: “[Mr. Wickham] paid [Miss King] not the smallest attention, till her grandfather’s death made her mistress of this fortune” (Austen 118). Mr. Wickham suddenly becomes interested in Miss King because he wants her wealth, which reveals his mercenary intentions. Unfortunately, this does not stop Mr. Wickham from acquiring enough money to get out of his debts: “Wickham still cherished the hope of more effectually making his fortune by marriage” (245). As the novel continues, he makes a swift move onto the docile heart of Lydia Bennet. Initially, Mr. Wickham used Lydia as an excuse to leave the militia. When Mr. Darcy asked Mr. Wickham if he was interested in marrying Lydia, “[Mr. Darcy] easily learnt, [marrying Lydia] had never been [Mr. Wickham’s] design” (245). Mr. Darcy convinced Mr. Wickham to marry Lydia, because running away without a cause would put more shame upon Mr. Wickham and the Bennet family. Mr. Wickham’s motive stayed resolute, and he acquired the money for his debt from Mr. Darcy. The greed of Mr. Wickham still continued after his marriage with Lydia: “[Mr. Wickham] not wholly without hope that Darcy might yet be prevailed on to make his fortune” (296). Mr. Wickham wanted more money, showing no gratitude for Mr. Darcy’s help.
Mr. Wickham’s first attempt of acquiring wealth must not be forgotten. He charmed the innocent heart of Miss Darcy into almost eloping with him: “Mr. Wickham’s chief object was unquestionably my sister’s fortune” (155). Mr. Wickham purported his love for Miss Darcy and broke her heart with no remorse. A mercenary marriage benefits one partner through the other’s wealth; in this case, Mr. Wickham would have been the benefactor of all three of these ladies. Mr. Wickham managed to reach his goal when he married Lydia.
A mercenary marriage does not unite two people into one being; it unites one person with the other’s wealth. A person with mercenary interests is using the means of marriage for their own personal advantages, not pursuing what the true meaning of marriage is: love. A person marries another for the love of their partner, not the love of their partner’s money. Mr. Wickham did not love Elizabeth, Miss King, Lydia, or Miss Darcy. Even as a married man, his love for Lydia withered away: “His affection for [Lydia] soon sunk into indifference” (296). The amount of wealth one shares with their partner should not affect the love that is shared between them. Mr. Wickham left Elizabeth and the other women ignorantly without considering their feelings. In the end, Wickham is not happy with his relationship, which clearly shows that money is one of the least favorable reasons for marriage.
Mr.Collins took a practical approach to marriage when he came to Longbourn. In order to find a wife, Mr. Collins went down the line of Bennet daughters. Since Jane was taken by Mr. Bingley, he proposed to Elizabeth. In his proposal, he explained his motives for marriage, which solely benefited himself: “I think it is a right thing for every clergyman […] to set the example of matrimony in his parish. […] I am convinced it will add very greatly to my happiness. […] It is the noble advice […] of [my] patroness” (81). Mr. and Mrs. Bennet wanted one of their daughters to marry Mr. Collins in order to keep the Bennet land among family. Since Mr. Collins was to entail the land after Mr. Bennet’s death, it made sense for Elizabeth to marry him. Besides that, Mr. Collins did not love Elizabeth. He claims to hold “violence of […] affection” (81) for her, yet marries Charlotte Lucas within a day of Elizabeth’s rejection.
A practical approach to marriage was also taken by Charlotte Lucas when she decided to marry Mr. Collins. Charlotte listed the necessities she believed would make her happy in order to justify her marriage with him: “I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collins’s character, connections, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair, as most people can boast on entering the marriage state” (96). This prudent marriage benefits not only Charlotte with a home and a nice living, but also Mr. Collins with a wife. This list of benefits only supply satisfaction and not true happiness, something a love marriage would provide.
The relationship between Charlotte and Mr. Collins had no depth, unlike a love marriage. Both characters were incapable of showing the other any affection because there was no physical attraction to begin with. Charlotte and Mr. Collins shared neutral feelings and showed no genuine care for each other. They did not marry because they loved one another; they married for their own benefits. Similarly to a mercenary marriage, a prudent marriage is also taking advantage of matrimony. In this case, instead of two people uniting as one being, Charlotte and Mr. Collins united for their own personal needs.
As for Jane and Bingley, they married with a focus on love and affection. The Bennet family needed to marry their first daughter; thus, Jane was introduced to Mr. Bingley. Jane and Mr. Bingley were two optimistic people who found joy being together. When Mr. Bingley left Longbourn, Jane was heartbroken and tried convincing herself to forget about Mr. Bingley: “The first wish of my heart […] is never more to be in company with [Mr. Bingley] […] Let me never see [him] again!” (257). After Mr. Darcy brought Mr. Bingley back, it did not take long for Jane and Mr. Bingley to rekindle their relationship. After a year without communication, Jane and Mr. Bingley’s love remained strong. Distance did not stop the love between the two characters, showing the powerful affect love can have on a person.
Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy took a completely opposite route to their marriage. Mr. Darcy’s comment on Elizabeth’s appearance shifted their relationship towards disaster: “[Elizabeth] is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me” (7). From that point, Elizabeth kept a grudge towards Mr. Darcy and judged him on his first impression: “[Mr. Darcy’s] character was decided. He was the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world” (7). Elizabeth held her grudge and rejected Mr. Darcy’s proposal, but she reconsidered her feelings when he paid for Lydia’s wedding: “[Elizabeth’s] heart did whisper, that [Mr. Darcy] had done it for her” (248). Mr. Darcy went out of his way to help Elizabeth’s family even though he despised Mr. Wickham and had “neither regard nor esteem” (248) for Lydia. Mr. Darcy hindered his wealth and status, also sacrificing the respect of his aunt to marry Elizabeth. He did not care about the dishonor that would come to his name if he married her because he loved Elizabeth passionately.
Mr. Darcy did not stop trying to win Elizabeth’s love even though she rejected him: “I had not known you a month before I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed to marry” (148). After realizing her idiocy, Elizabeth expected Mr. Darcy to court her yet again. She did not even believe the things Mr. Darcy said to her in his proposal and continued to doubt them: “A man who has once been refused! How could I ever be foolish enough to expect a renewal of his love?” (260). Mr. Darcy fixed the flaws Elizabeth saw in him and took the time to write her a letter, justifying his actions with Mr. Bingley and Mr. Wickham. Mr. Darcy went through many obstacles to achieve Elizabeth’s love. She opened her eyes and eliminated her prejudice towards him to see the true gentleman he really was: “I am the happiest creature in the world. Perhaps other people have said so before, but no one with such justice. I am happier than Jane; she only smiles, I laugh” (293).
Wealth and practicality of a marriage are overpowered by love. Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy’s love for their wives was more important than the dishonor of their status. When two people unite as one being, materialistic objects are worthless. It is the person, and solely the qualities of that person, which make one fall in love with another and wish to marry. In Pride and Prejudice, love marriage brought the most happiness to the characters, whereas the growth of the mercenary and prudent marriages was limited. Love challenged Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy, and the Bennet sisters, but all four characters overcame many obstacles for the love of their partner. A love marriage promoted the unity of two people through true love, whereas mercenary and prudent marriages are held as a means to an end. In a love marriage, there is no end, simply never ending growth.

3.Crucible pg. 31-49

Quote 1: "I know it, sir, I sent my child-she [Ruth] should learn from Tituba who murdered her sisters" (38).

Mrs. Putnam is also an instigator, just like her husband, but she is digging a hole for herself towards being the reason for her daughter's craziness or in other words, witchcraft. She knew sending Ruth, her own child, to communicate with the dead was a sinful thing to do. The two times Mrs. Putnam mentions she sent Ruth to the forest, she is given the same surprised response from two different characters: "Goody Ann! You sent a child to conjure up up he dead?" (39). It is a shocking thing to do, especially sending your own child to do something that is considered sinful. If Mrs. Putnam wanted to learn something about her deceased babies, she should have gone to Tituba, not sent her daughter. It seems like the only reason for why she would put her daughter's life at risk is to protect her own reputation from being called a witch. Mrs. Putnam defends herself to justify it was an acceptable thing to do by attempting to win sympathy for the loss of her seven babies. Mrs. Putnam should not be complaining about why Ruth is acting strange. Ruth was sent to the forest by her. It does not matter what the reasons are, entering the forest is crossing the limits, which everybody knows. Having a child do it is worse. Somebody could easily point a finger at Mrs. Putnam and accuse her of being the cause of her daughter's strange behavior. This would be a change because Mr. and Mrs.Putnam are usually the ones to instigate an accusation against somebody else or blame others for the use of witchcraft.

Quote 2: "No man has ever been blamed for so much [...] He [Giles Corey] didn't give a hoot for public opinion" (40).

Giles Corey is the only character in the play so far that does not hold his reputation as a priority. It does not matter to Corey what people think of him. When Parris is introduced, it is clear that his reputation as a minister is more important to him than the fact his daughter is not feeling well. The Putnam couple is quick to blame others for witchcraft, pushing away any accusations that could possibly come their way, leaving them with a clean slate. Abigail Williams claims to be a good soul, but the audience knows very well that she is a conniving minx. Corey has understood that every member in society will accuse another for strange things happening to them. He is so used to accusations, that it does not shock him when somebody thinks he is the reason for their unfortunate event: "It suggests to the mind that the trouble be among us all these years. Think on it. Wherefore is everybody suing everybody else? [...] I have been six time in court this year-" (31). Corey takes a more logical perspective on this. Instead of blaming others for being witches, he states that witchcraft seems to be an ongoing issue for many years and needs to be eliminated. Since witchcraft is conflicting with the characters' daily lives, everybody is quick to point a finger at somebody else they are not on good terms with, assuming it was their fault. Being one of the eldest characters, Corey has had a fair share of hearing about witchcraft.

P&P Assignment #2- Lady Catherine

Lady Catherine

Many battled for social supremacy during the time period of Pride and Prejudice. The high class of society were revered and known to be the poised and the privileged. Jane Austen uses Lady Catherine as a representation of a member from the elite class gone wrong.

Mr. Darcy and Lady Catherine were from the same social status, but were polar opposites. Lady Catherine showed her arrogance by boasting the good she had done to Elizabeth and her other guests: “It is wonderful how many families I have been the means of supplying [...] I am always glad to get a young person well placed out” (Austen 127). On the other hand, Elizabeth heard of the virtuous deeds Mr. Darcy did from his own servant: “He was always the sweetest-tempered, most generous-hearted, boy in the world” (188). Not once did Mr. Darcy boast about how charitable he was and what he had done to help society. He was humble, unlike his pompous aunt. A genuine upperclassman like Mr. Darcy did not need to flaunt his goodness; however, Lady Catherine found a need to express how generous she was when many were already aware of her wealth.

Mr. Darcy treated people below him with the same respect he treated upperclassmen, whereas Lady Catherine excessively averred the distinction in status between herself and those of lower classes. She spoke to Elizabeth in an impertinent manner, belittling the parenting skills of her mother: “I suppose you had no opportunity. Your mother should have taken you to town every spring for the benefit of masters” (127). Lady Catherine had no right to involve herself in the Bennet family’s private affairs. In contrast, when Mr. Darcy met the Gardiners at Pemberley, he conversed with them amiably: “I was never more surprised than by his behavior to us. It was more than civil; it was really attentive; and there was no necessity for such attention” (195). When Mr. Darcy and Lady Catherine interacted with members of the lower class, Mr. Darcy impressed the Gardiners who expected him to act arrogantly, unlike Lady Catherine, who insulted Elizabeth, giving her a terrible first impression. Mr. Darcy was courteous to his guests. He did not need to present his high status by acting superior to them; however, Lady Catherine not only showed her supremacy, but also her discourtesy of lower classes.

With regards to acts of civility, Lady Catherine did not know how to show class. Although Mr. Darcy made a mistake in breaking up Bingley and Jane, he had good intentions in mind. He convinced Bingley out of marrying Jane because he thought she did not care for Bingley. Lady Catherine wanted to break up Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth’s potential relationship to save Mr. Darcy from the dishonor of marrying a lowerclassman. Instead of talking Mr. Darcy out of it, Lady Catherine stormed into the Bennet household and rudely attempted to convince Elizabeth not to marry Mr. Darcy: “When the wishes of both sisters would be accomplished, in their marriage, to be prevented by a young woman of inferior birth, of no importance in the world, and wholly unallied to the family!” (271). Lady Catherine had the audacity to go to the Bennet household and affront Elizabeth in her own home. One would not expect a woman of such elite status to degrade a young woman of a lower class in such a manner.

Jane Austen creates the allusion that an elitist is expected to be generous, honorable, and virtuous. Mr. Darcy fits this description of the ideal elitist, whereas Lady Catherine puts the class to shame. Austen is telling her audience that title and money should not dictate class structure; however, in reality, a person’s status and wealth will always separate one person from another. Lady Catherine only achieved a high social status because she married into a wealthy family, which gave her a sense of authority over the lower classes. The means of working hard to achieve an honorable position was the least of concerns.

Bibliography:

Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. New York: Oxford University Press Inc., 1970.

2. Crucible pg. 8-30

Quote 1: "It is not surprising to find that so many accusations against people are in the handwriting of Thomas Putnam, or that his name is so often used as a witness corroborating the supernatural testimony, or that his daughter led the crying-out at the most opportune junctures of the trials" (15).

Thomas Putnam seems to be an instigator towards witchcraft. He maintains his reputation and position by putting other people's lives at stake and uses references that allude to possible witchcraft in order to raise awareness that somebody is using it: "That is a notorious sign of witchcraft afoot, Goody Nurse, a prodigious sign!" (25). Putnam tries to persuade Parris that he should tell the village about the witchcraft going on when he knows this will destroy Parris's position in society, especially because Parris is a reverend and strange things should not be happening in his house of all places: "Let your enemies make of it what they will, you cannot blink it more" (16). As long as Mr. Putnam is not being negatively affected, it does not matter to him what occurs. His presence in the village seems to focus a lot on himself.


Quote 2: "Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring you a pointy reckoning that will shudder you. And you know I can do it" (20).

Abigail Williams turns out to be somewhat of a lunatic and will definitely be pinned for being a witch some time in the book. She sounds innocent when she speaks to Parris, but when she converses with other peers, we hear more of her inappropriate deeds she is hiding. Abigail starts off saying she only danced in the forest, but then it is later revealed that she also drank blood in order to kill Goody Proctor and had some sort of an affair with her husband. Considering how Parris took Abigail into his home just like a daughter, this is not a way she should be repaying him for his hospitality. The things she does will cause Parris, herself, and possibly Betty to be suspected as witches. If one goes down, then the others are at risk. The characters introduced so far all have some sort of tension between each other and disagree with at least one other person very often. They need to be careful what is said or else it will not be difficult to accuse somebody of saying something sinful, and have that person be penalized for it. It is hard living in such a society where nobody can be trusted.

Character Analysis #2: Mr. Collins

Mr. Collins

Mr. Collins is a sycophant who focuses solely on himself and his own well-being.

Mr. Collins is a man who puts his reputation above all other obligations. He looks up to the wealthy Lady Catherine for advice and recommendations. His priority is to fulfill the standards of one with commendable social status and likewise, regards himself as a very respectable person. When Mr. Collins proposes to Elizabeth, he gives three distinct reasons for why he should marry her, which all regard to his happiness and satisfaction. After she rejects him, he believes something is wrong with her, instead of reflecting on what his faults may be: “It is usual with young ladies to reject the addresses of the man whom they secretly mean to accept” (82). Mr. Collins also openly expresses his relief for not marrying into the Bennet family due to the dishonor it would have caused him when he found out that Lydia and Mr. Wickham almost eloped: “This consideration leads me moreover to reflect with augmented satisfaction on a certain event of last November, for had it been otherwise, I must have been involved in all your sorrow and disgrace” (225). In other words, Mr. Collins is a follower who looks out for his own beneficence.

Mr. Collins is a leech who only benefits itself by sucking blood. When a leech is present, it satisfies solely itself, unaware of the pain it causes to its victim. Likewise, Mr. Collins is inconsiderate and watches out for himself without realizing he is insulting others.

Mr. Collins is like Sarah Palin who came across as a very artificial person and always tried to suck up to America in search for its approval.

Character Analysis #1: Mr. Wickham

Mr. Wickham

Mr. Wickham is a greedy man who uses his charming good looks and personality to get what he wants.

Mr. Wickham's only goal throughout the book was to acquire money. He did not care whether he broke a girl's heart as long as he got what he wanted. When Mr. Wickham is first introduced, he is a handsome young man with, what seems to be, respectable manners. His love interest begins with Elizabeth, and then abruptly switches to Miss. King after he finds out she inherited a large sum of money: “He paid her not the smallest attention, till her grandfather’s death made her mistress of this fortune” (118). Elizabeth was, at first, unaware of this and a bit awestricken. He had not bothered to tell her their relationship was to end where he had left it. Mr. Wickham also charmed Miss. Darcy into eloping with him before Mr. Darcy put a stop to it: “Mr. Wickham’s chief object was unquestionably my sister’s fortune” (155). Miss. Darcy was the least of Mr. Wickham’s concerns and left her heart shattered.

Mr. Wickham is a swan whose enchanting looks are deceiving. A swam is marveled at for its elegance and beauty, just as Mr. Wickham was first perceived as a handsome man with applicable manners. When one gets too close to a swam, it becomes vicious and harmful losing its attractiveness. Likewise, when a female becomes too friendly with Mr. Wickham, he uses them for their money and throws them away losing his warm personality.

Mr. Wickham is like Anna Nicole Smith who married an elderly man, much older than herself, solely for his money.

P&P #14: Ch. 16- END

Quote 1: "What do I not owe you! You taught me a lesson, hard indeed at first, but most advantageous. By you, I was properly humbled" (282).

Although Elizabeth thought Mr. Darcy stopped loving her and acted indifferent towards her at times, the truth was that she had a strong affect on him. One important affect she had on him was when he managed to repair the mistakes she pointed out in him immediately. At Pemberley, he was a true gentlemen to the Gardiners. Elizabeth noticed this and thought: "She could hardly suppress a smile, at his being now seeking the acquaintance of some of those very people, against whom his pride had revolted" (193). He changed his ways out of the love for her and fixing his flaws. He showed his gratitude to Elizabeth because of making him a better person. This also shows that both are compatible with one another. Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy compliment one another with their personalities, and logic. Looking back at this book, Elizabeth would not have experienced such happiness with Mr. Darcy if she judged him by his first impression.

Quote 2: "I am sure Wickham would like a place at court very much, and I do not think we shall have quite money enough to live upon without some help. Any place would do" (296).

At the end of the book, one can conclude that some characters changed, like Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy, and Kitty, and others remained static. Lydia and Mr. Wickham ended up staying the same selfish people from the beginning of the book. The two characters splurged their money, had no gratitude, and roamed from place to place in order to find cheap living. Kitty reformed unlike her sister, Lydia, just by spending time with Elizabeth and Jane. Even Miss. Bingley came around and began acting kind towards Miss. Darcy. The readers first impressions of the characters also changed. Mr. Darcy went from atrocious to admirable, and Mr. Wickham went from charming to filthy. Austen was smart in changing the book's title to Pride and Prejudice because pride and prejudice is the result of first impressions, and first impressions do not last. It took months before Elizabeth realized Mr. Darcy was her true love. She changed her distasteful views against him, and now, are happily married.

P & P #13: Ch. 13- 15

Quote 1: "You are to understand, Miss. Bennet, that I came here with the determined resolution of carrying my purpose, nor will I be dissuaded from it. I have not been used to submit to any person's whims. I have not been in the habit of brooking disappointment" (272).

Lady Catherine puts herself at such a high status and expects Elizabeth to automatically give her the utmost respect and concede to her wishes because of this. Lady Catherine uses her character expecting to get what she wants and is determined to get her way. Elizabeth does an impressing job dealing with Lady Catherine's insults and rudeness. She uses her reasoning over Lady Catherine's subjective standpoint that her daughter and Mr. Darcy are to engage in a prudent marriage: "Your ladyship wants Mr. Darcy to marry your daughter; but would my giving you the wished for promise make their marriage at all more probable? [...] Would my refusing to accept his hand, make him wish to bestow it on his cousin?" (273). Elizabeth was not intimidated by Lady Catherine's high social status nor cared about it. Elizabeth spoke frankly and truthfully without holding back her bluntness. Considering the capacious gap between Lady Catherine and herself, one would think Elizabeth would be nervous in the presence of such wealth. Elizabeth defended herself and Mr. Darcy's intentions of marrying her, while maintaining any dignity her family left for her.

Quote 2: "I did not know before, that I had two daughters on the brink of matrimony" (276).

Mr. Bennet and Elizabeth share fairly the same reasoning and are quite close with one another. Mr. Bennet showed his ignorance when he told Elizabeth that he thought Mr. Darcy was indifferent towards her: "Mr. Darcy, who never looks at any woman but to see a blemish, and who probably never looked at you in his life! It is admirable!" (277). It is insulting to hear from Mr. Bennet that he not only had no idea something was going on between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, but to also say that it was miraculous Mr. Darcy even looked at her. Mr. Bennet does come off with nescience, but it is not all his fault. Elizabeth declared her hatred for Mr. Darcy with great passion that it left no room for any belief of something to ever go on between them. She cannot expect her father to know that there is some relationship going on between Mr. Darcy and herself because she has not told anybody about her feelings towards him. This is understandable because things might blow out of proportion, but even Jane does not know the whole story.

P & P #12: Ch. 10- 12

Quote 1: "If he [Mr. Bingley] wants our society, let him seek it. He knows where we live. I will not spend my hours in running after my neighbors every time they go away, and come back again" (253).

Since the Bennets do not know the story behind Mr. Bingley's disappearance, it is only appropriate to feel disheartened by him. Jane's heart has been wounded. No matter how often she says she is recovering from it or becoming emotionally strong, the incident has still broken her heart. Mrs. Bennet is being extremely insensitive towards this and very inconsiderate. It does not seem to matter that her family should not be waiting hand and foot on a man that hurt their daughter: "She [Mrs. Bennet] does not know, no one can know how much I suffer from what she says" (253). When Mr. Bingly did come, Mrs. Bennet only embarrassed her family even more. This is not going to encourage a marriage between Mr. Bingley and Jane. Mr. Bennet was correct in saying this quote. A person with wealth is no different than a common man, except for their money. It is not the job of one person to constantly maintain an acquaintance with the other. The other also needs to put in the effort. Mr. Bennet is also following up on what he said in the previous chapters: "I have at last learnt to be cautious" (228). He is taking this matter as a father should, not joking about it like he usually does, whereas Mrs. Bennet's concern has nothing to do with her daughter's feelings, but simply to show off that Mr. Bingley came to visit them before anybody else.

Quote 2: "Let me first see how he behaves, it will then be early enough for expectation" (255).

Elizabeth continues to believe that Mr. Darcy is not interested in her. She is beyond confused when he does not act the way he did at Pemberley. Something she must remember is that Mr. Darcy holds his composure very well. She did not know he loved her until the day he proposed to her. Mr. Darcy may feel that it is not the right time or place to be acquainting with Elizabeth because there is a bigger issue of Mr. Bingley and Jane's relationship to be worried about. Mr. Darcy is a calculated man, and we can see that anything he has done, has been done for a reason, so Elizabeth should not fret! It seems as though Elizabeth does not want to share her feelings for Mr. Darcy to Jane because she wants to confirm what is going on between them to herself first, she feels embarrassed for admitting she was wrong about him, or Elizabeth is simply waiting to find an excuse to fall out of love with Mr. Darcy. Only Elizabeth knows and feels guilty that her family is being rude to the man they all owe so much to. What is ironic about Elizabeth's feelings is that she was so quick to judge Mr. Darcy and express her hatred toward him to everybody when they first met, but now that she is slowly falling in love with him, she has not admit to it yet.

P & P #11: Ch. 7- 9

Quote 1: "She [Elizabeth] began now to comprehend that he [Mr. Darcy] was exactly the man, who in disposition and talents, would most suit her" (237).

Elizabeth finally realizes that Mr. Darcy is very compatible for her. This unfortunately occurs after she hears of Lydia's elopement with Mr. Wickham. Now, if anything were to happen between Mr. Darcy and herself, Mr. Darcy would be binded with Mr. Wickham forever. Considering that Mr. Wickham is the last person Mr. Darcy wants to associate with, this challenges Mr. Darcy's love for Elizabeth. It is a decision that needs to be made on his part; whether he wants to go forth with loving Elizabeth or back off now that Mr. Wickham is in the picture. Elizabeth also recognizes this: "Had Lydia's marriage been concluded on the most honourable terms, it was not to be supposed that Mr. Darcy would connect himself with a family, where [...] an alliance and relationship of the nearest kind with the man whom he so justly scorned" (236). The marriage between Lydia and Mr. Wickham could harm a new blossoming relationship between Mr. Darcy and herself. Elizabeth cannot possibly see why Mr. Darcy would want to be with her after the events that have just taken place.

Quote 2: "Good gracious! when I went away, I am sure I had no more idea of being married till I came back again! though I thought it would be very good fun if I was" (240).

Lydia is taking her marriage with Mr. Wickham as a joke. It would not have mattered who the man was that she marrying. She thinks being married makes her better than everybody else: "Ah, Jane, I take your place now, and you must go lower, because I am a married woman [...] I am sure all my sisters must all envy me. I only hope they have half of my good luck [in finding suitable husbands]" (240-241). Lydia does not realize what disgrace it brings to her family, not only because she is married before her older sisters, but also because Mr. Wickham is below their class and a very dishonorable man. Mrs. Bennet is even worse. She is more concerned about finding the right wedding clothes for Lydia rather than feeling "any sense of shame at her [Lydia] eloping and living with Mr. Wickham, a fortnight before [the marriage] took place" (236). We see a major contrast between Elizabeth and Lydia on terms of marriage. Elizabeth, referring back to the first quote, came to the conclusion that Mr. Darcy was right for her after the many interactions they shared with one another and her own reasoning whereas, Lydia, considers marriage a joy ride and would have felt the same way she feels for Mr. Wickham with any other militia man as her husband.

P & P #10: Ch. 3- 6

Quote 1: "Since the -shire were first quartered in Meryton, nothing but love, flirtation, and officers, have been in her [Lydia's] head" (214).

Lydia comes off as a loose character and a complete idiot when it is learned that she has run off with Mr. Wickham, but it is important to keep in mind the way the Bennet sisters have been raised. The only thing that is talked about, prepared for, or is heard of involves marriage. The sole goal for the family is to marry off all five daughters. In order for this to occur, the girls must attend balls, show off their beauty, and attract men to marry. This has all been encouraged to do so by Mrs. Bennet. Jane and Elizabeth have not enveloped themselves in trying to acquire a husband, but we see that the two youngest have been most affected by it for all they do is flirt, giggle, and strive for attention. Mrs. Bennet has been so focused trying to marry the older girls that by being a younger daughter, that is all that is left to do. The unfortunate thing about all this is that Mrs. Bennet criticizes Mrs. Forster's hospitality towards Lydia, when in reality, Lydia should have been brought up with enough common sense to not act the way she did: "I am sure there was some great neglect or other on their side, for she is not the kind of girl to do such a thing, if she had been well looked after" (217). Instead of reflecting upon her ill-parenting, Mrs. Bennet did not see any harm she had done to Lydia by her continuous encouragement of marriage. Mrs. Bennet even defends Lydia by saying she is not the type of girl to do something so foolish. This flirtation act could have been stopped if Mr. or Mrs. Bennet told the girls they were not to flaunt themselves around Meryton like desperate bimbos. The way Lydia and the other daughters act is a reflection on Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. If the daughters do something dumb, their parents are to blame.

Quote 2: "No, Kitty, I have at last learnt to be cautious, and you will feel the effects of it" (228).

Mr. Bennet has learned his lesson. Anything nonsensical a woman of the Bennet household did was always a joke to him. He would make a sarcastic remark, laugh about it, and seem to accept the fact his family was ridiculous. Never did he try to bring the girls in line and tell them not to act the way they did. In regards to Lydia going with the Forsters, it did not faze him that it may not be the best idea: "Let us hope, therefore, that her being there may teach her her own insignificance. At any rate, she cannot grow many degrees worse, without authorizing us to lock her up for the rest of her life" (177). He merely brushed off what Elizabeth was mentioning to him about how bad it looks on the Bennet family for having flirtatious daughters. The tables have finally turned for Mr. Bennet.

P & P #9: Ch. 19- 2

Quote 1: "They were all of them warm in her admiration; and at that moment she felt, that to be mistress of Pemberley might be something!" (185).

From detesting Mr. Darcy to now, thinking of being his partner, Elizabeth has gone through a complete transformation of her feelings towards Mr. Darcy. She blushed at the idea of coming across Mr. Darcy during her visit. The old prejudice Elizabeth would not have cared. This shows how wrong first impressions can be taken. Mr. Darcy's servant even acknowledged why some people are deceived in thinking Mr. Darcy is a proud man: "Some people call him proud; but I am sure I never saw any thing of it. To my fancy, it is only because he does not rattle away like other young men" (188). This is coming from a woman who has known Mr. Darcy since he was four years old. After Elizabeth's first day at Pemberley, Mr. Darcy has changed from an arrogant man to most agreeable. With all the prejudice that has gone about, Mr. Darcy seems to be the only character in the novel to be unaffected by it. He does not judge a book by its cover the way Elizabeth had nor does he involve his superiority or class in determining who he loves.

Quote 2: "Above all, above respect and esteem, there was a motive within her of good will which could not be overlooked. It was gratitude.-Gratitude, not merely for having once loved her, but for loving her still well enough, to forgive all the petulance and acrimony of her manner in rejecting him, and all the unjust accusations accompanying her rejections" (201).

This quote not only confirms Elizabeth's change in feelings for Mr. Darcy, but also brings out Mr. Darcy's character. After being brutally rejected, he still manages to maintain his composure and receives his guests cordially with great civility and kindness. This only overwhelms Elizabeth after hearing what a gentleman Mr. Darcy is. She can not grasp that Mr. Darcy still has feelings for her after her harsh rejection: "It is impossible that he should still love me" (193). Mr. Darcy's love still remains strong, and does not show anger towards Elizabeth because she denied him. He respects her opinion of him and did the best he could to fix any of the issues she had with him through the letter he had given Elizabeth in the previous chapters. Elizabeth has found a new attraction towards Mr. Darcy that has only started to blossom. His character continues to lure her in, and possibly will make her fall in love with him.

P & P #8: Ch. 12- 18

Quote 1: "There certainly was some great mismanagement in the education of those two young men. One has got all the goodness, and the other all the appearance of it" (172).

This quote suits the original thought of title for this book, First Impressions. Elizabeth learned her lesson. She realized her prejudice feelings towards Wickham and felt ashamed for being contemptuous towards Mr. Darcy, who turned out to be a proper man. She was blinded by Wickham's first impression and turned off by Mr. Darcy's. She did not give either man a chance, but simply judged them on their first meetings with her. This shifts Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth's relationship drastically, now that things have been cleared up. It took a person of reason to help another person of equal compatibility to realize their misjudgment.

Quote 2: "Oh, well it is just as he chooses. Nobody wants him to come. Though I shall always say that he used my daughter extremely ill; and if I was her, I would not have put up with it. Well, my comfort is, I am sure Jane will die of a broken heart, and then he will be sorry for what he has done" (174).

Mr. Darcy may have felt that he was doing something beneficial for his friend, but he did not realize that it was going to make Mr. Bingley look like an inconsiderate person. Now, if Mr. Bingley decides to come back to Netherfield, nobody will want anything to do with him. Mr. Darcy created a distasteful name for Mr. Bingley. At the ball, Caroline may not have wanted Elizabeth to like Mr. Darcy, but she still defended his position on Wickham, so he would not look bad. Mr. Darcy would have cared less about what a lower class family thought of such wealthy people as himself, but he should have confirmed Jane's feelings before breaking off her relationship. It was wrong on his part to do this, especially since he has fallen in love with Elizabeth now.

P & P #7: Ch. 6- 11

Quote 1: "Her [Lady Catherine] air was not conciliating, nor was her manner of receiving them, such as to make her visitors forget their inferior rank. [...] Whatever she said, was spoken in so authoritative a tone, as marked herself with self- importance" (125).

It seems to be perfectly acceptable for a wealthy person to show arrogance as though it is something they are born with. Even Mr. Collins, who does not find any oddity that one is supposed to feel inferior to her, mentioned: "She [Lady Catherine] likes to have the distinction of rank preserved" (124). Money is clearly not enough for those of high- social status. It is expected that everybody drop what they are doing to welcome people of wealth. Lady Catherine thinks it is acceptable to be authoritative because she is in the presence of inferior people. It does not make her any more intelligent than they are. When the conversation about piano playing took place, she insulted Mrs. Collins, mentioned how long a person needs to play for experience knowing neither of the families present have pianos of their own, and mentioned Elizabeth is not as good as her daughter in Elizabeth's presence. It is unfortunate how the wealthy people need to be insulting towards the lower class to make themselves feel of more importance.


Quote 2: "His complexion became pale with anger, and the disturbance of his mind was visible in every feature. He was struggling for the appearance of composure, and would not open his lips, till he believed himself to have attained it" (146).

This is the first time Mr. Darcy has had trouble maintaining his composure. Something has finally occurred that impacted him enough to break it. Considering how Mr. Darcy always gets what he wants, he must have expected an answer of his liking. Elizabeth set him straight, while still being prejudice against him. Besides this, she was shocked. Even after breaking off Mr. Bingley and Jane's relationship, he still went ahead and declared his love to Elizabeth. This love he felt for her was not an infatuation, but something serious. Mr. Darcy thinks before he speaks and to have the courage to say that is baffling.

P & P #6: Ch. 2- 5

Quote 1: "He paid her not the smallest attention, till her grandfather's death made her mistress of this fortune" (118).

Mr. Wickham proved to be of questionable merit. He found a new love interest once he learned Miss. King was given her grandfather's fortune. Mr. Wickham had mercenary interests in mind and Elizabeth may have been a mere fling the whole time. Although Elizabeth was taken back by such haste in Mr. Wickham's change of interest, she is still prejudice towards him: "He is trying to get a girl with only ten thousand pounds, you want to find out that he is mercenary?" (118). She keeps defending him while her aunt is telling her how strange it is that he is suddenly directing his attention to Miss. King right after her grandfather's death.

Quote 2: "Oh, my dear Eliza! pray make haste and come into the dining room, for there is such a sight to be seen! [...] Make haste, and come down this moment" (122).

The absurdity of this quote is quite baffling. To Elizabeth, Maria sounded as though something ridiculous had happened, thinking the pigs were running around the garden or something of that sort, but unfortunately, it was only to see two women of wealth. For such lower class, meeting wealthy people was like meeting God. It was a huge deal. It was not hard for the arrogant class of people to be considered kind for the lower class people because any small casual act a wealthy person did, automatically made them the nicest person in the world to the eyes of the lower class. It takes a person like Elizabeth or Mr. Bennet to realize how pathetic this is.

Pride and Prejudice Ch. 21- 1

Quote 2: "Miss. Bingley sees that her brother is in love with you, and wants him to marry Miss. Darcy. She follows him to town in the hope of keeping him there, and tries to persuade you that he does not care about you" (91).

Unfortunately, this act is all due to the Bennet family's lack of wealth and social status. Mr. Darcy and Caroline want to eliminate any kind of connections between Jane and Mr. Bingley, so they will not get married. A person with such high social status as Mr. Bingley needs to marry a person with just as much wealth and status. Mrs. Bennet is seen as a gold digging mother, who has no limits to her absurdity. She is loud, obnoxious, and rude. The characteristics that are not held within a person with such high social status. Her actions make the possibility of this marriage even more disagreeable. It is sad to think that the only love that is present, is between two people who cannot get married.

Quote 2: "I ask only for a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collins's character, connections, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair, as most people can boast on entering the marriage state" (96).

This quote is the example of a prudent marriage. Charlotte wants a comfortable home, which Mr. Collins can provide for her. Therefore, why shouldn't she get married? There is no interest in his social status, considering how he does not have one, or money, except for the Bennets' property, which will be entailed when Mr. Bennet dies. On the other hand, Caroline and Mr. Darcy are interested in a mercenary marriage for Mr. Bingley. Everything revolves around one's social status and wealth. Since Jane has neither, it would be a disgrace to the Bingley name. Thus, Caroline and Mr. Darcy do not want Mr. Bingley to get married to Jane. Love, in this time period, came after marriage, if a person was lucky.

Pride and Prejudice: Ch. 17- 20

Quote 1: "It was not long before her mother [Mrs. Bennet] gave her [Elizabeth] to understand that the probability of their marriage was exceedingly agreeable to her" (67).

The only reason Elizabeth and Mr. Collins would get married is for its practicality. After Mr. Bennet's death, Mr. Collins would entail all of the property and eventually have some money; therefore, the question is why would this marriage be wrong? Mr. Collins has established himself through awkward mannerism by apologizing continuously and showing high regards to people simply because of their wealth. Mr. Bennet finds Mr. Collins quite ridiculous just like the rest of society who has met him. Mrs. Bennet believes this marriage to be agreeable without consulting Elizabeth on her feelings towards him or looking at his interactions with other people. This shows how inconsiderate Mrs. Bennet is towards her daughters. First, making Jane intentionally sick to win Mr. Bingley's heart and now, considering a marriage that is extremely disagreeable.

Quote 2: "Mr. Bingley's defence of his friend was a very able one I dare say, but since he is unacquainted with several parts of the story, and has learnt the rest from that friend himself, I shall venture still to think of both gentlemen as I did before" (73).

Elizabeth is "unacquainted with several parts of the story". She is being prejudice towards Mr. Wickham simply because she likes him. There is not enough information that is given about Mr. Wickham to tell whether he is a liar, but we do know he is neither well-known nor wealthy, whereas Mr. Darcy may seem arrogant, but is very blunt when he speaks. From an objective standpoint, Mr. Darcy sounds more reasonable than Mr. Wickham when he told Mr. Bingley the tension between Mr. Wickham and himself. Elizabeth refuses to agree with Mr. Darcy's feelings towards Mr. Wickham because she despised Mr. Darcy from the very beginning. She let her emotions overcome her good sense of reason. Hopefully, she will step outside this prejudice, and put two and two together.

Pride and Prejudice: Ch. 11- 16

Quote 1: "It has often led him to be liberal and generous, --to give his money freely, to display hospitality, to assist his tenants, and relieve the poor. Family pride, and filial pride, for he is very proud of what his father was, have done this. Not to appear to disgrace his family, to degenerate from the popular qualities, or lose the influence of the Pemberley House, is a powerful motive" (62).

There was a profound stress between personal desire and familial obligations, what one person wanted versus what was supposed to be done. Mr. Darcy took familial obligations "to give his money freely, to display hospitality, to assist his tenants, and relieve the poor" all because he did not want to disgrace his family or lose influence over his estate. His father left his family with a good name and it was his son's job to carry it on. Mr. Darcy does not believe in associating with people below his class, which makes it more unreasonable that he would be so kind on his own to be helping the unfortunate. As long as Mr. Darcy sat at a high position in society, nothing else mattered. Marriage was also similar. A woman had to marry a man that was above her in society. Love was never the main basis for anything. It usually started out as a mercenary marriage and led into love afterwards.


Quote 2: "His pride never deserts him; but with the rich, he is liberal-minded, just, sincere, rational, honorable, and perhaps agreeable, --allowing something for fortune and figure" (62-63).

In this time period, pride was not simply arrogance. People used pride in their position amongst others. Not only is pride closely affiliated with valor, but it also represented a strength of character. Pride was key in helping to preserve correct social alliances. Thus, Mr. Darcy is audacious around the Bennet family, who are below his standards. Mr. Wickham mentions his good relations with the wealthy, which, in other words, would be a correct social alliance in the eyes of Mr. Darcy. Though his pride may be helpful when it comes to the wealthy, Mr. Darcy does not seem to understand that people below his standards also have just as much thought and feeling as he does. They find him distasteful because of his superiority and lack of manners, things he uses well around the wealthy.

Pride and Prejudice: Ch. 7- 10

Quote 1: "It must very materially lessen their chance of marrying men of any consideration in the world" (26).

In society, the importance of social class was imperative to finding the right woman. If a woman was below a man in any way, then they were automatically considered unworthy. As long as a woman had money, a slight dependency on a man, and beauty, then she was assumed to be the perfect wife. It was not a matter of love. One fell in love after their spouse met the requirements of a husband or wife. Therefore, Mrs. Bennet enforces her daughters to learn singing, playing the piano, and looking exceedingly presentable in order to meet some of the requirements of a perfect wife. Mr. Darcy, who does not understand the meaning of love, views Elizabeth and the Bennet family negatively because of their lack of money. Mr. Bingley sees otherwise as he falls in love with Jane.

Quote 2: "Mr. Darcy was writing, and Miss. Bingley, seated near him, was watching the progress of his letter [...] Mr. Hurst and Mr. Bingley were at piquet, and Mrs. Hurst was observing their game" (34).

During this time period, it was uncommon to see a working man or, especially, a working woman. Everything was focused around social interactions amongst one another. What a person did during their leisure time defined their character. For example, there were certain hospitality rules, and things women were supposed to do, like sing in order to entertain guests. It was a way in which people perceived one another, and established themselves in society. Mr. Darcy was first thought of as a man with wealth, beauty, and the requirements of a faithful beau, but after a short period of time, his character began to show as he awkwardly roamed around the ball in a previous chapter, and now, showing his arrogance when Mrs. Bennet came to visit.

Pride and Prejudice Ch. 1- 6

Quote: "Nothing could be more delightful! To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love" (Austen 5).

In today's society, we don't see love as something that can be acquired by doing a certain deed. It naturally occurs, which makes love beautiful and very delicate. During this time period, everybody was to act in a certain manner. The meaning of love was used very loosely, especially when it came time for picking spouses. A woman's main goal was not to fall in love with a man, but to first woo him with her amazing looks in order to catch his attention. After this first goal was achieved, the man entangled in the woman's beauty would fall in love with her. Thus, "it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment" (19). This quote is an example of a social expectation for women. Women had to fill certain requirements before they engaged in courtly love. Marrying into a higher social status was a familial obligation, and in order for this to occur, love was a key requirement. Women simply used love to receive what was expected of them.

Quote: "His character was decided. He was the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world, and every body hoped that he would never come there again" (7).

In this time period, character defined a person. It was what made a person respectable or repulsive. Judging somebody takes time and careful thought, instead of allowing one's pride and prejudice to interfere with their feelings. We only see the actions of man, not the moral process behind them. Mrs. Bennet and the other women of the neighboring households labeled Mr. Darcy as "a fine figure of a man" (6). They passed this judgment on their first impression of him. Their first impression of Mr. Darcy was eventually shot down when they discovered he was a man filled with pride and distasteful manners. Basing one's judgment on a first impression represented a major social critique. In reality, one must not be deceived by a first impression, but simply take it in with caution.

Abolition of Man: The Tao/ Appendix

Most important part:

2. The Law of Special Beneficence

I believe the law of special beneficence is the most important part of the Tao because I feel that this is one of the things we take for granted. Whether it is a sibling or a parent, we see our family almost every day. As annoying as our younger sibling may be or overbearing our parents are, we must not forget that these are the people who have supported us, in some way or another, and guided us to where we are today. Although we get into arguments and disagreements with a family member, we can not forget that they are still a part of us: 'Nothing can ever change the claims of kinship for a right thinking man' (Anglo-Saxon. Beowulf, 2600). Family is an important part of society. We learn from our parents and relatives what is right and what is wrong through their actions. If we collide with them on a misunderstanding, we must not blame them nor seek vengeance. We need to understand or simply admit that our family is not our enemy, but simply wants the best for us, but it is our choice whether we want to listen to them or not.


My Concept:

The Law of Reasoning

I think a concept of reason can be added to the Tao. People tend to rush into a decision, or follow what their acquaintance believes to be correct. In society, we are faced with difficult situations where we must choose. For example, how are we to look at abortion with teen pregnancy? It is easy for us to say that killing a living being is wrong, but if we logically think about it, how will this child be raised after it is born? A teenage mother is not educated enough, nor responsible enough to care for a baby. The girl would definitely not be able to afford raising a child on her own either. Most likely, the only answer to this situation would be to let her parents take care of the baby. This poses another problem: what if the girl's parents are not understanding towards this situation, and the girl is not able to tell them she is pregnant? Another option would be giving the child in for adoption, where we face another issue: how will the baby be raised? Who are the people that will be caring for this child? This is where the law of reasoning comes in: is abortion something to consider? In other words, we must think things through before coming to a decision, and the law of reasoning would teach and guide people to do so.

Abolition of Man: Abolition of Man

Quote 1: "At the moment [...] of Men's victory over Nature, we find the whole human race subjected to some individual men, and those individuals subjected to that in themselves which is purely 'natural' -to their irrational impulses" (67).

Quote 2: "Once our souls [...] have been given up, the power thus conferred will not belong to us. We shall in fact be the slaves and the puppets of which we have given our souls" (72).

Lewis begins talking about how each generation is handed down what the last generation has left behind. It is then, that generation's choice to follow, change, or resist the power of its predecessor. The age that attains maximum power is the age that emancipates the most from tradition. The master generation, which is still very small in the species of man, will have power excessed by a small minority. For example, the president and his government, which is minute compared to the entire population of the United States, run an entire country of people. Lewis mentions when the power of Man convinces another to do something they feel is acceptable, the person being convinced is giving up their Human Nature; thus, we face the issue of the abolition of man. Lewis also states: "We reduce things to mere Nature in order that we may 'conquer' them" (71). In conclusion, after stripping an object of what makes it appealing, and reducing it to mere quantity, it can be adjusted to what we want it to be. Like trees, after cutting them down for firewood, we are satisfied.

The Abolition of Man: The Way

Quote 1: "[The Tao] is the sole source of all value judgments. If it is rejected, all value is rejected. If any value is retained, it is retained" (43).

Quote 2: "If we are to have values at all we must accept the ultimate platitudes of Practical Reason as having absolute validity" (49).

Lewis explains that Gaius ,Titius, and the Innovator believe in an ideal society, and are attempting to win their readers approval of it. Other's values, according to Gaius, Titius, and the Innovator, are doubtful, simply because it does not follow theirs. They are trying to cut out any emotion one feels, so that one will only do things for society's benefit. We either agree to do anything to preserve society or we give up finding the core reason behind our sentiments that have been falsified. It is an instinct within us to preserve society and ourselves; we do not need Reason to tell us this. Gaius and Titius believe that our care in "posterity finds its justification in instinct" (39). Lewis opposes this and explains our instinct is "the impulse to preserve our own children and grandchildren" (38). Lewis also expresses that "all the practical principles behind the Innovator's case for posterity, or society, or the species, are there from time immemorial in the Tao" (40). All value we have will be sentimental, but not always subjective because there are things that do not need proof to be considered simply reasonable. Those that do not believe in the Tao must not speak against it because they do not know what it is, but those who practice it, will understand what is being said. In conclusion, skeptics who try to eliminate traditional values and replace them with 'real' values are rejecting the concept of value altogether.

The Abolition of Man: Men Without Chests

Quote 1: "The man who called the cataract sublime was not intending simply to describe his own emotions about it: he was also claiming that the object was one which merited those emotions" (15).

Quote 2: "We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise" (26).

Lewis argues that writers, such as Gaius and Titius, are not enhancing their readers' knowledge, but are making it worse. When Gaius and Titius talk about something, they focus on one group of people to direct their message to, forgetting that there are other populations of people either confused or not bothered by the same message. Basically, nothing is really being taught. Gaius and Titius are teaching students that their opinion on an object is an opinion they hold about themselves. Lewis logically refutes this position by stating how an object has value within itself; therefore one may call it what it appears, like beautiful or distorted. In other words, Gaius and Titius do not have the right to teach students what to feel and how they should feel, which brings up "men without chests" (26). Students are brainwashed rather than taught to the point where they cannot feel with their own feelings, but from what has been taught to them. Lewis uses an aggressive syntax and diction to support his logic to get his point across. There is not as much emotion used, but Lewis shows his character through his opinions: "I myself do not enjoy the society of small children: because I speak from within the Tao I recognize this as a defect in myself" (19).