Tori Albrecht

English major, Creative Writing Minor

I love J.R.R. Tolkien, but I’ve gotten really into Patrick Rothfuss recently. I have a lot of favorite authors but for a top list Nelle Harper Lee would definitely be on it, as would Hemingway, Eliot, Wells, Keats, Blake and strangely enough Chaucer.

“Wit is commonly looked upon with a suspicious eye, as a two edged sword, from which not even the sacredness of friendship can secure. It is especially, I think, dreaded in women.” (400)

When it comes to Darcy, brooding is definitely a word that comes to mind; however, the few moments he does speak is usually with a quick wit that leads to contempt from those in his presence and a great dislike from those beneath him (everyone in his presence essentially). Though Elizabeth is not despised within her society, there is a contempt for her person because of her intelligence. Her own mother dislikes her the most of her children because of her lack of obedience and difference of opinions about life. Caroline Bingley continually tries to make Elizabeth appear foolish in front of Darcy, only to fail multiple times. Austen goes against what Fordyce is saying through Elizabeth’s character. Even with the struggle of being put down by those of higher social standing around here, Elizabeth remains honest and witty as ever.

Elizabeth is more intriguing because she holds herself naturally better than those around her, with an intelligence not normally associated with one of her beauty, paired with her utter honesty and candid nature, such as her interaction with Darcy when they finally dance at Bingley’s ball before winter: “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.” (123). She’s very quick on her feet but even her reactions within scenes show just how different Elizabeth is from the formal women that surround her, going against the social norms being set up by Fordyce.

One of the biggest misgivings I’ve come to witness in my life when it comes to men is the assumption that any display of emotion is an effeminate reaction. I have three older brothers and grew up in a predominantly masculine environment. Even still, my mom and I had a great effect on my brother’s sentiments. The absolute worst was watching them make fun of each other for some of the stupidest, pettiest, “girlie” reasons that completely brought down the self confidence my brother had just had. James Fordyce states the true affect of a “gentle” lifestyle perfectly in his Sermon I: “I do not mean, that the men I speak of will become feminine; but their sentiments and deportment will contract a grace.” (397). There is a sort of grace when a man has a more “feminine” inclination when interacting with a woman. It’s the idea of a man being more in touch with himself and his feelings, it is seen as weak; however, there creates this under-level of confidence that, sadly, is easily washed away by ridicule. Mr. Bingley, more prominently than other characters within the novel, proves this sentiment, his care for Jane during her sickness and constant attention of her faculty when in the same room evidence enough.