Chapter four might be divided into two sections, one for Jane Bennet and the other for Mr. Bingley.
After Meryton, Jane confides in her sister that she is extremely pleased with Mr. Bingley, and it would seem that Bingley (who asked Jane to dance - twice,) is likewise pleased with Miss Bennet.
Jane's humility blushes in comparison to her sister's quick judgments. "Compliments always take you by surprise, and me never" is one of those classic lines, delivered in such a way that it does reveal something of Elizabeth's character in comparison to her sister. For Elizabeth, it comes as no surprise that the prettiest girl in the room (Jane) should be complimented so highly by Bingley. Elizabeth goes on to treat the mildness of Jane's character, which never sees "a fault in any body" and "all the world are good and agreeable in your eyes", saying that Jane is "blind to the follies and nonsense of others", and finally takes "the good of every body's character and mak(es) it still better".
With this, Elizabeth starts the transition into the second part of the chapter. While she may find Bingley himself to be acceptable, his sisters - though acceptable - are not of the same caliber of manners as their brother.
Here the chapter shifts focus, and we learn more of Bingley and his family. Their fortune was acquired by trade (does this make it less noble than another form of acquisition?), and it was bequeathed to them by a father who had plans for his wealth but had not lived to see them through. The Bingley family was a "handsome" lot of people, though perhaps they were somewhat impulsive in spending their fortune. (The ladies were "in the habit of spending more than they ought"; Bingley "not having been of age two years" was "tempted by an accidental recommendation to look at Netherfield House", and found himself in possession half-an-hour after looking at it!)
A moment is spent looking at the friendship of Bingley and Darcy. The two are friends "in spite of a great opposition of character" The author takes a moment to highlight their contrasting characters, using the goings-on at the assembly at Meryton (the highlight of chapter 3) to illustrate: "Bingley had never met with pleasanter people or prettier girls in his life"; Darcy "had seen a collection of people in whom there was little beauty and no fashion, for none of whom he felt the smallest interest".
In spite of Darcy's feelings about Jane - pretty, "but she smiled too much", Bingley's sisters have a more congenial opinion of Miss Bennet, pronouncing her "a sweet girl, and one whom they should not object to know more of". With that, Bingley departs from the opinion of his friend and "felt authorised... to think of (Jane) as he chose."
After Meryton, Jane confides in her sister that she is extremely pleased with Mr. Bingley, and it would seem that Bingley (who asked Jane to dance - twice,) is likewise pleased with Miss Bennet.
Jane's humility blushes in comparison to her sister's quick judgments. "Compliments always take you by surprise, and me never" is one of those classic lines, delivered in such a way that it does reveal something of Elizabeth's character in comparison to her sister. For Elizabeth, it comes as no surprise that the prettiest girl in the room (Jane) should be complimented so highly by Bingley. Elizabeth goes on to treat the mildness of Jane's character, which never sees "a fault in any body" and "all the world are good and agreeable in your eyes", saying that Jane is "blind to the follies and nonsense of others", and finally takes "the good of every body's character and mak(es) it still better".
With this, Elizabeth starts the transition into the second part of the chapter. While she may find Bingley himself to be acceptable, his sisters - though acceptable - are not of the same caliber of manners as their brother.
Here the chapter shifts focus, and we learn more of Bingley and his family. Their fortune was acquired by trade (does this make it less noble than another form of acquisition?), and it was bequeathed to them by a father who had plans for his wealth but had not lived to see them through. The Bingley family was a "handsome" lot of people, though perhaps they were somewhat impulsive in spending their fortune. (The ladies were "in the habit of spending more than they ought"; Bingley "not having been of age two years" was "tempted by an accidental recommendation to look at Netherfield House", and found himself in possession half-an-hour after looking at it!)
A moment is spent looking at the friendship of Bingley and Darcy. The two are friends "in spite of a great opposition of character" The author takes a moment to highlight their contrasting characters, using the goings-on at the assembly at Meryton (the highlight of chapter 3) to illustrate: "Bingley had never met with pleasanter people or prettier girls in his life"; Darcy "had seen a collection of people in whom there was little beauty and no fashion, for none of whom he felt the smallest interest".
In spite of Darcy's feelings about Jane - pretty, "but she smiled too much", Bingley's sisters have a more congenial opinion of Miss Bennet, pronouncing her "a sweet girl, and one whom they should not object to know more of". With that, Bingley departs from the opinion of his friend and "felt authorised... to think of (Jane) as he chose."
