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Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice
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Thursday, February 15, 2007

Seven Persons Interested in Jane Bennet's Recovery (for or against) --
Pride & Prejudice Ch.10 Discussion

1. Mrs. Bennet - greatly in favor of Jane's prolonged illness, as this will very likely maintain Jane's status as a resident at Netherfield - (B)eing satisfied on seeing (Jane), that her illness was not alarming, (Mrs. Bennet) had no wish of her recovering immediately, as her restoration to health would probably remove her from Netherfield. - Ch. 9 pt 1

2. Miss Elizabeth Bennet - greatly in favor of Jane's speedy recovery - Elizabeth made haste to Netherfield as soon as the news of her sister's illness was presented to her, so that she might be of some assistance in her sister's recovery (Ch. 7 pt 6).

3. Miss Caroline Bingley - greatly in favor of Jane's immediate recovery - Miss Bingley saw, or suspected, enough to be jealous; and her great anxiety for the recovery of her dear friend Jane received some assistance from her desire of getting rid of Elizabeth. - Ch. 10 pt 9

4. Mr. Charles Bingley - greatly in favor of Jane's speedy recovery - He is one of the few, I suspect (together with Elizabeth), whose actual concern is for Jane's healthy well-being (Ch. 8 pt 6). He will not hear of Jane being removed from his home until her health permits such a move (Ch. 9 pt 2).

5. Miss Lydia Bennet - greatly in favor of Jane's immediate recovery - Actually, Lydia doesn't care much about her sister's health. Lydia's greater concern is that Bingley would throw a ball, which Bingley refuses to do until Jane has recovered (Ch 9 pt 9). Lydia's greatest concern, however, as a "stout, well-grown girl of fifteen", is to maintain the attention of the officers, at a ball or in any other venue.

6. Mr. Darcy - actually has not given us any indication of his opinion either favoring or opposing Jane's improvement - The occasion of His continued presence at Netherfield may suggest that Mr. Darcy has some interest in the occupants of that house. What makes him particularly suspicious is Darcy's prior admission of admiration for Elizabeth Bennet's eyes and his prior attempts to enter into conversation with her (Ch. 6 pt 5); from this knowledge, we might be led to believe that Darcy would not mind having the two Bennet sisters stay a little longer in a place where he might appreciate Elizabeth's eyes and have the opportunity to converse with her.

7. Miss Jane Bennet - greatly concerned for immediate recovery - Actually, from the very beginning, Jane wanted nothing to do with the silly plans that landed her dreadfully ill at Netherfield. Feeling herself an imposition upon her hosts, she presses to be returned to her own home at the earliest possible convenience.