Notes on Jane Bennet

JANE: 

·      Finds it difficult to see the flaws in others

à Jane seems shy and less confident than Elizabeth

à She reads social situations differently to her sister

à As a result, Jane does not realise the nastiness of the Bingley sisters, but it also allows her not to be so quick to believe Wickham’s story about Darcy, when Elizabeth immediately takes Wickham’s side

o   ‘With your good sense, to be so honestly blind to the follies and nonsense of others’ (p.16)

o   You never see a fault in anybody.’ (p.16)

à Both quotes are said by Elizabeth after the ball at Netherfield when they both encounter Darcy and Bingley for the first time

à Elizabeth argues that Jane can only see the good in others, but Jane believes she should not be quick to judge someone else (as Elizabeth does) before she understands everything about a person

o   ‘But I am willing to hope the best, and that his character has been misunderstood’ (p.260)

à Occurs when Elizabeth receives a letter from Jane that Lydia has run off with Wickham

à Despite all the evidence suggesting that Wickham has ulterior motives for running away with Lydia, Jane still wants to believe that he has good intentions

·      Modest and unassuming

o   ‘I was very much flattered by his asking to dance a second time.’ (p.16)

à From the voice of Jane, after the Netherfield ball. Elizabeth is complimenting Jane of attracting the attention of respectable Mr Bingley

à Everyone knows that Jane is likeable and very beautiful, and yet she is still surprised that Bingley would ask her to dance again 

·      Well-liked 

o   ‘I have an excessive regard for Jane Bennet, she is really a very sweet girl, and I wish with all my heart she were well settled. But, with such a father and mother, and such low connections, I am afraid that there is no chance of it.’ (p.36)

à Even though the Bingley sisters obviously look down on the Bennet family, and want to dislike Jane, they genuinely like her, despite her family and low connections.