pride & prejudice

closure.

2008-12-02T18:55:00.000-08:00

After reading the book Pride & Prejudice i found that i was completly satisfied with the ending. it was good closure to know that darcy does actually propose to elizabeth again, and they do end up together. my favourite part that exhibited the most closure was during the confrontational conversation between lady catherine and elizabeth. That particular part really expressed elizabeths strong sense of self-respect and her love for mr. darcy. i believe that those two things are what gave her the courage to stand up to the intimidating lady catherine. it really put an end to all of the rumors that lady catherine believed and best of all put elizabeth in the more authoritative position. i think that this part also strengthens the statement, 'Love conquers all', and by that i mean all different class and social-standings, which became a predominant theme throughout the novel.
elizabeth also becomes close friends with her sister-in-law, georgiana, and even on somewhat agreeable terms with miss bingley. that relationship probably gave the most closure.
i feel that the way in which the book ended, was a way that answered all questions, and makes you happy that everything resolved itself.

number four.

2008-11-23T15:15:00.000-08:00

"In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."

Elizabeth's astonishment was beyond expression. She stared, coloured, doubted, and was silent. This he considered sufficient encouragement; and the avowal of all that he felt, and had long felt for her, immediately followed. He spoke well; but there were feelings besides those of the heart to be detailed; and he was not more eloquent on the subject of tenderness than of pride. His sense of her inferiority—of its being a degradation—of the family obstacles which had always opposed to inclination, were dwelt on with a warmth which seemed due to the consequence he was wounding, but was very unlikely to recommend his suit.

In spite of her deeply-rooted dislike, she could not be insensible to the compliment of such a man's affection, and though her intentions did not vary for an instant, she was at first sorry for the pain he was to receive; till, roused to resentment by his subsequent language, she lost all compassion in anger. She tried, however, to compose herself to answer him with patience, when he should have done. He concluded with representing to her the strength of that attachment which, in spite of all his endeavours, he had found impossible to conquer; and with expressing his hope that it would now be rewarded by her acceptance of his hand. As he said this, she could easily see that he had no doubt of a favourable answer.

i think that this is the turning point in the whole book so far.

Darcy reveals his transformed feelings towards Elizabeth

Does Elizabeth really think that he is being sincere?
why does darcy tell her all the reasons that they shouldnt be together?
Will Elizabeth ever forgive him and see him in a new light?
will darcy change to please elizabeth?

number three.

2008-11-09T16:25:00.000-08:00

'then' observed elizabeth, 'you must comprehend a great deal in your idea of an accomplished woman.'
'yes, i do comprehend a great deal in it.'
'oh! certainly,' cried his faithful servant, 'no one can be really esteemed accomplished who does not greatly surpass what is usually met with. a woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word; and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, teh tone of her voice, her address and expressions, or all of the word will be but half-deserved.'
'all this she must possess,' added darcy, 'and to all this she must yet add something more substantial, in the improvement of her mind by extensive reading.'
'i am no longer surprised at your knowing only six accomplished women. i rather wonder now at your knowing any.'
'are you so severe upon your own sex as to doubt the possibility of all this?'
'i never saw such a woman. i never saw such a capacity, and taste, and application, and elegance, as you describe united.'

is miss bingley the 'anti-hero' in the story?
will i really be able to know the characters with just the basis of indirect characterization?
is miss bingley jealous of elizabeth?
what is the real reason that they are both so proud?

number two.

2008-11-06T19:26:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth looked archly, and turned away. her resistance had not injured her with the gentleman, and he was thinking of her with some complacency, when thus accosted by miss. bingley.
'i can guess the subject of your reverie.'
'i should imagine not.'
'you are considering how insupportable it would be to pass many evenings in this manner- in such society;and indeed i an quite of your opinion. i was never more annoyed! the insipidity, and yet the noise- the nothingness, and yet the self-importance of all those people! what would i give to hear your scriptures on them!'
miss bingley immediately fixed her eyes on his face, and desired he would tell her what lady had the credit of inspiring such reflections. mr darcy replied with great intrepidity:
'miss elizabeth bennet.'
'miss elizabeth bennet!' repeated miss bingley. 'i am all astonishment. how long has she been such a favourite?- and pray, when am i to wish you joy?'

this is the first time that mr darcy acknowledges the fact that he now actually likes elizabeth bennet.
will she ever forgive him for what he said about her earlier?
why does mr darcy seem slightly ashamed of this?
does miss bingley like mr darcy?

will i ever get used to reading in olde english?

number one.

2008-11-02T14:58:00.000-08:00

a conversation between mr. and mrs. bennett...

'Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England; that he came down on monday in a chaise and four to see the place, and was so much delighted with it, that he agreed with Mr. Morris immediately; that he is to take possession before Michaelmas, and some of his servants are to be in the house by the end of next week.'
'What is his name?'
'Bingley.'
'Is he married or single?'
'Oh! single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!'
'How so? How can it affect them?'
'My dear Mr. Bennett,' replied his wife, 'how can you be so tiresome! You must know that i am thinking of his marrying one of them.'

Is it such a rare thing for there to be new, single, wealthy men in a neighbourhood?
Why is it so important to marry above your own social rank?
Is it common for women to marry for money and not for love back then, as suggested in this passage?
What is Michaelmas? (is it something close to christmas?)
It seems that Mrs Bennett is very relentless when it comes to her daughters, how will this affect their decisions later? good/bad?

for my second act...

2008-11-02T14:57:00.001-08:00

pride & prejudice.

finale.

2008-10-05T08:39:00.000-07:00

in this book, almost every chapter was told by a different characters perspective. i really liked that the author did this because there are so many characters doing different things in different places throughout the story. because the book was written this way, it really helped to shape the story and also, to add to the suspense. every time the perspective changed, i got to know the character better, know their motives, thoughts towards others, and plans for the future. i didnt get to know just one character intaminately, but about twelve. you dont really get that in most novels and that was a nice change. i think that by switching perspectives, it really helped move the book along.

number 5.

2008-09-30T17:57:00.000-07:00

Vittoria looked down the remainder of the alley. 'you think there's another entrance?'
Langdon doubted it. most renaissance cathedrals were designed as makeshift fortresses in the event a city was stormed. they had as few entrances as possible. 'if there is another way in,' he said, 'its probably recessed in the rear bastion-- more of an escape route than an entrance.'
Vittoria was already on the move.
Langdon followed deeper into the alley. the walls shot skyward on both sides of him. somewhere a bell began ringing eight o' clock... (brown 220)

right now the two main characters have just uncovered some clues, and are on there way to try and stop a murder.
what will happen when they get inside the church?
will they be to late to stop the murder?
will olivetti and the swiss guard get there in time?

where will they go after this?

what is maximillian kohler doing back at CERN?
will he continue to be involved in the story? in a bad way?

number 4.

2008-09-25T17:42:00.000-07:00

a single sentient thought began pounding at Vittoria with unrelenting force.
where is the antimatter?
the horrifying answer was only a moment away. (brown 88)
...
Vittoria stood riveted to the floor, watching him go. then she turned to Langdon. 'Rome? But... what was that about the Swiss?'
Langdon put a hand on her shoulder, barely whispering the words. 'the swiss guard,' he said. 'the sworn sentinels of the Vatican City.' (brown 90)

so, the protagonists have just found out that there is a 'bomb' inside the vatican city.
how will the get it out?
who put it there?-- was is the killer from before?
why did they put it in the vatican city?

are we ever going to figure out why leonardo vetra was killed? / who killed him?
will his daughter ever get revenge?

we'll see...

number 3.

2008-09-23T18:23:00.000-07:00

Phase two, the Hassassin thought, striding into the darkened tunnel.
the torch in his hand was overkill. He knew that. But it was for effect. Effect was everything. Fear, he had learned was his ally. Fear cripples faster than any implement of war.
there was no mirror in the passage to admire his disguise, but he could sense from the shadow of his billowing robe that he was perfect. blending in was part of the plan...part of the depravity of the plot. in his wildest dreams he had never imagined playing this part.

this passage gives a sense that the plot is actually moving along. we still have no idea who this mysterious killer is...
did he kill the man in the beginning of the story?
is he part of the illuminati?

but now we know that there is a conflict of science and religion present in the story.
the murder was obviously related, but what did they gain?

a lot of science-y blib-blab so far, when can i get some o the action/adventure i was promised? (thats a question.)

i liked the italicised quote, because i think its ver true.

number 2.

2008-09-18T19:31:00.000-07:00

'very soon, you will believe. an irrefutable demonstration of the brotherhoods power has already transpired. a single act of treachery and proof.'
'what have you done?'
the caller told him.
the killers eyes went wide. 'an impossible task.'
the next day, newspapers around the globe carried the same headline. the killer became a believer.
now, 15 day later, the killers faith had solidified beyond a shadow of a doubt. the brotherhood continues, he thought. tonight they will surface to reveal their power(brown 12).

basically so far in the story it has been cutting back and forth between the main professor, langdon, and this mysterious killer scenes. what is the connection?

is this passage a foreshadow of some sorts?

do these people have anything to do with the 'illuminati'?
who is the man that the killer is talking to?

number 1.

2008-09-16T17:45:00.000-07:00

Although not overly handsome in a classical sense, the forty year old Langdon had what his female colleagues referred to as an 'erudite' appeal-- wisps of gray in his thick brown hair, probing gray eyes, an arrestingly deep voice, and the strong, carefree smile of a collegiate athlete. ... ... Langdon's friends had always viewed him as a bit of an enigma- a man caught between centuries. On weekends he could be seen lounging on the quad in blue jeans, discussing computer graphics and religious history with students; other times he could be spotted in his Harris tweed and paisley vest, photographed in the pages of upscale art magazines at museum openings where he had been asked to lecture. ... ... a tough teacher and strict disciplinarian... (brown 5).

this guy in a college professor. i thought that this passage(s) was like the ultimate blunt characterization passage... annoyingly helpful.
overall, i think that many people know someone like this or could possibly relate to him in a way. because of this, will i like him?

the book opens with a dream. the setting was the steps of the great pyramids of giza.
was the dream at the beginning of the book a foreshadow? did it even have any significance? will he go back there?

robert, main character, gets a fax in the middle of the night of a corpse with the word 'illuminati' branded on him.
whats the deal with 'illuminati'? is it a person? group?

my book is...

2008-09-15T14:57:00.000-07:00

angels and demons.

surprise!