8BethMagazine

1 Shilling

August 1813

First Impressions The magazine that will satisfy all your needs of love and story

Includes

*Interview with Miss Elizabeth Bennet *Artistic Expression and much more First Impressions

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“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.�

--Narrator Pride and Prejudice

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First Impressions

Table of Contents } Interview with Miss Elizabeth Bennet

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-Inside the mind of Elizabeth Bennet and her thoughts on the one Mr. Darcy

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} Pride and Vanity

-This Classic tale can be summed up in a single song read more on pgs. 6-7

Where I’m From

-One of Elizabeth’s favorite topics, well written peotry

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9-11 Should it Stay or Should it Go?

-To find out if the classic novel Pride and Prejudice should be in the Alberta Gr.8 Curciculum turn to page 9.

‘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.’

--Mr. Darcy

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Interview with

Elizabeth Bennet

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First Impressions

Elizabeth Bennet, the second eldest of four sisters is a kind, frank young lady. Although not wealthy, Elizabeth and her family own land and had an income of almost two thousand a year. Unfortunately for Elizabeth and her sisters English Law states that women can not inherit property and as such all of this will go to the first male heir; a distant relation. This means that the daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet need to marry wealthy. Elizabeth does not totally understand the meaning of marriage for fortune. Many of her fellow aristocrats are much more practical and do not marry for love.for example her dearest friend charollet is married to Elizabeth’s distant cousin Mr. Collins; a proud, unvaried, disagriable cerlgyman. Lizzy’s desire to marry for affection and nothing else is a fantasy and will ultimately provide her down fall.

Q. What was your first impression of Mr. Darcy when you met him for the first time?

A: First impressions are particularly easy to get caught up in. I do feel that we as a society are very judgmental but in Mr. Darcy’s case my opinion does not change and I feel that his rude remarks are his character. My very first impression of Darcy was that he was very good looking man of an extremely high fortune and is a man of nobleness. His demeanor and the way he waltzed across the room were very swift and conspicuous.

Q. Recently, at the Hertfordshire ball he stood out from the crowd tall and very handsome, but his manners were the complete opposite. What are your feelings toward Mr. Darcy’s character?

life. I do have an exceptional time otherwise but, dwelling over what Mr. Darcy thinks and or says is nothing I neither need nor want to be concerned about.

Q. Recently you walked 3 miles to Netherfield by yourself in the mud just to see your ill sister Jane, do you ever put yourself before others?

A: My dearest sister Jane was ill and she needed my comfort just as much as I needed hers. My mother’s plan had worked. Making Jane ride horse back in the rain! Now she is ill and has a high fever. I do deeply hope she may become well. Also, I really do take delight in a pleasurable, secluded stroll.

‘First Imprssions are partiualy easy to get caught up in’ Q. How do you think the relationship between

A: Though Mr. Darcy may be handsome and seems gentleman like, he is so overly proud with the thought of his fortune and these inferior peoples of birth should not be within any distance of him. I could not imagine that anyone could be so proud especially within one man.

Q. At the ball Mr. Darcy thought you were only tolerable and not handsome enough to dance with, how do you feel about this?

Jane and Mr. Bingley will evolve?

A: I hope that it will become more intimate and special.

The chances of them falling in love is obvious. They will get to know each other much better. There should be no pushing necessary. Jane is at his house now and once she is stronger I am positive that they will soon start to fall in love. Though I do not agree with what my mother purposed and made happen it might be for the best, there might one day be a Mrs. Bingley.

A: This does not affect my pride in any way. I do not wish to dance with Mr. Darcy in future gatherings. His saying this means nothing to me. Occupying my time in a mannerly and sensible way is usually my way of going about

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Vanity or Pride? “Vanity and pride are two different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain.

Pride relates more to the opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us.�

--Mary Bennet

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“H

ad I been in love, I could not have been more wretchedly blind. But to think that vanity not love has been my folly!” says Elizabeth to herself after reading Mr. Darcy’s letter of explanation. This statement is plainly the theme of Pride and Prejudice.

It is saying that though pride and vanity are very similar and conflated by many people they are enormously different. This relates to the theme of Pride and Prejudice because Mr. Darcy may be a proud, shy man but he does not care what people think of him. On the other hand Miss Elizabeth Bennet is blinded by her vanity in her feelings towards Mr. Darcy. In other cases Elizabeth is not vain but

is stated in Mary’s studious observation of life. Vanity and pride are different and should be understood to convey different meanings.

I think that Jane Austen is trying to say that people have either pride or vanity, but not both. Just because one may be proud does not mean that they are vain. Vanity is what you would like others to think of yourself, pride is where one is conscious of ones dignity but does not really care what people think of them. For example, I feel that I am more of a Mr. Darcy in my own life and my personality.

I have pride and I am certainly mute but I do not really care what people’s impressions of me are.

simply frank. At this point she does not yet know that she loves Mr. Darcy. After receiving his letter explaining himself of what he had done to show his care for her this was the verdict about her feelings. These two small words have an enormous meaning in the novel.

Soon after encountering Mr. Darcy

for the first time the Bennet ladies and Mrs. Lucas are intensely verbalizing the depth of his pride, when Mary speaks up, “Vanity and pride are two different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain.

Pride relates more to the opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us.” I feel that the essence of the whole novel First Impressions 7

Where I’m From 8

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I am from the blaring insect like buzz and hum of the ballroom The emerald leafy view from my dressing room window From haughty neighbours who gaze ignobly to other of inferior birth The hustle and bustle of Meryton, congested with red coats I am from the lingering tapered lanes that I envisage take me far away I am from vexation towards the silent man Indignations to affections From his noble unaccounted, gestures, salvaging our family reputation I am from pining for his presence His tall warmth he brings to my soul The many forgotten faces and long missed giggles All I now know is their letters whose contents only contain scrawls of youthful, naĂŻve love I am from the granduer of my new home complete and filled with lofty, handsome furniture From the colossal library I now have the rights to, Filled with the musty stench of the antique love stories much like my own I am from love and vanity From hasty refusals To the wanted, willing acceptance I am from intelligence and keenness The love of all who surround me

Should It Stay Or Should It Go?

The reasons why or why not the classic novel Pride and Prejudice

should be included in the Alberta Grade 8 Curciculum

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o novel in the English language has given more gratification to its readers than Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. This novel has been transformed into many, many movies, but still to this day nothing compares to the words of Jane Austen. This 200-year-old story is an enthralling love story set in Neapolitan age of 19th century England. With the haughty Mr. Darcy and the outspoken Elizabeth Bennet, although Pride and Prejudice is an amazing novel I believe that the reading level is above the average grade eight. Therefore, I do not believe it should be included in the Grade 8 Language Arts Program. However, because of the rich, vivid imagery and captivating, not cliché plot I do believe that it is appropriate for anyone who understands and appreciates great literature.

For anyone who has read Pride and Prejudice we can all agree that it is a fine novel that draws you in with every word. The bewitching story of Elizabeth Bennet and her dear love, Mr. Darcy is a story that I could barely put down and read over and over again. In fact, when I came to meet the last page I became very blue. Though the obstacles in Pride and Prejudice are not really things today’s society would think to be wrong, but with a little research I could see how horrifying Lizzy’s sister’s elopement was to the family. Today’s society has much more freedom and privileges than that of 1813. Class was all that mattered in this time. Elizabeth marrying Mr. Darcy was something that was looked poorly on due to her inferior birth. Jane Austen makes you think for the longest time that Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet will never fall in love. She detests him with a passion up until the day at Pemberly. However, until that moment when Elizabeth realizes she does love him you are on the edge of your set, biting your lip wanting for them to be together.

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None of this captivating story line would have been possible without the language that Austen uses through out the book. Words like superciliousness, and cordially. Many of these words I did not know the meaning of and this novel strengthened my vocabulary for future schoolwork or even in everyday conversation. These words and phrases create imagery in your mind as to what the atmosphere looked, sounded, felt like. Though Jane might not have described the colour of anyone’s hair or what clothing they wore I was still satisfied with the description that the book had to offer. I felt that you did not need to know this information; it would only be there to fill up pages which is not needed in Austen’s writing. In school you are told to describe what the character looks like, but as we can see here this is not necessary. Jane does not and therefore you do not need to describe every detail to become well known or a professional. Though I took the effort to look up any words that I did not know many grade eights would not and only go about the novel confused.

The old English writing and the sentences being phrased backwards would throw off grade eights.

I also believe that a lot of 13 year olds to not care for or appreciate the great literature that Pride and Prejudice has to offer, though I am not trying to generalize all grade eights. Also, I do not think that many boys of the ages 13-14 would want to read about love and the tragic misfortunes of the 19th century. Therefore, for these reasons, Pride and Prejudice though an amazing novel by Jane Austen or by anyone for that matter, should not be in the grade eight curriculum. Grade eights like to have choice in what they read and I feel that if another grade eight wanted to take on the challenge on reading this fine book, so be it.

All in all Pride and Prejudice is one of the best literary pieces in all the English language. I do believe that though it has many good reasons for being part of the curriculum, but it is above the grade eight level of reading and comprehension.

High school curriculum is much more suitable for this book or any of Jane’s magnificent works. I truly enjoyed everything about pride and prejudice. Its imagery that takes you somewhere else, and the

captivating plot that draws you in with every word may be too advanced for some readers. Though having the choice of what I got to read and what others in grade eight read was much appreciated.

In spite of it being above the grade level I do think that it should still be available to anyone if they can handle the great words of Jane Austen’s pride and prejudice.

-Elizabeth Durnie

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First Impressions

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