Name: Elizabeth Bennet (Eliza or Lizzy to family and close friends.)
Door: Submissive.
Canon: Pride and Prejudice (Novel & BBC 1995 Mini-Series).
Canon Point: Mr. Darcy has, against his own better judgement, apparently, blurted a vaguely deranged and insulting proposal to Elizabeth and she has flatly and hotly rejected him. He has taken his leave of her.
Age: Physical - "Not yet one and twenty" ~ Elizabeth Bennet - She will turn 21 on December 16th, 1811. Mental - Usually considered more mature and informed than some her age.
Appearance: In Brief... Gender - Female; Age - 20; Nationality - British; Ethnicity - Caucasian; Hair - Dark Brown; Eyes - Blue; Height - 5'7" (1.7018 m/170.188 cm); Weight - 115 lbs. (52.16 Kg/8.214 stones.).
Appearance:
https://www.tumblr.com/ninfeias/654997700861952000/elizabeth-bennet-from-pride-and-prejudice-1995?source=share
The Longer Physical Description
Appearance: “She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men."
~ Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy
Within her community, Elizabeth Bennet is considered a beauty and a charming young woman with expressive eyes, "fine eyes", to which Mr. Darcy is first drawn. Darcy is later attracted more particularly to her "light and pleasing" figure, the "easy playfulness" of her manners, her personality and the liveliness of her mind, and eventually considers her "one of the handsomest women" in his acquaintance.
Elizabeth tends to wear her hair in a fairly ornate style, frequently with a centre part and long curls on either side of her face. The rest of her long hair is pinned up in a bun, often with a few ringkets hanging free. A servant spends some time at the beginning of each day assisting the girls with their morning toilet, especially the two older ones as they are out of the schoolroom and are of marriageable age. Elizabeth can maintain some version of this style while away from home, as doubtless so can Jane. For a ball, her hair may be decorated with strands of pearls and small clips, unlike other women such as Bingley's sisters who are all about fashion, with rich silks, the latest styles and fancy hats with huge feathers - or just those feathers secured in their hair. Long, white gloves are also something Elizabeth wears to a ball.
Make-up during the Regency period was more subtle, at least in certain circles. The aim was for a natural, healthy appearance. Skin care was most important and a clear complexion with a healthy glow was the ideal. Though a tanned face was still undesirable, a fresh face was fine. There were various face powders with could assist with evening the skin tone, if used sparingly. Blushes, eye shadows and liners and lipstick were, of course, still used, along with home remedies like fruit and herbs - but I digress. Other than skin care, I doubt the Bennet girls used much of anything else. Maybe powder.
As for Elizabeth in particular? She enjoys the outdoors and thus, has natural colour to her face. Possibly even a dusting of freckles across her nose and cheekbones. If she felt the need for extra colour to her face, she could always apply the age-old tricks of pinching her cheeks until they were more red and biting her lips for a similar effect. So, she is a natural beauty, with an round-ish face, a bit of a point to her chin, high cheekbones, a small nose and long, dark lashes and eyebrows. She has a small mole just about the left side of her upper lip. Her face could be described as 'sweet' and her expression often 'impish'. She is clean and well-groomed. Her Caucasian skin is fair, if not entirely as pale as the ideal female might aspire to, and free of blemishes. The shape of her lips could be described as rosebud and her smile is wide and welcoming. She is fortunate to have white, mostly-even teeth, with no over-bite or under-bite. Her top two front teeth tilt slightly in toward each other.
If it sounds like someone might grade her or any woman as if they were horses, welcome to the status of women and their lack of rights and proper positions in Regency society. They are property, legally viewed the same as a house, land and livestock.
Her figure is more curvaceous than those of her sisters (in the BBC mii-series), with her breasts being enhanced by the favoured high, Empire waist iconic of popular fashion at the time and often lower necklines, though these can be mitigated by a scarf, placed around the neck inside the collar and neckline of the dress, thus concealing more of the bosom. She also uses a shawl across her shoulders, for practical use to keep her warm but also for sensibility should any company, especially a gentleman, come calling.
Elizabeth dresses in natural colours: browns, reds, coral, blues and greens. Rich tones and some with small repeating patters, such as flowers. Ivory or cream, rather than whit,e is used in the BBC production for Elizabeth. The styles and materials are not as rich or embellished as those of, say, Bingley's sisters, but they are pretty, well-made and durable. The fabrics used would be muslin, cotton, silk and other natural fibres of the time.
In the BBC 1995 production, both Jane and Lizzy wear a cross pendent around their necks. Each one consists of topaz set in gold on a gold chain. They are replicas of a cross worn by Jane Austen, which was a gift from her brother, Henry.
If Elizabeth applies a scent, aside from being clean and whatever essential oils might be in the creams she uses, there are many options she can choose from. She could have even made her own, but that is a whole other rabbit hole. Suffice to say, whether Elizabeth makes her own or purchases it from someone, likely fragrances that I think might suit her would be: lavender, peppermint or roses; hints of citrus via orange and lemon rinds; herbs such as bergamot and rosemary.
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History
The Story of Pride and Prejudice:
The novel opens with one of the most famous lines in English literature: “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”
Elizabeth is the second eldest of the five Bennet sisters of the Longbourn Estate, situated near the fictional market village of Meryton in Hertfordshire, England. Elizabeth is described as an intelligent young woman, with "a lively, playful disposition, which delighted in anything ridiculous". She often presents a good-natured impertinence without being offensive.
Her father is a landowner with a small estate, Longbourn, but none of his daughters can inherit because the estate is entailed upon the male line. Ah, inequality and patriarchal nonsense: the good ol' days. Mr. Bennet seems to put considerable effort into not getting involved with other people's business, including certain issues within his own family. He often hides in his study, leaving his wife to assume the obligation and responsibilities he has willingly chosen to surrender.
The main concern of Mrs. Bennet is to see their daughters all married. This was a custom used as a way to ensure the property stayed in the family. In this society, women had to find a wealthy husband who could support them in the event the father died. Without a wealthy husband, the family would be thrown into poverty, shame or both after the father's death.
Anyway, when that sad day arrives, Longbourn will be inherited by Mr. Bennet's cousin and nearest male relation, Mr. William Collins, a clergyman for the Rosings Estate in Kent, which is owned by Lady Catherine de Bourgh. The Bennet sisters have only a relatively small dowry of £1,000. As their family's estate will pass out of their hands when their father dies, the family faces a major social decline, giving the Bennet girls only a limited time in which to find a husband as their father, though in good health, is not getting any younger. It is no wonder that Mrs. Bennet is eager to marry her daughters off to wealthy men and thus secure them positive futures. ASAP.
Mrs. Bennet has favourites among her daughters. According to her mother, Elizabeth is not as beautiful as the eldest Bennet girl, Jane, who their mother views as the most physically appealing of the five sisters and, therefore, most likely to make a beneficial match. Mrs. Bennet thinks Jane is the beginning and end of the definition of grace, elegance, poise, propriety, kindness, sweetness and so on as well as being highly desirable due to her physical attributes. Jane is all those things, but comparing the sisters to one another is unfair and potentially damaging to their self-confidence and self-worth.
The other daughter favoured by her mother is the youngest, Lydia, who, despite being only fifteen, is permitted to be boisterous, bossy and as bold as she wants to be and frequently gets her way. Her mother mostly dotes on her in order to be seen as a good mother by Lydia, whom she adores, and her father usually lets his wife's decisions stand in order to avoid Lydia having a fit. Mr. Bennet prefers a calm, quiet environment.
Elizabeth is her father's favourite, for her intelligence, her spirited wit, her quiet hobbies and her good or common sense. She is described by him as having "something more of quickness than her sisters".
At her core, Elizabeth struggles to find her place in a world she rejects - and one that could easily reject her if she fails to allow for some compromises. Her social status, as a female and at the lower end of being the daughter of a gentleman in Regency England, make it an uphill battle for this independent young woman.
Elizabeth Bennet is also afraid of being deprived of companionship because no one will decide to accept her as her true self. She fears not finding the marriage she hopes for: a union based on love. She does not want to be left 'on the shelf', a term for becoming a spinster, someone who was undesirable when she was young and is beyond being marriageable now she is 'old'. She is also afraid of being trapped in a loveless marriage, one where her freedom and independence might not be encouraged or supported because her husband would have no interest in understanding or accommodating her. These concerns are associated with her pride and unwillingness to accept anything less in life than her heart's desire.
Naturally, Mrs. Bennet sets her sights on the newly arrived Mr. Bingley, who she is sure will make a suitable husband for one of her daughters. He is a rich bachelor who rents the neighbouring Netherfield Estate.
At a Meryton dance, the family is introduced to Mr. Charles Bingley and the other members of the party, including his two sisters, Caroline, who is unmarried, and Louisa, who is married to Mr. Hurst, and his closest friend, Mr. Darcy. Bingley is friendly and cheerful. He takes an immediate interest in the beautiful and shy Jane and she in him.
The encounter between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth, however, is less cordial. Mr. Darcy, who is rumoured to earn double the income of Bingley, is haughty and aloof. Although they seem intrigued by one another, their first impressions are not favourable. The pride of rank and fortune and prejudice against the social inferiority of Elizabeth’s family holds Darcy aloof, while the pride of self-respect and prejudice against Darcy’s snobbery hold Elizabeth equally aloof.
That he also insults her at the gathering just adds to the effrontery: He declines to dance with Elizabeth, within her hearing, because she is "not handsome enough". That said, her self-esteem doesn't seem unduly affected by this assessment. Almost immediately, she transforms Darcy’s snub into a humorous story. Although she jokes about it with her friend, Charlotte Lucas, Elizabeth is deeply offended. Despite this first impression, Mr. Darcy secretly begins to find himself drawn to Elizabeth as they continue to encounter each other at social events, appreciating her wit and frankness. However, Elizabeth initially has no desire to forgive him for his insult.
Mr. Collins, the heir to the Longbourn estate, visits the Bennet family with the intention of finding a wife among the five girls under the advice of his patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, also revealed to be Mr. Darcy's aunt. Mr. Collins decides to pursue Elizabeth, at Mrs. Bennet's encouragement.
The Bennet family meets some of the soldiers currently stationed near Meryton, including the charming army officer George Wickham. He tells Elizabeth in confidence about Mr. Darcy's unpleasant treatment of him in the past. Elizabeth, blinded by her prejudice toward Mr. Darcy from their encounter at the ball, believes him. She is so confident in her judgement of others, which is frequently quite sound, that she doesn't look any further into the story, happy to support her usual favourite: the underdog. In this case, Mr. Wickham.
Elizabeth dances with Mr. Darcy at a ball hosted by Bingley at Netherfield, where Mrs. Bennet hints,
loudly, that she expects Jane and Bingley to become engaged and what a beneficial marriage that will be for her remaining daughters, as they will likely meet wealthy prospects because of this connection. Elizabeth is very concerned with the image she and her family projects to outsiders. She is embarrassed because everyone will think Jane is a gold digger and only wanting to marry Charles Bingley for his £5,000 a year. As if this wasn't enough, Elizabeth rejects Mr. Collins' marriage proposal, to her mother's fury and her father's relief. Mr. Collins subsequently proposes to Charlotte Lucas and is accepted.
Elizabeth finds herself in the proverbial doghouse with her mother after she refuses Mr. Collins' marriage proposal.
Lizzy puts her feelings above anything else. She is proud of her honesty, and, sometimes, she lets her feelings control her, coming out as blunt. She rejects Collins, because she couldn’t stand him. She doesn’t understand why Charlotte accepted his proposal, sacrificing her feelings for safety. Charlotte, already 27 and considered plain, decided she could suffer being married to someone like Mr. Collins, whom she does not love or really respect, because he provides her with financial security. She decided not to wait for a better offer because she doesn't think, at this stage in her life, she is likely to get one. So, like many women of the time, she settles.
At one point in the novel, Jane goes to visit the Bingleys at Netherfield and falls ill. Elizabeth places her own need to see her sister over the opinions of others when she makes the journey on foot, walking through mud and who knows what-else in order to get there. She doesn't care one jot what people, in this case the Bingleys, think of her. She wants to see her sick sister and anyone who would tell her 'no' could find themselves cut by her sharp wit/sarcasm or perhaps she would 'plant a facer' (punch them).
Having heard Mrs. Bennet's words at the ball and disapproving of the marriage, Mr. Darcy joins Mr. Bingley in a trip to London and, with the help of Bingley's sisters, persuades him not to return to Netherfield. A heartbroken Jane visits her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner in London to raise her spirits, while Elizabeth's hatred for Mr. Darcy grows as she suspects he was responsible for Mr. Bingley's departure.
She also displays "an unladylike athleticism". Elizabeth walks for miles, and constantly jumps, runs and rambles about, which was not considered conventional behavior for a well-bred lady in Regency England. Elizabeth is not afraid to converse with Mr. Darcy in a manner that might be perceived as 'racy' for the time. She is not afraid to linger in her looks at him, considered passionate, even intimate, though they only touch while dancing. The relationship verges on impropriety. An example: Many of the remarks made by Elizabeth to Darcy such as "Despise me if you dare" or his "I am not afraid of you" resound with sexual tension, which reflected "Austen's implicit approval of erotic love".
In the spring, Elizabeth visits Charlotte and Mr. Collins in Kent. Elizabeth and her hosts are invited to Rosings Park, Lady Catherine's home. Mr. Darcy and his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, are also visiting Rosings Park. Fitzwilliam tells Elizabeth how Mr. Darcy recently saved a friend, presumably Bingley, from an undesirable match. She realises who prevented her sister Jane's engagement and happiness.
Rather out-of-the-blue from Elizabeth's perspective, Mr. Darcy proposes to her, declaring his love for her despite her low social connections. She is shocked, as she was unaware of Mr. Darcy's interest, and rejects him angrily, saying that he is the last person she would ever marry and that she could never love a man who caused her sister such unhappiness. She also accuses him of treating Wickham unjustly. Mr. Darcy brags about his success in separating Bingley and Jane and sarcastically dismisses the accusation regarding Wickham without addressing it.
Elizabeth is very direct and brutal. She isn't trying to charm Mr. Darcy but to do quite the opposite. She wants to reject him so fully that he will never consider asking her again. Accepting his proposal goes against her goal of marrying for love. She only speaks so directly when in this situation, speaking volumes about the limits of her acquiescence to society's expectations.
>>>Elizabeth is pulled from canon here, after she declines Mr. Darcy's impossible proposal. He has just left her. Anything that follows has not happened to her yet.
The next day, Mr. Darcy gives Elizabeth a letter, explaining that Wickham, the son of his late father's steward, had refused the "living" his father had arranged for him and was instead given money for it. Wickham quickly squandered the money and tried to elope with Darcy's 15-year-old sister, Georgiana, for her considerable dowry, having cruelly and selfishly convinced the girl that he loved her. Mr. Darcy also writes that he separated Jane and Bingley because he believed Jane to be indifferent to Bingley and because of the lack of propriety displayed by her family. Elizabeth is ashamed by her family's behaviour and her own prejudice against Mr. Darcy.
Months later, Elizabeth accompanies the Gardiners on a tour of Derbyshire. They visit Pemberley, Darcy's estate, while Mr. Darcy os away. When he returns unexpectedly, he is exceedingly gracious with Elizabeth and the Gardiners. Elizabeth is surprised by Darcy's behaviour and grows fond of him, even coming to regret rejecting his proposal.
After seeing Pemberley, and meeting the staff, who have only good things to say about Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth realises Darcy's good character, and sees a chance to become part of society without compromising her values. Elizabeth is not guided by financial considerations, and refuses to seek favour with the wealthy aristocrat Lady Catherine de Bourgh, either during her visit to Charlotte or when Lady Catherine later travels to Longbourn to confront Elizabeth.
Shortly thereafter the youngest Bennet sister, Lydia, elopes with Mr. Wickham. The news is met with great alarm by Elizabeth, since the scandalous affair — which is unlikely to end in marriage — could ruin Lydia's reputation and those of the other Bennet sisters. Have they gone to Gretna Green, a place in Scotland just the other side of the border with England? It was, ostensibly, a popular spot for lovers who wished to elope fled to for a quick marriage. Unfortunately, knowing Wickham's nature, it is doubtful. Her family knows of no banns being posted. Banns was a notice read out on three successive Sundays in a parish church, announcing an intended marriage and giving the opportunity for objections.
She tells Mr. Darcy this news and departs home in haste. Her entire family is frightened and worried. Elizabeth is worried for Lydia’s safety since she has discovered Wickham’s true character, but she is also worried about the public image her family now presents to the world. Lydia's actions affect the 'quality' of the family and, therefore, reflect negatively on the eligibility and desirability of the four remaining sisters, who are still 'on the market'. As if finding a husband wasn't difficult enough...
When she tells Darcy of this situation, he goes to London, tracks Wickham down and 'persuades' him to marry Lydia, offering him money and a position with the military, a position stationed far from the family. Its as if he wants to give them a reprieve from this whole, dreadful experience. Bless 'im.
When the now married Lydia and Wickham visit the Bennet family at Longbourn, Lydia lets slip to her sisters, including Elizabeth, that Mr. Darcy was at her wedding. Mr. Darcy had sworn everyone involved to secrecy. Elizabeth promptly writes to her aunt in London, Mrs. Gardiner, who upon receiving her niece's letter, feels obliged to inform Elizabeth that indeed, Mr. Darcy secured the match, at great expense and trouble to himself. Also, he would accept no financial assistance from them when they offered.
Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy return to Netherfield. Jane accepts Mr. Bingley's proposal. Lady Catherine, having heard rumours that Elizabeth intends to marry Mr. Darcy, visits her and demands she promise never to accept Mr. Darcy's proposal, as she and Darcy's late mother had already planned his marriage to her daughter, Anne, a sickly girl firmly under her mother's thumb, unfortunately. Elizabeth refuses and asks the outraged Lady Catherine to leave. Darcy, heartened by his aunt's indignant relaying of Elizabeth's response, again proposes to her and this time, she accepts.
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Personality:
“I am only resolved to act in that manner, which will, in my own opinion, constitute my happiness, without reference to you, or to any person so wholly unconnected with me.” ~ Elizabeth Bennet
Random Thought: If Elizabeth was a D&D character, I think she would be 'Chaotic Good'.
Positive Trait: An Intelligent Liberal
It is presented that Elizabeth is the most intelligent and quick-witted of the five Bennet girls. Her admirable qualities are numerous. She is lovely, clever, and, in a novel defined by dialogue, she converses as brilliantly as anyone. Her honesty, virtue, and lively wit enable her to rise above the nonsense and bad behavior that seems to pervade her class-bound and often spiteful society. She is perceptive, generally optimistic, and open to new experiences. A strong sense of adventure, if you will.
Elizabeth is able to manoeuvre within the male-dominated power structure of Regency England to assert her interests in a patriarchal system that favours her father and all the other men in
the story. It is strongly implied that it was the financial irresponsibility of Mr. Bennet that has placed his family in a precarious social position. Furthermore, it is Elizabeth who criticizes her father for not doing more to teach her sisters, Lydia and Catherine, the value of a good character. She is quite perceptive, but Mr. Bennet disregards her warning. His lack of attention doesn't lead to Lydia's eloping with Mr. Wickham, per se, but it certainly doesn't provide Lydia with the tools she needs to avoid such a circumstance, either. When this comes to pass, Mr. Bennet apologizes to Elizabeth for not listening to her. For her part, she tries to reassure him even though she suspects the situation is hopeless, and not an 'I told you so' even enters her thoughts.
Elizabeth enjoys time to herself, but she shines in the presence of company. The prospect of a ball puts her in “the highest spirits.” Moreover, her energy seems heightened whenever she’s meeting someone new or engaging in conversation, which is why so many lines of her dialogue are witty to the point of being worthy of laughing out loud.
She can be quite critical of a person or a situation, someone who will roast your arse but with the polite, flowery language expected of someone in this time and social circles.
At one point, Elizabeth says: "I am resolved to act in that manner, which will, in my own opinion, constitute my happiness, without reference to you, or to any other person wholly unconnected with me". This was a surprisingly strong statement for a female character in 1813.
Elizabeth regards herself as competent to judge what is "wise and good", and refuses to let others dictate to her. When speaking with Lady Catherine, Elizabeth reaffirms her wish to be part of the elite by marrying Darcy, instead of challenging it, as she says: "He is a gentleman; I am a gentleman's daughter; so far we are equal." However, the way in which both Elizabeth's parents are portrayed as, if not bad parents, then at least not entirely good parents, implies that Elizabeth is more sensible and able to judge people better than both her mother and father, making her the best one to decide who her husband should be.
However, Elizabeth is able to see, albeit belatedly, that Wickham had misled her about Darcy, admitting she was too influenced by "every charm of air and address". Elizabeth, who, after rejecting Darcy and then receiving his letter explaining his actions, rethinks her view of him, and comes to understand that her pride and prejudice had blinded her to Mr. Darcy's true form.
Negative Trait: Pride
“I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine.”
Early in the novel, she is depicted as being personally proud of her wit and her accuracy in judging the social behaviour and intentions of others.
Elizabeth’s first encounter with Mr. Darcy does not show either of them in their best light. She is prejudiced and dislikes him for distain of the Meryton festivities and the citizens themselves. When he refuses to dance with her, Elizabeth's opinion of him descends further. Mr. Darcy is arrogant and haughty, believing himself above the locals and their manner of celebration. Elizabeth's pride is wounded and this further supports her prejudice against him.
When confronted by Lady Catherine de Bourgh, she knows she cannot outright lie, but she manages to evade telling the outright truth by answering questions with questions and pointing out holes in the Lady's logic: (“This is not to be borne! Has my nephew made you an offer of marriage?” Elizabeth: “Your Ladyship has declared it to be impossible.”). To a certain extent, her pride is again tested, but she refuses to give the woman any power over her decisions.
Negative Trait: Prejudice
Elizabeth feels strongly by her ethics and morals, as well as observations. Yet she jumps into a rash conclusion when Mr. Wickham gives her his story (which, as we know, was a lie), and doesn't focus much on gathering facts and evidence for his claims. She goes by her own emotional/personal bias - her prejudice - based on things that Mr. Darcy had done and said beforehand (which is judgmental of her), and probably because she'd been charmed by Wickham at the time.
Lizzy's prejudice against Mr. Darcy develops from a very personal grudge where Darcy describes Lizzy as someone "not handsome enough to tempt [him]". While she later frames it as a social faux pas in her description of his behaviour (see the pianoforte scene with Fitzwilliam), it's ultimately a personal grudge. If anything, her moral reasons for rejecting Darcy are about personal slights against people she cares about (Jane, Wickham). There's really nothing related to a greater good or anything to that effect.
Sometimes she misjudges people around her because of her naivety – for example, misunderstanding the social pressures on her friend Charlotte to get married, being taken in completely for a time by Wickham and misjudging Darcy's character. After hearing Wickham's account disparaging Darcy's character, and being advised by her sister Jane not to jump to conclusions, Elizabeth confidently tells her "I beg your pardon – one knows exactly what to think".
However, Elizabeth is able to see, albeit belatedly, that Wickham had misled her about Darcy, admitting she was too influenced by "every charm of air and address". Elizabeth, who, after rejecting Darcy and then receiving his letter explaining his actions, rethinks her view of him, and comes to understand that her pride and prejudice had blinded her to his true nature.
Negative Trait: Stubborn
“There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me.” ~ Elizabeth Bennet
Elizabeth Bennet rejects two offers of marriage by the time she arrives at Pemberley.
Two. This is unheard of for a young woman in her circumstances and with the clock ticking, too. She is stubbornly determined to wait for someone she can love and respect and who will, in turn, love and respect her.
So, she rejects:
~ Her cousin, Mr. Collins, a member of the clergy who cow-tows to Lady Catherine de Borgh because she dominates him, and who will inherit Longbourn when her father dies.
~And Mr. Darcy, a gentleman well-thought-of with a substantial estate and associated income. One she perceives to be a fool and the other she perceives to be too proud and prejudice to acknowledge good people due to their lower social status.
In spite of her mistake in misjudging Wickham and Darcy, and her more blamable fault of sticking stubbornly to that judgment until forced to see her error, Elizabeth is usually right about people. For example, she painfully recognizes the inappropriate behavior of most of her family, and she quickly identifies Mr. Collins as a fool and Lady Catherine as a tyrant. However, this ability to size people up leads her too far at times. She proceeds from reasonable first impressions of Darcy and Wickham to definite and wrong conclusions about their characters. Her confidence in her own discernment — a stubborn combination of both pride and prejudice — is what leads her into her worst errors.
Powers and Abilities:
Unlike people who occupy universes with superheroes, fantasy realms with knights and dragons, the hidden supernatural and other speculative fiction, Elizabeth Bennet has no special powers or abilities.
She is used to a fairly mundane and repetitive daily routine, restrained by certain societal confines, but she is more than capable of being independent. In her interaction with other characters and her observations, either she has pursued a more varied and intentional education, officially or on her own, or she is simply more well-read than her sisters. She also seems to retain information quite well and can relay it in a comprehensive format.
Aside from being a proficient and frequent reader of many topics, Elizabeth can play the piano or piano-forte and sing, but admits she doesn't practice often enough to be very proficient. She is also an excellent and frequent writer of letters, something she genuinely enjoys.
Doubtless, she also has other hobbies in keeping with many young women of her time and social status. They are skills on a level more mundane than flying, releasing a spell, bending steel, being adept with all sorts of weapons and so on.
The following list consists of hobbies and/or activities typical of the Regency Period and therefore it is likely that Elizabeth has applied herself to one or many if them.
~ Reading ~ Confirmed.
~ The Writing of Letters ~ Confirmed.
~ Playing Piano or Piano-forte ~ Confirmed.
~ Singing ~ Confirmed.
~ Needlepoint
~ Horse Riding ~ Highly likely. Jane is shown riding a horse to Netherfield in the BBC adaptation and all five of the Bennet daughters have likely learned how to ride.
~ Drawing and Painting
~ Drying and Pressing Flowers
~ Keeping a Diary
~ Taking Walks ~ Confirmed. ~ Preferably outside rather than just parading around a room. She is a lover of nature, regardless of the weather or conditions underfoot.
~ Cards and Games ~ for example, these were popular:
*Blind Man’s Bluff
*Lawn Bowls
*The Game of Graces
*Cup and Ball
*Spillikins
*Whist... and so on, though none of the cards and games are directly discussed in the novel in relation to Elizabeth.
And, of course...
~ Dancing ~ Confirmed. ~ Though Elizabeth seems to see social gatherings, including balls, mostly for an opportunity to converse, meet new people, learn about their travels and other potentially interesting things. She probably enjoys dancing well-enough, but to just do so for the sake of dancing, without any other interaction with your partner, such as conversation, as stimulus, seems to be less exciting for her.
Other aspects of her daily routine include less arduous tasks. There would also be tea and snacks and receiving visitors, something which does occur in the novel. Is it an ability to graciously receive someone and engage in idle, if boring, conversation? For Elizabeth, she could certainly manage that, but would prefer to have a more lively and engaging conversation, something at which she usually excels.
Inventory: Her journal, sketching paper with pencils, the topaz cross necklace.
Samples:
https://bennetdiction.dreamwidth.org/6105.html
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bennetdiction) wrote2025-04-07 01:24 pm
