Pride and Prejudice!

"Miss Bennet was therefore extablished as a sweet girl, and their brother felt authorized by such commendation to think of her as he chose."

- end of Ch. 4

"There are very few of us who have heart enough to be really in love without encouragement. In nine cases out of ten a woman had better show more affection than she feels. Bingley likes your sister, undoubtedly; but he may never do more than like her, if she does not help him on . . . When she is secure of him, there will be leisure for falling in love as much as she chooses . . . if she were married to him tomorrow, I should think she had as good a chance of happiness as if she were to be studying his character for a twelvemonth . . . "

"You know it is not sound, and that you would never act in this way yourself."(irony!)

"But no sooner had he made it clear to himself and his friends that she had hardly a good feature in her face, han he began to find it was rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of her dark eyes. To this discovery succeeded some others equally mortifying."

- Ch. 6

It seems that our leading ladies - and perhaps our leading men - are torn between what is practical and what is romantic. Austen makes the situation humorous, but the girls' situation really is a serious one. They have no option but to marry, and the person they marry will determine most aspects of their lives. Luckily Austen always gives us a happy ending, but real life isn't so easy. What is one to do? What is the best option? Specifically, should one rely on the advice of others, or on one's own experience? In Jane's case, she nearly loses (and indeed would have lost, if she hadn't been so lucky) Bingley because she takes her time determing his character for herself. On the other hand, Lizzie almost loses Darcy because she bases her opinion of him on the opinion of others. The men have an easier time of it - not so much depends on their decision - but they also struggle with how to deal with common opinion. Bingley is easily swayed, while Mr. Darcy appears to be the most honest character of all (although he is hard to read, he does always act on his genuine feelings). Sometimes appearences are useful things, as per Charlotte's advice. How should one solve these problems? Is there a right way or a wrong way? How honest should one be about one's opinions, especially since those opinions are liable to drastic changes?