Pride and Prejudice ROAR

Gabriela Maldonado

English 10

Mr. Doreian

 Summary (1-60): Pride and Prejudice is the story of a woman living in the eighteen hundreds, who is way ahead of her time. Elizabeth Bennet lives with her father and mother, and four other sisters. In order; Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia are Mr. and Mrs. Bennet’s daughters. Elizabeth thinks nothing of getting married to a rich man, and therefore had much pride. While Mrs. Bennet is in a hurry to get them all married, Mr. Bennet shows nepotism towards Elizabeth, who is bright, outspoken, and a bit judgmental. At a party the Bennets attend, Jane catches the eyes of a wealthy man named Mr. Bingley. His friend, Mr. Darcy, is a haughty, rude, and quiet man; opposite of Mr. Bingley’s friendly attitude. Darcy, on first sight, remarks that Elizabeth is not attractive and very plain. Soon after does he realize how intelligent and proud she is.

Quote: “Mr. Darcy had at first scarcely allowed her to be pretty…But no sooner had he made it clear to himself and his friends that she had hardly a good feature on her face, than he began to find it was rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression in her dark eyes” (Austen 21).

Reaction: I admire Elizabeth because she is proud of who she is. She believes that one doesn’t need a man to be satisfied. After being degraded by Darcy, she still has fun at the parties she goes to, which impresses him even more. I can relate to Elizabeth, because she believes as I do; that marrying a man is nothing compared to freedom. I know at the end they do end up together, but I enjoy reading about her indifference towards Darcy, which makes him all the more curious about her.  

Summary (61-120): A cousin named Mr. Collins, who is in line for the Bennet’s estate, visits the Bennet house and falls for Jane. He’s bizarre, loquacious and awkward. Elizabeth meets a soldier named Mr. Wickham who has shared a terrible past with Mr. Darcy. Believing Wickham’s degrading claims, Elizabeth attends Mr. Bingely’s ball with her family, treating Mr. Darcy coldly. When Mr. Darcy asks Elizabeth to dance, however, she mindlessly says yes. Mr. Collins, after learning that Jane might become engaged, switches to Elizabeth. He proposes to her, but she denies him, winning her mother’s unfriendliness and disapproval in the act. Mr. Collins meets Elizabeth’s friend, Charlotte, and soon, they’re engaged, much to Elizabeth’s disliking.

Quote: “I am not one of those young ladies…who are so daring as to risk their happiness on the chance of being asked a second time. I am perfectly serious in my refusal,” (Austen, 94).

Reaction: During this time period in which this story takes place, it is common for a woman to be proposed to and accept because of the property and money that could be gained. Elizabeth surprises me more and more as I read about her, because even with the fact that when her father dies, Mr. Collins will inherit the estate, she still refuses him after he asks her a few times. She’s haughty, determined, and headstrong in a way that makes her proud of herself. She doesn’t care what her mother thinks about her decisions. Most women should be like Elizabeth, because she wouldn’t ruin her freedom, her happiness just to be married to someone she doesn’t love. She would rather be kicked out of her home than marry Mr. Collins.   

 Summary (160-END): Elizabeth visits her friend, Charlotte, Mr. Collins wife. During her visit, she is introduced to Mr. Collins’ boss; Lady Catherine Du Bourge. She is very egocentric woman, almost as proud as Elizabeth, and she is astonished at Elizabeth’s smart tongue when she criticizes her about her lack of wealth. There, she meets again with Mr. Darcy, who is Lady Catherine’s nephew, and is oblivious to the fact that he soon will be married to Lady Catherine’s daughter, Anne. Elizabeth learns that Mr. Darcy is the one who broke up her sister Jane and Mr. Bingley. When Mr. Darcy proposes, she denies him coldly, and he promises to never bother her again, but leaves a letter at Charlotte’s house, explaining why he did what he did. Lady Catherine finds out of his proposal and arrives at Elizabeth’s house, demanding a confirmation of the rumor of Darcy and Elizabeth’s engagement. When she leaves, Darcy arrives and once again confesses his love for her. She sees how caring and wrong she was about him and they get engaged.

Quote: “In vain have I struggled… You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you,” (Austen, 161).

Reaction: I personally do not believe in love, but I was just in shock when Darcy, the arrogant man in the beginning, immediately told Elizabeth that he loved her. I was dumbstruck at the power of his love for her, how he never forgot about her even after spring passed in the story. Though she hated him so much, I also admired Elizabeth’s change in character at the end, because she finally let her cold shell crack to open up to the man that has done so much wrong, but has changed to please her. That’s the kind of thing you only read in a book.      

ROAR Notes: Cleopatra

Summary (10-80): PtolemyXI, pharaoh of Egypt, inherited the throne from his father Ptolemy XI. By his side, was his wife Berenice. Wanting the throne and all its glory for himself, Ptolemy murdered his wife, only to be killed for it by an angry mob of Alexandrians afterwards. Egypt’s world was about to crumble. Later, though, the legitimate son of the last Ptolemy took the throne and Cleopatra became her younger brother’s queen.

Quote: “In 81 the death of Ptolemy IX, king of Egypt, plunged the Ptolemaic dynasty into crisis,” (Cleopatra,10).

Reaction: Joyce Tyldesley tells the story of one of the world’s most successful, daring, astute women; Cleopatra.  Tyldesley describes the near crumble of Egypt, the rise and fall of Egypt’s most powerful pharaohs, the violence between Rome and Egypt, and the woman who helped cared for it all. Cleopatra is described as a strong political figure rather than the beautiful succubus she is believed to be. Her reign over the land brought Egypt to its most success, along with raising it from the dangers of collapse. Overall, the author explains Cleopatra’s story with detail and clarity. 

Summary (pg.81- 140): Cleopatra is the pharaoh of Egypt, and unaware that she would be the last. After her liaison with Caesar, (a love no one in Rome supported), she gave birth to Caesarion, declaring that one day he would be king of all Egypt. Things take a terrible turn when Caser is killed and Cleopatra’s brother, as well Romans do their best to take down the queen. The queen, being head strong and powerful, refuses to be defeated. 

Quote: “…Cleopatra’s choice of symbols suggests that she was deliberately identifying herself not only with Isis, but also with the politically powerful and still-popular Arsinoë II, who was herself identified with Isis” (Tyldesley, 136).

Note: Isis was a powerful Egyptian Goddess.                       

Reaction: Cleopatra is definitely known for her authority and Tyldesley highlights those points very well. As the author describes the Egyptian gods, it is with blatancy that she hints of Cleopatra’s power as well. It was shocking to see just how much authority Cleopatra had at this point in the story, and made it an intriguing point that kept me reading. She commanded her armies, served in battles, and fought for her position. The way Cleopatra is described would make it seem like she was some kind of goddess who held control to all of Alexandria and Egypt. Tyldesley delivers an exciting and open tale about one of the most amazing women that ever lived. 

Summary: Cleopatra, one of the world’s most illustrious figures in history, is at the top Egypt’s royalty. When her love for Caesar, a Roman leader is discovered, his death ensues along with the birth of Cleopatra’s first son. Cleopatra then finds love and comfort in Mark Antony, another Roman leader whose love for the Egyptian queen kills him. Octavian, a Roman ruler who despises Cleopatra, threatens to kill Cleopatra. Mark Antony, believing the lie that Cleopatra is dead, falls on his sword. Hearing this Cleopatra plans her end; refusing to be alive if Octavian should capture her.   

Reaction: The story of Cleopatra held two major themes for me; power and love. Both twined together for Cleopatra, and her love for both killed her. In my opinion she was a strong leader, nearly invincible. Even if Mark Antony hadn’t killed himself, I believe Cleopatra would’ve died either way, but by the orders of Octavian. She was cunning in the way she kept her kingdom together and she refused to give up. She was ambitious and brave, which is very hard to find in a true queen because of their fine titles and luxurious lives. Indisputably, Cleopatra was one of the most memorable, powerful, and amazing women that ever lived.