Fordyce’s Sermons
Books
Mr. Collins chooses Sermons to Young Women by James Fordyce to read to his 5 female cousins for entertainment. He refuses to continue reading after Lydia interrupts and is offended that his cousins are not all receptive to his lesson. It not only illustrates his own pious airs, but also his intention to monitor the behavior of the young ladies whose estate he will inherit. He continues to write to their father about their affairs after he returns home.
James Fordyce
Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
Brianna Sumption
Novel
Georgiana’s Piano-Forte
Instruments
Mr. Darcy gives his younger sister Georgiana a new piano-forte as a gift. This demonstrates his caring attentions as her guardian and Georgiana’s accomplishment. She practices much of the day and is regarded for her skill. Georgiana’s accomplishment is subtly compared to both Elizabeth’s and Jane’s accomplishment by Lady Catherine and Miss Bingly.
Unknown
Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
Brianna Sumption
Novel
Mr. Darcy’s Letter
Personal Memorabilia
Mr. Darcy’s letter of explanation to Elizabeth is a turning point in their love story. After Elizabeth rejects Mr. Darcy’s marriage proposal, he writes a letter that addresses two accusations she made against him – his treatment of Wickham and his separation of Jane and Mr. Bingly. After reading his account in the letter, she realizes that her impressions were entirely wrong in those two cases and many more. She lets go of her prejudices and begins to fall in love. He let go of his pride enough to explain himself to her.
Mr. Darcy
Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
Brianna Sumption
Novel
The Bennet’s Carriage
Land Based Vehicles
The Bennets own a carriage, as befits the landed gentry, but the horses that pull it must also be used for field work, illustrating the family’s lack of wealth. Mrs. Bennet uses this to her advantage when she refuses to let Jane take the carriage to Netherfield because the horses are needed in the field. As she hoped, rain keeps Jane at Netherfield, allowing her and Elizabeth to get to know their future husbands.
Unknown
Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
Brianna Sumption
Novel
Lydia Bennet’s Bonnet
Accessories
Lydia purchases her new bonnet while waiting for Jane and Elizabeth in Hartfordshire. Even though she, herself, does not like it and her wiser sisters insist it is ugly, she is happy to spend her money on it. She then needs to borrow money from her sisters for lunch. This is representative of Lydia’s carelessness toward finances, which she brings into her imprudent marriage to Mr. Wickham. It foreshadows her and Wickham’s lifelong dependence upon Elizabeth’s and Jane’s families for money because of their mismanagement.
Unknown
Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
Brianna Sumption
Novel