Favorite passages in Pride and Prejudice

[Christopher]

I have a couple of favorite passages.  These passages all involve Lizzie and the Gardiners.  I am just so ... (I don't know the word, some cross between satisfied, impressed, and pleased) with the relationship between them.

Volume 3, chapter 2 (chapter 44): The suspicions which had just arisen of Mr. Darcy and their niece, directed their observation towards each with an earnest, though guarded, enquiry; and they soon drew from those enquiries the full conviction that one of them at least knew what it was to love. Of the lady's sensations they remained a little in doubt; but that the gentleman was overflowing with admiration was evident enough."

Volume 3, chapter 3 (chapter 45): "The looks and behavior of every body they had seen were discussed, except of the person who had mostly engaged their attention. They talked of his sister, his friends, his house, his fruit, of every thing but himself; yet Elizabeth was longing to know what Mrs. Gardiner thought of his and Mrs. Gardiner would have been highly gratified by her niece's beginning the subject."

Volume 3, chapter 10 (chapter 52): "Pray forgive me, if I have been very presuming, or at least do not punish me so far, as to exclude me from P. I shall never be quite happy till I have been all around the park. A low phaeton, with a nice little pair of ponies, would be the very thing."

What are some of your favorite passages?

[Cinthia]

I have a very twisted sense of humour because some of Mr. Bennet's comments are among my favourites. For example, in chapter 20, when Lizzy is faced with the great dilemma over her parents. And then in chapter 54, what he says about making sport of one's neighbours.

[mandyn]

Oh, I adore Mr Bennet, well, as a character ! It's hard to understand how Mr B can be so apathetic about his family responsibilities but Jane Austen herself best describes him; 'Mr Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, and caprice,'
I enjoy this example of Mr Bennet's humour; 'Next to being married, a girl likes to be crossed a little in love...and it gives her a sort of distinction among her companions'. ...Also his remark on nothing can clear Mr Collins of the guilt of inheriting Lonbourn.

I think Mr Bennet almost infamous for making sport of his neighbors, his wife, Mr Collins, his younger daughters and everything ;-0

I also enjoy Darcy's own deadpan remark 'Every savage can dance' To his host Sir William at Lucas Lodge. Not exactly Darcy at his politest, but displays his dry, economical wit.

[mandyn]

Most people who read these boards are pretty good readers of Jane Austen;- partly thanks to our training at the school of Pemberley.  
I know Jane Austen wrote in clear prose so novels like P&P are intelligible for us modern readers. But, I occasionally find some of Jane Austen's language complex. I find this an interesting passage from P&P from (ch. 9) from the time Mrs Bennet visited Netherfield to check on Jane's progress with Mr Bingley.
" 'He wrote some verses on her,  and very pretty they were'
'And so ended his affection,' said Elizabeth impatiently. 'There has been many a one, I fancy, overcome in some way. I wonder who first discovered the efficacy of poetry in driving away love!'
'I have been used to consider poetry as the food of love', said Mr Darcy.
'Of a fine, stout, healthy love it may be. Everything nourishes what is strong already. But if it be only a slight, thin sort of inclination, I am convinced that one good sonnet may starve it entirely away'. "

Quite a pretty passage; however, I am unsure what Lizzy means by everything nourishes a strong healthy love but one good sonnet may starve away a thin sort of inclination ?

Does Lizzy mean love needs to be nurtured by more than poetry ? (perhaps referring to Jane's London admirer who'd written her verses) Or does it mean love may stale into sentiment, duty and boredom without imagination ? (or as Darcy says poetry as the food of love)  
Or am I totally on the wrong track !??

Thus is my predicament. Help me fellow Pemberfolk ! I would appreciate any thoughts on these passages.  

[juliep]

Mandy, Elizabeth is being rather snarky, in my view. She's making fun of both Darcy and her mother. I think the key phrase here is "...said Elizabeth impatiently." She wants to get out of that house ASAP, and there's her mother, twittering away instead of getting the Hell out of Dodge.

[mandyn]

During her Netherfield stay, both Elizabeth and Darcy seem edgy and abit defensive when they converse. Agree, Elizabeth is anxious to leave the house with Jane. Darcy will also be glad to see the Bennets leave.
Is it possible Elizabeth thought it unwise for Mrs Bennet to prattle about some old admirer of Janes in front of the Bingleys and quickly makes clear the affection had ended ?

Oh well, possibly Elizabeth thinks (pianoforte) music is the food of love, rather than poetry

[juliep]

I honestly think that Elizabeth just wants to get out of that house. I think she says what she thinks will cut the conversation short.

[mandyn]

Julie, I know P&P isn't your fave Jane Austen but as I recall, you read the book ages before me. You must have a couple of preferred P&P passages ?

[juliep]

It's not as if I hate it! I'm sure I could come up with something, but I can't do it right now. Work's getting in the way.

[juliep]

I freely admit to being warped. My favorite line in the entire book is this one, from the very end:

Happy for all her maternal feelings was the day on which Mrs. Bennet got rid of her two most deserving daughters.

It makes me laugh each and every time I read it.

[mandyn]

Good 1 ! And I am sure Mrs Bennet was completely distracted; 'so many jewels, carriages, what pin money she shall have!'