Don’t pay any attention to Cranky McJerkpants and the Superior Sisters there. Chat away.

Oh! and we forgot to link to the latest post on the PBS Remotely Connected blog. Seth Cassel discusses Lady Catherine de Bourgh:

While Lady Catherine does have a role in the plot of Pride and Prejudice, her primary function is to give us a better understanding of other characters in the novel. Lady Catherine’s bout with Elizabeth over her relationship with Mr. Darcy is used to reinforce Elizabeth’s character as strong and impertinent. Austen sees Elizabeth’s nature in a positive light and sets her apart from the other women in the novel as a type of heroine, standing up to Lady Catherine by saying “I am only resolved to act in a manner which will… constitute my happiness, without reference to you” (298). Another fascinating use of Lady Catherine is how she is used to spotlight the personality change of Mr. Darcy. Lady Catherine and Mr. Darcy have similar amounts of wealth, which puts them fairly close in terms of rank. However, while Lady Catherine disapproves of Elizabeth’s “obstinate, headstrong” nature (296), Mr. Darcy relishes Elizabeth’s character, which the reader observes in her confrontation with Lady Catherine. Mr. Darcy’s differing opinion from Lady Catherine, despite their common rank, helps establish his divergence from the social norm. The juxtaposition of the two characters highlights Mr. Darcy’s change from prideful and conceited, which characterizes Lady Catherine, to not being “selfish and overbearing” (308). A minor use of Lady Catherine is to help establish the character of Mrs. Gardiner as compassionate and understanding, as they are both aunts. Lady Catherine’s interaction with her nephew, Mr. Darcy, can be clearly identified in her antiquated insistence upon an arranged marriage between Mr. Darcy and Miss De Bourgh. This relationship is contrasted with that between Mrs. Gardiner and her niece, Elizabeth. Mrs. Gardiner simply offers suggestions to Elizabeth, such as recommending the “understanding and opinions” of Mr. Darcy (271). The difference in the way the two aunts offer opinions to their relatives makes the caring and nurturing nature of Mrs. Gardiner apparent to the reader.

Part the First, Part the Second

Day 13: Miss M. came to dinner. Father drunk as usual, nearly gave away the game with his comments on the “elasticity” of her walk. Eleanor and I on tenterhooks waiting for him to reveal too much to Miss M. Afraid was not the wittiest.

Day 14: Frederick came to Rooms with us tonight. Pulled me out of set to ask if I knew that my girlfriend’s brother was engaged to a succubus. Said he would “take care of her.” Typical Freddy, swanning off with the pretty succubus with that “Tilney…Frederick Tilney” His-Majesty’s-Secret-Service rubbish while the rest of us are actually battling the demon hordes. Must admit it always works, but bloody annoying.

Day 15: Met with Sir W— E—. Had to wait while he fixed his hair in at least three looking-glasses before he dismissed the servant and could get down to business. Trifle weary of his act. Percy Blakeney left his card, wants his schtick back, blah de blah. Sir W— troubled to hear about werewolf and succubus, suggested take Miss M. into country, said N. Abbey perfect place for training ground. Does he think I’m going to marry her or something?

Day 16: Freddy came back from Pump Room, said Miss M. was arguing with succubus for switching her attention from Mr. M. to Freddy. Full of himself now. Wager he just wants to get into the succubus’ petticoats. Literally. Eleanor has invited Miss M. to N. Abbey next week. Must prepare training regimen. Horseback riding, toss apples at her to sharpen reflexes, the usual. Curious that we have apples on trees in April. Must have something to do with Abbey being Hellmouth. We do get rather mild winters.

Day 17: Danced with Miss M. at Rooms tonight. She is still concerned about Freddy and succubus. Think I smoothed things over. Freddy better come up to scratch before succubus consumes Miss M.’s brother, or I’ll… I’ll what? Really, it’s not like I’m going to marry Miss M. or anything. Really.

Day 18: Drove to N. Abbey. Father put Miss M. in curricle with me. Eleanor had to fight off demons that had hidden in chaise at Petty France. Fortunately Freddy left her some of his special “toys.” Gave opportunity to break news to Miss M. about vampyres at Abbey. Afraid she thought it a joke. Still the wittiest, but sometimes backfires.

Just when you think Jane has been everywhere she could possibly be, she turns up somewhere unexpected.

Has John Mayer been reading Jane Austen? In a new interview, the dreamboat-y crooner, 30, appears to prove that whole universally acknowledged truth about how a man in possession of a good fortune (and, in his case, good hair) must be in want of a wife.

What he’s apparently not in want of is Paris Hilton, at least according to the New York Post, which claims he rebuffed her attempts to show him whether her too-often-seen body really is a wonderland.

A snitch tattles to the paper that the big screen-bombing starlet (”The Hottie & the Nottie” made a mortifying $27,000 in its opening weekend), put in an appearance at a post-Grammy bash and “aggressively tried to hook up” with Mayer by “following him around and dancing, trying to get him to look at her.”

Hilton’s enticement efforts reportedly climaxed with her plopping down at a table and motioning him to plant himself in an empty seat next to her.

“John politely sat for less than a second before ignoring her and moving to chat with a group of friends,” relates the source.

So does that mean Paris Hilton is Caroline Bingley?

“When I find the person I can relate to on that level and who is also a pinup and who also says, ‘Can I please take pictures of your ass?’ then I am going to get married to her. That I can promise you.”

Mr. Darcy could tell you that you might get a slightly different answer than you expect to such a very obliging proposal, sir.

“In such cases as this, it is, I believe, the established mode to express a sense of obligation for the sentiments avowed, however unequally they may be returned. It is natural that obligation should be felt, and if I could feel gratitude, I would now thank you. But I cannot.”

Thanks to Alert Janeite Sofia for the link!

Hey, kids, let’s put on a show! Alert Janeite Lisa spotted a school production of P&P in the Portland area from February 28-March 1. The kids’ takes on the story are great:

Aaron Hughlett, 16, a sophomore at Barlow High School, is playing Mr. Darcy, whom he describes as “kind of a nice guy,” at least on the inside, but one who’s been hurt in the past and has learned to wear conservative armor.

“I kind of point out to people their faults and stuff and make them realize it,” Aaron says of his character.

Elizabeth Johnson, 18, a Corbett High senior, plays Elizabeth Bennet.

“I think I can read everybody else’s feelings and keep mine hidden and in the end, though, everything winds up coming out,” she says of her character.

Jenny Layton, 15, a sophomore at Corbett, plays Elizabeth’s mother, eager to find her daughter a match. Her character is well-meaning but a little self-serving, Jenny says.

“She thinks she’s a great mother and a great person and fun to be around and witty, but she’s really annoying.”

Out of the mouths of babes!

Tickets are $7-9 (a bargain!) and available online. If you go, we’d love to hear about it!