Significance of Location in Pride and Prejudice Significance

Significance of Location in Pride and Prejudice

Significance of Journeys n The majority of action within the story takes place indoors, centering around the Bennet household. n Long journeys & short trips initiate change within the novel. n The journeys bring people together and reveal their true feelings and character within. n As such, most of the locations are symbols

A Guided Tour of Pride and Prejudice We will review who lives where and major events at each location. Accordingly, we will identify what these locations might symbolize.

Village of Longbourn Residence of the Bennet family

Longbourn Estate Facts • Located one mile from Meryton Village Key Events n Main place of action within Bennet Family n Mr. Collins’s visit and proposal to Elizabeth n The Gardiners visit at Christmastime n Jane gets engaged to Bingley • Estate of £ 2000 per year • To “entail” means to leave the bulk of one’s wealth to the oldest male heir

Netherfield Park Residence of the Bingleys

Netherfield Park Facts • Mansion coveted by inhabitants of surrounding villages • Located three miles from the Longbourn Estate Key Events Jane’s illness & extended visit n Mr. Bingley’s ball n Departure of the Bingleys & Darcy to London n Return to Netherfield to court Jane (and Lizzy) n

Lucas Lodge “ He had removed with his family to a house about a mile from Meryton, . . . where he could think with pleasure of his own importance, and, unshackled by business, occupy himself solely in being civil to all the world. ”

Lucas Lodge Facts n n Situated one mile from Meryton Village in close proximity to Longbourn Estate Characterized by its modest and humble appearance Key Events • Miss Bennets visit to gossip about Meryton Ball • Mr. Collins pursues his courtship of Charlotte Lucas

Meryton Village

Meryton Village Key Events • Opening ball and assembly held here • The Bennet sisters make several visits to Mrs. Phillips & the militia regiment

London n n Largest city in 1800 Loose morals in all levels of society Prosperity and Squalor - Industrial Revolution Move to suburbs Actual street names

London Key Events: n Mr. Bingley and entourage sojourn n Jane visits Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner n Lydia and Wickham’s hideout

Search for Lydia & Wickham In the end, Darcy manages to preserve the Bennet family honor.

Rosings The residence of Lady Catherine de Bourgh

Rosings Lady de Bourgh’s dinner parties n Darcy and Elizabeth see each other during park walks n Elizabeth receives the letter from Darcy n

Hunsford Key Events: n Elizabeth visits Mr. Collins and Charlotte n Mr. Darcy frequently visits Elizabeth n Colonel Fitzwilliam rejects her n Mr. Darcy proposes Mr. Collins’s Patronage

Elizabeth visits Charlotte • While visiting Charlotte and Mr. Collins at Hunsford, Elizabeth encounters Darcy at Rosings. • This leads to Darcy’s first proposal to Elizabeth.

Brighton “I assure you that I dread the idea of going to Brighton as much as you do, but I am not without hopes that something may happen to prevent it. ” Jane Austen to Cassandra Popular British seaside resort

Brighton Key Events: n Militia from –shire camps n Lydia visits and elopes with Wickham

Brighton Seaside bathing, seawater drinking • George III in Weymouth, George IV builds Royal Pavilion • High Travel Costs •

The Lake Country Rugged and scenic

The Lake Country One of England’s few mountainous regions

The Lake Country Called “the Lakes” n Made famous in early 1800 s by William Wordsworth n Gardiners & Elizabeth familiar with his poetry n

Pemberley Lyme Park in the BBC version “At that moment she felt that to be mistress of Pemberley might be something!”

“Pemberley” n Lyme Park in BBC version n Seat of Legh family for 600 years n Built gradually n Now English National Park

“Pemberley” Chatsworth in new movie version n Home of Duke & Duchess of Devonshire n One of largest private homes in England n Possibly Austen’s inspiration for Pemberley, mentioned in novel n

“[Pemberley] possesses a character and a style of its own, representing freedom without excess, restraint without austerity, and generosity without ostentation. ” -Walter Anderson

Pemberley More than an estate n Symbolic – – of “good” tradition beauty intelligence virtue n Comparable – – – to Darcy: established tradition that cannot be purchased or intimidated very good taste

Elizabeth visits Pemberley Elizabeth’s affection for Darcy grows as they spend time together.

Gretna Green “I am going to Gretna Green, and if you cannot guess with who, I shall think you a simpleton. . . ”

Gretna Green’s Reputation n Lord Hardwicke’s Marriage Act (1753) declared that marriages between people under 21 required parental consent. n Elopers traveled to Scotland, where the age of consent was 14 for males and 12 for females. n Gretna Green was on the border and often the first village they came to, and it thus became infamous.

Newcastle Located in Northumberland in the northeast n Lydia & Wickham essentially exiled here n City of industry, new wealth n St. Nicholas Cathedral Built in 1400 s Lydia and Wickham