I confess I got tired of following this through the book--too much P&P for several weeks wore me out, plus we started up our homeschool term again and I am busy! Maybe at some point I will post reflections on this week's chapters on the P&P board--but they are mostly a continuation of what have already seen.

When I chose this focus, I had no idea how much it would move the plot forward. Deception and blindness appear to be one of the main themes of P&P. I will summarize here by focussing on various characters' answer to one question (realizing that there is much more that could be said on this matter):

How much affection/emotion should one show?

Lydia: indulge every feeling/desire/attraction, regardless of what others think or the consequences

Mary: hide anything you might feel behind cold maxims

Kitty: indulge your feelings to the point of moodiness, but not to the point of immorality

Charlotte: show more than you feel, but with the veneer of sense

Wickham: show as much as you need to, to attain your own ends, regardless of how it will hurt others. Sometimes this will mean feigning love; at other times, feigning forbearance and restraint.

Jane: be genuine, and believe that others are too, regardless of your or their appearance

Lizzy: let your feelings and affections be moderated by sense and manners without striving to be "fashionable." Avoid being the object of ridicule.

Darcy: (before his post-proposal crisis) be frank, even when it offends others' vanity. Restrain any feelings that might give rise to expectations you do not intend to meet.

Mrs. Bennet: never restain yourself, even in front of the servants or your daughters' suitors. Play favorites.

Mr. Bennet: show everyone how little esteem you have for your wife and younger daughters. Play favorites.

Mr. Bingley: be genuine, with a light sprinkling of teasing now and then--but only if you are genuinely charming and sociable. Otherwise, do your best to pretend.

Caroline: show more affection or regard than you feel, as long as it furthers your interests. Otherwise, be cold and stiff in public, and ridicule others in private.

Mr. Collins: say whatever is customary or expected in order to advance your interests, without ever considering your heart (if you have one), unless manners would hamper you from doing what you want--then claim an exemption as a clergyman.

Lady Catherine: be frank to the point of being pushy and rude, but only if you are Lady Catherine; otherwise, be obsequious or at least sensibly grateful.