Cagey Miss Austen

Posted by Mark on November 18, 1997 at 17:19:25:

I have always liked the way the heroine of the book, Elizabeth, is eased into the reader's consciousness.

• In the first chapter we only see Mr. & Mrs. Bennet. Lizzy is mentioned only in passing.
  
• In the second chapter, she is only one of five girls discussing Mr. Bingley.
  
• In chapter three, she does stand out a bit from her sisters at the ball, but only because of Darcy's famous snub.
  
• In chapters four and five, it becomes obvious that she is going to be a major character, but there is still little hint that she is the heroine.
  
• It is really only in chapter six, where Darcy starts to take an interest in her, that the book start to center itself around her.
  
• You could probably mark the true beginning of her being the heroine at the end of chapter seven when she is gallivanting across the countryside in order to get to Jane at Netherfield.

From this point on, the book is basically about Elizabeth.

REPLIES:

• Dear Lizzy! Joanie 18:54:34 11/18/97 (1)
  • Oh, the wonder of it! Kath 18:14:35 11/19/97 (0)

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