"Mr. Darcy is all politeness,"

Posted by Rachel on November 20, 1997 at 22:36:44:

Chapter 6, pg 22 (World's Classics; Oxford Edition)
" 'You excel so much in the dance, Miss Eliza, that it is cruel to deny me the happiness of seeing you; and though the gentleman dislikes the amusement in general, he can have no objection, I am sure, to oblige us for one half hour,'

'Mr. Darcy is all politeness,' said Elizabeth, smiling."

I have always taken this particular line to be a inward joke, a poke at Darcy to herself. I've always felt she was thinking of the Meryton Assembly and his rude comments about herself, and laughing at Darcy inwardly. What do you all think of this?

REPLIES:

• to quote someone else, "There's a double meaning in that!" RachelE 23:51:33 11/20/97 (5)
  • Yes, the double meaning.... (corrected tags!) Dianna 13:23:10 11/21/97 (1)
    • heh--good point :) NFM RachelE 02:03:38 11/22/97 (0)
  • Yes, the double meaning.... Dianna 13:22:03 11/21/97 (0)
  • Politeness is as Politeness Does Janet 08:16:31 11/21/97 (1)
    • I agree nfm Kate 09:51:57 11/21/97 (0)

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