Jane Austen

a cura di M. Barbero
 In rural England of the late 1700s, a young aristocrat, Charles Bingley, who is not lacking in riches, rents a large mansion house near the property of the Bennets, who, on the other hand, are not lacking in daughters to give in marriage.
 Accompanied by the charming but haughty Mr Darcy, Bingley falls in love with Jane, the beautiful eldest daughter of the Bennets. Love at first-sight would also be true for Darcy and Lizzie, the second daughter, if it weren't for their characters: she's too proud, he's too prejudiced.
 The inserts are about Jane Austen's time (the life of a young woman and good manners), the Novel of Manners and the writer's fortune. 
 
 Teacher's Resources available online: Answer Key - Audioscripts - Summing-up Activities
 
 Nell’Inghilterra rurale di fine ‘700 un giovane aristocratico, Charles Bingley, a cui non mancano le ricchezze, affitta la tenuta vicina a quella dei Bennet, a cui non mancano invece le figlie da maritare. Accompagnato dall’affascinante quanto altezzoso Mr Darcy, Bingley si innamora della bella primogenita dei Bennet, Jane. Amore a prima vista sarebbe anche per Darcy e la secondogenita, Lizzie, se non fosse per la loro indole: troppo orgogliosa lei, troppo prevenuto lui.

Chapter 1 – New acquaintances

Extension: Jane Austen’s times

Chapter 2 – Nice and bad surprises

Extension: Good manners in the Victorian Age

Chapter 3 – Tough choices

Extension: The life of a young woman in Jane Austen’s time

Chapter 4 – Explanations and changes

Extension: The Novel of Manners

Chapter 5 – Love always wins

Extension: Jane Austen’s success

Summing-up activities

Glossary

E X T E N S I O N THE LIFE OF A YOUNG WOMAN IN JANE AUSTEN S TIME The moment a young (noble or at least wealthy) girl was ready to enter society was the culmination of all the years of education she had received in preparation for that moment, and it wasn t an easy moment. Expectations were great and the objective even greater. If, on the one hand, she had to prove she was fully accomplished, on the other hand, she had to conquer the heart   and the wallet   of the most suitable partner available. From her birth, a young lady had to start learning good manners: how to address1 appropriately other members of society; how to sit, move, dress and talk correctly in every circumstance; and how to move with elegance and competence among the strict rules that etiquette required. Moreover, she then had to learn to play a musical instrument as well as drawing, dancing, horse-riding and knitting2, reading and writing; how to manage a household3 and deal with4 servants; and how to behave with men. However, she knew that only her accomplishments and her good looks or dowry could save her from a poor life as a spinster5 or governess, if she didn t find a husband before she was thirty. The other difficult task was that of finding a husband that could both support the family economically, but who would also be acceptable to live with. 1. address: to use particular names and titles when speaking to somebody. 3. household: all the people living together in a house. 4. deal with: manage. 5. spinster: unmarried woman. 2. knitting: 52 

After the young lady went into society, the girl had a maximum of two or three  seasons  to find a husband. A season was, at the time, the period which usually went from May to mid-August when everybody moved to bigger cities like Brighton, Bath or London, to meet new people, reinforce contacts, establish alliances, hope for a better future and, of course, find a husband or wife. This was the day of a debutante6 during the season: a short horseriding session where everybody could admire and be admired, then breakfast and managing of the household, paying the bills, ordering food and so on. After lunch until 5 pm, was the time to pay or receive social calls   of no more than half an hour each   to other families in the neighbourhood7. Dinner was served between 6 and 7 pm, and the night was either engaged in a soirée8 or at the opera. Balls and dances started at 10 pm and could go on as late as 3 am, and the young lady had to have her carnet9 full if she was to be a success. During a season, a young Regency lady was likely to attend more or less 50 balls, 60 parties, 30 dinners and 25 breakfasts! And this was what was expected from her, as summarised by Caroline Bingley:  A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing and the modern languages, to deserve10 the word; and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions, or the word will be but11 half deserved.  To the demanding12 requests of society Jane Austen replies with Lizzie s words:  I never saw such a woman. I never saw such capacity, and taste, and application, and elegance, as you describe, united.  6. debutante: a young, rich or upper-class woman who goes to fashionable social events for the first time. 7. neighbourhood: area near the place where you live. 8. soirée: formal party in the evening, especially at somebody s home. 9. carnet: list of people who the lady dances with. 10. deserve: to be worth of, to merit. 11. but: (here) only. 12. demanding: difficult and hard. 53 

Narrativa inglese, livello B1 pre-intermedio. Nell'Inghilterra del '700, amori contrastati tra Jane, Lizzie, Mr Darcy e Charles Bingley.

Pride and Prejudice - Collana RAINBOWS

Level B1 • Pre-Intermediate - Collana RAINBOWS

Pride and Prejudice

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