- Apr 2018
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annotatingausten.sfsuenglishdh.net annotatingausten.sfsuenglishdh.net
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Miss Bingley’s attention was quite as much engaged in watching Mr. Darcy’s progress through his book, as in reading her own; and she was perpetually either making some inquiry, or looking at his page. She could not win him, however, to any conversation; he merely answered her question, and read on. At length, quite exhausted by the attempt to be amused with her own book, which she had only chosen because it was the second volume of his, she gave a great yawn and said, “How pleasant it is to spend an evening in this way! I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of anything than of a book! When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.”
Sermons to Young Women cautions women as to how to and how NOT to get a man’s attentions: “Naked in nothing should a woman be, but veil her very wit with modesty. Let a man discover, let her not display, but yield her charms of mind with sweet delay.”(Fordyce, James, Sermons p99) which elucidates this warning “Who is not shocked by the flippant impertinence of a self-conceited woman, that wants to dazzle by the supposed superiority of her powers? If you, my fair ones, have knowledge and capacity, let it be seen by your not affecting to show them, that you have something more valuable, humility and wisdom.” (Fordyce,James. Sermons p99) Miss Bingley is showing off to get Darcy’s attention. Unfortunately her behavior has the exact effect on Darcy that Fordyce warns of: “If men discover that you study to captivate them by an outside only, or by little frivolous arts….Some more sentimental spirits, who might be dazzled in the beginning, will soon be disabused.” (Fordyce, Sermons pg.10)
(Title Page, 1809 edition)
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