What Pride & Prejudice quote am I thinking of? (No, not the first line)
November 9, 2015 6:50 PM Subscribe
A long time ago, on another forum, someone wrote a quote that came from Pride & Prejudice, or some other work by Jane Austen. The quote criticized women who put down other women in an attempt to appeal to men.
If it helps, when the user posted the quote, it was in the context of criticizing wannabe "cool girls" with internalized misogyny. The kind of girl who says "lol GIRLS, AMIRITE? I'm not like the other girls! I [am not a slut/not a prude/don't diet/don't complain about sexism/etc]"
Apparently Jane Austen had a quote that summed up this criticism well, but I don't remember how it went exactly.
If it helps, when the user posted the quote, it was in the context of criticizing wannabe "cool girls" with internalized misogyny. The kind of girl who says "lol GIRLS, AMIRITE? I'm not like the other girls! I [am not a slut/not a prude/don't diet/don't complain about sexism/etc]"
Apparently Jane Austen had a quote that summed up this criticism well, but I don't remember how it went exactly.
Response by poster: Yeah, it is! Thanks! :)
posted by picklenickle at 7:18 PM on November 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by picklenickle at 7:18 PM on November 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
(also, I highly recommend the 'in defense of novels' bit from the beginning of Northanger Abbey. it's great-- "We must stand together; we are an injured body.")
posted by nonasuch at 8:37 PM on November 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by nonasuch at 8:37 PM on November 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
I think it's important to note that in the context of the novel, the speaker of the quote, Miss Bingley, is the one who is actually employing "paltry devices" to appeal to a man. She relentlessly criticizes Elizabeth to Mr. Darcy, in hopes of lowering his opinion of Elizabeth and raising her own standing with him. It's meant to be ironic that Miss Bingley is accusing Elizabeth of the very thing she is doing. (And which Elizabeth didn't actually do at all; she merely remarked that she had not met a woman who had all the considerable talents and accomplishments that Miss Bingley thought necessary, united in one person.)
posted by katyggls at 9:32 PM on November 9, 2015 [23 favorites]
posted by katyggls at 9:32 PM on November 9, 2015 [23 favorites]
Indeed, to expand on katyggls point, I think it is worthwhile to quote the passage in full:
"'Undoubtedly,' replied Darcy, to whom this remark was chiefly addressed, 'there is meanness in all the arts which ladies sometimes condescend to employ for captivation. Whatever bears affinity to cunning is despicable.''
Miss Bingley was not so entirely satisfied with this reply as to continue the subject."
Note that the emphasis is also within the book, pointedly implying that Darcy sees through Miss Bingley's hypocritical remarks.
posted by like_neon at 1:23 AM on November 10, 2015 [11 favorites]
"'Undoubtedly,' replied Darcy, to whom this remark was chiefly addressed, 'there is meanness in all the arts which ladies sometimes condescend to employ for captivation. Whatever bears affinity to cunning is despicable.''
Miss Bingley was not so entirely satisfied with this reply as to continue the subject."
Note that the emphasis is also within the book, pointedly implying that Darcy sees through Miss Bingley's hypocritical remarks.
posted by like_neon at 1:23 AM on November 10, 2015 [11 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
""Elizabeth Bennet," said Miss Bingley, when the door was closed on her, "is one of those young ladies who seek to recommend themselves to the other sex by undervaluing their own; and with many men, I dare say, it succeeds. But, in my opinion, it is a paltry device, a very mean art." "
It's at the end of Chapter 8 of Pride and Prejudice.
posted by MFZ at 7:01 PM on November 9, 2015 [18 favorites]