The Favorite

Last week we discussed Pride and Prejudice...I just haven't had a chance to post anything until now. Isn't Pride and Prejudice the favorite for most people? I'm still undecided.

Anyway, the class particularly discussed one passage in the beginning of the third volume where Elizabeth visits Pemberley. Elizabeth finds herself in front of Darcy's portrait. She contemplates his power and position:

"How much of pleasure of pain it was in his power to bestow!-How much of good or evil must be done by him! Every idea that had been brought forward by the housekeeper was favourable to his character, and as she stood before the canvas, on which he was represented, and fixed his eyes upon herself, she thought of his regard with a deeper sentiment of gratitude than it had ever raised before; she remembered its warmth, and softened its impropriety of expression."

The wording of Elizabeth "fix[ing] his eyes upon herself," brought up quite the discussion. Elizabeth, who is such an independent character seems to place herself in Darcy's power by placing herself in his gaze. What do you think?

Is she really placing herself in his power, manipulating his gaze (retaining control), or perhaps just placing herself under his gaze to acknowledge that she has been capable of attracting such a powerful man?

Perhaps this is too much. Zac just rolls his eyes at all this crazy interpretation of literature. Perhaps he's right-it's just meant for entertainment. Hmmm...