Question

Read the excerpt from chapter 8 of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

When dinner was over, she returned directly to Jane, and Miss Bingley began abusing her as soon as she was out of the room. Her manners were pronounced to be very bad indeed, a mixture of pride and impertinence; she had no conversation, no style, no beauty. Mrs. Hurst thought the same, and added:

"She has nothing, in short, to recommend her, but being an excellent walker. I shall never forget her appearance this morning. She really looked almost wild.”

"She did, indeed, Louisa. I could hardly keep my countenance. Very nonsensical to come at all! Why must she be scampering about the country, because her sister had a cold? Her hair, so untidy, so blowsy!”

"Yes, and her petticoat; I hope you saw her petticoat, six inches deep in mud, I am absolutely certain; and the gown which had been let down to hide it not doing its office.”

"Your picture may be very exact, Louisa," said Bingley; "but this was all lost upon me. I thought Miss Elizabeth Bennet looked remarkably well when she came into the room this morning. Her dirty petticoat quite escaped my notice.”

"You observed it, Mr. Darcy, I am sure,” said Miss Bingley; "and I am inclined to think that you would not wish to see your sister make such an exhibition.”

How does the economic context of the setting directly affect Miss Bingley’s characterization?

She believes that she is better than Elizabeth, so she speaks poorly of her.
She wants to make a good impression on the guests, so she joins in on the gossip about Elizabeth.
She is accustomed to others agreeing with her, so she begins the conversation about Elizabeth.
She wants to create a divide among the guests, so she gossips about Elizabeth.
Mark this and return

Answer 1

She believes that she is better than Elizabeth, so she speaks poorly of her.