Pride and Prejudice - Diary Assignment - set in part 1
Author's Note: I wrote this for a creative writing assignment in grade 11 English. Each student was assigned a particular character follow throughout the course of the novel Pride and Prejudice. The first assignment involved a seminar about the character, their views on status, marriage, money, etc., whether the character was a caricature, how they exhibited pride and prejudice, etc. The second assignment involved writing three diary entries, scattered throughout the novel, written in the style and from the point of view of the assigned character. The character I was assigned was Mr. Bennet and, even though I don't seriously believe he would be the type of person to keep any sort of journal, I needed to write these in order to get the marks. Btw, I don't make any claim to the novel or the characters and I'm not making any money off of this, so don't sue me….please….I'm serious…I have too little money as it is. Feel free to leave your comments and criticism.
I write this to communicate my intentions to paper. Though my wife may think that I have no compassion for her delicate nerves, I have every intention of calling on Netherfield. While her nerves may trouble her a great deal when she is under the impression that I will not go, the excitement of knowing I will do what she asks would cause as much harm as vexation. With any luck, this Mr. Bingley will prove to be quite the sort of person that will get along with Mrs. Bennet so that I will derive benefit from not only one, but the pleasure that seeing two such like minds converse will hold. Mrs. Bennet, were she not so fixed upon making as little sense as possible, would realise that I have nothing to gain from interfering with her schemes for the happiness of her daughters. Why would I desire to try to keep any but Lizzy near? If Mrs. Bennet is willing to do me the favour of ridding me of a few silly daughters, she may do so in any fashion she wishes, so long as it causes little inconvenience to me. I do not much like visiting, but if Mr. Bingley is as I hope he is, it will be worth the trouble of calling on him at Netherfield.
There is a certain amusement to be had in talking to someone whose mind is so easily deciphered that, as soon as the first words of conversation are spoken, the rest of the conversation is already known and is only wanting of a few words of prompting here or there. Talking to my wife is quite restful, really, and requires much less concentration and attention than any other activity, as she is so good as to provide a wealth of conversion in reply to a few word on my part.
Given the information my wife has given me about this Mr. Bingley, it seems likely that this gentleman is either of less wealth than is thought or is lacking in the area of intelligence. After all, there is little else in the way of explanation as to why such a man of fortune would come to Netherfield, so far from the circles of high society; I somehow doubt that the fabled beauty of my girls has lured him here, despite what Mrs. Bennet might say, nor do I believe that he could be that desperate for a wife. In order to satisfy my own curiosity, as well as to give my wife and family surprise surpassing any they have experienced of late, I believe it a necessity that I call upon Mr. Bingley and see what four or five thousand a year has produced.
Simply going along with what Mrs. Bennet asks of me would certainly make things too easy for her and it is better that I refuse to allow her to know my mind until the visit is finished. Though it may be harsh on her nerves, it is much better to give her nerves a little jolt to make sure that she does not neglect them overmuch, but is reminded of their existence. As for my daughters, so long as Mrs. Bennet has them foremost in her mind, their reputation will surely reach Mr. Bingley whether I visit him promptly or delay and they will do well to not rely upon me to follow what all the fools in this neighbourhood believe is the well and proper course of action.