This really illustrates how Bingley character develops a lot throughout the story, to be ready and willing to commit to marriage at the end.

@EllieDashwood

9 ай бұрын

I love how much Austen put into the character development of all her characters.

@MarcustheWu

9 ай бұрын

Despite what his friends and family might say. He even grew enough of a backbone for him and Jane to "suggest" her mother not visit so often. 😄😄

@MsNonblonde

9 ай бұрын

@@MarcustheWu that's some bravery right there!

@jezpin3638

9 ай бұрын

I don't think being married has to stop him being the type of person who is off in 5 minutes. He will just take jane with him.

@MsNonblonde

9 ай бұрын

@@jezpin3638 Phew! For a second there I thought you were going to say he'd walk out on Jane.

To defend Bingley, Elizabeth herself commends herself on seeing that Jane is into him and that no one else would notice. Charlotte explicitly points out that Bingley really doesn't spend enough time with Jane to distinguish her general sweet temperament vs particular regard for him. And Darcy explicitly preyed on Bingley's insecurity to convince him Jane didn't actually like him, and then concealed the best chance Jane had of showing him that she did like him when she followed him.

@marilu3173

8 ай бұрын

Agree with everything but I wouldn't say Mr. Darcy preyed on him. I think he had genuine concerns about Jane due to Mrs Bennett openly discussing a marriage / wedding between the two which reads social climber vibes. It wasn't kind though, of course, as he totally misjudged Jane.

@lamoinette23

8 ай бұрын

I don't think Bingley would have quit Jane if not for Darcy, and even his sister's displeasure at their "low birth". Darcy did act in his friend's best interest though he took no pains to ask for confirmation from anyone else.. it would been too short a story then.

@Joel--yr6me

7 ай бұрын

Yeah Darcy specifically said that the only reason Bingley agreed to go was that he was so modest that it was easy for Darcy to convince him Jane didn't love him (to be fair to Darcy, too, he did genuinely believe that Jane didn't love him). Bingley didn't care about her social status or anything, and Darcy said that while he fell in love easily, he had fallen more for Jane than anyone before, but Darcy convinced him not to marry a woman who wasn't interested, and Bingley didn't trust himself enough/trusted Darcy too much and was persuaded.

In defense of Bingley, he didn't intend to ghost Jane when he left, he had the intention of returning. The ghosting was induced with peer pressure.

This is a good point. Yes, we as readers know quickly that Mr. Bingley has left, but that's because his sister wrote to Jane instead of Mr. Bingley having the courtesy to stop by and deliver the news himself. So it still qualifies as Mr. Bingley ghosting Jane.

When you are analyzing Mr. Bingley's character don't forget his position of Little Brother. His sisters have always bossed him around, and when he chose a friend he chose a friend who bosses him. He is used to it. It saves thinking for himself. They decide everything for him, and so far there has been nothing important enough to get him to go against their arrangements. Does anyone think Bingley would have rented Netherfield if his sisters and Darcy had been against it? Do you really think Bingley is as free in his comings and goings as he thinks he is?

@AMinibot

9 ай бұрын

I very much agree with this. I think it's easy to look at Bingley, as a wealthy man who is positioned by society as having authority over his sisters (especially Caroline, as yet unmarried), and assume that the societally-dictated version of the family setup is all there is to it. But that doesn't *have* to be the be-all and end-all of the individual, interpersonal dynamics going on, and I personally don't believe that it *is*. In much less unequal circumstances, I've nevertheless been the sibling who, according to society, should be in the position of power and authority, whilst in actuality finding myself domineered - and, frankly, bullied - by the sibling I supposedly had authority over. In my case it was a simple matter of 'you're older, so you're in charge and responsible for looking after/out for your sister,' as opposed to gender roles playing into it seeing as we were both girls. But I absolutely fell victim to the circumstance of - my parents perceived my sister as the more vulnerable one, so when I tried to express that I was being verbally abused for not behaving the way she wanted me to, it was at most assumed that I could handle it, at least not taken seriously as a problem at all. And it had a lasting effect on me - I ended up developing OCD partially as a result of my sister conditioning me to believe that her/others' say on what I ought to be doing, was more trustworthy and knowledgeable than my own. I think there's a lot of potential for reading Bingley and Caroline/Mrs Hurst as having a similar dynamic to that (even if YMMV on assuming it to be quite as toxic). As I say, I think it's very easy to take their outer, societal roles at face value, and assume that Bingley couldn't possibly be that vulnerable, given all the social capital he wields - but I also think that it's a complete fallacy to assume that social capital always translates 1:1 into private relationship dynamics, particularly ones which began when both parties were children, before they had a fully-formed understanding of their positions in the wider world. Those kinds of relationships are also some of the hardest to move beyond, honestly, no matter the era, because they can end up being basically all you've ever known, and to move past them you have to be capable of visualising something which is different from very fundamental, formative experiences. But hell, even when you do factor in the idea that they may be very aware of their respective social standings - I can also see a plausible set of circumstances where Caroline especially, frustrated at her limited agency and level of control in the wider world, attempts to remedy that by leaning more and more into a coercive, domineering dynamic with her brother. Which like... no matter how understandable her frustrations, still in my eyes would not be a terribly forgivable thing to do to one individual person, removing their sense of power and agency to substitute/supplement your own.

@dorothywillis1

9 ай бұрын

@@AMinibot I'm sorry you had such a bad and extreme experience and I hope you are recovering from it's effects. Your experience is extreme, but it points out that there is a great deal more to relationships than what society expects.

@katyb2793

9 ай бұрын

​I'm really sorry you went through that. I have somewhat similar circumstances. it's really difficult and disheartening when parents won't resolve the issue and it gets out of hand. sending you a big hug. I hope you're in a better place now and can enjoy a healthier relationship with your family now 💕💕

@MikaelaKMajorHistory

8 ай бұрын

It’s really interesting how Darcy seems to be the bigger force though. His sister was clearly against him marrying Jane, but just Darcy’s change of opinion was enough for him to go back and propose to her (with more of Darcy’s help).

@dorothywillis1

8 ай бұрын

@@MikaelaKMajorHistory Perhaps the opinion of a fellow-man seemed more impressive. Perhaps Darcy was more tactful than Miss Bingley.

Austen pegs Bingley as dependent on Darcy's approval for almost everything because Bingley knows himself as affable but a little dim and Darcy has proven to be a helpful & loyal friend...that was the "tell" for me. Darcy was never going to green light Jane with her family baggage.

@OcarinaSapphr-

6 ай бұрын

He was also not _born_ into the kind of society that his father's/ grandfather's money has enabled him to move into- so he trusts that Darcy, someone born to the gentry is steering him right, & he respects his judgement & advice (I also have my own head-canon that their friendship was formed at school, when gentry & aristocratic boys were being prats to this cinnamon roll, & Darcy stepped in). His sisters are snobs, & his brother-in-law is fashionable, but not much further up the ladder than Bingley himself, socially speaking- so while they're family who are very socially conscious (for their own sake, as well as their brother's) they can't help him navigate things the way Darcy can...

i think i also remember a part where bingley is mentioned to be easily swayed by friends and darcy even criticizes it and because elizabeth cant stand darcy she defends that character trait of bingleys which is so funny cause its the sway of a friends opinion that literally leads him to leave jane later

@mikanchan322

8 ай бұрын

Yes!! Elizabeth siding with Bingley there is so ironoc

I have yet to reread the book but have seen the series and the movie Pride and Prejudice. I have always felt that cheerful Mr Bingley seems to be very easy led and is not his own man.

@donnabittner69

9 ай бұрын

Agree! Are they the same age?

@Joel--yr6me

7 ай бұрын

It's the same in the book too. He's described as very modest. He doesn't trust himself enough/trusts Darcy too much, so it's easy for Darcy to convince him that Jane doesn't like him as much as he likes her, which Darcy said is the only reason he could be persuaded to leave.

The conversation between Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy, and Ms. Lizzy about Bingley's "indirect boast" is one of my favorite details of the book. It is such a brilliant bit of character development for nearly all parties without being obviously so foundational.

I would love to hear this whole story from mr Bingley. He's a bit of a himbo.

@Joel--yr6me

7 ай бұрын

For real that would be amazing. Based on his talkativeness and his falling in love with Jane so quickly, it would probably be very funny and probably involve some sappy monologues

Im a bingley girlie but there’s something that I don’t recall whether it was in the book or not right now but it’s super fitting of him and Jane as a description in the 05 adaptation that is very much so the opposite of Darcy and Lizzie (not that any are good). Mr bennet says that they would be manipulated awfully by their staff and while this is due to janes kindness and naivety for bingley it is also a case of “going with other peoples guts instead of his own and a lack of forming his own opinions therefore always acting fast and at face value because he too feels naive But as a man of his time won’t show it and he has the means to do so. That said it also lampshades the contrast of Darcy and Elisabeth’s constantly being sure of their own first impressions and trusting only their own (often misguided) opinions.

Imagine how much it bugs him that Mr. And Mrs. Wickham just come and move it every now and then, while he is like 'No, its been 5 minutes, I wanna take my lovely wifey to that new thing in London, why are you still here?'

true. Elizabeth thinks she's a good judge of character, but she's actually really not. which is fine, people are difficult lol

@julijakeit

9 ай бұрын

indeed, Charlotte or even Jane is much better.

@katyb2793

9 ай бұрын

@@julijakeit Jane sees too much good in everyone. Although perhaps underneath it all she sees what people are but chooses not to say it. idk. But I'd rather see too much good than get people completely and utterly wrong 😆

@Joel--yr6me

7 ай бұрын

@@katyb2793 Yeah, Jane might be a little too nice, but her desire to always see the good in people meant she never screwed up in her judgments as badly as Lizzy did

@ziggystatdust6008

7 ай бұрын

⁠@@Joel--yr6me Yes. Jane’s optimism and need to see good in everyone is often to her detriment, as she’s oblivious to Caroline Bingley’s passive,subtle and covert mockery of Jane and her family until it’s too late. Elizabeth is more sharp-eyed and believes to be a good judge of reading people’s character. And while she’s at times right about some people, this tends to lead her to judge people at face value, which can be detrimental. For example, she believes Mr Darcy to be cold, standoffish, prideful, and critical of people below his rank. Her opinions of him leads her to be easily swayed by Wickham when he lies to her about who Mr Darcy is. And when she finally learns the truth, it’s too late to stop Wickham’s machinations on Kitty and her family. Although I don’t really blame her for believing that of Mr Darcy, as he was some of those things, and made no attempt in trying to explain his side of the story about Wickham until Lizzie gave him that tongue-lashing at his proposal.

It was far to easy to overlook what I didn't want to see at that age. If I had been as wise then as I am today, my education had been way different, and my choices of social connections as well.

Elizabeth blaming Darcy for Bingley deserting Jane has always gotten me. Bingley is his own man and he makes his own choices. The fault lies with him.

@saguarenh2220

9 ай бұрын

Darcy does have influence over Bingley, that he knows he has, and doesn't hesitate to use. I'd say she shouldn't have blamed only Darcy, but both of the guys. They both behaved badly, on the same event, but in very different ways. Austen is such an awesome writer

@jonathanparks207

9 ай бұрын

Darcy's influence over Bingley is only what Bingley allows it to be. In addition it was Bingley who raised expectations and then just leaves the area. Once again this falls on Bingley. @@saguarenh2220

@pvp6077

8 ай бұрын

Bingley knew Darcy better than he knew Jane, and he trusted his friend. I would trust my own friends if they told me someone I was interested in was actually being sus behind my back. He didn't have the time or opportunity to learn to trust Jane but would have never left her if Darcy hadn't decieved him. Especially at that time, you had no way of vetting a person aside from getting to know them and trusting the society around you to inform you of what you should know about them. The situation with Wickham being a very obvious example. If the people who knew his character had been honest from the start, he would never have had the chance to groom that child. But Darcy vague-posted instead of telling the truth about him while directly lying about Jane. Because to him, protecting his friend from a low-class social chaser unworthy of them both was far more important than protecting his neighbor's daughters from a predator who seeks out children and manipulates them.

@jonathanparks207

8 ай бұрын

If you are just blindly following your friends, you are a fool and once again the blame lies with you. It would have been one thing if Darcy was talking about a guy like Wickham whom he knew very well, however he is talking about Jane who he has only known for a few months and I am not sure has ever engaged her in a conversation. While Bingley might listen to Darcy, who he trusts, and probably be a bit cautious in the future, he shouldn't just completely follow the recommendation from a guy who observed the girl for one night. Also, you claim Darcy is lying. There is no evidence to suggest he is lying so why do you say that? @@pvp6077

@subratanandy2142

8 ай бұрын

Darcy was always poking Bingley " Eh , she can't possibly like you" , and when Jane went to look after Bingley, Darcy actively hindered it .

Aww and then Mr. Bingley marrying Jane is like the end of his character arc. Finally making something permanent.

Further proof that Bingley needs a friend like Darcy. They balance each other out so well.

@mikanchan322

8 ай бұрын

..but in this particular case they actively make each other worse. Bingley becomes too dependent on Darcy's judgment rather than using his own, and Darcy gets comfortable taking authority of someone elses life because he believes he "knows better".

I have to kind of disagree, Mr. Bingleys quickness to jump into things is more contrasted to the quiet and patient waiting of Mr Darcy. Mr. Bingley IS quick to make decisions, meaning that he'd marry Jane quickly, as he does when he finds out she really loves him. Mr. Bingley only deserts Jane because he is firmly convinced that Jane doesn't love him, which is really a flaw on the side of Janes quietness, Jane is so reserved no one can interpret her affections besides Elizabeth. But mainly, if you place blame its on Mrs. Bingley for talking so openly about the expected engagement.

@Clau-chauNicol

8 ай бұрын

Yeah, its been a while since I read the book but I didnt really see him as a commitment phobe either, but perhaps someone who isnt fond of staying somewhere when there isnt anything keeping them there. I think what austen was foreshadowing wasnt the fact that he wasnt committed to jane, but the fact that jane would need to make her feelings clearer for him to make that commitment. He isnt the kind of guy to stay in a place where people dont clearly state they want him there.

Awesome video that perfectly sums up his character 😊 I loved this keep making awesome videos like this :>❤

@EllieDashwood

9 ай бұрын

Aw, thank you!!!

I somewhat disagree. I agree that these hints play in to what makes it easy to keep him away. However, he doesn't seem to be a fair-weather friend. When convinced that Jane did not feel as much for him as he felt for her these traits made it easy for him to decide to stay in London at a moment's notice. As for not contacting her after via letter, I don't know enough about the conventions of it the time for correspondence between a man and a woman to feel comfortable commenting. I guess the point is that these traits only contribute because he ALSO believes that Jane is indifferent to him. These traits in an of themselves wouldn't have caused him to ghost her.

@cmm5542

9 ай бұрын

Good point about the letter conventions. They weren't engaged, and technically you weren't supposed to write to someone of the opposite sex until you were engaged. This is why Jane makes friends with his sisters, despite their shady behaviour from the start - Bingley can't invite her to Netherfield; THEY have to! Now, there were some exceptions to this rule; after all, Darcy does write to Elizabeth to explain after the proposal debacle. If Bingley had a stronger personality, he too could have defied convention to explain his leaving to Jane. But then again he knew his sister was writing to her; and having been convinced of Jane's 'indifference', he may well have considered it entirely inappropriate to write to her at that point.

@adorabell4253

8 ай бұрын

But Darcy also delivered his letter in person in a place where most people didn't know they met. This was a bit of a secret and private correspondence. @@cmm5542

Ironic that our most current social concern are the same as those of Jane Austin’s time. Have we learned or taught nothing?

@zengrenouille

7 ай бұрын

Some lessons need to be learned first- hand in order to develop emotional intelligence and wisdom. Now, the stuff going on in Israel . . . Is something humanity should be way done with by now.

I had a fantastic high school education, loads of great books and wonderful conversation. But pride and prejudice was not evaluated nearly as thoroughly as you are assessing it! This is all awesome content!

I really should read the book 😐

@EllieDashwood

9 ай бұрын

You should! 😃 I highly recommend it. 😂

@DMRoper1

8 ай бұрын

Yeah, it's great.

For those that didn't work that out, Jane Austen literally spells it out in the epilogue :)

Bingley: Easy come, easy go, will you let me go? Jane: Bismillah no!! Mrs Bennet: We will not let you go!!! Darcy: Let him go!

@martina-dd6vb

6 ай бұрын

Lmao😂😂

My favorite thing about the book is the unreliable narrator & how you need to watch peoples actions over their words

Off topic, but I must comment on how nice that sweater is on you 😊

@donnabittner69

9 ай бұрын

Agree

Jane Austen prophesied red flag culture

Yes I felt like the way he rented the house was very indicative of his character!

I have never read Pride and Prejudice. At this in my life I don't think I ever will unless I find a good audiobook version to fall asleep to. However, watching you break down the characters in this book is genuinely interesting

"I shall close with the attorney directly!"

I think it's why Lizzie - why all the characters - are so enduring. They're *all* flawed. Neither pride, not prejudice, is shown solely by Mr Darcy.

She thought if I don’t see it it doesn’t happen. The true definition of delulu is de solulu

The fact that Bingley is flakey only goes to Mr Darcy's being right in watching out for him and not trusting his judgment that much.

Spoiler alert 💀

@MarcustheWu

9 ай бұрын

😂😂😂😂

@EllieDashwood

9 ай бұрын

Spoiling Austen books is my speciality. 🔥😂

How interesting! Thanks ❤!

Right! All the times I read the book and watched the adaptations I missed the thing about his character, but now I'm re-reading the book again, and caught myself thinking, "Huh, he is not Mr Good Guy at all, because he wouldn't have shown himself again at the Bennets house had he not grown a spine!" Because on the surface it just seems that Bingley and Jane are two usual romance books characters that were separated by force by some people who don't like the girl and who want him to marry someone else, while Jane Austen is actually saying that it's Bingley's character that is faulty and is the cause of Jane's suffering.

Guuurls. Pay attention to those clues! We ignore what we don't want to see!

I don't think he's a ghoster. He's way worse, he's easily influenced by his peers. He needs a Captain Wentworth to strengthen his resolve and not be led around by others.

@elisabonetti408

5 ай бұрын

And this is what he learns in the end! Bingley is also very young; he’s only 22 at the beginning of the book. I think particularly after an experience as he has with Jane, he would begin to trust his own judgment more.

I'm still not sure how Bingley and Darcy became friends when it seems everyone in these books have to stand around like Pokemon NPCs until someone they already know introduces them to someone else. Did a young Bingley break decorum by running up to Darcy and saying hi like the golden retriever he is?

@katherinewilson1853

6 ай бұрын

I would hazard it was Bingley's sister, looking to be introduced to Darcy.

What I don't understand is due to his nature why would he marry someone so attatched to her siblings if he would have to be gone in 15 minutes if something happens and he has to leave with his wife that soon

He didn’t ghost Jane. Ghosting Jane would involve Jane reaching out and Bingley knowing this and ignoring it, which didn’t happen.

Good points all but marriage is a legal contract and not so easy to walk away from and love changes behavior...

......I was happy for Jane but now I just feel sorry for her and wonder how this soft spoken, quiet woman who probably thinks a LOT is gonna deal with a husband like that o.O

@nala7829

7 ай бұрын

I think she might like the slightly dopey but kind and obedient type. She's nice enough that she won't overpower him like Darcy.

When he rented the house, would the furniture be included?

I am on chapter 37. I dislike both Bingley and Darcy. Jane and Elizabeth deserve much better. Bingley ghosted Jane merely on his friend's words, if he truly loved Jane he would have talked to her first. Darcy is a total jackass, his attitude towards Elizabeth's family is repulsive, especially since he seeked to marry her after ruining her sister's happy relationship. Imagine asking someone to marry you after insulting their family (the Bennets are a bit messy just like any family but nothing so intolerable) and messing with their sibling's life. I don't know how they will come back ftom this, it's an unforgivable level of scheming.

Weeeell Elizabeth is very young. We can’t all be cynical by the age of 15.

@martina-dd6vb

6 ай бұрын

Elizabeth is 20!

👌

Pardon for asking so randomly, but do you play Violin?

I think Mr Bennett describes him well

Basically Bingley is a flake!

It makes me think Mr. Bingley has ADHD...

Did Bingley rent Netherfield or buy it? How did Bingley make his money?

@jenni4claire

9 ай бұрын

It's rented. Bingley family are not landed gentry, like the D'Arcy and the Bennetts though he has been left plenty of money by his late dad, so he's kind of trying out possible future estates.

That doesn't bode well for his and Jane's marriage.

@DMRoper1

8 ай бұрын

I always had the same thought.

Could someone please post a definition of what it is to "ghost"? I believe I understand it from context, but would like to be sure.

@faithful2thecall

9 ай бұрын

Here's the relevant online Marriam-Wesbster dictionary meaning: the act or practice of abruptly cutting off all contact with someone (such as a former romantic partner) usually without explanation by no longer accepting or responding to phone calls, instant messages, etc.

@dorothywillis1

9 ай бұрын

@@faithful2thecall That's what I inferred. Thank you. I am an old woman and not up to date on the latest slang. I suppose it is preferred to "She cut him dead" or "He dumped her without warning" because a ghost haunts a person or place, turning up although unwelcome. This connects it to relationships. BTW, I suppose it is because of my age, but it never occurred to me that slang now gets into the dictionary very quickly.

Honestly as "nice" as he is I don't know that Bingley is a good match for Jane. Like Yay they got married and Jane is secure...but I feel like her future is gonna be keeping his estate with their children while he's off chasing his next "angel". Like he's almost certainly gonna cheat on her. Thankfully they settled near to the Darcys so she has Lizzy nearby.

Bingley is not one of my favourite characters. He is not that great. I think he is kind of stupid. Why didn't he even write to Jane? Find out from her directly how she felt about him? But I guess it adds to Austen's story.

He's very easily influenced.

Bingley the first millenial😂

In other words Bingley is a flake.