Accomplishment
in
Chennai
August 30-31, 2008
1
Day 1
Topic
Slide
Social Context
1-14
Clips
0
Bennet family
15-21
1
Awareness
22-26
2
Aspiration
27
3
Initiative
28-44
4,5
Act
45-50
Collins proposal
51-55
6
Darcy proposal
56-59
7
2
Jane Austen & her novel
• Daughter of English clergyman
• Intelligent, progressive, romantic
idealist
• Never married
• Represented by Elizabeth
• Began P&P in 1796
• Sold P&P for £120
• Second most popular English novel of
all time
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P&P portrays
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Intense aspiration
Blind egoism
Stubborn ignorance
Mean jealousy
Bitter conflict
Insurmountable obstacles
Success & failure
Impossible achievements
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P&P reveals truths of
• Social evolution
• Individual accomplishment
• Human nature & relationships
• Character of Life
• Spiritual progress
• The process of creation
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Spiritual truths in P&P
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The Human Aspiration is Divine Will
We are blind to opportunities
Obstacles are what we create
Greater the opposition, greater the opportunity
Everything happens for our progress
The impossible is possible
It is not man who accomplishes, but Life.
Life is spirit evolving.
We can acquire mastery over life
Knowledge comes from viewing life as a whole
Power comes by aspiring for others to progress.
Knowledge & power can generate a movement of
Spiritual Prosperity
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Social Context
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French Revolution & war
• P&P is bristling with the energy of
French Revolution
• Its origin is a yogi in the Himalayas
• Censorship prevented reference to
war
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Social Revolution
• Intermixing of the social classes
• Aristocracy is under siege
• Middle Class is rising & clamoring for
more status & power
• Business people buy land & become
aristocrats
• Story reflects the social tension of
rapid & radical transition
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Indian social context today
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Unprecedented freedom
Rising aspirations
Social barriers are collapsing
Love marriages
Women’s rights
Inter-caste marriages
Divorce and remarriage
Assertion against authority by youth, poor
Anyone can achieve prosperity
Social atmosphere for accomplishment
10
Seeing beneath the veil in P&P
• What is left when you remove the
individual characters?
–The surging energy of social
evolution preserving aristocracy
from extinction.
• What is left when you remove the
social movement?
–The evolution of consciousness
from Ignorance to Knowledge
releasing delight of existence.
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P&P Family Tree #1
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Clip 1: Energy Flow in the Story – 1
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Start with a yogi in the Himalayas
French Revolution
Social evolution in England
Mrs. B’s aspiration arises from the
difference in values
Mrs. B’s aspiration brings Bingley,
Darcy, Collins & Wickham
Eliza’s passionate urge for Jane’s
marriage
Violence of Bingley’s love for Jane
Bingley’s response raises Mrs. B’s
expectations
Meryton resent Darcy’s aloofness
Darcy insults Elizabeth
Elizabeth dislikes Darcy
Darcy is attracted to her fine eyes
Relation of Bingley & Jane brings
Elizabeth & Darcy together
Caroline is jealous of Elizabeth & wants
Darcy for herself
Darcy responds to her sweetness &
archness
Mrs. Bennet presses for engagement
Collins brings opportunity
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Wickham arrives & poisons Eliza against
Darcy
Wickham says Darcy is to marry Lady
Anne
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Elizabeth & Darcy clash at Netherfield
Ball
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Mrs. Bennet vulgarly broadcasts her
success
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Darcy gets alarmed by Bingley’s love
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Darcy fears his own heart
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Elizabeth brings Wickham home
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Darcy & Caroline take Bingley to London
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Caroline claims Bingley will marry
Georgiana
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Collins proposes to Elizabeth with
insults
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Elizabeth violently rejects Collins
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Mrs. Bennet tries to force Elizabeth
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Mr. & Mrs. Bennet clash over Collins
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Collins feels angry & humiliated
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The intensity brings Charlotte
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Collins proposes to Charlotte
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Clip 1: Energy Flow in the Story – 2
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Mrs. Bennet feels defeated
Jane
Jane is
is deeply
deeply disappointed
disappointed
Elizabeth
is
deeply
Elizabeth is deeply concerned
concerned for
for
her
her sister
sister
Jane goes to London with
Jane
goes to London with
Gardiners
Gardiners
Three months of inner intensity,
Three
months of inner intensity,
outer silence
outer
silence
Wickham pursues Miss King
Wickham
pursues
Miss at
King
Elizabeth meets
Darcy
Hunsford
Darcy proposes
Elizabeth
meets &
Darcy
they at
trade
Hunsford
insults
Darcy proposes & they trade
Her
abuse increases his passion
insults
for her
Her abuse increases his passion
Darcy’s
for her letter exposes Wickham
Three months quietude
Darcy’s letter exposes Wickham
Mrs. Bennet & Lydia insist on her
Three months
Brighton
trip quietude
Mrs.
Bennet
& Lydia
insist
on her
Gardiners
change
their
vacation
plans
Brighton
trip
Elizabeth
Darcy
Gardinersmeets
change
theirat
vacation
Pemberley
plans
They
relate
positively
Elizabeth
meets
Darcyfor
at the first
time
Pemberley
They relate positively for the first
time
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Caroline is intensely jealous
Jane’s
Jane’s letter
letter tells
tells of
of Lydia’s
Lydia’s
elopement
elopement
Elizabeth
Elizabeth rushes
rushes home
home
Bennets despair over Lydia’s fate
Bennets despair over Lydia’s fate
Mr. Bennet & Mr. Gardiner fail to
Mr.
& Mr. Gardiner fail to
findBennet
her
find
her
News
arrives of settlement &
marriage
News
arrives of settlement &
marriage
Mr. Bennet wonders how to repay
Gardiner
Mr. Bennet wonders how to repay
Newly weds arrive & depart in
Gardiner
good
Newlycheer
weds arrive & depart in
News
of
Bingley’s return to
good cheer
Netherfield
News
of&Bingley’s
return
to
Bingley
Darcy call
at Longbourn
Netherfield
Mrs. Bennet insults Darcy
Bingley
& Darcy call
at Longbourn
Darcy confesses
to Bingley
Mrs.
Bennet
insults
Darcy
Darcy
goes to
London
Darcy
confesses
Bingley
proposesto Bingley
Darcy
goes to London
Lady Catherine
confronts Elizabeth
Darcy returns
Bingley
proposes
Elizabeth
offersconfronts
gratitude Elizabeth
Lady Catherine
Darcy returns
proposes again
Darcy
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Elizabeth offers gratitude
Darcy proposes again
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Bennet Family
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Clip 2: Bennet Family
• Kitty and Lydia fight over a hat. Lizzie comes back from a walk
and smiles at her father, who makes a face because of the
noise in the house. Mrs.B cries out for Jane and Elizabeth, they
go to her wearily
• Mrs. Bennet announces Bingley's arrival, Mr.Bennet teases her
• Mr. and Mrs.B argue. Lizzie and Jane smile at each other, Mary
offers some advice, Lydia makes a face and announces that
she is hungry
• Jane and Lizzie talk about love and marriage. Lizzie says
goodnight to her mother and sisters, Mr.Bennet is checking his
accounts
• Kitty and Lydia get excited about Bingley's arrival, Mr.Bennet
announces that he has visited Bingley, Mrs. Bennet rejoices
• Jane, Lizzie, Charlotte and Mary look at the newly arrived
Bingley, his sisters and Darcy.
• Jane and Elizabeth discuss the ball, Bingley, his sisters and
friend.
• Mr.B bids goodbye to Elizabeth before she leaves for Hunsford.
• Mr.Bennet argues with Lizzie that it is better to send Lydia to
Brighton
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Bennet Family
• Freedom
• Energy
• Cheerfulness
• Absence of jealousy or meanness
• Harmony
• Tension & conflict between parents
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Mr. Bennet
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Most respectable person in Meryton
He planned to bear sons
Estate of £2000 entailed
Married Mrs. Bennet for her beauty &
liveliness
• Problems arise from his failure to assume
responsibility & authority
• He exhibits the pent up grievances of 25
years marriage
• He is perverse, petulant, mocking,
ridiculing, rude
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Children
• Jane – father’s breeding & education
+ mother’s beauty
• Eliza – father’s intelligence, wit
+ mother’s energy
• Lydia –mother’s favorite
• Kitty – takes after Lydia
• Mary – forgotten in the middle
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Awareness &
Aspiration
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Accomplishment begins with
awareness
• Life evolves by consciousness
• We are blind to the opportunities
• When opportunities presents, we
have to
–recognize them
–have faith in them
–respond to them
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Clip 3: Blind to opportunities
• Darcy tells Bingley the society
at Hertfordshire will be
savage, before renting
Netherfield
• Darcy refuses to dance, and
insults Mrs.B
• Darcy says it will be a
punishment to dance with
anyone at the assembly
• Darcy calls Elizabeth tolerable
• Elizabeth promises never to
dance with Darcy
• Darcy criticizes the Bennets
• Elizabeth refuses to dance
with Darcy
• Darcy confesses to Caroline
that he's been admiring
Elizabeth's eyes
• Darcy says Elizabeth looks
better for the exercise
• Darcy tells Bingley that Jane
has little chance of being
married well
• Charlotte points out Darcy
looks at Eliza a lot. E thinks it
is contempt
• Elizabeth is attracted to
Wickham, she smiles at him
at her aunt's place
• Elizabeth gets angry with
Darcy on hearing Wickham's
lies
• Elizabeth confesses to Jane
that she likes Wickham, and
trusts him
• E complains to Char about D,
he invites her to dance, she
unwillingly accepts
• Darcy finds the behavior of
the Bennets at the Netherfield
ball intolerable
• E believes Wickham's
explanation of his absence at
the Netherfield ball
• E tells her father she believes
Wickham has really been
22
cheated by Darcy
What creates the opportunities?
• Social climate bristling with energy
• Positive family atmosphere
• Positive attitudes
• Individual aspirations
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Clip 4: Mrs. B’s aspiration
• Mrs.B is excited by news of
Bingley's arrival, asks Mr.B to
call on him
• She is happy to hear that
Mr.Bennet has called on
Bingley
• She tells her daughters about
Darcy’s wealth, then
introduces her daughters to
Bingley
• She narrates the events at
the assembly to Mr.Bennet
with gusto
• She reads Caroline's letter
excitedly
• She enters Netherfield
excitedly, to see Jane who is
unwell
• When Mr.B mentions a visitor
(Collins), she assumes it is
Bingley and immediately
plans the dinner
• Collins announces his plans to
select one of her daughters,
she tells him Jane is likely to
be engaged, and encourages
him to select any other
daughter
• Admires Elizabeth and advises
her to pay attention to Collins
• Forces Elizabeth to listen to
Collins' proposal
• She is happy with Wickham,
praises him to Mr.B. She
wishes he had 5000 – 6000 a
year, she would happily marry
one of her daughters to him.
She regrets Bingley’s going
away
24
Aspirations
• Mrs. Bennet wanted marriage for her
daughters
• Elizabeth & Jane wanted to marry for love
• Collins wanted to please Lady Catherine
• Charlotte wanted to marry for security
• Wickham wanted relationship to Darcy
• Lydia wanted the thrill of marrying first
25
Initiative
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Initiative
• We take initiatives all the time
• Action is not the key to accomplishment
• Accomplishment is causal, not physical
• Process of Creation = Process of
Accomplishment.
• Process of creation starts in causal plane
with Real Idea
• Results often different from what we
intend
• Studying initiatives reveals laws of
accomplishment
27
Subtle determinates of each act
• Thoughts
• Opinions
• Beliefs
• Values
• Attitudes
• Motives
• Impulses
• Skills
• Quality of execution
28
Clip 5: Mrs. B’s initiatives
• Mrs.B tries to make Darcy dance with her daughters, he walks
away. She abuses him
• While describing the first ball, she abuses Darcy
• She makes Jane go to Netherfield on horseback
• She gets offended by Darcy and criticizes him at Netherfield
• She encourages Collins to select from her four younger daughters
• She gloats about Jane and Bingley at Netherfield
• Forces Lizzie to listen to Collins
• She tries to make Mr.B persuade Elizabeth to marry Collins.
Instead, Mr.B tells Elizabeth that he does not want her to marry
him. Mrs.B is disappointed
• Complains about Bingley, Elizabeth and the Lucases. She walks
away on seeing Elizabeth come towards her with Wickham
• She wants Mr.Bennet to take everyone to Brighton
• She is happy when Lydia is invited to Brighton
• She happily sees Lydia off, asking her to lose no opportunity to
enjoy herself
• She welcomes Darcy unwillingly, and is rude to him while
mentioning Lydia's marriage to Wickham
• Mrs.B says she always distrusted Wickham, but no one listened to
her
29
Mrs. Bennet’s Initiatives
• Dinner invitation to Bingley
• Abusing Darcy
• She expresses the attraction to him negatively because he will not receive it
positively.
• Eliza does the same and so does Darcy in response.
• Sending Jane on horseback
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Petty planning surely spoils
Mrs. Bennet spoils Jane’s chances, but rain and fever oblige her.
Her hopes were answered. It rained.
Even energy which is to fail ultimately may initial succeed.
Jane’s illness is her desire to stay at Netherfield.
Darcy’s passion brings Elizabeth to Netherfield, not Jane’s illness.
• She forces Jane to remain longer at Netherfield
• Mrs. Bennet uses intrigue to retain Jane at Netherfield.
• Intrigue backfires on her.
• Rudeness to Darcy
• Refuses to send the carriage until Tuesday
• Her exceeding her strength brings Collins arrival.
• Speaks openly of Jane’s engagement at the ball
• She postpones it 10 months
• Insists on sending Lydia to Brighton
• Insists on sending Lydia to Brighton
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Clip 6: Failed Initiatives
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Sir L tries to make Darcy and Elizabeth dance
Sir Lucas’ congratulations about Bingley and Jane
Sir L takes Elizabeth to Hunsford
Caroline asks Darcy how he found the Hertfordshire girls, hoping
to hear criticism. He obliges. She is happy to hear him criticize
Elizabeth
Caroline praises Jane
She asks Darcy if he finds the company tedious, he replies that he
has been admiring Elizabeth's eyes
Caroline speaks badly of Eliza at Netherfield, and gets snubbed
Caroline tells Elizabeth about Wickham's treatment of Darcy
Caroline mentions Wickham’s name at Pemberley to taunt
Elizabeth
Caroline criticizes Elizabeth and is snubbed by Darcy
At Pemberley, Caroline teases Darcy about his feelings for
Elizabeth, he angrily walks away
Lady C invites Elizabeth to travel with her, Elizabeth turns down
the offer
Lady C’s meeting with Elizabeth at Longbourn
Darcy’s later confession that it alerted him to possible success
31
Sir Lucas’s Initiatives
• His goal is to be pleasant to
everyone.
• Life is pleasant to his family
• Tries to get Darcy to dance
with Elizabeth
• His initiative failed when she refused
• Speaks to Darcy about Jane’s
imminent engagement
• Lucas lacks strength promote Bingley’s
marriage.
• Takes Elizabeth to Hunsford
32
Caroline’s Initiatives
• Praises Jane & befriends her
• Speaks badly of Eliza at Netherfield
• Warns Elizabeth about Wickham
• Mentions Wickham’s name at
Pemberley
• Criticizes Elizabeth at Pemberley
33
Lady Catherine’s Initiatives
• Invites Elizabeth to travel with her
• Meets Elizabeth at Longbourn
• Meets Darcy in London
34
Initiatives that succeed
• P&P is full of initiatives, but very few
succeed
–Bingley’s initial visit to Netherfield
and his final visit to Longbourn to
propose.
–Darcy’s effort to make Wickham
marry Lydia
35
Initiatives with unexpected outcomes
• Wickham’s attempt to become
Darcy’s brother-in-law by eloping
with Georgiana
• Collin’s proposal to Elizabeth leads to
his marriage with Charlotte
• Collins eagerness to relate with Lady
Catherine make her a relation
36
Initiatives with opposite result
• Caroline’s sarcastic criticism of
Elizabeth to Darcy
• Lady Catherine’s threats to Elizabeth
& advice to Darcy
37
Initiatives backfire, later succeed
• Mrs. Bennet’s efforts to bring Jane
and Bingley together
• Sir Lucas’s effort to bring Darcy and
Elizabeth together
38
Negative initiatives that end well
• Elizabeth abuses of Darcy at
Hunsford
• Wickham elopes with Lydia for
dissipation, not marriage
• Fitzwilliam discloses Darcy’s
interference with Bingley and Jane
39
Initiatives initially succeed, then fail
• Wickham’s lies about Darcy
• Darcy’s efforts to prevent Bingley’s
marriage to Jane
• Darcy’s concealment of Jane’s
presence in London
40
Non-initiatives that succeed
• Jane refuses to think badly of
Bingley, Wickham or Darcy
• Bingley submits to Darcy’s
domination and ultimately succeeds
• Mr. Bennet’s refusal to call on Bingley
a second time
• The Gardiners’ restrain in not asking
Lizzy about her relation with Darcy
41
Non-initiatives leading to failure
• Darcy refuses to expose Wickham
publically
• Elizabeth refuses to expose Wickham
to her father
• Mr. Bennet refuses to stop Lydia’s
trip to Brighton
42
The Act
43
The Act as Microcosm
• Every initiative consists of many acts
• Acts link together in chains become
actions
• Repeating actions become activities
• Acts get organized into systems &
organizations
–But at the base of all of these are
countless individual acts.
• Results of our initiatives depend on
the quality of individual acts.
44
Act is the basic unit of
accomplishment
• Act is microcosm of life
• Every act is infinite
• Every act reflects the whole context
in which it takes place.
• Character of a person expresses in
every act
45
Every act includes
• Energy
• Thoughts
• Values
• Beliefs
• Attitudes
• Feelings
• Urges
• Skills
• Habits
46
‘Tolerable’
"Come, Darcy," said he, "I must have you dance.
I hate to see you
standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. You had much
better dance."
"I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it, unless I am
particularly acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as this
it would be insupportable. Your sisters are engaged, and there is not
another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to
me to stand up with."
"I would not be so fastidious as you are," cried Mr. Bingley, "for a
kingdom! Upon my honor, I never met with so many pleasant girls in
my life as I have this evening; and there are several of them you see
uncommonly pretty."
"YOU are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room," said Mr.
Darcy, looking at the eldest Miss Bennet.
"Oh! She is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld! But there is
one of her sisters sitting down just behind you, who is very pretty,
and I dare say very agreeable. Do let me ask my partner to
introduce you."
"Which do you mean?" and turning round he looked for a moment at
Elizabeth, till catching her eye, he withdrew his own and coldly said:
"She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt ME; I am in no
humor at present to give consequence to young ladies who are
slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and
enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me."
47
Darcy says Elizabeth is just ‘tolerable’
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Guests have condemned Darcy as proud, arrogant
Mrs. Bennet is violently annoyed with him
Passive Bingley is uncharacteristically assertive
Bingley is emboldened by his attraction to Jane
He knows he needs Darcy’s approval to get serious
He is first to link Darcy with Elizabeth
Bingley’s coaxing him to dance is repeated by Sir
Lucas
Darcy is present because of compulsions to interact
with lower classes
Darcy is blinded by surface appearances &
prejudgment
He replies loudly because of excited atmosphere of
dance
His criticism of her mimics Mrs. Bennet’s & Elizabeth’s
own of him
Elizabeth laughs at his slight, but she is annoyed
48
Collin’s Proposal
49
Collins character
• Son of an illiterate, thrifty, dominating father
• Raised submissive, acquired sense of selfimportance.
• Energetic, dynamic, alert, resourceful &
motivated. His energy and strength derive from
the fact he is Mr. Bennet’s cousin
• Collins has perfect organization. Compare
Wickham and Collins:Collins achieves everything
he set out to achieve
• A snob & buffoon devoid of common sense &
good manners
• Collins & Mrs. Bennet are of same type
• He is the perfect complement for Lady Catherine.
Sir Lucas lacks the energy and strength to
complement her.
50
Clip 7: Collins Proposal
• Excerpt from Collins' letter, he says he’s coming to heal the
breach
• Mr.B hopes to find Collins an insensible man, Collins arrives
• Collins praises Lady C, Mr.B encourages him, the family is
amused
• Collins offends Mrs.Phillips by comparing her house to
Rosings Park
• Collins makes mistakes while dancing
• Collins introduces himself to Darcy
• He tries to play the piano at the Netherfield ball
• Mrs.B commands Elizabeth to listen to Collins - Collins
proposes – Elizabeth repeatedly turns him down and finally
walks out
• Charlotte arrives, and takes Collins away
• Kitty and Lydia announce Charlotte’s engagement
51
Why does his proposal fail?
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He comes to end family quarrel
Cultural gap between the families is great
He aspires to rise by marrying Eliza
His self-important, condescending manner
She already responded to Wickham
Mr. B’s mockery comes back as humiliating
proposal
• Mrs. Bennet’s violent insistence drives him
away
• Absurd idea to marry according to Lady
Catherine
52
Collins’ achievement
• He’s expelled from Longbourn by the
conflict between Mr. & Mrs. Bennet
• It opens up the opportunity for
higher Grace to enter
• He fails with Elizabeth, succeeds with
Charlotte
53
Darcy’s Proposal at
Hunsford
54
Clip 8: Darcy’s proposal at Hunsford
55
Why does Darcy fail?
• He interfered with Jane & Bingley
• He is unconscious of her attitude to
him
• He is unconscious of his own
behavior
• He is egoistic, self-centered
• It is Collin’s house
• It is Charlotte’s house
• It is Lady Catherine’s domain
• His mind and his heart are at war
56
Why does Elizabeth receive two
such similar proposals?
• Mr. Bennet’s abuse of his wife comes to her as
abuse
• Truth in Collins’ proposal repeats
• Darcy & Collins both apply a similar logic
– They think about their needs, not other people’s
– They both value themselves very highly
– They both take for Elizabeth granted
• Life is offering Elizabeth unimagined opportunity
• Elizabeth is unconscious & negatively related to the
opportunity that is coming so it comes to her as
something negative
57
Day 2
Topic
Slide
Clips
Review & Q&A
61-62
Personality
63-76
9
Correspondence
77-92
10-11
Life response
93-101
12
Act repeats
102-107
13
Negativity
108-115
14,15
Reversal
116-139
16-19
Conclusion
140-146
58
DAY II: Review of Day I
• Energy and opportunity are generated by
the social & family environment.
• Aspiration attracts the opportunity to us
• Positive attitudes, cheerfulness & harmony
make for receptivity.
• The results of initiative depend on subtle &
causal factors.
• Each act is a microcosm & front for the
infinite
• Results are true for all persons & from all
perspectives.
59
What determines results?
• Social context
• Family atmosphere
• Energy
• Aspiration
• Personal relations
• Personality
• Life
60
Personality
• Life evolves by consciousness,
• Consciousness evolves by
organization
• Personality is organization
• Personality has a level & a strength
61
Levels of Personality
• Energy
• Manners
• Behavior
• Character
• Individuality
62
Energy acts
• Mrs. Bennet is intense energy expressing
aspiration
• Lydia is unorganized energy without
direction
“The rapture of Lydia on this occasion, her
adoration of Mrs. Forster, the delight of
Mrs. Bennet, and the mortification of Kitty,
are scarcely to be described. Wholly
inattentive to her sister's feelings, Lydia
flew about the house in restless ecstasy,
calling for every one's congratulations,
and laughing and talking with more
violence than ever..”
63
Manners please
• We progress from energy to
manners when we bring our
external conduct under selfdiscipline
• We learn to control what we say
and what we do
• This is what parents teach children
• It is the first minimum step in being
human and civilized
• What one is to everyone inevitably
is manners. It is not selective.
64
Behavior fosters relationship
• We progress to behavior when our good manners
truly reflects what we think and feel.
• Wickham’s behavior is completely false
• Caroline says one thing but means another.
– Her external behavior is only meant to attract
Darcy. She is not genuine.
• Bingley is genuine but he lacks strength and
substance
– Can pack up and leave in a moment
– Can forget anyone when they are absent
– Submits to Darcy and Caroline
– He’s violently in love, but of weak will
65
Character accomplishes
• Character is substance of personality
based on deeply held beliefs
• Behavior evolves to character when
we acquire values
66
Expressions of Character
• Self-reliance—Darcy
– Wickham lacks it
• Sense of responsibility—Darcy, Mr.
Gardiner, Mr. Bennet,
• Independent thinking — Charlotte, Mrs.
Gardiner
• Values
– Darcy realizes he has not lived by
values he was taught
– He decides to live up to the ideal
• Objectivity & Rationality—Elizabeth &
Darcy
– Elizabeth moves from vital to mind after
reading Darcy’s letter
67
Individuality creates
• All the previous stages are based on social
conformity
• Individuality expresses what is true for the
soul
• Individuality expresses the psychic
element in us
• It is what makes us unique
• All pioneers and creators act from center
of individuality
• Infinity & Uniqueness are hallmarks of
individuality
68
Elizabeth’s Individuality
• She does not honor social reality
• Her easy playfulness is wealth,
psychological wealth. Therefore life
awarded her the psychological reality.
• Her courage rises when she is challenged
• Her capacity to laugh at Darcy’s sense of
self-importance makes her more attractive
• In her he meets a formed, educated,
discriminating individual of Good Will
69
Collins’ Individuality
• Collins is also an individual
• He expresses unique characteristics
• He does not act with reference to
others
–He defied Lizzy’s advice about
speaking to Darcy
–Decides to dance & play cards
• Embodies the value of obsequious
squeamishness to aristocracy
70
Clip 9: Jane’s Personality
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Jane talks about the ideal marriage, Elizabeth
talks about their situation
She is intelligent enough to understand Mr.B's
intelligence and sarcasm. She smiles when he
says his wife's nerves have been his companions
for 20 years
Jane is as happy as the others when they learn
that Mr.B has called on Bingley
Jane takes an interest in Bingley and his group,
she admires Bingley's sisters' elegance
Bingley asks Jane to dance with him, she accepts
Bingley's request
Jane is happy with Bingley, dances with him
Both Darcy and Bingley praise Jane's beauty at
the first ball
Jane praises Bingley, his sisters, even Darcy
Elizabeth and Charlotte discuss Jane's chances of
marrying Bingley
Jane is shocked with her mother’s ploy
Jane is happy to see Elizabeth at Netherfield
Mrs.Philips is offended by Collins, Jane explains
Jane cannot think Darcy is so wrong, she feels
Bingley cannot be ignorant of his friend's nature,
suspects that Elizabeth likes Wickham
Jane tells Elizabeth that after such a short
acquaintance, Wickham should not be believed
implicitly
Jane is distressed by news of Wickham and
Darcy's
Jane tells Elizabeth that she has learnt from
Bingley that Wickham has wronged Darcy
Jane defends Charlotte's decision to marry
Collins. She receives Caroline's letter
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Jane comforts herself and Elizabeth, agrees to go
to Jane and Elizabeth discuss Caroline's letter
London
Jane writes to Elizabeth from London
Jane feels sorry for Darcy, as he must be
disappointed in being turned down by Elizabeth
Jane is shocked on learning the truth about
Wickham and Darcy
Jane says Wickham could have become a better
person, so he should not be exposed
Jane tries to cheer up
Mrs.Gardiner praises Jane's sweetness
Jane greets Elizabeth on her return from
Derbyshire
Jane feels Lydia's elopement is her fault
Jane praises Lady Lucas' support after the
elopement, Elizabeth resents it
Jane patiently tolerates her mother's behavior,
after Lydia's elopement
Jane rejoices that they are married, as soon as
Elizabeth starts to read the letter
Jane thinks Wickham loves Lydia, and will marry
her without any money
Jane reacts cautiously when news comes that
Bingley is back
Jane pretends not to be swayed, Elizabeth does
not believe her
Jane is happy after Bingley proposes, she wishes
everyone to be as happy
Jane wishes Elizabeth could be just as happy
71
Jane’s Personality
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She is completely genuine in her behavior
She is happy with herself, relates to others happily.
Her behavior is universal goodwill
She has innate passive goodness & patience
Her goodness attracts goodwill of Eliza & Charlotte
Caroline’s kindness is due to her innate sweetness
Her effort to see people as better than they are is a
psychic quality
• Her unwillingness to see the lower side is innocence
• Her incapacity to see a fault prevents life from
bringing her any fault
• She has to drop the illusion about Caroline before
she can succeed with Bingley
72
How did Jane Accomplish?
• Positive social climate for upward mobility
• Positive, cheerful family atmosphere
• Mrs. Bennet’s intense aspiration
• Jane’s good patient passive personality
• She succeeds by Elizabeth’s goodwill
• She practices silent will & non-initiative
• Her personal relationships are positive
• She exhausts her capacity to live up to her
ideal
73
Other insights about her marriage
• Bingley is dominated by Darcy, so it
awaits Darcy’s approval
• Elizabeth creates opportunity for
Jane
• Jane creates opportunity for
Elizabeth
• Caroline opposed Jane’s marriage
because of Elizabeth
74
Hidden
Connections
Inner-Outer
Correspondences
75
Hidden Connections
76
Supreme discovery
• The rishis discovered the ultimate
reality
• They declared “All is Brahman”
• The world too is Brahman
• Even we are only That
• They did not explain how the
unmanifest Spirit becomes the
material world or how Matter evolves
back to manifest Spirit.
77
Sri Aurobindo’s discovery
• He revealed that the world is the
divine in the process of evolution
• Adventure of consciousness to
freedom, light and immortal delight
• In Life Divine he presents the
process of creation, the laws
governing universal manifestation
and spiritual evolution.
• Karmayogi has codified the principles
governing the process at the level of
life and society.
• He calls it character of life.
78
Oneness of Life
• Life is a manifestation of Brahman
• Life is a universal and undivided ocean of
existence
• Life is a web of interconnectedness &
relationships
• The truth of life is spiritual oneness
• The ego artificially divides life into inside
and outside.
• Actually inner and outer are one.
• Whatever comes to us corresponds with
our own consciousness
• Life is filled with correspondences
79
What is LIFE?
• A field of action
• Universal field of energy
• A field of forces in which strength
determines the result
80
Principles of Life
• Every movement expresses an energy
• The movement continues until it is
exhausted
• The result depends on Strength
• What a man does on his own initiative and
own strength succeeds
• Every action has its consequences—karma
• No sincere act fails to foster its intention,
immediately or eventually
• Energy collecting beyond a certain point
can only insist, can never see its folly.
81
Clip 10: Correspondences
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Mr.Collins’ servile behavior to Lady C at the church
Sir Lucas’ cant speak in front of Lady C
Mrs. B brags of Bingley favoring Jane over Charlotte
Lady C’ bragging about her and Anne’s imaginary musical
superiority
Darcy criticizes the Bennet’s to Bingley
Mrs. B criticizes Darcy
Darcy’s ruse in London
Wickham’s lies about Darcy
Mrs. B calls the Lucases artful people, looking for what they
can get,
Lydia criticizes Mary King. Elizabeth feels the same
82
Clip 11: Elizabeth’s Correspondences
• Charlotte’s goodwill for her
• Jane’s goodwill for her
• Sir Lucas’s clumsy goodwill
initiatives
• The Gardiner’s affectionate
support and goodwill
• Elizabeth’s goodwill for Jane
• Darcy calls her tolerable
• Elizabeth speaks teasingly
about Darcy to her mother
• Darcy refuses to dance with
her
• Elizabeth refuses to dance
with Darcy
• Darcy tells Bingley about
Jane’s poor connections
• Mrs.B abuses Darcy at the
first meeting
• Elizabeth tells Darcy at
Hunsford she has every
reason to think ill of him
• ‘Last man I could ever marry’
• Elizabeth dislikes Darcy
initially
• Caroline dislikes Elizabeth
• Eliza wants Bingley to marry
Jane
• Caroline’s wants Bingley to
marry Georgiana
• Elizabeth laughs at Collins
• Collins insults her with his
proposal
• She is lied to by Wickham
• She hides the truth about
Wickham from all
• When Mr.B reads out Collins’
letter, she feigns ignorance
• Darcy insults her family while
proposing
• Elizabeth insults Darcy by
repeating lies about him
83
Collins’ insulting proposal
• Mr. Bennet loves absurdities: married
Mrs. Bennet
• Elizabeth loves absurdities: Collins &
Darcy’s proposal come to her
• They laugh at Collins. His proposal is
insulting
84
Darcy’s insulting proposal
• Darcy’s insulting proposal -Elizabeth insults Darcy’s character by
believing & repeating lies about him.
• He insults hers by speaking openly
about the vulgarity of her family.
Insult is common to both
• Both proposals are comedies of error.
85
Wickham’s falsehood
• As long as Lizzy believes Wickham,
Jane believes Caroline
• Eliza is eager to believe Wickham
because she likes him & to disbelieve
Darcy because he insulted her
86
Attraction
• Darcy is attracted to Eliza’s
character, offended by her ‘situation’
• Eliza is attracted to Wickham’s
manners, offended by his inner
falsehood
87
Warnings
• Elizabeth ignores Caroline’s warning
about Wickham
• Mr. Bennet rejects Elizabeth’s
warning about Brighton
88
Bingley’s marriage
• Eliza feels intensely that Bingley
should marry Jane
• Caroline feels intensely that Bingley
should marry Georgiana
89
Lady Catherine insults her family
• Mrs. Bennet insults Darcy
• Lady Catherine insults Elizabeth
90
Life responses
91
Life is a major actor in our lives
• When life helps, we call it chance, luck
or Grace
• When life does not cooperate, we
complain of fate or misfortune
• There is no such thing as chance, luck
or fate
• Whatever we achieve is with the
support of life, no exceptions
• Without Brahman, even the gods
cannot lift a blade of grass
• Life responds according to the laws of
consciousness
92
Life Responds
• Life responds to what we are & what
we do
• Life responds to thoughts, feeling &
acts
• Life responds to inaction & noninitiative
• Life maintains balance & equilibrium
like flow of water down hill
• All that comes to us from life comes
in response to what we are and what
we need for our progress.
93
Clip 12: Life Response
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Bingley arrives in Hertfordshire
Collins' arrival
Meeting at Meryton
Wickham’s visit to Longbourn brings news of Bingley’s
departure from Netherfield
When Wickham is diverted to Miss King, Eliza is invited for
summer holiday
Darcy’s arrival at Hunsford
Fitzwilliam’s disclosure
Twice Darcy calls on Elizabeth at the parsonage when she is
reading Jane’s letters. Her goodwill for Jane brings him.
Darcy’s arrival in time to save Georgiana from elopement
Gardiners’ change of holiday plans
Darcy’s arrival at Pemberley
Jane’s letter arrives at Lambton when Darcy arrives
Lydia disclosing Darcy’s role in her marriage
94
What makes it respond?
• Powerful aspiration to rise
• Strong interest or Silent Will
• Intense attitude or passion
• Expectation
• Change of attitude
• Values – Truth
95
Clip 13: Positive Values
• Life responds positively to positive
values
96
Goodwill
• Elizabeth has general goodwill &
especially heart-felt, self-effacing
affection for Jane.
• Goodwill comes to her from Jane,
Charlotte, Sir Lucas & Gardiners
• As long as she is interested in
Wickham, her natural goodwill keeps
him afloat & brings him prospect of
Miss King. When Eliza loses interest
in him, Miss King withdraws.
97
Georgiana’s elopement
• Truth in Darcy’s life is so great that
he arrives a day early to the
elopement. He arrives a day early
to Pemberley to meet Elizabeth.
98
Mrs. Gardiner’s goodness
• She has prior link to Pemberley
• She is the first to warn Lizzy about
Wickham
• She weans Lizzy away from
Wickham
• She brings Lizzy to Pemberley
99
Acts repeat
100
Clip 14: Acts repeat
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Wickham tries to elope with Georgiana
Wickham elopes with Lydia
Bingley tries to get Darcy to dance with Elizabeth, he refuses
Sir L tries to get Darcy to dance with Elizabeth, she refuses
Mrs. Bennet criticizes Darcy after the first ball, when she describes the events
to Mr.B
Darcy criticizes the Bennets after the first ball
Elizabeth wants Bingley to marry Jane
Caroline wants Bingley to marry Georgiana
Mrs. Bennet is rude to Darcy at Netherfield
Lady Catherine is rude to Elizabeth at Hunsford
Wickham lies to Elizabeth about Darcy
Darcy confesses about his deceit to Bingley, in his letter to Elizabeth
Eliza ignores Caroline’s advice about Wickham
Mr. Bennet ignores Eliza’s advice
Collins’ boorish proposal, he says she has little money
Darcy’s boorish proposal
Lizzy says ‘Impossible’
Jane says ‘Impossible’
Lady Catherine tries to dissuade Elizabeth from marrying Darcy, the word
‘impossible’ comes up again
Bingley's hasty departure from Netherfield
Elizabeth’s sudden rushed departure from Lambton after Jane’s letter
101
Acts Repeat
• Our lives are filled with physical habits and social
customs that repeat over and over
• The same law applies to acts committed
unconsciously, unintentionally, accidentally.
• A casual word spoken without thinking repeats
• Acts repeat not only in the life of the person who
commits the act, but also in the lives of other
connected people
• Every act is a force which acquires more energy
each time it repeats
• Each act has a personality which tries to
perpetuate itself and expand
• All acts are part of the universal movement of life
expressing its energies
102
Acts Repeat
• Elopement
• Dancing
• Criticism
• Marriage
• Rudeness
• Ruse & Deceit
• Wickham
• Proposal
• Impossible
• Departure
103
Other Acts that Repeat
• Abusing Darcy and foolish display
• Bingley’s departures
• Lydia & Wickham
– She is the first to see him and get introduced.
• Lydia invites Wickham to Mrs. Philips house (her
family’s house). She monopolizes him in the early
part of the discussion there.
– Later she ‘invites’ him to elope and brings him
to Longbourn.
– Interestingly, it is Lizzy who first brings
Wickham to Longbourn on the day Bingley
departs for London. Lydia repeats that act
104
Self-fulfilling power of Words
• Mr. Bennet: “put in a word for Lizzy”
• Caroline: “When shall I wish you joy?”
• Bingley: “I can leave a place in five
minutes”
• Mr. Bennet: “Wickham will jilt Elizabeth”
• Mrs. Gardiner: “There is no danger of
Jane meeting Bingley in London”
• Collins letter: “The disagreement…
• Darcy letter: “For the happiness of both”
• Darcy letter: “my best wish for your
health & happiness”
105
Role of Negativity
106
Falsehood, Ill-will & Evil
• Every religion struggles to explain it
• Sri Aurobindo is first to explain how
they are created and the role they
play in the spiritual evolution.
• Whatever comes to us comes for our
progress, to awaken our
consciousness
107
Caroline
• Her genuine affection for Jane shows she
is not bad at heart.
• Her warning Eliza against Wickham helps
her retain her relationship with Pemberley.
• Her teasing Darcy made him conscious of
his feelings for Elizabeth
• Her jealousy destroyed her own chances
with Darcy
• Mentioning the militia brings Darcy &
Georgiana closer to Elizabeth
• Her jealousy brought Lydia’s elopement,
but it helped Darcy prove the depth of his
love for Elizabeth
108
Clip 15: Wickham
• Wickham meets the Bennet girls at Meryton
• Wickham finds all the information Elizabeth knows about Darcy
first
• Wickham tells lies to Elizabeth about Darcy
• During the Netherfield dance, Elizabeth and Darcy talk about
Wickham
• Caroline warns Elizabeth about Wickham
• Jane confirms Caroline’s news about Darcy with what Bingley says
• Mrs.Reynolds says Wickham has turned out badly
• Wickham explains why he didn't attend the Netherfield ball
• Wickham is introduced to Mr. and Mrs.B. Mr.B does not believe
him
• Mr.B says Wickham will jilt Elizabeth creditably
• Mrs.Gardiner meets Wickham
• Wickham turns his attentions to Mary King
• Darcy’s letter to Elizabeth
• Lydia informs Elizabeth that Mary King is gone
• Jane and Elizabeth decide against exposing Wickham
• Lydia's elopement
• Jane writes that Wickham never intended to marry Lydia
• Mrs.Phillips brings bad news about Wickham often
109
Wickham
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People like Wickham, unless they
continue to expect patronage or are
under fear, will mortally offend the
benefactor.
He who pleases, longs to hurt, as he
pleases against his will.
Any girl young or old, married or
unmarried will readily accept Wickham
except for social odium.
Man has not learnt to overcome the
charm of falsehood.
Wickham relates to a person, touches his
falsehood and expands it.
110
Wickham & Darcy
• He is Darcy’s complement — perfect
external form, but a false rogue of low
consciousness inside.
• He is the low consciousness Darcy must
outgrow to win Elizabeth.
• He almost ruined Darcy’s family by eloping
with Georgiana. His elopement with Lydia
becomes an aid for Darcy to marry
Elizabeth.
• He almost ruined Elizabeth’s life by
eloping with Lydia. He has to marry Lydia
to save Elizabeth’s marriage to Darcy.
• Darcy has to pay him twice for his
negative service
111
Clip 16: Eliza’s response to Wickham
• Elizabeth believes Wickham about Darcy,
Jane does not
• She is unable to see he is mercenary in
seeking Miss King
• After reading Darcy’s letter, she realizes
Wickham must be false
• Jane cannot believe Wickham is so bad.
Elizabeth says one has the goodness, the
other has the appearance of it
• She can never get angry at him. Elizabeth
does not mind Wickham’s interruption
when she is reading Mrs. Gardiner's letter
• They part as brother and sister
112
Wickham & Elizabeth
• He is attractive to the Mrs. Bennet in her
• He is the low consciousness Elizabeth
must outgrow to win Darcy
• Her eagerness to hear bad of Darcy
enables him to scandalize Darcy.
• Darcy & Bingley leave Netherfield when
she responds to him
• He makes her conscious of her ignorance
& falsehood
• Until he is married, she cannot marry
• Her attraction makes him part of her
family
113
Reversal of
Consciousness
114
Spiritual Evolution
• From ignorance to knowledge
• From ego to universality
• From physical to mental to spiritual
consciousness
• From pleasure & pain to delight
115
Awakening of Consciousness
• Surface sensation
• Vital instinct
• Emotion vibrates out and seeks an
interchange with others
• Mental conception, rational thought,
• Soul’s knowledge by identity
116
Ignorance is start of evolution
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Darcy’s insult to Lizzy
Mrs. B’s multiple insults to Darcy
Wickham’s falsehood
Darcy’s objections to Bingley marrying
Jane prevent him from choosing Elizabeth.
Caroline’s constant harassment, plotting
Darcy’s interference with Bingley and Jane
Darcy’s offensive proposal
Elizabeth’s abusive reply
Lydia’s elopement
Lady Catherine’s objections
117
We progress by changing our
perceptions & attitudes about
• How good or important we are
• How bad or low others are
• What is possible for us and others to
accomplish
• How we feel about the success of
other people
• Change of attitude makes prayer
powerful
118
Clip 17: Mr. Bennet takes
responsibility
119
Elizabeth’s genius
J: "I never thought Mr. Darcy so deficient in
the APPEARANCE of it as you used to do."
E: "And yet I meant to be uncommonly
clever in taking so decided a dislike to him,
without any reason. It is such a spur to
one's genius, such an opening for wit, to
have a dislike of that kind. One may be
continually abusive without saying anything
just; but one cannot always be laughing at a
man without now and then stumbling on
something witty."
120
Clip 18: Elizabeth’s changing
awareness
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Elizabeth says the rich can afford to give offense wherever they go, and teases her mother that Darcy is probably not as goodlooking as he seemed at first
Elizabeth imitates Darcy's comment about her being tolerable
Elizabeth promises never to dance with Darcy
Elizabeth refuses to dance with Darcy
When Charlotte points out to Elizabeth that Darcy looks at her a lot, she replies that he's trying to frighten her with his contempt
Elizabeth tells Wickham she hopes Darcy's presence will not affect Wickham's stay at Hertfordshire
Elizabeth gets angry with Darcy on hearing Wickham's lies
Elizabeth confesses to Jane that she likes Wickham, and trusts him
Elizabeth complains to Charlotte about Darcy, he arrives to invite her to dance, she unwillingly accepts
Elizabeth believes Wickham's explanation of his absence at the Netherfield ball
Elizabeth tells her father she believes Wickham has really been cheated by Darcy
Elizabeth cannot believe Charlotte who says Darcy has come to call on the parsonage because of her
Fitzwilliam tells Elizabeth that Darcy has spoken to him about her, she cannot understand why
Elizabeth teasingly talks to Darcy in front of Fitzwilliam
Darcy proposes to Elizabeth
Elizabeth thinks of Darcy's words
Elizabeth reads about Wickham, and realizes he must he false
Elizabeth remembers her family's bad behavior that Darcy finds disgusting
Elizabeth tells Jane Darcy has the goodness, Wickham has the appearance of it
Elizabeth's first view of Pemberley
Elizabeth realizes she could have been mistress of Pemberley
Elizabeth hears Mrs. Reynolds complain about Wickham
Mrs. Reynolds praises Darcy
Elizabeth and Darcy meet at Pemberley
Darcy is pleasant to Elizabeth
Elizabeth leaves Pemberley surprised, pleased
Georgiana says that Darcy has praised Elizabeth a lot
Elizabeth tells Darcy about Lydia, he is shocked
Elizabeth fears she will never see Darcy again, after news of the elopement
Elizabeth tells Jane Darcy will never want to associate with her again
Elizabeth wishes she had not told Darcy about Lydia
Elizabeth writes to her aunt
Mrs.Gardiner writes to Elizabeth
Elizabeth tells Lady C that she and Darcy are equal, and will not promise that she will not marry him
121
Elizabeth’s attitudes
• Darcy is arrogant, offensive, insulting
• She intensely dislikes him
• She refuses to dance with him
• She things he disapproves of her
• She blames him for Jane’s
disappointment
• She believes he cheated Wickham
122
Elizabeth’s change of consciousness
• Sensation
– She is thrilled when sees Pemberley
– They meet at Pemberley
– He is very pleasant to her
• Vital instinct
– She realizes she could be mistress
– She leaves Pemberley surprised, pleased
• Emotion
– She feels differently about him – respect, admiration
• Mental awakening
– She reads about Wickham, realizes he is false
– She realizes her family's behavior spoiled Jane’s chances
– She tells Jane Darcy has the goodness, Wickham the
appearance
– She realizes he is good, not proud
• Knowledge by Identity — spiritual
– She feels deep gratitude and love
123
Eliza progresses by discipline of
humiliation
• Darcy’s tolerable
• Collins’ proposal
• The mortification of Mrs. B’s vulgar
behavior
• Darcy’s proposal
• Darcy’s letter
• Lydia’s elopement
• Caroline’s taunting
124
Eliza refuses to sacrifice human
values for wealth and status.
• Her values compelled Darcy to transform
himself in order to acquire the human
values she could admire and to place
wealth and status at her feet without her
asking or seeking it.
• She clung to higher values and she got
both the human being she could love as
well as the wealth and status she did not
seek.
• Her intense dislike of Darcy turns into love
as an expression of social revolution
turning into evolution.
125
Elizabeth’s progress
• She awakens to the higher possibility
• She recognizes her own arrogance &
folly
• She realizes her own family ruined
Jane’s prospects
• She blames herself, not others
• She reverses her attitude to Darcy
• She acquires humility
• She moves life by changing her own
attitudes
126
Elizabeth’s self-realization
She grew absolutely ashamed of herself. Of
neither Darcy nor Wickham could she think
without feeling she had been prejudiced, absurd.
"How despicably I have acted! I, who have
prided myself on my discernment! I, who have
valued myself on my abilities! who have often
disdained the generous candor of my sister, and
gratified my vanity in useless or blameable
mistrust! How humiliating is this discovery! yet,
how just a humiliation! Had I been in love, I
could not have been more wretchedly blind! But
vanity, not love, has been my folly. Pleased with
the preference of one, and offended by the
neglect of the other, on the very beginning of our
acquaintance, I have courted prejudice and
ignorance, and driven reason away, where either
were concerned. Till now, I never knew myself.
127
Elizabeth’s sincerity about Lydia
• Mrs. Gardiner: "But can you think that Lydia is so lost to
everything but love of him as to consent to live with him on
any terms other than marriage?"
• Elizabeth: "It does seem, and it is most shocking indeed,"
replied Elizabeth, with tears in her eyes, "that a sister's
sense of decency and virtue in such a point should admit of
doubt. But, really, I know not what to say. Perhaps I am
not doing her justice. But she is very young; she has never
been taught to think on serious subjects; and for the last
half-year, nay, for a twelvemonth-- she has been given up
to nothing but amusement and vanity. She has been
allowed to dispose of her time in the most idle and frivolous
manner, and to adopt any opinions that came in her way.
Since the ----shire were first quartered in Meryton, nothing
but love, flirtation, and officers have been in her head. She
has been doing everything in her power by thinking and
talking on the subject, to give greater-- what shall I call it?
susceptibility to her feelings; which are naturally lively
enough. And we all know that Wickham has every charm
of person and address that can captivate a woman."
128
Clip 19: Darcy’s Reversal & Clip
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Darcy refuses to dance, and insults
Mrs.B
Darcy says it will be a punishment to
dance with anyone at the assembly
Darcy calls Elizabeth tolerable
Darcy confesses to Caroline that he's
been admiring Elizabeth's eyes
At Netherfield, Darcy says Elizabeth
looks better for the exercise, snubbing
Caroline
Darcy tells Bingley that with her
connections, Jane has little chance of
being married well
Elizabeth complains to Charlotte about
Darcy, he arrives to invite her to
dance, she unwillingly accepts
Darcy finds the behavior of the
Bennets at the Netherfield ball
intolerable
Darcy tells Caroline that Georgiana is
as tall as Elizabeth
Darcy frequents Elizabeth's favorite
walking paths, hoping to meet her
Darcy proposes to Elizabeth
Darcy thinks of Elizabeth's words
Darcy asks to be introduced to the
Gardiners
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Darcy wishes to introduce his sister to
Elizabeth
Darcy is waiting for Elizabeth at the
inn, brings Georgiana and Bingley
Georgiana says that Darcy has praised
Elizabeth a lot
Georgiana invites Elizabeth to
Pemberley
Darcy admires Elizabeth's singing at
Pemberley
Darcy tells Caroline his opinion of
Elizabeth has changed, and now he
finds her handsome
Elizabeth tells Darcy about Lydia, he is
shocked
Darcy goes in search of Wickham and
Lydia
Darcy find Wickham's lodgings, Lydia
sees him from the window
Darcy has forced Wickham to marry,
he is at the church, attending the
wedding
Darcy talks to the Gardiners and takes
responsibility
Darcy and Bingley visit Netherfield
129
Darcy’s starting point
• He is blind to opportunity, prejudiced
by his opinions
• He failed to see she was a golden
opportunity
• His behavior is arrogant, boorish and
offensive
• He says savages dance
• He feels disgust for her family
130
Clip 20: Final Reconciliation
131
Darcy’s reversals
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•
Her fine eyes — he reverses his opinion of her appearance
Asks her to dance — he reverses his behavior
He admires Eliza & Jane individually, disqualifies them socially
He flees Netherfield feeling in danger
His seeks her out daily in the park at Rosings and at Hunsford
He is embarrassed by Lady Catherine’s boorish conduct
He proposes, valuing his feelings above social standards
He condemns her family, exonerates her & Jane
He regrets his conduct, decides to change
He behaves cordially with the Gardiners
He goes after Lydia
He negotiates with Wickham & pays him
He insists on paying, taking responsibility
He insists on confidentiality
He withdraws his interference with Bingley’s marriage
He submits to Mrs. Bennet’s abuses
He acknowledges Elizabeth was wholly right
He accepts Gardiners, Mrs. Bennet, Lydia, Collins & Wickham as
relatives—a representative act of the social collective
132
Eighth Reversal for Darcy
• Recognize Lady Catherine, Wickham
and Mrs. Bennet in himself
• Change himself in the depths
• Evoke a change in them by his
change
• Discover life as the Marvel
133
Progress comes from shedding Ego
• Mr. Bennet acknowledges he was foolish
and irresponsible
• Mrs. Bennet’s is humbled into quietude
• Wickham is forced to settle for what he
actually deserves
• Collins is forced to acknowledge Elizabeth
as his social superior
• Lady Catherine is forced to accept the
limits of her authority
• Caroline discovers that mean jealousy
does not pay
134
Why does Lydia marry first?
• Her mother’s favorite
• Her own eagerness to be first
• She represents the evolutionary
force
135
Why does Darcy attend Lydia’s marriage?
• Taking care of the lowest is
necessary for the elevation of the
highest.
• Protecting the foundation.
• Removing the danger
136
How can the characters
progress further?
• Lydia – acquire manners and self-discipline
• Mrs. Bennet – never speak, take initiative or play
tricks
• Wickham – never lie
• Bingley – stop depending on Darcy & Caroline
• Mr. Bennet – stop mocking, take full responsibility
• Jane – acquire discrimination without losing
goodness
• Elizabeth – seek an ideal
• Darcy – adopt Wickham as a younger brother &
redeem him
137
Conclusion
138
P&P Family Tree: Conclusion
139
P&P is story of
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Collins’ triple triumph
Darcy’s disgrace
Wickham’s achievement
The decline of Pemberley
The revival of Pemberley
Caroline’s defeat
Mrs. Gardiner’s goodness
Life progresses as a whole
What we see depends on our
perspective
140
High Accomplishment in P&P
• P&P is the story of a woman who rises 200
times higher in the social hierarchy
through marriage.
• Her accomplishment was made possible
by
– The expansive social climate of the
times
– Her positive attitudes and character
• The real source of her achievement was
Darcy’s transformation which was inspired
by her goodness and individuality.
141
Message from Sri Aurobindo
“A day shall come when all the
beautiful dreams will become real,
with a reality far more marvelous
than anything we can dream of.”
142
Clips
1. Energy flow in P&P
2. Bennet family
3. Blind to opportunity
4. Mrs.B’s aspiration
5. Mrs.B’s initiatives
6. Failed initiatives
7. Mr. Collins proposal
8. Darcy’s Hunsford
proposal
9. Jane Personality
10.Correspondences
11.Eliza’s
correspondences
12.Life response
13. Positive Values
14. Acts repeat
15. Wickham
16. Eliza’s response to
Wickham
17. Mr. Bennet takes
responsibility
18. Elizabeth’s Changing
Perceptions
19. Darcy’s Reversal
20. Final Reconciliation
143