Pride and Prejudice: After the Wedding - DIRECTOR - University of Toronto ...
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UTMUN 2022 Prride and Prejudice Pride and Prejudice: After the Wedding DIRECTOR VICE DIRECTOR MODERATOR Sarah Flinn Sydney Ofiara Julia Gould
UTMUN 2022 Prride and Prejudice Contents Equity Disclaimers 2 Model United Nations at U of T Code of Conduct 3 Letter From the Director 5 History6 Jane Austen 6 Time Period 6 Introduction to the Committee 10 Setting the Scene 10 Characters11 Elizabeth Darcy 11 Fitzwilliam Darcy 11 Jane Bingley 11 Charles Bingley 11 Mr. Bennet 11 Mrs. Bennet 11 George Wickham 12 Lydia Wickham 12 Mr. Collins 12 Charlotte Collins 12 Caroline Bingley 12 Georgina Darcy 12 Mary Bennet 12 Catherine “Kitty” Bennet 12 Lady Catherine De Bourgh 13 Advice for Research and Preparation 13 Expected Readings 13 Bibliography14 1
UTMUN 2022 Prride and Prejudice Equity Disclaimers Throughout this committee, delegates will be engaging in complex debates and discussions covering a wide array of topics. As UTMUN seeks to provide an enriching educational experience that facilitates understanding of the real-world implications of issues, our committees’ contents may involve sensitive or controversial subject matter strictly for academic purposes. We ask for delegates to be respectful, professional, tactful, and diplomatic when engaging with all committee content, representing their assigned country’s or character’s position, communicating with staff and other delegates, and responding to opposing viewpoints. This Background Guide presents topics that may be distressing to some Delegates, including but not limited to: Romantic relationships, the result of sexual encounters, domestic violence, social expectations of women in the 1800s, including sexist norms and beliefs, minors being placed on the marriage market or married, arranged and/or forced marriages, alcohol abuse. This committee hopes to avoid topics such as race/racial violence present in the 1800s. UTMUN recognizes the sensitivity associated with many of our topics, and we encourage you to be aware of and set healthy boundaries that work for you. This may include: refraining from reading certain parts or all of the background guide, preparing yourself before reading this background guide, doing some self-care or seeking support after reading the background guide, or anything that can help make you feel more comfortable. We ask that all Delegates remain considerate of the boundaries that other Delegates set. As delegates, UTMUN expects that all discussions will remain productive and respectful of one another. If you have any equity concerns or need any assistance in setting boundaries or navigating sensitive subject matter, please do not hesitate to reach out to me or our Equity Director, Jess Prentice, at equity@utmun.org. We want you to feel safe and comfortable at UTMUN! If you wish to switch committees seeing the content warnings for this committee, please: a) Contact your Faculty Advisor/Head Delegate with your request if you are a part of a group delegation b) Email our Director of Academics, Karrie Chou, with a brief explanation of why you would like to switch committees if you are NOT a part of a group delegation. 2
UTMUN 2022 Prride and Prejudice Model United Nations at U of T Code of Conduct The below code of conduct applies to the behaviour of all attendees of UTMUN for the entire duration of the conference, while engaging in any conference-related activities, including but not limited to committee sessions, conference socials, committee breaks, and the opening and closing ceremonies. 1. Harrassment and bullying in any form will not be tolerated, the nature of which includes, but is not limited to, discrimination on the basis of race, national origin, ethnicity, colour, religion, sex, age, mental and physical disabilities, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, a. Harassment and bullying include, but are not limited to, insulting and/or degrading language or remarks; threats and intimidation; and intentional (direct or indirect) discrimination and/or marginalization of a group and/or individual; i. The above prohibition on harassment, bullying, and inappropriate behaviour extends to any and all behaviour as well as written and verbal communication during the conference, including notes, conversation both during and outside committees, and general demeanour at all conference events; ii. UTMUN reserves the right to determine what constitutes bullying and/or inappropriate behaviour toward any individual and/or group; b. Attendees must not engage in any behaviour that constitutes physical violence or the threat of violence against any groups and/or individuals, including sexual violence and harrassment, such as, but not limited to, i. Unwelcome suggestive or indecent comments about one’s appearance; ii. Nonconsensual sexual contact and/or behaviour between any individuals and/ or groups of individuals; iii. Sexual contact or behaviour between delegates and staff members is strictly forbidden; 2. UTMUN expects all attendees to conduct themselves in a professional and respectful manner at all times during the conference. Specific expectations, include, but are not limited to, a. Attendees must, if able, contribute to the general provision of an inclusive conference and refrain from acting in a manner that restricts other attendees’ capacity to learn and thrive in an intellectually stimulating environment; b. Attendees must adhere to the dress code, which is Western business attire; i. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis depending on the attendees’ ability to adhere to the previous sub-clause; ii. Attendees are encouraged to contact Director of Equity, Jess Prentice, with questions or concerns about the dress code or conference accessibility; c. Attendees must refrain from the use of cultural appropriation to represent their character 3
UTMUN 2022 Prride and Prejudice and/or country, including the use of cultural dress, false accent, and any behaviour that perpetuates a national or personal stereotype; d. Delegates must not use music, audio recordings, graphics, or any other media at any time unless approved and requested to be shared by the Dais and/or the Director of Equity, Jess Prentice; e. Attendees must abide by instructions and/or orders given by conference staff members; i. Attendees are exempt from this above sub-clause only if the instructions and/or orders given are unreasonable or inappropriate; 3. Delegates, staff, and all other conference participants are expected to abide by Ontario and Canadian laws and Toronto by-laws, as well as rules and regulations specific to the University of Toronto. This includes, but is not limited to, a. Attendees, regardless of their age, are strictly prohibited from being under the influence and/or engaging in the consumption of illicit substances, such as alcohol or illicit substances for the duration of the conference; b. Attendees are prohibited from smoking (cigarettes or e-cigarettes, including vapes) on University of Toronto property; c. Attendees must refrain from engaging in vandalism and the intentional and/or reckless destruction of any public or private property, including conference spaces, venues, furniture, resources, equipment, and university buildings; i. Neither UTMUN nor any representatives of UTMUN is responsible for damage inflicted by attendees to property on or off University of Toronto campus; ii. Individuals will be held responsible for any damages. 4. The Secretariat reserves the right to discipline delegates and/or attendees for not adhering to/violating any of the above stipulations. Disciplinary measures include, but are not limited to, a. Suspension from committee, in its entirety or for a specific period of time; b. Removal from the conference and/or conference venue(s); c. Disqualification from awards; d. Disqualification from participation in future conference-related events. 5. If online, additional rules apply to delegate and staff conduct, including but not limited to Zoom background usage. Delegates must use either conference-provided Zoom backgrounds, the blurred background, solid colours, or no background. 6. UTMUN reserves the right to the final interpretation of this document. For further clarification on University of Toronto Model United Nations’ policies regarding equity, questions, concerns, or for any equity violations that attendees would like to raise, please contact equity@utmun.org, or fill out this anonymous form. 4
UTMUN 2022 Prride and Prejudice Letter From the Director Dear Delegates, It is an honour to be your director for this upcoming UTMUN 2022 conference. The dias and I are so excited to meet you all and we have put a lot of effort into this committee for you to enjoy. This will be my third conference helping to run a UTMUN committee and my first directing a specialized committee with crisis elements. However, 4 years ago I was sitting in your seats for UTMUN 2019 when I was a delegate for SPECPOL. Now, directing my second committee, I could not be more excited for this committee. Austen has always been an impactful writer, a pioneer for women, and arguably set the standard for romantic fiction for the past two centuries. The goal for this committee is for you to navigate the complex relationships, excel in rank, and avoid the perils of scandal as you create your own story ultimately carrying on where Austen left off. I know personally that myself and the rest of your amazing dias are looking forward to seeing not only what you can take from Austen’s version of your character, but how you will create, adapt, and evolve your characters to fit the ever changing crises we plan on throwing at you. Sydney Ofiara; your amazing Vice Director is in her fourth year (but second at UofT!), and Julia Gould, who is in her second year, will be your Moderator. It is my hope that you all thrive in creating drama and work together to solve social problems. We are looking for delegates that can participate impactfully, understand how to climb the social ladder and make advantageous matches, while also remaining true to your characters’ foundational beliefs. Scandal is sure to strike every character and we hope you are ready to pick your allies, possibly break those allies, and somehow survive in the cut throat social scene of the early 1800’s. But most importantly, we hope you have fun with the drama. The more the better! Writing a position paper for this committee may be different from other committees you have written before. We ask that not only you introduce your character, but also your goals within the first ball (read setting the scene for some background knowledge on this) AND that your position paper is written in the format of a diary entry or a letter to a dear friend. The language, of course, must be time appropriate, and please have fun with it! If you’re phenomenal at photoshop and wish to add details with that please go ahead! There is a hard limit of 2 pages, meaning that we will only be looking at the first two pages even if there are a thousand. If you cite anything other than the book itself, such as movies or independent journals that analyzed the text, CITE THEM! It is not required to do further independent research beyond what we provide you within the recommended section. If you have questions, concerns, or anything you would like to discuss my email is open, and please submit your position papers to it! I cannot wait to spill plenty of tea. Sarah Flinn (she/her) Director; Pride and Prejudice prideandprejudice@utmun.org 5
UTMUN 2022 Prride and Prejudice History Jane Austen Jane Austen was born in 1775, the seventh of eight children, with only one older sister. Her family was close knit and Austen was educated at a boarding school. Her father was a Reverend, but retired in 1800, sending the family to live in Bath before his death in 1805. Her writing began seriously in 1787 and in 1799, Austen finished her first draft of what would become Pride and Prejudice1. In the tradition of realism, Austen filled her novels with ordinary people, places, and events. Her works have common names, set in England, and describe ordinary life, featuring probable plot points. The adventure that Austen describes would be not a distant reality from the readers of the time, such as preparing for dances and picnics2. Her family suffered financial difficulties, especially after the death of her father, and Austen’s brothers became responsible for providing for Jane, her mother and her sister. Over the course of her life, Austen published Sense & Sensibility, Pride & Prejudice, which was an instant success, Mansfield Park to mixed reviews and the popular Emma3. While Austen’s books did garner reasonable financial success, it was insufficient to support the family. Austen never married or found a love like she described in her books, though marriage was realistically the best route for women to financial security and social respect4. In 1816, Austen’s health began to fail, and she passed away in 1817. Because her work was anonymously published, after Austen’s death, her brother penned an introduction to tie the author to her books5. Her writing has outlived her life and continues to be a source of inspiration for readers and Hollywood adaptations. Time Period Pride and Prejudice is set in 1797 and provides an accurate record of English society, reflecting realities of Regency England life. The Georgian era (1714-1830), a subperiod of the Regency era saw England in almost constant warfare and was influenced by the Industrial revolution, and the Enlightenment. In the time between 1779, when Austen began writing Pride & Prejudice, and 1813, when it was published, there was the French revolution, Napoleon rose to power, Britain abolished slavery, and England joined with Ireland to form Great Britain6. It was a time of great change, but also social stratification by wealth. Social rank was incredibly important and determined who could socially mix with whom7. In this time, marrying, even marriages with controlling husbands, offered women more independence and control than being a daughter did. Austen shows an acquisitive society that worries about where wealth is going and coming from all while judging itself on the basis of both its inherited code and morality 1 “Jane Austen Biography,” Jane Austen, 2021, https://www.janeausten.org/jane-austen-biography.php. 2 Kathryn Sutherland, “Jane Austen: Social Realism and the Novel,” British Library, May 15, 2014, https:// www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/articles/jane-austens-social-realism-and-the-novel. 3 “Jane Austen Biography,” Jane Austen, 2021. 4 Kathryn Sutherland, “Jane Austen: Social Realism and the Novel,” 5 “Jane Austen Biography,” 6 “Historical Context of Pride and Prejudice,” Chicago Public Library, October 31, 2005, https://www. chipublib.org/historical-context-of-pride-and-prejudice/. 7 Historical Context of Pride and Prejudice,” Chicago Public Library, 6
UTMUN 2022 Prride and Prejudice of improvement8. During the period, England was becoming increasingly industrialised, which meant that England needed more capable people to lead than the aristocracy could produce9. Moreover, this industrialization shifted power away from being exclusively held by the aristocracy to the nascent middle class, composed of merchants and professionals. An additional key element of this time period was the role of gossip. It played a central role in communication upper-middle class and aristocratic life; everyone was watching each other and news of any indiscretions spread quickly10. There was a strict, though unwritten, set of social codes based on hierarchies that determined what was acceptable to do. Conversely, it also regulated what would be considered improper or ‘ill-bred.’ Notably, there were gendered regulations about what a woman could not honourably do, such as calling at a man’s lodgings, engaging in finance, wearing a certain type of shawl in public, or forcing herself upon a man’s notice. Monetarily there were issues of honour such as paying debts in a timely fashion and who could loan money to others11. Ultimately the time period was characterised by strict rules about adhering to social hierarchies amidst a tumultuous era in European history. In the Georgian period, there were inheritance rules favouring men over women, in particular eldest sons. “If the owner of a family estate—the family house and lands and income generated by the land—died intestate, the rule of primogeniture applied: the eldest son inherited the family estate.”12 The laws of inheritance further limited women’s economic freedom for they often excluded settlement of property on women. This is exemplified in Pride and Prejudice through the discussion of Mr. Bennet’s estate and the operation of these laws of inheritance.13 “The settlement of the family property prevents Mr. Bennet from providing for his wife and daughters after his death. If a son had been born to the Bennets, the son, rather than Mr. Collins, would have been entitled to the family property on Mr. Bennet’s death.”14 As a direct result of the inheritance rules, women were reliant on their fathers or eldest brothers to support them until marriage. Men who were not the oldest son could get a profession, which upper-class and aristocratic women were unable to do. Women would marry to avoid poverty and to gain an honourable safety net because “on marriage, a husband became legally responsible for the support of the wife.”15 Marriage acted as an important step for women to secure their financial futures. Marriage was seen as an important social ritual: for women, it acted as an opportunity to improve their family’s social status, and for men, it allowed him to produce 8 Julia Brown. “The ‘Social History’ of Pride and Prejudice.” EXPLORING Novels, 2003. 9 “Social Evolution in Pride and Prejudice,” MSS Research, 2008, http://www.mssresearch.org/?q=Social_ Evolution_in_Pride_Prejudice. 10 “Social Evolution in Pride and Prejudice,” MSS Research, 2008. 11 Jennifer Kloester, “Chapter 8: Rules and Etiquette of Regency Society,” in Georgette Heyer’s Regency World (Oakhill, 2008), https://austenised.blogspot.com/2011/05/rules-and-etiquette-of-regency-society. html. 12 Martha Bailey, “The Marriage Law of Jane Austen’s World,” Jane Austen Society of North America, 2015, https://jasna.org/publications-2/persuasions-online/vol36no1/bailey/. 13 Barbara Swords, “‘Woman’s Place’ in Jane Austen’s England,” Jane Austen Society of North America, 1988, https://jasna.org/persuasions/printed/number10/swords.htm. 14 Martha Bailey, “The Marriage Law of Jane Austen’s World”. 15 Martha Bailey, “The Marriage Law”. 7
UTMUN 2022 Prride and Prejudice an heir and gave him a wife to manage his household.16 Marriage was an important social custom of linking families and was facilitated by women through the search for a husband. The search for an appropriate husband often took place in what has been termed since the sixteenth century as the “marriage market,” which is not a literal marketplace, but the social engagements and institutions that upper-middle class and aristocratic women participated in with the goal of marriage.17 “Women, often in their roles as mothers, were important actors in the marriage market,” as seen in the example of Mrs. Bennett’s martial arrangements of her daughters. While the goal of falling in love with a man was seen as appropriate, the most important for a woman was finding a husband “who combined the qualities of rank, money, and fine character.”18 “In the eighteenth century, the personal character of a possible husband began to dominate the discourse of aristocratic women and romantic overtones tinged their discussions.”19 There were strict social rules in society that meant that women and men were unable to interact very much, meaning that dances were crucial in determining romantic potential.20 Dancing acted as a traditional part of society but it was also the “ultimate occasion for a heady kind of courtship.”21 These balls lasted six or more hours, ending when the dawn approached, but there was a set of codified behaviour that needed to be followed. These included rules such as if a woman turned down one request for a dance she was required to turn down all others, one could only engage in two dances with a partner, and a man could only ask a woman to dance if she had already been formally introduced to him.22 Dress code was strictly enforced: women had to wear elaborate gowns and jewellery, and men had to wear suits and hats.23 Dances were complicated and required lessons, with dancing being seen as a female accomplishment.24 “The Waltz, Minuet, Quadrille and Boulanger were also some of the popular dance forms that were practised by people during the Georgian Era.”25 While marriage was the goal of women in the regency era, marriages were not always happy. “For most women, marriage was the only real choice in order to have economic security and a respectable fulfilling life; her place as a woman was determined by her status as a wife, legally and economically subservient to her husband.”26 In entering into a marriage, a woman lost her legal rights as an individual, but gained greater protection overall. A husband became entitled 16 “Georgian Era Gender Roles,” Victorian Era, 2020, http://victorian-era.org/georgian-era-facts/georgian- era-gender-roles.html. 17 Kimberly Schutte, “The Marriage Market,” in Women, Rank and Marriage in the British Aristocracy (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2014), pp. 1485-2000, https://link.springer.com/ chapter/10.1057/9781137327802_6. 18 Kimberly Schutte, “The Marriage Market,” 19 Kimberly Schutte, “The Marriage Market,” 20 “Georgian Era Dancing,” Victorian Era, 2020, http://victorian-era.org/georgian-era-facts/georgian-era- dancing.html. 21 John Mullan, “The Ball in the Novels of Jane Austen,” British Library, May 15, 2014, https://www.bl.uk/ romantics-and-victorians/articles/the-ball-in-the-novels-of-jane-austen. 22 John Mullan, “The Ball in the Novels of Jane Austen,” 23 “Georgian Era Dancing,” Victorian Era, 24 John Mullan, “The Ball in the Novels of Jane Austen,” 25 “Georgian Era Dancing,” Victorian Era. 26 Barbara Swords, “‘Woman’s Place’ in Jane Austen’s England,” 8
UTMUN 2022 Prride and Prejudice to his wife’s property and income.27 “The couples’ affection for each other was secondary and happiness in marriage depended upon luck. Once married, women were fated to live a passive life at home. It was their task to raise the children, manage the household and submit to their husbands.28 “Marriage was not always a happy enterprise for women and some of them had to bear the cruelty of their husbands.”29 However, divorce was rare because “parties had a duty to live together as man and wife unless a matrimonial offence were proven and that they should not be permitted to separate simply because they no longer wished to be together.”30 Thus, once a woman committed to a man in matrimony, she was stuck in the marriage, regardless of how loveless it was. “In a marriage, bearing children was a major responsibility of women. As a result, extreme pressure was put on them to bear healthy children, especially boys.”31 It was essential that women had sons in order to create heirs. Women often died during childbirth and her husband would remarry and pass the household responsibilities to another woman, especially in loveless marriages. By the nineteenth century, “marriage was coming to be regarded as a lifetime, intimate, happy companionship based upon love, esteem, and compatibility, and both woman and man were to have voice in choosing the spouse.”32 However, women were still subservient to husbands in every way, especially economically. Additionally, women went into marriage without much sexual knowledge or experience, because pre-marital sex would mean women lost their reputation and created the risk of pregnancy outside of marriage for women. English society was divided by class, but men always held the dominant position within their respective social classes.33 Men and women held different gendered roles in society: “as men were the breadwinners in most upper classes, the rights to property were also held by them exclusively. All the monetary decisions in the families were also made by men, often without any consultation from their wives.”34 Women in the upper and middle classes lived under the authority of their father until marriage and then the authority shifted to the husband. Women required skills and accomplishments to be desirable: needlework, sewing, painting, singing, dancing, reading and writing.35 While women were expected to be accomplished, “girls of the middle and upper classes had intellectual abilities that were not only different from but also greatly inferior to those of boys and men. It was believed that women were incapable of serious study, that the study of philosophy, science, mathematics and classical languages would overtax the limited female intellect.”36 27 Martha Bailey, “The Marriage Law of Jane Austen’s World”. 28 Elisabeth Heck (2012), https://www.grin.com/document/284036. 29 “Georgian Era Gender Roles,” Victorian Era 30 Martha Bailey, “The Marriage Law of Jane Austen’s World”. 31 “Georgian Era Gender Roles,” Victorian Era 32 Barbara Swords, “‘Woman’s Place’ in Jane Austen’s England,” 33 “Georgian Era Gender Roles,” Victorian Era 34 “Georgian Era Gender Roles,” Victorian Era 35 “Georgian Era Gender Roles,” Victorian Era 36 Barbara Swords, “‘Woman’s Place’ in Jane Austen’s England,” 9
UTMUN 2022 Prride and Prejudice Introduction to the Committee Setting the Scene Dearest reader, This author finds herself in complete awe of the Bennett sisters’ rise to riches, so much so that she has penned a poem for the impending nuptials: ‘Twas the night before the wedding, when all through Pemberley manor, Gossip was stirring, creating quite the clamour. The table was set in the dining hall with care, In hopes that the reverend soon would be there; The Bennet’s were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of future wealth danced in their heads; Mrs. Bennet did think ‘oh yes, we are saved’, While Elizabeth prayed her family would be well behaved. Jane and Bingley’s announcement garnered some chatter, But it was Elizabeth and Darcy who settled the matter. A joint wedding was called, to the joy of us all; One simply wonders what Kitty might do at the ball. Mr. Bennet hoped that all would be well, Though in recent months, Lydia looked to be under a spell. The wizard who cast it? Mr. Wickham of course, His love for her though, is of dubious force. Pemberley always had a bed Charlotte could occupy. It did trouble her however to see Mr. Collin’s wandering eye. Georgiana greeted Mary as she arrived at the estate, As all hoped that Mary’s pianoforte passion would abate. Of Catherine De Bourgh and Caroline Bingley, there has been no spotting This reader wonders what they might be plotting. But two new couples to be wed, just think of the sight, Happy wedding to all, and to all, a good night! As wedding guests descend unto Pemberley, the families gather and prepare for the joint wedding of the season. Gathering everybody under one roof is certainly enough to stir up some gossip, especially as different social classes mix. While they may act like a happy united group, remember that the fiercest fights can be between family members. There already is plenty of flutter about Mr. Darcy settling for a maiden of lower birth... As far as family support, rumour has it that Lady Catherine De Bourgh plans on trying to object to the wedding and do everything in her power to prevent consummation in order for 10
UTMUN 2022 Prride and Prejudice a quick annulment. This author wonders if Lady Catherine would stoop so low, surely a lady of her rank would never. However, when it comes to matters of the heart and of family, one never knows. As far as the future Mrs. Bingley, it is safe to say that Jane is a nervous wreck over being reunited with the woman who kept her and her betrothed apart: Miss Caroline Bingley. It is also not unknown that Miss Bingley was hoping to become the next Mrs. Darcy. One can only wait with bated breath to see the upcoming wedding festivities. But remember, dear reader: I am always watching and I will uncover all of your scandalous actions! Characters Elizabeth Darcy The second eldest Bennet daughter betrothed to Mr. Fitzwillian Darcy. Enjoys long walks, reading, and dancing, even if one’s partner is barely tolerable. She is preparing for her wedding the following day, loves to laugh and tease her friends and family. Fitzwilliam Darcy Engaged to Ms. Elizabeth Bennet, believes he knows few accomplished women, a proud man yet sensitive. His younger sister Georgina has been begging to become an Aunt. He is the wealthy owner of Pemberley. Jane Bingley Jane is the eldest of the Bennet sisters and is helping Elizabeth plan their double wedding. Her fiance, Charles Bingley, has been doting on her, but recently she has not seen much of him. She kindly sees the best in everyone and tries to remain positive. Charles Bingley He is nervous to marry, yet fully invested, you could say his boyish ways could possibly be interfering with his adoration for Jane. He is very wealthy with money earned by his father in trade, and is a pleasant and fun person. Mr. Bennet Just happy his daughters appear to have found happiness, though he honestly cannot put up with Mrs. Bennet and her nerves much longer. He hopes to read in his study and stay as far away from town as possible. While he is an aristocrat with land, his daughter will not have a large fortune after his death, so he is pleased that they have financial security. Mrs. Bennet Three of her four daughters are married! Two married very advantageously, which Mrs. Bennet takes full credit for! She cannot wait to brag to all of the wedding guests about her successes as a mother, and probably have a few too many glasses of punch… While she has been mostly successful so far, Mary and Kitty remain unmarried and it would be too embarrassing for Mrs. Bennet to have produced a spinster. 11
UTMUN 2022 Prride and Prejudice George Wickham Tolerates Lydia in their new marriage, but honestly, the payday wasn’t worth coming home to her overbearing, immature, childish antics. Not invited to the wedding, but plans on showing up with Lydia anyways. The Darcy’s and the Bingley’s are now part of the extended Bennet family and with all of this new wealth, it seems unfair to not share. Lydia Wickham Absolutely in love with her Wickham! She honestly cannot understand why Darcy, such a prideful and spiteful man, could hate her handsome husband. She is bringing him along regardless of his lack of invitation. Lydia fails to recognize how she was saved from disgrace through the marriage and still lacks proper respect for social status, money or rules, which could get her in trouble. Mr. Collins The priest has some education and upon Mr. Bennet’s death, will inherit his estate, but until then he works under the close eye of his esteemed patroness Lady Catherine De Bourgh. He is married to Charlotte, though she had not been his first choice for a wife, but they are very excited to be attending such a grand wedding. Charlotte Collins Long-time friend and neighbour of the Bennet’s, Charlotte was quite shocked by the news of her closest friend marrying Mr. Darcy. She feels the need to talk to Lizzie about this, and so help her, she may just throw her husband out the door if he continues to interrupt her. Caroline Bingley Caroline Bingley had planned on marrying Mr. Darcy, a hope that will not dissipate until they are officially married. Elizabeth may die in childbirth too (Caroline has her fingers crossed), but until Mr. Darcy is properly available, she will have to find some other man to marry. Georgina Darcy The shy younger sister of Mr. Darcy is described as an absolute sweetheart by everyone she knows (except George Wickham). Her older brother acts as a fatherly figure in her life and is protective over her. Mary Bennet Regarded as the “plain” and unmarriable Bennet sister. She is constantly subjected to comparisons to the far more favourable Bennet sisters, and neglected by her parents. Catherine “Kitty” Bennet The second youngest daughter of the Bennet’s lacks all of her elder sister Elizabeth’s headstrong intuition. She has lived constantly in Lydia’s shadow, but now must learn how to behave without her younger sister’s wild influence. 12
UTMUN 2022 Prride and Prejudice Lady Catherine De Bourgh Lady Catherine is rude, condescending, and loves her position within the old aristocracy. She intends to safeguard her family’s position in society, which surely would be ruined if she is forced to be associated with the Bennet’s. She wants to see one of the Bennet’s slip up in society, and if they need a push, she would certainly oblige. Advice for Research and Preparation Expected Readings Delegates are required to be familiar with the novel Pride and Prejudice, or at a minimum required to watch the miniseries version of Pride and Prejudice released in 1995. The 2005 movie version does not include enough information for delegates to base their entire conference on. The novel is available online through Project Gutenberg, with both free text and audiobook versions. If you need help accessing the miniseries, please reach out and we can attempt to aid you in finding a copy. 13
UTMUN 2022 Prride and Prejudice Bibliography Brown, Julia. “The ‘Social History’ of Pride and Prejudice.” EXPLORING Novels, 2003. Bailey, Martha. “The Marriage Law of Jane Austen’s World.” Jane Austen Society of North America. Accessed 2015. https://jasna.org/publications-2/persuasions-online/vol36no1/bailey/. Heck, Elisabeth. “Prejudices in Regency and Victorian England,” 2012. https://www.grin.com/document/284036. “Historical Context of Pride and Prejudice.” Chicago Public Library, October 31, 2005. https://www.chipublib.org/historical-context-of-pride-and-prejudice/. “Georgian Era Gender Roles.” Victorian Era, 2020. http://victorian-era.org/georgian-era-facts/georgian-era-gender-roles.html. “Jane Austen Biography.” Jane Austen, 2021. https://www.janeausten.org/jane-austen-biography.php. Kloester, Jennifer. “Chapter 8: Rules and Etiquette of Regency Society.” Essay. In Georgette Heyer’s Regency World. Oakhill, 2008. https://austenised.blogspot. com/2011/05/rules-and-etiquette-of-regency-society.html. Mullan, John. “The Ball in the Novels of Jane Austen.” British Library, May 15, 2014. https://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/articles/ the-ball-in-the-novels-of-jane-austen. Schutte, Kimberly. “The Marriage Market.” Essay. In Women, Rank and Marriage in the British Aristocracy, 1485–2000. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2014. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/9781137327802_6. Sutherland, Kathryn. “Jane Austen: Social Realism and the Novel.” British Library, May 15, 2014. https://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/articles/ jane-austens-social-realism-and-the-novel. Swords, Barbara. “‘Woman’s Place’ in Jane Austen’s England.” Jane Austen Society of North America, 1988. https://jasna.org/persuasions/printed/number10/swords.htm. “Social Evolution in Pride and Prejudice.” MSS Research, 2008. http://www.mssresearch.org/?q=Social_Evolution_in_Pride_Prejudice. 14
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