Sometimes it is difficult for me to remember what is actually in P&P and what is fanfiction lore. This has been driving me crazy for a while and I am hoping someone can confirm what JA actually included in the book. No matter how many times I reread the ball scene, I keep thinking I somehow missed Kitty and Lydia acting up at the ball. After reading Darcy's letter, Elizabeth concludes "Jane's disappointment had in fact been the work of her nearest relations." And, while Darcy had mentioned her younger sisters and her mother as acting improperly in general, the only Bennets who acted poorly at the ball, as far as I can tell, were Mrs. Bennet, who bragged long and loudly about Jane marrying Bingley, and Mary, who rudely hogged the pianoforte and played and sang badly. Yes, Lydia yawned and complained of fatigue while the Bennets waited for their carriage. That was certainly impolite, but did not come close to her mother and sister's embarrassing behavior. Lydia is only mentioned a few times in passing at the ball and Kitty, not at all. Compared to their mother and Mary, they were genteel young ladies. So. Why are there so many stories that describe Lydia running through the ball brandishing an officer's sword? That never happened, right?https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,130268,130268#msg-130268Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:05:51 +0100 Phorum 5.2.22 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,130268,130327#msg-130327 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,130268,130327#msg-130327 MichelleRW Tea RoomWed, 27 Apr 2022 02:43:57 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,130268,130326#msg-130326 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,130268,130326#msg-130326
Lydia, after all, practically initiated the ball with her nearly inviting the family over at the close of their visit to Netherfield in Chapter 9, and openly talks of convincing another man to do so. She and Kitty both chase after the officers in Chapter 6 at the Lucas' party, or at least get them dancing. We actually do see in Chapter 18 that Lydia makes a beeline for the officers as she approaches Denny to learn about Mr. Wickham's absence: he doesn't go to her first, she goes to him.

So in everything she does, there's a certain willfulness and desire to do as she pleases/get what she wants regardless of whose house she is in or what the situation dictates. We know Kitty tends to follow her sister in this behavior (if not so rash herself, happy to go along with it). Honestly, Darcy probably thinks neither of them should be "out" yet (and he may be right) and that if they are, they should at least be chaperoned better, sticking to their party more and obeying more etiquette.]]> MichelleRW Tea RoomWed, 27 Apr 2022 02:42:52 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,130268,130292#msg-130292 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,130268,130292#msg-130292 LisaY Tea RoomFri, 08 Apr 2022 23:39:49 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,130268,130289#msg-130289 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,130268,130289#msg-130289What do you know of the Regency meaning of that word?
How do you see Lydia?

Solidly built, Corpulent
Resolute, Valiant
Strong, Robust]]> Jo D Tea RoomFri, 08 Apr 2022 20:24:54 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,130268,130277#msg-130277 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,130268,130277#msg-130277 LisaY Tea RoomMon, 28 Mar 2022 18:59:30 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,130268,130276#msg-130276 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,130268,130276#msg-130276
As to Bingley, yes, getting rid of his sister is imperative. But apparently he could be talked into things by almost anyone (recall the conversation at Netherfield about leaving in 5 minutes), and who'd want to be married to such a person? And think how much worse this would be when the wife has no independence. I think that would be even worse than being married to someone who was dependable but never listened to you, and I couldn't stand that, either.]]> Harvey Tea RoomMon, 28 Mar 2022 18:48:22 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,130268,130274#msg-130274 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,130268,130274#msg-130274
And I agree with what you say about Mr Bennet but I can't help thinking that with all of his flaws, Mrs Bennet at least deserves equal status as the worst character in P&P.]]> LisaY Tea RoomSat, 26 Mar 2022 16:14:43 +0000 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,130268,130273#msg-130273 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,130268,130273#msg-130273 Harvey Tea RoomSat, 26 Mar 2022 15:33:17 +0000 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,130268,130272#msg-130272 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,130268,130272#msg-130272
Mary's behavior was rude and in poor taste, but at least she didn’t say anything personal about the Bingleys.]]> LisaY Tea RoomFri, 25 Mar 2022 21:56:58 +0000 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,130268,130271#msg-130271 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,130268,130271#msg-130271 Harvey Tea RoomFri, 25 Mar 2022 21:02:17 +0000 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,130268,130270#msg-130270 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,130268,130270#msg-130270
But it really made Lydia much worse than in the book. I was so surprised to see that she didn't act up at the ball at all. And I had no idea Mary was so bad. JAFF stories tend to treat her well when she really was ill-mannered and conceited [unjustifiably].

oh well.]]> LisaY Tea RoomFri, 25 Mar 2022 04:59:12 +0000 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,130268,130269#msg-130269 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,130268,130269#msg-130269 Shannon K Tea RoomFri, 25 Mar 2022 03:54:10 +0000 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,130268,130268#msg-130268 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,130268,130268#msg-130268
After reading Darcy's letter, Elizabeth concludes "Jane's disappointment had in fact been the work of her nearest relations." And, while Darcy had mentioned her younger sisters and her mother as acting improperly in general, the only Bennets who acted poorly at the ball, as far as I can tell, were Mrs. Bennet, who bragged long and loudly about Jane marrying Bingley, and Mary, who rudely hogged the pianoforte and played and sang badly. Yes, Lydia yawned and complained of fatigue while the Bennets waited for their carriage. That was certainly impolite, but did not come close to her mother and sister's embarrassing behavior.

Lydia is only mentioned a few times in passing at the ball and Kitty, not at all. Compared to their mother and Mary, they were genteel young ladies.

So. Why are there so many stories that describe Lydia running through the ball brandishing an officer's sword? That never happened, right?]]> LisaY Tea RoomFri, 25 Mar 2022 00:26:36 +0000