MR BINGLEY

MR BINGLEY

1. KEY QUOTES

   • 'He is just what a young man ought to be'.
     • He is friendly, approachable, kindly and well mannered.
   • 'He could not imagine an angel more beautiful'.
     • His attraction to Jane is immediate and lasting.
   • 'Upon my word I cannot exactly explain the matter, Darcy must speak for himself'.
     • He is more likely to turn to Darcy than to trust himself. This is the other side of his modesty and easy going nature.

2. ROLE IN THE NOVEL

   • Mr Bingley is a rich young man whose money has been made in trade. This means he does not have the land, responsibilities, or social standing of his friend Darcy. He has 2 sisters, one (Louisa) is married, the other (Caroline) is not.
   • He rents Netherfield Park and brings his sisters and friend to stay with him there.
   • He is attracted to Jane Bennet as soon as they first dance together.
   • He has little self esteem, so it is easy for Darcy to persuade him that Jane does not care for him; he rushes away from Netherfield as unexpectedly as he arrived.
   • He is not fickle, although he is hasty, he continues to love Jane and wastes no time in proposing to her as soon as he knows that she has loved him all along.

3. TOP TIP

   • Bingley's arrival at Netherfield sets the whole story in motion and is the occasion for the famous opening sentence about eligible bachelors.
   • When thinking about the predatory approach towards marriage- Mrs Bennet would be a perfect example of this- we might feel some sympathy for Mr Bingley.
   • Darcy has a protective attitude towards his friend, as explained by Colonel Fitzwilliam (Vol 2. Chp 10.); but we also know how much pain Jane suffers because of Darcy's interference.
   • Notice how Bingley and Darcy are compared and contrasted from their first appearance and also when Elizabeth is staying at Netherfield. Bingley is easier to like but Elizabeth is right to think his easiness may make him weak- he is easily persuaded and influenced by his friend