Pride & Prejudice vs The Lizzie Bennet Diaries

Where to start, I don’t really know.  This has been the longest writing project I have ever taken on both in word count and time commitment.  It has taught me so many things.  I’ve been able to closer examine not only a webseries as a form of storytelling, but Jane Austen’s most revered novel as well.  Writing is something I have always wanted to pursue and The Lizzie Bennet Diaries has taught me so much about characterization, plot, and style.  It has also taught me time management when it comes to sitting down and forcing myself to write.  Granted I was able to work with what was in the book and on my screen, but I was writing nonetheless.

The end of LBD means a few things for me.  I will no longer be analyzing Lizzie’s life and comparing it to a novel.  I will be trying to go forward with writing my own stories, which is both exciting and terrifying at the same time.  Sitting down to write your own stories means facing yourself at your best and your worst.  I hope I have the courage to do it.  There was always the chance I was going to fail with this blog.  I might not have finished it or I might not have done the original works justice in comparing them.  

The road this past year has not always been an easy one for me.  There were weeks I couldn’t bring myself to write.  Watching Charlotte take the job at Collins & Collins and Lydia’s downward spiral with George were a couple of the most difficult story lines for me to sit down and face when it came time to write.  I also dealt with some major personal struggles that made it difficult to mentally prepare myself to write, but at the end of the day, Lizzie was always still there and waiting.  I have always found solace in stories and characters.  

I’ve considered many characters to be “best friends” over the years.  The LBD’s Lizzie Bennet is joining the ranks of Winnie the Pooh, Hermione Granger, Emma Woodhouse, Elizabeth Bennet, & Lena Kaligaris to name a few.  For that matter Jane Bennet, Lydia Bennet, Charlotte Lu, and the rest of the gang will join her.  I relate the most to Charlotte & Lizzie.  When it comes to being like Charlotte, I picked a practical major the led to a job right out of college, even if it wasn’t ideal.  Like Lizzie, I have hopes and dreams of what I want to achieve and I don’t want anyone to stand in the way of that.  I often fear that it is too late, but I can only hope things turn around for me like they did for Charlotte.  Jane is the girl I aspire to be, kind, sweet, and positive, but the sarcastic Lizzie side of me will never allow that to be.  Lydia is the girl I could never be, but I wish I was a risk taker like she is, even if it doesn’t always lead to the best outcomes, at least she’s willing to try.  While I will be able to rewatch Lizzie’s journey over the last year, I’ll always be wondering what she’s doing next.  Perhaps, instead, I should wonder what I’ll be doing next. 

Not only has The Lizzie Bennet Diaries done so much for me on a writing level, but it has amazed me in other ways as well.  It has connected me to some amazing people I would never have met otherwise.  Between the cast, crew, and fans I met at LeakyCon to the fans I’ve met on the internet, I never could have dreamed it would turn into this.  For everyone who has stuck with me, read my posts, and sent me messages, thank you for being there.  One of the most important things to any artist, is to know that someone cares about your work.  For a writer, it means the world to know someone reads what you write and enjoys it on top of that.  I thank each and every one of you, whether you read all the posts or just a few, the fact that you joined me on this journey warms my soul.

With that, I’d like to conclude with a major thanks to the cast and crew of The Lizzie Bennet Diaries.  I can’t even begin to thank you enough for adapting one of my favorite novels into a wonderful webseries.  Bernie, Hank, Rachel, Ashley, Mary Kate, Laura, and Julia, it was lovely meeting you in person.  You have changed my life in ways I didn’t think were possible.  This post will never fully express everything I feel and think about the journey your show has taken me on.  I appreciate everything you have done.

In chapter 61 of Pride & Prejudice, Mrs. Bennet could not be happier to have her two eldest daughters well married.  Mr. Bennet misses Lizzy the most and visits Pemberley on a regular basis.  Bingley & Jane settle at Netherfield for a year before moving to Derbyshire to escape Mrs. Bennet and the Meryton relations.  Kitty spends quite a bit of time with her two eldest sisters and becomes quite refined.  Mary is the only daughter to stay at home.

Wickham and Lydia never really change, with the latter writing Lizzy and asking for money from Darcy.  Lizzy was never comfortable with giving them money and would rather not.  The couple moves from place to place, spends more money than they have, and pick up and move again.  Lydia writes Lizzy and Jane in turn for financial help.  While Wickham is never welcome at Pemberley, Lydia visits from time to time.  

Caroline Bingley, while not happy with Darcy’s marriage, decides to be civil in order to continue visiting Pemberley.  Georgiana is now living full time at Pemberley and Darcy is pleased with how she and Lizzy get along.  Lady Catherine is not happy with the marriage between Darcy and Lizzy and she makes it known.  Lizzy finally gives consent to Darcy that he should seek forgiveness.  Lady Catherine forgives him, but Lizzy knows not whether it is because she is fond of Darcy or she just wants to see how Lizzy does as mistress of Pemberley.  

Lizzie has made it to episode 100 and it’s time for a change.  In one of the most heartbreaking lines of the series, she delivers the news, “My name is Lizzie Bennet and this is the final page in my diary.”  It’s time for her to move on to the next chapter of her life.  She thanks her viewers for sticking with her and for watching her grow.  She’s learned a lot over the past year.

Lizzie isn’t going to leave us without having Charlotte announce some news.  Ricky Collins has moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba to start a branch of Collins & Collins in Canada, so Charlotte has taken over C & C in the States.  

Lizzie is truly happy for Charlotte and she asks that they do cheesy graphics for old times sake.  Lizzie Bennet gets mustachioed.

Lydia comes in to see if Lizzie is ready for froyo.  Lizzie asks her to be in her last video.  Lydia makes sure Lizzie isn’t stopping her videos because of her.  Lizzie is stopping them for herself as she feels it’s time. Lydia decides it’s a good time to give her the list of “20 Reasons Why Lizzie Bennet Is No Longer Perpetually Single.”  Lizzie wants to know what happened to the old list, but Lydia says it doesn’t apply anymore.  Lydia says Darcy better be good to Lizzie because she deserves it.  

Lizzie continues to reflect on her videos and how they put her sisters and her friends into the public spotlight.  A lot of the drama that has occurred has been due to the videos.  She asks Charlotte’s opinion on the matter.

The two of them laugh over how different they were when they started the videos.  Charlotte asks if Lizzie is happy they did it.  There are things she would have done differently, but she’s learned a lot from the experience and feels it has made them all stronger.  

A teary-eyed Lizzie signs off for the last time and thanks everyone for watching her videos.

After the cut, Charlotte steps in to make sure Lizzie is okay.  She starts to make a comment about something that was unreal with the whole video diary process when Mrs. Bennet walks in.  Charlotte was probably about to mention that Mrs. Bennet never finding out was the unreal part. She definitely knows now.  I wonder what her reaction will be…”ELIZABETH BENNET!”

There isn’t much comparing to do between the final chapter of P&P and the final page of Lizzie’s diary.  I included the closing chapter in the post for the purpose it serves in wrapping up the story.  

In P&P Jane & Bingley and Lizzy & Darcy are married and settled.  Lydia & Wickham are still looking for a handout.  Mrs. Bennet is happy to see her two eldest daughters well married, while Mr. Bennet often visits the daughter he misses most.  Kitty is branching out and learning from her two eldest sisters, while Mary remains at home.  These are the conclusions we get just in the Bennet family.

In LBD Jane & Bing are in New York together.  Lizzie will have her own company while living in San Francisco with Darcy.  Lydia’s future is not clear, but it’s definitely brighter than the one presented in P&P and for this Lydia I am grateful she got a better shot at life.  Charlotte has been promoted and will now be running Collins & Collins.  Perhaps my favorite part of this episode was Lizzie pulling Charlotte on screen to share the news.  It was nice to see Lizzie genuinely happy for her best friend and for Charlotte to be happy with her life.

All of these characters have grown so much since the beginning of the series, which is greatly attributed to the writers who created it and the actors who portrayed it.  I don’t think it was an accident that the three characters who changed the most were in the first episode and the last.  When Lizzie and Charlotte talk about how much they have changed, they were the ones, along with Lydia, who changed the most throughout the story for me.  Lizzie became more open, understanding, and perceptive.  Charlotte went after something that wasn’t necessarily what she wanted in the beginning, but she had the courage to stand up to her best friend, and in the end it turned into something great.  Lydia has gone from a girl who was masking loneliness with energetic actions to a girl who has learned to be more open and comfortable with herself.  While the story has wrapped up beautifully, I only wish we could see where they go from here.

My name is Joslyn Dechant and this is the final comparison on my blog.  Thank you for reading.

In chapter 60, Lizzy asks Darcy when he fell in love with her.  He replies that he cannot remember the hour, spot, look, or words that started his affection, but that he was in the middle before he began.  Lizzy knows he was not taken with her beauty in the beginning and he must have found her uncivil behavior to be impertinent.  Darcy admired her for the liveliness of her mind.  Lizzy points out she was different from the women who were courting Darcy.  They were all agreeable while Lizzy interested him because she was so unlike them.  She says Darcy knew no good of her when he feel in love.  He points out that he saw goodness in her affection toward Jane when she was ill at Netherfield.  Lizzy would not have done less for her sister and she feels Darcy exaggerates her goodness.  She informs him she will tease and quarrel with him as often as possible.

Darcy opens episode 99, with a little help from Lizzie.  As it turns out he wanted to high-jack her video blog to announce that they have officially begun dating.  The two flirtatiously argue over whether it’s been 6 days or a week.  It culminates in Darcy introducing himself and saying Lizzie Bennet is amazing.

Lizzie makes sure Darcy knows she was just teasing.  He’s picked up on Bennet family humor after having so many dinners with them.  Lizzie tells him it just means Mr. Bennet likes him.  Darcy feels if he had understood the casual conversation of the Bennet family, he wouldn’t have screwed up with Lizzie in the beginning.  Lizzie tells him he did nothing wrong, but Darcy points out she calls their first meeting “The Most Awkward Dance Ever.”  Lizzie admits it was bad, but she tells Darcy he didn’t want to like her then.  All he wanted to do was take Bing and leave.  

Darcy admits it was true, but he changed his mind.  Lizzie asks him when he did.  There wasn’t a specific moment for him, he was just in the middle before he knew he had begun.  He asks Lizzie in turn when she realized her feelings had changed.  Lizzie jokes that her feelings changed the moment she saw the Pemberley Digital offices.  Darcy takes it all in good stride.  In a seriously seductive way, Lizzie admits it was the same for her, gradual.  There is a jump cut between an almost kiss and a rumpled couple who decides to change the topic.

As it turns out, Darcy has been thinking about the future.  He needs to get back to San Francisco so his investors don’t think he’s goofing off.  Lizzie is due to graduate in six weeks and he offers her a job at Pemberley Digital, not to mention they’d be in the same city.  Lizzie refuses it as she doesn’t want to be the girl who dates the boss, plus she has some things lined up to start her own company.  After writing up a business plan for her independent study based on her video diaries, Lizzie has received messages from investors.  Darcy thinks he may know some investors as well.

Lizzie tells him that San Francisco will be the ideal place for her to start her company and Darcy is pleased with the idea.  She has conditions though, trips home and visits from Lydia.  She’s been enjoying getting to know her younger sister better.  Darcy admits he shouldn’t have judged Lydia so harshly.  He went based off of his first impressions of her.  Lizzie confirms that her future plans work for Darcy and he agrees they do.

He tells Lizzie he has dinner reservations for their one week anniversary.    His Aunt Catherine is in town and he figured they could grab dinner.  Darcy says she and Mrs. Bennet would get along well.  Lizzie laughs and says she can tell when he’s teasing.  Darcy just gives her a look which makes Lizzie doubt her senses.  Darcy says they have to go and leaves Lizzie and the viewership hanging on whether they have a dinner date or a dinner disaster. 

In both works, Lizzie asks Darcy when he knew he was in love with her.  Darcy does not know the exact moment, just that he was in the middle before he knew he had begun.  

In LBD Darcy announces to the viewership that he and Lizzie have been dating for six days.  Lizzie jumps in to say it’s been a week and the two go back and forth.  Lizzie makes sure he knows she was teasing.  In P&P Lizzy basically makes a promise to tease and quarrel with Darcy as much as possible, although she may have been teasing him by saying that.  In P&P both of them tell their family and friends in turn that they are engaged.  Some are thrilled for them, but others, not so much.  The couple cannot wait to be at Pemberley where they will be away from anyone who has vulgar things to say about them.  

In P&P Lizzy & Darcy’s future is pretty much assumed to be one of a life-long marriage founded in love.  In LBD the future must be discussed.  As Lizzie and Darcy just started dating, they have not entered into a binding marriage agreement.  Darcy has plans, but Lizzie refutes them when she turns down his job offer at Pemberley Digital.  She knows the risks she runs if she works for the boss, especially among her coworkers.  Lizzie not only has a plan in place to avoid that, but she is going to start her own company.  Both are acts of a 21st century woman.  Lizzie has never been one to settle for anything less than what she wanted in her heart and she continues to be that way, even though her love for William Darcy could easily have swayed that.  She is able to have a loving relationship and be an independent woman at the same time.  Let Lizzie Bennet be an example to us all.

That’s all for now, until next time, my name is Joslyn Dechant and this is Pride & Prejudice vs The Lizzie Bennet Diaries.

In chapter 58, Darcy and Bingley visit the Bennets.  Jane & Bingley set off on a walk alone, while Darcy & Lizzy walk Kitty to see Maria.  The two of them continue on alone and Lizzy expresses her gratitude to Darcy for what he did for Lydia.  Darcy is upset in thinking that Mrs. Gardiner told Lizzy, but it was Lydia who did.  Lizzy again expresses how grateful she is for what Darcy did for her family.  He makes it perfectly clear, however, that he did it only for her.  

After some silence, Darcy breaks and admits his feelings are still what they were last April.  Lizzy only need say that her feelings are unchanged and he will leave her alone forever.  She admits that her feelings have changed.  Darcy’s happiness can not be repressed and it shows all over his face.  

Darcy tells Lizzy that he learned to hope especially after she refused to promise Lady Catherine she would never marry him.  The two speak of confusion on Darcy’s actions and words during the first proposal.  He asks if his letter made any difference and Lizzy tells him it melted her prejudices away.  

Lizzie starts off episode 98 by acting as though she wants to hear from the viewers about their lives.  She finally breaks face and says she wasn’t going to leave them hanging. 

She picks up right were episode 97 left off.  Darcy asks Lizzie if she films everything in her life.  She tells him she doesn’t but he tends to show up while she’s filming.  Darcy says they have been a help for his perspective.  He was surprised to see Charlotte.  Lizzie tells him it is their birthday.  After a bit of awkwardness, Darcy cuts to the chase and states that Lizzie called him.  He was in Chicago and was unable to call her back right away.  Lizzie tells him that he didn’t have to come, but Darcy says he did because he needed to see the look on her face when he asked why she called him.  Darcy has been watching Lizzie’s videos and knows she found out he was the one who stopped Wickham.  Lizzie says her family will be forever grateful.  Darcy tells her he didn’t do it for them, he did it for her. She expresses her gratitude.

Darcy admits to being confused.  Lizzie mentions in one of her videos that they are not friends.  He realizes, even after all the time they spent together in San Francisco, they are not.  He asks if Lizzie wants to be friends and she does.  She accidently makes it sound as if she just wants to be friends.  Darcy admits that his feelings for her have not changed since the fall and he starts rambling about where they should go from there.  Lizzie interrupts him with a kiss though and asks if it makes things clearer for him.

Darcy says it does, but he needs some more clarification, so he goes in for another kiss.  Lizzie admits she was confused as well.  They were getting along so well at Pemberley, but when she left Darcy never contacted her.  He didn’t know if Lizzie would want to hear from him and he saw her focus was completely on her sister.  He didn’t want to be an unwelcome distraction and Lizzie assures him he wouldn’t have been.  Lizzie got his hopes up again when she told Caroline that his life was his choice and her life was her choice.  Darcy doubted everything again though in thinking Lizzie may have said that only because she was grateful for what he did.

Lizzie makes it clear that she only wants to be with Darcy because of him and not just because she’s grateful.  They kiss again on that declaration and Lizzie turns off the camera for some privacy.

In this comparison, we find Lizzy surprised Darcy came back to Netherfield in P&P, while Darcy shows up unexpectedly in LBD.  Similar conversations take place in both works.  In P&P they discuss Darcy’s saving Lydia & Lizzy’s gratitude while on a walk.  In LBD this is discussed in the den in front of LIzzie’s camera for storytelling purposes.  One difference being that Lizzie reached out and contacted Darcy in LBD, where as she didn’t in P&P.  This little change in story helps add to the equality in gender roles in the 21st century.  It’s perfectly acceptable for Lizzie to call Darcy and initiate a conversation today, whereas it may have been seen as socially unacceptable in the 1800’s.  In both works, Darcy makes it clear that he saved Lydia with Lizzie in mind and not her whole family.  As previously mentioned, he paid for Lydia & Wickham’s wedding & dowry in P&P, while he bought out a whole company in LBD to prevent the sex tape from going up.  While Darcy may not be the best at expressing himself in words, he certainly knows how to in gestures.

In LBD Darcy comments that Lizzie’s videos have been helpful for broadening his perspective.  In P&P, though I didn’t include it in the summary, Darcy knows how much he owes Lizzy for making him a better person.  He tells her that she allowed him to see beyond himself and the selfishness he tends toward due to being an only child for so long while growing up.  

In P&P Darcy admits his feelings are unchanged since last April when he first confessed his love for Lizzy.  Lizzy admits her feelings have changed and Darcy is visibly happy.  In LBD Darcy admits he feels the same for Lizzie as he did in the fall.  She expresses her feelings have changed by kissing him.

Darcy tells Lizzy he got his hopes up when she refused to promise Lady Catherine that she would never marry him in P&P.  In LBD Darcy got his hopes up when Lizzie told Caroline they were each able to make their own choices.  In both works they discuss mutual confusion about each other’s feelings and where they stood with one another.  It seems as though there shouldn’t be any more confusion for the happy couple as they are engaged in P&P and dating in LBD.

That’s all for now, until next time, my name is Joslyn Dechant and this is Pride & Prejudice vs The Lizzie Bennet Diaries.

In chapter 54 of Pride & Prejudice, there is a party at Longbourn which Darcy & Bingley attend.  After dinner, Lizzy is serving coffee while Jane serves tea to their guests.  Lizzy hopes to encounter Darcy, but she is surrounded by other ladies when the gentlemen enter the room.  Darcy goes to another part of the room and Lizzy is envious of everyone he talks to.  She is too distracted to serve anyone coffee and gets upset with herself for being silly.  She knows how rare second chances are.  Why would Darcy renew his love for her when he was already refused once?  It would appear to be a weakness if he proposed a second time to the same woman, at least among men.  Darcy brings his coffee cup back himself though and they are able to to make some small talk.

Lizzie opens episode 97 by acting like she’s going to pull Darcy onto camera, but really it’s Charlotte.  They are celebrating their 25 birthday.  Charlotte surprised Lizzie with some ice cream and a cheesy movie.  She knows Lizzie needs a distraction from the fact that Darcy never returned her call.  Lizzie claims she doesn’t, but Charlotte points out her internet browser history as proof that she does. 

Lizzie has been spending plenty of time with Lydia and she’s working on her final thesis.  She is going to be writing a paper and business plan for her own pretend company that focuses on her video diary. 

Charlotte tries to get back to the subject at hand though.  Lizzie still isn’t ready to talk about Darcy.  Charlotte wants to know what makes this time any different.  Everyone else has basically made confession on Lizzie’s videos.

Lizzie admits she’s disappointed Darcy didn’t call her back.  She feels she doesn’t have any reason to expect anything from him.  He doesn’t owe her anything and he’s done so much, especially for Lydia.  Lizzie knows she’s getting the brush off, but Charlotte tries to remain optimistic saying perhaps Darcy just doesn’t know how to express himself.  Lizzie points out it doesn’t take three days to get back to someone, even if they aren’t sure of what to say.  Lizzie feels Darcy deserved more from her.  Charlotte thinks she deserved more from Darcy too.  She consoles her best friend with a hug and the promise of fancy Chinese delivery.

The doorbell rings and Charlotte goes to get the food she ordered.  Lizzie is thankful for Charlotte, Lydia, and Jane.  She talks about how Jane is still doing well and is happy with Bing in New York.  She’s glad they got a second chance, as she’s found second chances are rare.  Lizzie is quite certain she used up hers.

Someone enters the den. Lizzie assumes it’s Charlotte and reaches for her bag to get tip money.  It’s Darcy’s voice that speaks to her though and a surprised Lizzie quickly turns around and stands up to face him.  What happens next?  It appears the fandom must wait until Lizzie’s next episode.

In this comparison we find Lizzy hoping to encounter Darcy after dinner at Longbourn in P&P, meanwhile in LBD Lizzie is still wishing Darcy would return her phone call.  In P&P Lizzy is upset with herself for even thinking that Darcy would still be interested in her after she turned him down.  In LBD Lizzie tells Charlotte she had no reason to expect anything from Darcy and that he deserved more from her. 

In both works Lizzie contemplates second chances and she knows how rare they are.  She feels as though she used hers up.  Why would Darcy profess his love for her a second time, when being rejected again is a very real possibility from his point of view.  During this contemplation in P&P, Darcy approaches Lizzy for more coffee and they are able to talk like she had hoped.  In LBD, while Lizzie is working through her thoughts by speaking to the camera, Darcy appears in the den to speak to her.

While Lizzie was able to take a more active approach in LBD by actually contacting Darcy herself, she is still playing the waiting game.  In both works, Lizzie still isn’t sure if Darcy has feelings for her, but she hopes he does as her feelings for him have most certainly changed.  It’s obvious she has that dreadful sinking feeling one gets when they have more than likely screwed up beyond repair.  Lizzie regrets how she treated Darcy and the things she said about him, but it’s too late to take those things back.  It’s even more difficult in LBD as she posted all of her thoughts and feelings about him on the internet for the world to see.  In P&P, Darcy only knew what Lizzy said to him, not what she said behind his back.  Having said all of this, Lizzie probably has as second chance coming to her.  Darcy was more than civil at Pemberley Digital, it’s obvious they would have started dating had Lydia’s scandal not broken out.  He went so far as to buy out a company to protect Lydia and the Bennet family.  Now he has come to talk to Lizzie in person as opposed to calling her back on the phone.  You’re a lucky girl Lizzie Bennet.  It appears you’ll be getting your second chance.

That’s all for now, until next time, my name is Joslyn Dechant and this is Pride & Prejudice vs The Lizzie Bennet Diaries.

In chapter 57 of Pride & Prejudice, Lizzy still cannot stop thinking about Lady Catherine’s visit.  She can’t believe Lady Catherine came all the way from Rosings just to break off her supposed engagement with Darcy.  Lizzy still isn’t sure where the news of their engagement came from.  She does consider the fact that the engagement between Jane, her sister, & Bingley, Darcy’s best friend, may have led to others being eager for another wedding and suggesting one between her and Darcy.  It occurs to Lizzy that Lady Catherine will voice the same objections to Darcy about Lizzy as a potential match.  She does not want to think of the influence Lady Catherine may have on her nephew.  Lizzy assumes he has a much higher regard for his aunt than she does. 

Lizzy is certain that if Darcy had been on the fence as to what to do before, Lady Catherine will persuade him to be happy leading a life without Lizzy by his side.  She knows that he will not return to Netherfield with Bingley if that is the case.  Lizzy decides that if Darcy does not keep his promise to visit Bingley, then his decision will be final and she will soon forget him.

Mr. Bennet receives a letter from Mr. Collins congratulating him on Jane’s engagement.  He also hints Lizzy may soon be engaged herself and he let it slip to Lady Catherine.  He warns that Lady Catherine is not happy with the news and Lizzy may want to reconsider the match as it has not been approved by her.  Mr. Bennet laughs off the idea as he still believes Lizzy dislikes Darcy and that Darcy is indifferent toward Lizzy.  This remark mortifies Lizzy as she fears her father has not seen too little, but that she may have liked Darcy too much.

In episode 96, Lizzie does a lot of talking to herself.  She wonders if Caroline knows something about Darcy that she doesn’t.  She knows Caroline likes Darcy, but Lizzie isn’t sure why Caroline’s focused on her.  Lizzie isn’t in charge of who Darcy likes.  She still doesn’t know why he helped Lydia.  Lizzie knows what her viewers are going to say, Darcy still likes her, but she thinks that if his helping Lydia had anything to do with her, he would have told her about it.  She assumes Darcy knows she knows about him taking down the site, that is if he’s been watching her videos.  Lizzie hasn’t heard a word from Darcy since he handed her into his car and sent her off to the airport.

Lizzie wishes Jane were with her as she’s a comfort.  She takes it upon herself to do costume theater and imagines what her sister might say.  Jane would tell her she and Darcy are super cute together and then she’d offer Lizzie some tea.  Lizzie texted Fitz about taking down the website, but he claims he had nothing to do it.

Lizzie hasn’t even heard from Gigi, which she finds strange, since the girl was never shy about pushing Lizzie and Darcy together.  Lizzie assumes that if Gigi’s gone silent, it’s because Darcy told her to.  She believes he didn’t actually want her finding out that he took down the website.  The thing is, Lizzie does know and she’s not sure what to do about it.  If Darcy is upset that she knows, she wishes he would tell her. 

At this point, Lizzie can hear Charlotte in her head.  She would tell Lizzie to call Darcy as it’s the 21st century.  Lizzie doesn’t think it’s that simple, but Charlotte points out it is since she has his phone number.  Charlotte imagines the worst that could happen, which really only extends to Darcy ignoring Lizzie or not being interested in her.  Lizzie claims she’s not worried about any of those things, so Charlotte asks her what she is worried about, which leaves Lizzie dumbfounded and speechless.  Basically Lizzie is afraid of rejection. 

Lizzie knows that what Darcy did for Lydia was huge and she will always owe him, not just financially but in other ways.  She hopes he would know that she’s grateful, but she isn’t sure he does, and decides the best way to find out is to call him.  Lizzie gets Darcy’s voice mail and she asks him to call her as she’d like to talk.  She must know how awkward and nervous she sounds, because she grimaces when she gets off the phone and hastily shuts off the camera.

In this comparison, Lizzie is thinking about the conflict she had with Lady Catherine/Caroline.  In P&P Lizzy is still trying to figure out how Lady Catherine got the news about her and Darcy.  She also worries about what Lady Catherine may say to Darcy and if she succeeds in getting her way, he may never return to Netherfield.  In LBD, Lizzie wonders why Caroline was so focused on her.  She knows Caroline likes Darcy, but Lizzie isn’t in charge of who Darcy likes.  My theory is that Caroline somehow knows Darcy plans to renew his declaration of love for Lizzie.  This ties in to Mr. Collins’ letter to Mr. Bennet in P&P.  Lizzy learns that he’s the one who told Lady Catherine the news.  Lady Catherine and Caroline both obviously believe Darcy will follow his heart and have Lizzie in his life regardless of objections from anyone else, but they are still trying to prevent it.

When it comes to Lizzie’s mindset on how things may work out with Darcy, it varies between the works.  In P&P, Lizzy has resigned to forget about Darcy and move on with her life if he doesn’t return to Netherfield as a result of his aunt’s persuasion.  In LBD, Lizzie works through costume theater and comes to the conclusion that she should call Darcy herself to see where she stands.  Lizzie even mentions, as Charlotte, that it’s not the 1800’s any more and she can call Darcy.  This illuminates the changes in gender roles in courting and dating from Austen’s time to today.

In P&P, Mr. Bennet comments on Lizzy’s dislike and Darcy’s indifference after he receives the letter from Mr. Collins.  Lizzy is hurt by this as she’s afraid she has fallen for Darcy and he no longer cares for her.  In LBD, Lizzie doesn’t come right out and say it, but it’s evident she is afraid Darcy’s feelings have changed.  She’s afraid to call him as her own heart is now at stake and she doesn’t want to be rejected.  Her knowledge of what Darcy did for Lydia is also a contributing factor.  Lizzie fears Darcy is angry she found out he took the website down.  She gets the feeling she isn’t supposed to know and doesn’t want him to be angry.  Hopefully he will return her call and they can discuss it instead.  It ought to be more constructive than Lizzie just talking to the internet, but I’m sure we all hope she will share their conversation anyway.

That’s all for now, until next time, my name is Joslyn Dechant and this is Pride & Prejudice vs The Lizzie Bennet Diaries.

In chapter 56 of Pride & Prejudice, the Bennet’s and Bingley are in the dining room early in the morning when a carriage arrives containing Lady Catherine de Bourgh.  She enters without so much as a word, but just a cold nod to Lizzy.  After a bit of silence, Lady Catherine comments about how small Longbourn is and the inconvenient location of their sitting room.  Mrs. Bennet assures her it is not a problem.  Lady Catherine then asks if Lizzy will take her out to the lawn to show her the garden. 

Once they are alone Lady Catherine tells Lizzy she must know why she has come.  Lizzy assures her she does not.  She tells Lizzy that not only has she heard of Jane’s engagement, but that she has head of Lizzy’s possible engagement to Darcy.  She does not do her nephew the dissatisfaction of believing the news, but has come to confirm the falsehood of it with Lizzy.  Lizzy questions why she came so far if she believed it to be false.  They go back and forth with Lady Catherine insisting Lizzy confirm it is false, while Lizzy repeats back Lady Catherine’s declarations of it being impossible.  Lady Catherine accuses Lizzy of using arts and allurements to draw Darcy in.  Lizzy states that if she had done such a thing, she would never confess it.  Lady Catherine feels she is entitled to know Darcy’s concerns as she is his closest living relative.  Lizzy responds that while that may be so, she does not have to share her concerns.  Lady Catherine tells Lizzy the match would never take place anyway as her daughter is engaged to Darcy.  Lizzy tells her she cannot suppose he would make an offer to her then if he is already spoken for. 

Lady Catherine explains that Darcy and her daughter were intended for each other since birth.  It was arranged by his mother and her’s.  Lizzy does not see why if that is the only reason they should marry, that Darcy may not choose another woman to be his wife.  Lady Catherine tells her it would go against all decorum and Darcy would be slighted for his choice to marry someone of Lizzy’s class.  She insists the cousins were intended for each other as they descend from the same noble line and fortune.  She will not see them divided by a woman of Lizzy’s connections or fortune.  Lizzy tells her that if Darcy does not object to her connections, then it should be no concern of hers.  Lady Catherine demands to know if Lizzy is engaged to him.  She admits that she is not.  Lady Catherine wants her to promise she will never enter into an engagement with him.   Lizzy cannot make such a promise.  Lady Catherine says she will not leave until Lizzy promises never to accept a proposal from Darcy.  Lizzy says she will never give it and finds her arguments to be frivolous.  Her understanding of Lizzy’s character is quite off.  Lady Catherine adds another objection, being that Lydia’s indiscretion in running off with Wickham has forever sullied the Bennet family name and would do the same to Darcy if he married Lizzy.

Lizzy is done with Lady Catherine now, as she has insulted both her and her family.  Lady Catherine tells her she is a selfish girl if she will marry Darcy knowing that it will destroy his reputation.  Lizzy informs her she will only act in ways that effect her happiness and will not reference anyone who is unconnected to her.  Lady Catherine tells Lizzy she is determined to ruin Darcy in the opinion of his friends and the world.  Lizzy informs her, that were any of those concerns true, she would not affect Darcy in that way by marrying him.  Lady Catherine leaves and makes it quite known she is not pleased with Lizzy.  When Lizzy reenters the house, Mrs. Bennet asks why Lady Catherine did not come back in.  Lizzy tells her she chose not to.  Mrs. Bennet asks if she had anything particular to say to Lizzy, but Lizzy finds it impossible to even acknowledge the conversation they had.

At the beginning of episode 95, Lizzie tells her viewers that Jane and Bing are doing well in New York.  She and Jane have been talking a bit more and she’s thankful for better communication with her sister.  In other news, Lydia has been taking it easy and Mr. Bennet is just glad the whole scandal is over.  Mrs. Bennet on the other hand is ready for some Jing grandchildren.

Little does Lizzie know though, that Caroline Lee is about to burst onto screen.  She accuses Lizzie of ruining Bing’s life starting with med school, New York, and ending with Jane.  Lizzie wants to know exactly how it’s her fault.  Caroline knows Jane wouldn’t concoct the plan on her own and Bing has never been able to make such life altering decisions by himself.  She just knows that Lizzie had to have been behind it. 

Caroline also brings up Darcy.  She’s watched Lizzie’s videos from Pemberley Digital and feels it’s obvious what Lizzie is doing.  A confused Lizzie asks Caroline what she’s talking about.  Caroline tells her not to deny it.  Lizzie, again confused, says she’s not.  Caroline says Lizzie dating Darcy would destroy him and it’s obvious she’s trying to seduce him.  By Lizzie shadowing his company and involving him in Lydia’s scandal, Caroline feels she’s ruining his life. 

Darcy’s aunt, Catherine de Bourgh is questioning her investment in his enterprise.  Lizzie is quite certain that if Pemberley Digital were in danger because of her, Darcy would avoid her like the plague.  Caroline agrees and Lizzie tells her she has nothing to worry about if that’s the case, unless she thinks Darcy can be manipulated as easily as Bing.  Caroline asks if that’s an admission from Lizzie, but she says no and she’s just trying to figure out how to live her life.

When it comes to manipulation though, Lizzie wants to know what happened in September at Bing’s Birthday party.  She asks about the indiscretion that Bing & Darcy blamed on Jane.  As it turns out Jane kissed another man, but Lizzie knows Caroline had something to do with it.  She knows it would have been easy to talk one of Bing’s drunk friends into kissing Jane in front of Darcy.  She tells Caroline it must have taken a lot of work and it must be killing her after all she’s done, that Bing & Jane still ended up together.  Lizzie realizes it’s because Caroline was afraid of losing Bing and now she’s afraid of losing Darcy.

Caroline just says she tries to help the people in her life that she cares about.  Lizzie tells her she’s not in charge of anyone’s life though.  Darcy is in charge of his own as she is in charge of hers and the same goes for Bing & Jane.  Even though Caroline has insulted Lizzie and her family, she snidely invites her to stay for dinner, but she declines.

In this comparison, the biggest difference we see is Lady Catherine in P&P versus Caroline in LBD having a confrontation with Lizzie over the topic of Darcy.  In both works, the unexpected visitor assumes Lizzie knows why she has come, but Lizzie is stumped.  In P&P, Lady Catherine immediately confronts her about Darcy’s offer of marriage.  In LBD Caroline starts out by accusing Lizzie of ruining Bing’s life.  She brings up the subject of Darcy second.  The difference in confrontations being that Lady Catherine’s interest lies only in Darcy, whereas Caroline’s lies both with her brother and his best friend. 

In both works, Lizzie is accused of seducing Darcy and the argument goes back and forth between her and the unwanted visitor.  In P&P Lady Catherine argues that the match between Lizzy and Darcy cannot take place as the he is engaged to her daughter.  Lizzy is tells her Darcy wouldn’t make her an offer if that is really the case.  LBD compares to the plot point when Caroline says Darcy’s aunt, VC Catherine de Bourgh is threatening to pull her investment from his company.  Lizzie is certain that if Pemberley Digital were threatened, Darcy would avoid her like the plague.

In P&P Lady Catherine continues the argument by insulting Lizzy’s class and connections.  She does not want to see her daughter and nephew separated by someone like Lizzy.  She also brings up the fact that she does not want her nephew’s reputation sullied by him marrying the sister of Lydia Bennet after the scandal that transpired.  Lizzy feels Darcy can choose for himself and if he doesn’t object to her connections, then it shouldn’t matter.  In LBD Caroline tells Lizzie that she would destroy Darcy if she dated him and she already has since Lydia’s scandal pulled him away from work.  Lizzie informs Caroline that she is not in charge of anyone’s life and everyone is free to do as they choose. 

This episode of LBD does a few things for the plot and Caroline’s characterization.  It works off of the plot in P&P of Lady Catherine’s confrontation with Lizzy about Darcy.  This establishes the class divide between Lizzy and Darcy, not only in P&P, but in LBD as well.  There are still distinct class lines in society today and Caroline brings that to light by she mentions Catherine de Bourgh’s reconsideration of her investment in Pemberley Digital. 

Caroline’s vulnerability is revealed when Lizzie spells out her true fear of losing Bing and Darcy.  She not only faces losing her brother but his connection to the man she has set her sights on as well.  In P&P Caroline’s true nature is revealed from the start.  In LBD it’s alluded to when Charlotte plays her with costume theater in episode 15.  When she originally appears on Lizzie’s vlog, she’s likeable and friendly toward Lizzie, which is the opposite of her actions in P&P.  Later on in LBD at Collins & Collins the true Caroline shows up.  This episode reveals the manipulation and lengths she is willing to go to in order to get her way.  Unfortunately for her, Bing, Jane, Lizzie, and Darcy can all think for themselves and are willing to do what makes them happy regardless of what she has to say about it.

That’s all for now, until next time, my name is Joslyn Dechant and this is Pride & Prejudice vs The Lizzie Bennet Diaries.