pride and sense

If you know me at all, you know I had to take this quiz immediately when I saw it on chou-chou's blog. Okay, actually, I took it twice--but only because I lost the link the first time I took it. I thought I answered everything the same, but...

**Edited to add: Took the quiz a third time--in the interest of finding the real character--and scored as mostly Elizabeth with a lot of Elinor. My least-matching character is Marianne.

The first time I took it:


Jane Austen wrote about Elizabeth Bennet, "I must confess that I think her as delightful a character as ever appeared in print, and how I shall be able to tolerate those who do not like her at least, I do not know".

Proof of compatibility from the text:

She told the story however with great spirit among her friends; for she had a lively, playful disposition, which delighted in any thing ridiculous.

...Lizzie has something more of quickness than her sisters.

Elizabeth was determined;

Elizabeth was distressed.

Elizabeth was delighted.

Elizabeth was in agonies.

Elizabeth was surprised, but agreed to it immediately.

Elizabeth was forced to go.

Elizabeth was eager with her thanks and assurances of happiness.

Against staying longer, however, Elizabeth was positively resolved --

Elizabeth felt herself completely taken in.

Elizabeth was determined to make no effort for conversation with a woman who was now more than usually insolent and disagreeable.

Elizabeth was forced to give into a little falsehood here; for to acknowledge the substance of their conversation was impossible.

"I hope I never ridicule what is wise or good. Follies and nonsense, whims and inconsistencies do divert me, I own, and I laugh at them whenever I can."

"Can I speak plainer? Do not consider me now as an elegant female intending to plague you, but as a rational creature speaking the truth from her heart."

Elizabeth felt that she had neither been seeing him before, nor thinking of him since, with the smallest degree of unreasonable admiration.

Between Elizabeth and Charlotte there was a restraint which kept them mutually silent on the subject; and Elizabeth felt persuaded that no real confidence could ever subsist between them again.

Elizabeth felt herself growing more angry every moment; yet she tried to the utmost to speak with composure when she said...

In the former were many good paintings; but Elizabeth knew nothing of the art; and from such as had been already visible below, she had willingly turned to look at some drawings of Miss Darcy's, in crayons, whose subjects were usually more interesting, and also more intelligible.

Yes, especially when I went searching the text, I can certainly see myself in Elizabeth.

The second time I took it:

The text gives evidence here as well:

Elinor was to be the comforter of others in her own distresses, no less than in theirs; and all the comfort that could be given by assurances of her own composure of mind, and a very earnest vindication of Edward from every charge but of imprudence, was readily offered.

The insipidity of the meeting was exactly such as Elinor had expected; it produced not one novelty of thought or expression; and nothing could be less interesting than the whole of their discourse both in the dining parlour and drawing room.

Elinor was pleased that he had called; and still more pleased that she had missed him.

Elinor laughed.

...and Elinor was then at liberty to think and be wretched...

Elinor felt all the reasonableness of the idea, and it gave fresh misery to her reflections.

Elinor smiled, and shook her head.

And so well was she able to answer her own expectations, that when she joined them at dinner, only two hours after she had first suffered the extinction of all her dearest hopes, no one would have supposed, from the appearance of the sisters, that Elinor was mourning in secret over obstacles which must divide her for ever from the object of her love

..and Elinor was obliged to assist...

But Elinor had more to do; and so anxious was she, for his sake and her own, to do it well, that she forced herself, after a moment's recollection, to welcome him, with a look and manner that were almost easy, and almost open; and another struggle, another effort still improved them.

Elinor had heard enough, if not to gratify her vanity and raise her self-importance, to agitate her nerves and fill her mind;

When Elinor had ceased to rejoice in the dryness of the season, a very awful pause took place.

I often feel Elinor-ish. This is a very wise quiz. ;> These are my two favorite Austen heroines...and they were long before I saw either book on film. This is extremely important information. Yes, there have been good films. But the books, the books! Actually, I was looking for graphics that didn't come from the films b/c I so didn't want to be identified with the films instead of the books. But, the only little "I am xyz" graphics I found were from the films. Sigh. What to do, what to do...

To this Elinor had no answer to make, and did not attempt any. (If only I could master that characteristic of Elinor's...but I fear I oftener have Lizzie's quick tongue.)