M A R Y
Mary is sketched rather lightly, but we are conscious of her presence in
all the chief affairs of the family. She is given to attempts at aphorisms,
but these are rather feeble and the rest of the family are not usually
very impressed by her display of learning. When the subject of Mr. Darcy's
pride is under discussion, Mary makes some reflections of pride in general.
"Pride is a very common feeling, I believe. By all that I have ever
read, I am convinced that it is very common indeed, that human nature is
practically prone to it, and that there are very few of us who do not cherish
a feeling of self-complacency on the score of some quality or other, real
or imaginary."
Mary's attitude towards Lydia’s downfall is one of conscious superiority.
"Unhappy as the event that must be for Lydia we may draw from it this
useful lesson that loss of virtue in a female is irretrievable, that one
false step involves her in endless ruin, that her reputation is no less
brittle that it is beautiful, and that she cannot be too much guarded in
her behavior towards the undeserving of the other sex."
Though she is thus given to moral reflection we have Jane's report that
she has been very kind, and herself suggests that "We muse stem the tide
of malice and pour into the wounded bosoms of each other the balm of sisterly
consolation."
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