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Ha! Ha! That was punny!

Topic 145 · 23 responses · archived october 2000

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~Arnessa Wed, Jan 29, 1997 (22:53) seed

Puns, some say, are the lowest form of humor, but they delight me excessively, I must admit. I'm continually discovering new puns in P&P2, so I thought I'd ask if others caught some too. Here are a few I've noticed. -The first words of the film: After Darcy disparages a country lifestyle, Bingley says "Country MANNERS? I think they're charming." Darcy, of course, t thinks he's talking of "Country MANORS" and says, "Then you'd better take it." -When Mrs. Bennet and the silly sisters approach Netherfield, the girls lean out of the carriage, and Mrs. Bennet says, "A fine PROSPECT, is it not?" and one wonders whether she's talking of the house's facade or Jane's getting Bingley. -At Netherfield, when Lydia asks about the ball, Bingley says, "I am perfectly ready to keep my ENGAGEMENT." OK, so you already knew these. Any more? 23 new of

~Amy Wed, Jan 29, 1997 (23:05) #1

I did not know them, Arnessa. They never even occurred to me.

~Inko Wed, Jan 29, 1997 (23:06) #2

Arnessa: put me down as another punster - my whole family loves them, but I really love the unintentional ones! I've always thought that Davies put a marvellous pun into Lizzie's mouth at Hunsford when Col. Fitz sits down and says "I've heard much of you and none of the praise has been exaggerated" Lizzie replies "I can well believe that! Mr. Darcy is my severest critic." I'm not sure it's a real pun, but I love the way Lizzie misunderstands (perhaps on purpose) the words "Praise" and "exaggerated".

~Susan Wed, Jan 29, 1997 (23:52) #3

I never noticed any puns, just the irony and wit. This is a fun idea.

~Saman Thu, Jan 30, 1997 (18:28) #4

The puns totally escaped me too, and I'm usually excessively attentive to these matters. My favourite of the ones you've pointed out would have to be the manners/manors one - I now know why I never understood Darcy's remark "you'd better take it..." Thanks Arnessa

~JohanneD Thu, Jan 30, 1997 (20:54) #5

Thanks Saman for confirming what was always a question, took most it this as misunderstand of language, and am please to now realized that I understood more than a couple of them (and later discarting them as part of my wild imagination) Thanks for making me realizing the right track is just ahead !

~Carolineevans Sat, Feb 1, 1997 (22:44) #6

Alright. get ready to groan, because the lowest form of a pun is- A Knock, knock, Joke! Knock knock "Who's There?" "Colin" "Colin who?" "Thought you guys would be the Firth to know"

~Inko Sat, Feb 1, 1997 (23:17) #7

OUCH!! Very good one, Caroline

~kendall Sun, Feb 2, 1997 (00:27) #8

Caroline - great - I can't knock it at all!

~Susan Sun, Feb 2, 1997 (04:03) #9

#6 That's great -- you're right, we should have seen it coming!

~Arnessa Sun, Feb 2, 1997 (22:53) #10

Groan! That was pretty bad, Caroline, which means I liked it very well indeed. I think puns are pretty much like French cheese: the ones that stink the most are the best. Great line, katy. You're a punster too, I see. Glad so many punsters on board. Inko, I don't think the "severest critic" line is technically a pun. I don't know another meaning for "critic." It is very clever, though. I think it's more like a metaphor. Lizzy extends Col. Fitz's words and meaning, saying Darcy is a critic because his praise is not exaggerated. Lizzy and Darcy do that a lot to each other, extending the others' metaphors. Think of the conversation around the Rosings piano. Wonder if that's a sign of intimacy, like finishing someone's se tences? Hmmm...

~Carolineevans Mon, Feb 3, 1997 (12:20) #11

I think puns are pretty muchlike French cheese: the ones that stink the most are the best. Great line, katy. You're a punster too, Definitely! Mine is an over-ripe camembert, Katy's a refined small sliver of Roquefort........ Lizzy and Darcy do that a lot to each other, extending the others' metaphors. Think of the conversation around the Rosings piano. I always enjoy "We neither of us perform to strangers." (no, Cheryl,no! I was't thinking of that at all!)

~Cheryl Mon, Feb 3, 1997 (16:29) #12

Exasperated *sigh!*

~Arnessa Mon, Feb 3, 1997 (22:49) #13

I realized that there is another time the "fine prospect" line is used. Mrs. Jennings tells Lizzy to go look out of the window at Pemberley, "And there's a fine prospect from that window down towards the lake." A fine prospect, indeed. The pun is too pointedly used to be unintentional, wouldn't you say? Davies could have had Lizzy go to the window without Mrs. Jennings' prompting.

~amy2 Tue, Feb 4, 1997 (12:47) #14

You're right, Arnessa! I also like all of the foreshadowing in P&P2. Like when Lizzy says: "I think I can safely promise you NEVER to dance with Mr. Darcy," and Jane's line: "Even Mr. Darcy may improve upon closer acquaintance."

~Amy Tue, Feb 4, 1997 (14:13) #15

"I beg you not to believe all of his assertions."

~Hilary Tue, Feb 4, 1997 (18:54) #16

I like puns too, Arnessa. But I don't think I had seen any before in P&P. Thank you. How we have grown!

~churchh Wed, Feb 5, 1997 (15:31) #17

Amy, do you mean Caroline Bingley's "Let me recommend you, however, as a friend, not to give implicit confidence to all his assertions" ?

~Amy Wed, Feb 5, 1997 (16:38) #18

do you mean ___ Yeah, yeah, whatever. Did not feel like looking it up. Okay?

~Arnessa Tue, Mar 4, 1997 (22:38) #19

"The very rich can AFFORD to give offense wherever they go." -Lizzy to her mother at the Meryton assembly.

~Andee1 Fri, Mar 7, 1997 (20:06) #20

Caroline, I loved the knock knock joke!

~Ann2 Sat, Mar 8, 1997 (16:18) #21

When Lizzy says to Wickham something about ample sources of recreation. You are for Brighton (and we all know his recreation source there) and I am touring the lakes with my Aunt and Uncle. She was to concentrate on one lake (the one she has viewed from the windows at Pemberley)..Darcy: Follow us to the lake, my man will show you...And they begin their grand tour ( In the novel he comes to meet them on a walk near the lake).

~Carolineevans Mon, Mar 17, 1997 (11:18) #22

Andrew davies seems the have a bit of a thing about water all together.

~Ann Mon, Mar 17, 1997 (12:59) #23

For which we are all very appreciative .

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