Relationship+between+Caroline+Bingley+and+Jane+Bennet

====In the beginning of Pride and Prejudice, Caroline Bingley seeks an acquaintance between herself and Jane Bennett by inviting her to dine with her and her elder sister Mrs Hurst, at Netherfield, Mr Bingley's residence in Hertfordshire. Mr Bingley was to be absent that day due to his dining with the Militia officer's in Meryton, and so Jane was to dine only with Miss Bingley, and Mrs Hurst, who took this opportunity to learn more about Jane and her family connections; of which they were quite unimpressed. It is not known why Miss Bingley wished to establish an acquaintance with Jane but perhaps it is due to her brother's obvious interest in her and/or her warm, friendly nature and apparent good sense. Due to a tactical ploy by Jane's mother, Mrs Bennett, Jane rides to Netherfield on horse back when all signs point to the likelihood of rain, and rain it did. Unfortunately it rained heavily whilst Jane was riding and so she was very wet on arrival. The ploy was therefore successful because the rain prevented her from being able to ride home that day and so she would then be unavoidably thrown into the path of Mr Bingley, who would see her on his return home later that day - much to his delight and also that of Mrs Bennett. Jane, however, as a result of being wet through, caught a bad head cold which required her to remain at Netherfield for several days, most of which she spent in bed.==== ====At some point, Miss Bingley, decides that she does not wish for her brother and Jane to form an attachment and begins plotting to prevent this attachment from occurring, To achieve this her and the Netherfield party follow Mr Bingley to London, where he was to go on business for only a few days before returning to Netherfield again, and then engage in the office of persuading Bingley that Jane is indifferent to him and to convince him to remain in London for the entire winter. This is successful and letters from Miss Bingley to Jane confirm this and also attempt to illustrate to her that Mr Bingley is indifferent to her and that they are most desirous to forward a match between him and Mr Darcy's younger sister Georgiana Darcy. These letters begin to convince Jane of Bingley's indifference to her but do not convince her sister Elizabeth, who informs Jane that she believes Bingley to be very much in love with her and that Miss Bingley is simply trying to detach the two due to her wishes of having her brother marry Miss Darcy. Jane cannot believe Miss Bingley capable of such deception and is resigned to forgetting about Bingley. She is however, convinced by Elizabeth to go to London to stay with their aunt and uncle, Mr and Mrs Gardiner, who live in the unfashionable Cheapside, an area of town that the Bingley sisters consider to be rather beneath them. Jane agrees to go to London, but appears to go without much hope of renewing her former relationship with Bingley. Despite this Jane is very eager to see her friend Miss Bingley again and pays Miss Bingley a visit one day.====

====Jane thought that Caroline was happy to see her but that she seemed a little out of spirits, she also reproached Jane for giving her no notice of her coming to London and Jane thought it very strange that both her letters to Caroline informing her of this had gone astray. They hadn't of course, and Caroline had no wish to see Jane at all as she was anxious to keep her away from her brothers notice. Miss Bingley made a promise of returning the visit to her and the Gardiner's at Gracechurch street and at length she did come but it was evident to Jane that she took little pleasure in the meeting and at the end of the visit Jane was perfectly resolved to continue the acquaintance no more. It was at this point that Jane realised that she had been entirely deceived in Miss Bingley's regard for her and at last was able to admit what Elizabeth had known all along, that Miss Bingley was an insincere and calculating lady with little regard for her and an intense dislike for the prospect of Jane and Bingley marrying. When at last Bingley proposes to Jane and they are on the point of marriage, Miss Bingley writes to Jane informing her of how happy she is at the prospect of them becoming family. Jane however, is not deceived and though replying amiably, is well aware of Miss Bingley's true feelings towards her and of her negative view of the marriage. However, Jane and Bingley married and Miss Bingley had the further mortification of seeing the object of her desire, Mr Darcy, married to Jane's sister Elizabeth. All in all things end terribly for Miss Bingley and all her wishes are overthrown. She has been entirely defeated by the Bennett sisters and no doubt this was punishment enough for her, and the reader has the right to feel that she gets her just deserts in the most devastating way possible. Good riddance to poor Miss Bingley.====

Amberlee Armstead Period 6 Dec. 5, 2011