18th Century Brentwood: Pride and Prejudice

28 June 2013Samantha D, Allard ‘13

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.”-Jane Austen Rolling pastures of storm cloud sheep and cushiony grass cover the majority of the vast property; within them is an antique cottage which seamlessly transforms the modern era into that of simpler Victorian times. The beautiful Wilson family is dressing in their Friday best, and are serving decadent chocolate chip cookies with salmon, egg salad, ham, and cucumber finger sandwiches and tea. Those being served are Mr. Collis’ and Mrs. Widenmaier’s Literature 12 and Literature 12 AP classes who had completed their study of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Beautiful handmade dresses swirl as the ladies float across the meadows, and the men look perfectly proper in their dapper suits and uniforms. Pinkies are erect on the edges of tea cup handles, and ladies bat their eyelids as they try to woo their way into a dance with the richest man. The purpose of this is to test the class’s knowledge of how a wealthy man from the 18th century would appear to behave at a social event such as a tea. Each lady has a sheet of paper with three blank spots that she must fill before the end of the tea, indicating three different dances with three different men. Using her skills of conversation, she must discover if his estate is large, or small, if he enjoys the luxuries of life and, heaven forbid, if he must work to earn a living. The men must use their knowledge in convincing three ladies that he is indeed worth her time. Jordan C, for example, was the poorest man at the tea, working as a chimney sweep and barely making enough to feed himself, and yet he managed to be the first man to find three dancing partners as he flattered and schmoozed his way into convincing the ladies he was indeed a wealthy man. As more men committed to three dances, it became harder for a lady to find a suitable, acceptable man that Mrs. Bennett would approve of, and more of the class became restless lying in the sun on such a fantastic afternoon. The Wilson’s kindly allowed us to roam their home, and the class jumped at the chance for exploration. A few members of the class decided to even wade into the ocean that lined the property, with skirts and trousers hiked high to prevent damage. After all the festivities, it was time to load up on the bus and head back to a more modern looking Brentwood, leaving the pastoral Wilson residence in our extraordinary yellow limousine. The woman who captured the heart of the three wealthiest men was none other than the ravishing Jane Pillbox, also known as Yuki W. Thank you to the dining hall staff for organizing our food, Sally Smith for organizing and altering all of the costumes, the Wilson family for allowing us into their home and Mr. Collis and Mrs. Widenmaier for organizing the event. Samantha D, Allard ‘13

Where Students Choose To Be