I figured it was a significant detail that only Jane could ride horses, and second-eldest Elizabeth's walking a symptom of another form of Mr. Bennet's increasing apathy towards the education of each child
@@nitka711 Agreed, she makes it very clear in the books that he dotes on Elizabeth in particular. If she had wanted to ride, I'm sure she would have had no end of chances
@@nitka711I suppose he showed his love more by spoiling her than concerning himself with her education/preparing her for adult life. After all, he loved her so much but never engaged a governess or anything. He was never that future minded about his daughters’ social standing.
I cannot get a driver's license, so I walk and ride a bike during summer time. But even if I could get it, I would not want it. The town where I live is very walkable.
Having a drivers license BUT the cost of a car, the upkeep of a car, fuel, incurrence, mandatory trier changes,…. *much to expensive* in this economy …Even as I still worked in IT
@@EughhBrothereughhI'm more terrified of losing the freedom that comes with not driving. I've driven 8+ hours by myself as a woman across Statelines. Driving is generally safe. It also buys you a freedom. You can do anything you want and take yourself anywhere you want. Relying on others or a significant other to drive me places sounds terrifying. My 90 year neighbor still driver herself everywhere. Also, friends, husband's or anyone who regularly has to drive you around, or who has to do the errands because they can't rely on you will start feeling resentment for you. They'll lose respect, become contemptuous and think less of you. If I was the one having to stop by the store on my way home because you couldn't go pick up a few needed items I'd eventually break up with you or stop being friends
If they had a limited amount of horses in their stable and Lizzie didn't like waiting for a turn or causing her younger sisters to wait, walking was a good option. It also gave her more freedom of movement in where she was meandering and letting her own thoughts roam with out having to control and care for an animal.
Yes, plus keeping a riding horse was expensive and they had carriage horses instead and eve they were probably used for other things too. Best way to get rid of esnoying siblings is to walk because they are too lazy to want to go that far or that fast.
Agreed! In the chaos and absurdity of comment sections, this is one of the few calm, safe havens for expressing thoughts and theories! I absolutely love the energy the comment sections of these videos always have! 😁
@@dalishrogue3621 It's not the worst in Canada. Way better than what I hear about a lot of US cities. I do walk to the grocery store. Bus to work is mildly slow but not obscene. It's somewhat reliable if I overcompensate by being early for things.
I think she walks because she has time to enjoy being outside and, with not having to concentrate on controlling the horse, she has time with her own thoughts. Also it's easier to talk with a companion (ie Charlotte)on foot, rather than at a slight distance from horseback. Jane, who doesn't seem to have a 'particular friend ', rides because she doesn't have anyone to ramble about with
That's why I don't drive, because I want to enjoy the ride and not concentrate on driving (well, it's one of the main reasons, not the only one, but I do love for a car to just take me away while I daydream). It's also easier to talk to someone who's not driving, yes, otherwise they might lose focus.
Elizabeth was very practical & frugal. Saving $$ on the expense was beneficial to her over indulgent younger sisters. She was very much her father's daughter...
@@aking3624 Mr Bennett wasn't frugal. He let Mrs Bennett spend whatever she wanted up to the limit of their income; hence not having saved anything to go towards dowries for his daughters
@@kikidevine694 He didn't spend money on himself nor was he inclined to reign in his wife's & extravagant daughters spending. I don't recall him splurging on himself, thus my comment of him being frugal...
@@aking3624 the definition of frugal is to be exceptionally careful with money and resources in order to save as much as possible. Which he isn't. He allows Mrs Bennett to give the girls money to waste on bonnets and trimmings and clothes. He lives within his means, but he doesn't scrimp and save
In the 95 miniseries, Elizabeth is shown climbing a wooden stile to cross a fence on her way to see Jane. I wonder if her preference for traveling by foot was because horses would be more limited in where they could travel? Sure, a horse is faster, but I can see Elizabeth opting for freedom of movement over speed.
In England there is a law which still exists today saying that gates should be made so that they can be opened from horseback, I.e. without dismounting. On another note, jumping in side saddle is not that hard for a skilled rider.
@@mycroftholmes8261 The Bennetts kept a few horses that worked on their land and they were occasionally used to pull the carriage when called upon. I highly doubt they would excel at steeplechase...
I love all the theories as to why Lizzy does not ride horses. I'm more interested in why she likes to walk so much. When she's in Kent with Maria and Charlotte, she is the only one of the ladies who goes out each morning for a solitary walk. Hence the opportunity for Darcy and the Colonel to bump into her and join/interrupt her. We know she's capable of long walks with little effort (the 3 mile walk to care for Jane), but Kent shows us that she really enjoys taking walks.
If I have some "deep thinking" to do, i walk. Up and down the hallway, if no alternative. 😉 My brains don't work properly unless my feet move. 😄 Maybe it's the samr for other people, too. 🤷
I guess that it connects to Elizabeth’s independent and thoughtful personality. In the book, Mrs Bingley considered Elizabeth walking 3 miles to Netherfield to show a form of “conceited independence”. I suppose ladies going for long walks was considered improper perhaps with no male escort.
l have always thought that the theme Lizzy loving to walk was a perfect trait for a character created with the drives of the literary romanticism.. all that relationship with the nature, the struggle, a preferred distance to the carriage technology that was not only an indicator of wealth but also an element enabling their contemporary speed, makes a clear contrast with the preferences with the age..but what does this horse detail tell ? l could not figure..
1. Honestly, horse/horse riding is scary. 2. I wonder if that detail was added to further distinguish her from other ladies in her class? Especially when she arrived at Bingley's and his sisters remarked on her clothes.
Those are great points! And it's such a distinctive character building point across time periods. It's one of the first things people often think of with Elizabeth.
@@EllieDashwood I wonder if, also, it might have something to do with the concept of control: a pedestrian has complete control of where and how to go; and is also basically responsible for only one creature. A horse can be difficult, and requires looking after when you've gotten where you need or want to be. Kind of like needing to park your car...
It's possible she was thrown when she was younger. As someone whose ridden most of my life it's not uncommon for even experienced riders to deal with confidence issues if they're bucked or thrown off in a bad way. Especially if an injury occurs. It's still not uncommon for riders to be killed even with modern day inventions like the riding helmet.
Also her parents “allowing her to be willful” a lady of her class would have been forced to learn even after falling off a horse or taken a carriage. That long of a walk was rebellious the mud on top of that 😅
When I've had to share my car with my older sister, I never felt like driving because it felt like an extra step for driving to ask my older sister's permission, Jane and Lizzie were probably close enough and their family's financial situation meant they probably needed to share a horse and their mum who is running the household probably favours Jane for both beauty and being the elder
This is something I found in a Google search "Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice is portrayed as an active and outdoorsy character, but her lack of interest in riding horses is not explicitly explained in Jane Austen's novel. It could be a narrative choice by Austen to emphasize Elizabeth's distinctive qualities and preferences, as well as to highlight the social and gender norms of the time. Riding horses was a common activity for the upper class during the Regency era, and Elizabeth's choice not to participate might reflect her independent spirit and refusal to conform to societal expectations."
My point exactly! Elizabeth's sister Jane was the perfect eldest sister who was probably graceful in all the 'arts' that a woman was expected to know; languages (at least French and Italian), painting, needlework, flower arranging, and horseback riding (it was considered a 'sport' and exercise at the time).
I read an article a while back that stated that Elizabeth’s walking was actually a part of claiming her independence as a woman and demonstrating that her womanhood had more to it than her appearance. It reported that there were groups of young women at the time who took to walking long distances over other modes as a form of protest. I’ll link it if I can find it.
@@sunkintreeI would assume it had to do with the fact it was uncommon for women to walk “so much” in those times. Since their feet were too delicate to be touching the ground, and getting calluses. Also can’t have them sweating. It’s a no-no. There was also the issue of the sun. Had to remain as pale as possible. Women in those time were considered such “delicate little creatures” that over exertion of 1 activity, even a small one as walking, was too big of a “workout” for frail frames. A woman of class would never allow herself to be over exerted. So I guess women like Elizabeth choosing to walk over other modes of transportation was them defying the myth of women being frail, delicate “creatures”.
I read a book once that suggested Lizzie doesn't do horses because Jane Austen didn't like them herself. From a plot POV, arriving on horseback probably would've meant she didn't bump into Darcy. Her being 'no horsewoman' she couldn't just ride anyway, because she'd be limited by her own ability to jump fences, etc. And the Bennets clearly don't have the money for spare hacks. (Sidenote, can you imagine how disastrous it would be if Lydia was allowed to join in with super-expensive, dangerous, and fashionable male-centric sports??)
Usually when someone says someone is 'no horseman/woman' it's not about them liking or not liking horses, it means they're not any *good* at it. There's no beef with the horses, she's just not skilled.
@@goeticfolklore it’s less Lizzie being unconventional and more the narrative giving her a fault. It’s something she’s not good at. It’s something she would be embarrassed to not be good at and she walks everywhere to make up for or even hide that she’s not good at riding.
i also take extremely long walks when i want to escape an unpleasant situation at home. and Lizzie’s home had plenty of opportunities to have unpleasant situations.
yes, I walk for a while most days. I am not extremely athletic because I have a chronic illness, so if she was fit like it says, she could walk that with ease. :).
Until fairly recent times, walking with friends and family was a common activity. Walking to no particular destination, walking to have conversations, walking to see things in detail, walking to work out problems. In a few countries, it is still a social and solitary activity.
Walking is much simpler than riding. You can just get dressed, leave and go wherever you want. If you are riding, you also have to get the horse ready, there aren't as many places where it fits and if you want to take a break you have to also find a place for the horse to rest
I think it could be a matter of taste, but also that with 5 daughters and it being said that the horses are often needed for other things- they dont have their own horses or much opportunity to go horseriding. Jane likes it when she has the option, but Eliza likes exercising and being outdoors more often and so takes her long walks
Horseback riding ( I'm speculating from other novels ) was seen as a sport/hobby that women of *fashion* were expected to take up and be proficient at. Elizabeth was a true nonconformist. 😉
That's one of my favorite parts in the movie adaptation ( the one with Keira Knightly) when she says " Im rather fond of walking" and the way Mr Darcy says " yes I know". There's something in the way he says it, like you can tell its something he loves about her! They did such a good job on that version!
Ladies of that time had to ride side saddle and at a sedate pace. Elizabeth is a lively young woman and probably preferred the freedom of movement that walking gave her. Plus, the family had only one horse, so it could only be used for riding on certain occasions if it wasn't working in the fields. Otherwise, they would travel in the carriage en famille
@@kikidevine694I'm not sure it's entirely an issue of what you CAN do riding side-saddle, though I'm sure there are limitations, but rather, how women were expected to conduct themselves on horseback. Also, and I may be wrong, I recall reading something on the development of trousers and split skirt dresses in the 19th century allowing women to ride astride without clothing getting in the way.
@@user-iy2nq6iw1x there are extant Georgian habits with trousers. They were developed to protect the legs against chafing and exposure. A lot of ladies were renowned as fearless riders, sidesaddle, on the hunt. The 'ideal& of women being delicate blooms was actually more of a Victorian middle class thing, upper class women were often expected to be much more adventurous. Obviously not all women would hunt, but a fair number did. Empress Elizabeth of Germany was renowned as a fearless, sidesaddle equestrienne, and she wasn't alone
Idk how I managed to make my recommended about this Jane Austen stuff but now I am very interested in this, and would probably read every book you talk about now
Elizabeth *can* play the piano but lacks the desire to practice. She plays at Rosings where Lady Catherine, rather rudely, offers Elizabeth the chance to pratise, saying she "will be in no one's way".
I think it’s also reference to their economic standing. They didn’t have a lot of money for their class. The scene before her long walk already references the horses not being available for the carriage, because they’re working the farm. I don’t think bennets had a lot of time money or horses for pure pleasure riding.
Jane, being the eldest, seemed to know the basics of riding. Lizzie, a nonconformist, was disinterested and perhaps they couldn't spare a mount for her to learn on.
Elizabeth not liking to ride horses is a detail I didn't remember. That does provide some things to ponder as to why that may have been the case, especially since she was okay riding in carriages and such pulled by horses.
I read a book that talked about the health of women in that time, and walking was put forward as healthy. But, in reading P& P, My favourite, I thought it was cos they couldn't afford a horse just for riding. But after watching my favourite Austen movies lately, it has to be because riding side-saddle is just too uncomfortable. 😅 You know
This point is very interesting. Knowing her personality, my guess is that Lizzy prefers to be n control of any aspect of her life that she can be, and horses, while trained, can still be unwieldily.
I always thought that Elizabeth Bennet wasn’t the best at anything but that was what made her so likable. She wasn’t good at piano and always spoke her mind. She didn’t care what other people thought of her and everyone sought out her advice. It’s why Darcy liked her and hated himself for it. She was just cool.
Some people are afraid of horses, maybe she had a bad fall as a child, or perhaps she was allergic to them. Also at the time, ladies would have had to ride side saddle. As an equestrian myself I once got an opportunity to ride sidesaddle under the instruction of an experienced side saddle rider. It’s absolutely wild. The amount of strength and balance required to do anything more than a very slow walk is massive, and my cranky old spine did not appreciate having to sit twisted for even the 45 minutes of the lesson. So yeah, I can imagine lots of people would opt to either walk or ride only in a wagon/carriage/sleigh if they had the choice. By the way, I’ve been lucky to drive as well and I love it. Especially as I’ve gotten older and I don’t bounce as well as I used to when I was younger. That isn’t to say driving is 100% safe. You can have some absolutely epic wrecks while driving, but the garden variety fall is a lot less common.
It’s interesting that in the other adaptation, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, she does seem to ride horses. Probably because it’s a parallel dimension where knowing how to ride to battle zombies was a necessity. So even if she had beef with the horses, she would have had little choice about it 🤔 I wonder..
I had such a hard time finishing the movie and I'm a huge P&P fan and zombie genre fan. It felt like a bad fanfiction. I'm curious to hear from anyone who finished it if it got better by the end.
@@propogandalfIt definitely felt like two interspliced movies, but I still really enjoyed it! But I am neither a big P&P nor a particular zombie fan, so I wasn't expecting a good portrayal of either.
As a rider: Fear. Horseriding can be absolutely terrifying. They are pretty darn huge. They are fast. And being that darn frightening you would think they'd be laid back, gentle beasts, but they get spooked by anything. Balls, kites, rustling etc. Any rider knows someone who has had a bad fall. If, on top of this inherent danger, I was forced to ride in one of those weird side saddles, I would rather walk as well.
I fell off a horse my papa, pick me up and put me back on and while I was crying. I rode that horse around the corral. and then I was giggling and laughing, and telling Blackie that he was a good horse. He was a good boy. Yes, he was rubbing his neck. i’m glad my paw paw pick me up and put me back on that’s been my whole life if I fall make a mistake I get back on it and that’s because of my paw paw what he did for me when I was four that’s what I do for myself, my whole life that was his doing. I am so glad.
@@biancamoore413 Well yes, riding is awesome and so is getting back in the saddle but I'm referring to that bad fall almost all of us have witnessed, if you just rode for enough years. That time when bones crunched. That time where the instructor told the kid to get back on and they couldn't.
@@JuMiKu I know right I had a friend that did that she fell off when she was nine and her mom put her back on but she got right off and she never rode again. It was just too hard for her. Her fear ran so deep in her, even being around horses, she, she couldn’t, so yeah, I understand that some people just can’t. The fear runs too deep and they just can’t.
@@biancamoore413 I actually meant the more physical "can't". If you witness someone being thrown off and trampled as a kid, it can be enough to put you off for life. My comment was meant to convey that with bad accidents being pretty common even today, with those death-contraptions that they called side-saddles, I'm guessing that plenty of people rather walked, as they had witnessed or heard of horrible accidents.
@@JuMiKu oh yeah, I did not think about that but I should have. Yeah I can imagine what it was like back then and I bet a lot of people were scared of horses because they saw accidents of their families and friends where they died. that makes total sense.
I feel her in my soul. I dont have a drivers license, so I walk. Its a good way to get places especially backroads. Its not even about beefing with cars/horses, I literally cant drive and am nervous to start after all this time...maybe Lizzie is the same? 😅❤
"as she was no horsewoman" doesn't mean she doesn't like it, it just means she's not into it/good at it. I'm also no horsewoman, but I have nothing against it. It's just not something I excel at or am super into. She had two options, horse or walk, and she isn't a horsewoman so....walk it is. And luckily, she's learned to love it.
I always thought her distaste for horse riding was a mild form of feminism. Since tiding astride was unlady-like but the more safe and comfortable manner to ride. You also feel safer (whether it was safer or not) to gallop faster astride then riding side saddle. Feminism wasnt referred to as such but her books always had a lady or means and of none that would buck -in her own way- against the system.
I don’t have my own theory, but have been loving getting to read everyone elses theories. I did tead a fun crossoverfanfic where Lizzie got questioned about her not riding horses & she said she didn’t know how to ride something that couldn’t talk back, she was a dragonrider in the fic & the dragons could talk. It was a Tremeraire/Pride & predjudicecrossover & in it Lizzie had inherited an aunts posistion as a dragoncapitain in his majesties army.
I always took it as just a trait. Jane Austen is always good at differentiating her characters by their interests, with no real significant reasons and no direct results on the plot, although you could speculate on what is says about their personalities. Like, Elinor and Marianne have diverse talents and interests, drawing and music. You could say that one is quiet and contemplative and involves observation, and the other is passionate and loud and demands notice, but the text doesn't say that explicitly. The Bennetts explicitly COULD learn anything they had an interest in and took initiative to ask for (probably to their detriment). Lizzy was never interested in horse riding (although it doesn't say whether she doesn't KNOW how), so she isn't accomplished in it.
I have two theories: as she told Lady Catherine when they met that her sisters and she had all opportunities to learn disciplines while growing up and their parents gave them the option to choose, perhaps she got more interest on books while Jane did learn to ride and Mary to play the pianoforte. Or, she tried at some point of her upbringing, but fell and never was encouraged to keep on trying (?) Idk
in my last neighborhood everyone always said I loved to walk in general, but I don't actually care at all about walking?? they just said this because I walked everywhere in our neighborhood, where things were like a 10-30 min walk, and I despised most of the people there so I never took their offered rides. and I didn't have a license
The horses were usually used for the farm. Maybe they werent always available for pleasure and the only other option to escape the crazy house was to walk.
Me being a girl with multiple sisters. I never liked having similar hobbies or activities to them. So I imagine it’s that. Her just wanting to be different from siblings everyone keeps saying “they all look or behave alike”. With or, parents always comparing n contrasting them to.
Personally, I think horses are terrifying. I don't hate them, I realize they're extremely intelligent and beautiful, I just have a healthy respect for things that can take me out with one kick.
I read a P&P alternative book in which Elizabeth's story included fear of horses because a man was thrown from a horse and died at her feet when she was a child. I love P&P and became invested in alternate versions at one point. Fun times.
I’ve ridden horses since I could walk as a reference point here. The comment saying she was no horsewoman, said to me more that she was unskilled as a rider, than any other reason. Most of the time a lack of skill stems first from not enough instruction, and then beyond that, fear and lack of confidence. As this was the primary mode of transportation when not in a carriage, I would say she just has no confidence in her riding abilities and felt better on her own two feet. As someone who seems very sure of herself throughout much of the book, feeling out of her element would have her avoid horseback riding to also avoid any embarrassment or injury.
According to Wikipedia, the first usable "balance bicycle" was invented in 1817 - if you search using its nickname "dandy horse" there is a picture on Wikipedia, and in the same article an illustration of "Johnson's Ladies' Walking Machine" - definitely worth a look. Maybe this channel could do a short on it, or something slightly longer on why the progress as far as modern bicycles took so long?
Bicycles can be somewhat limited in the countryside when you're dealing with dirt roads. Heavy rain could easily wash out a road so that wheeled transport could become a big hassle (last year I was teaching in a rural area where a couple of farm kids missed a day of school because their driveway was flooded), whereas walking or riding would be more flexible in where you can go.
@@ugthump2753 I wonder whether an added complication was that rubber wasn't "invented" until about 1830, and (apparently) John Dunlop didn't come up with the rubber tyre until 1882. Without the cushioning that an inflated rubber tyre provides, riding a metal/wooden wheeled bicycle directly on the road must have been a pretty uncomfortable trip! (I hate to imagine what would happen if you rode over a stone or a pothole in the road . . .) I believe the first bicycle with pedals didn't appear until the 1860s, but I'm not sure whether they had brakes or not.
This reminds me of me. I had the option to learn to ride horses like my sister, but just didn't take to it. But I walk all the time. There's something nice about just being on your own two feet.
Since Lizzy is a reader, I think walking provided her time to read while walking as well as being outdoors. Like killing two birds with one stone. Just a thought
I always imagined that she could have an accident while riding a horse in the past. Perhaps when she was a child and we know she is brave and daring she galopped too fast and had a serious accident like Bonnie Blue though she would survive.
i understand. horses are scary and big. they literally smell fear like?? if I had the opportunity to learn, i wouldn’t want to. i love to walk. my friends used to think it was weird how i walked everywhere no matter the weather, even when i had a bike. walking lets me think, and i’m more aware of my surroundings. overall relatable 👍
I think Jane and Elizabeth must has taken lessons together. They have horses and property it wouldn’t have been an additional cost. Jane is very empathetic and did well. Elizabeth probably got into and argument with her horse and fell off and said that she wasn’t going to ride again. Then her parents said “what are you going to do” and she said “walk”. And her parents said “fine” and the parents never forced the other girls to learn.
As a former horse girl... equestrian athletes beat even tackle football for head and neck injuries and brain damage. It is SO easy to get grievously injured around horses, especially if they're not trained and regularly exercised for what you're doing with them. The Longbourn horses are also used for carriage and farm work. Lizzie might have just decided to be sensible and practical and trust in the power of her own two feet, kind of like how she says she'll resign herself to being a spinster who lives with Jane when Jane marries.
I don't care how perfect and strong of a character people seem to be. Everyone is afraid of something. Maybe she witnessed someone's head getting bashed in or fallen off and died? This could have traumatized her enough not to want her to get on a horse...
Personal projection: As someone with much in common with Lizzie, and as someone who's worked with a decent variety of animals, domestic and wild, small and large ... Horses and other large prey animals are kinda scary! I'd rather work with predators any day! They're communicative, cool-headed, and predictable, whereas prey animals get panicky and desperate and do sudden surprising things. Horses are chill overall, I've hung out with horses, but if I had to choose between dealing with a stressed-out horse (or for a better comparison, let's say a moose) or a stressed-out tiger, I'll choose the tiger. I won't win a wrestling match with either one, but I know how to minimize harm from the tiger, and know what will motivate it to leave me alone, whereas with any large hoofed animal, it might just kick the crap out of me until I'm dead because it's simply flipping out and doesn't have any better ideas. Prey animals are spooky lol. I'll ride a horse now and then but as of now my comfort zones are such that I would rather not be extensively involved with them.
I had a notion that Elizabeth might have had the wrong 'figure' for a good seat, which the more classical Jane would have had. Darcy 'detected, with a critical eye, more than one failure if perfect symmetry in her form' so Elizabeth was likely less of the movie star we're accustomed to seeing in the film versions, which might have made it harder to balance side-saddle though it would have made no difference if she could have ridden astride! Or it could have been simply a plot device to ensure she walked and shocked everyone with no motive behind it 😂 - especially since Jane rides and you don't want all your character to have the same interests!
Walking can be meditative and cathartic. I always thought Lizzy liked to walk because she was a deep thinker and could think without distraction during those walks.
I suspect that it was a combination of 1) the freedom and enjoyment of walking, and 2) a dislike of riding side-saddle? Really, can you envision her riding side-saddle? Ellie - You have done such a great job with these!
Remembering uni discussions about the “meaning” of riding: under the over skirt, female riders wore pants in this era; eagerness for riding was equated with sexual eagerness…
I read a P&P Variation novel where Lizzie reveals she likes horses but doesn't like riding them because as a child she saw a man thrown from a horse & killed. Obviously that's not the canon reason to the original book but some P&PV authors have addressed it.
I always saw it as an extension of her proud personality. She didn't practice at horse riding or playing the piano because she didn't like them out of hand, she probably struggled with them where other things were easy. Her development is that she starts practicing playing the piano and admits it was her flaw to not practice.
I think it's a way of painting her as more grounded (literally) and independent and spontaneous. Riding for ladies was definitely an undertaking: you had to have the correct mode of dress, call the groom ahead of time to prepare your horse, have a groom or gentleman assist you in mounting and dismounting (modern side saddle riders mount themselves but in the 1800s that would be improper for a lady) Elizabeth doesn't need those trappings, she's content on her own two feet
I feel like it’s part of her attraction to natural ways, instead of refined ways, choosing to walk instead of ride a horse (if this makes sense). Sets her apart from other women and what they choose in this day and time where all women should be “accomplished” as Mr. Darcy’s sister explains
Heutzutage wollen alle eine Sprache innerhalb von 3 Monaten fließend lernen, was meiner Meihung nach ein unrealistisches Ziel ist. Wie Sie gesagt haben, nachdem wir die Strukturen und den Wortschatz gelernt haben, müssen wir ihnen Zeit lassen, damit sie sich verfestigen. Manchmal fühle ich mich enttäuscht, dass ich so viele Jahre gebraucht habe, um Deutsch zu lernen, aber dann erinnere ich mich daran, dass es besser ist, kosequent und richtig zu lernen, anstatt zu pauken und am Ende doch nichts gelernt zu haben. Dankeschön für die hilfreiche Videos.
I was thinking that it might be a the usual thing that parents do. The first kid is usually given a much stricter upbringing than the children after. Hence, why Jane is practically perfect and Lydia was so wild she almost destroyed her family’s future.
I think we are overthinking. There isn't a lot of age gap between Jane and Lizzy. They would have learned most things together, given how close they are. She was probably just scared of horses or heights.😅
Maybe it's showing her good nature and sense. She knew that Jane was nice and people pleaser, so she would give up her mount for Lizzie if she'd asked. Unlikely Bennetts had two lady-saddle horses. So she sacrificed her opportunity for Jane to continue to enjoy riding. As Lizzie said they had all opportunities to learn if they expressed inclination. So she just chose another options of spending time. Or there is a simpler theory. I love to walk and I am terrified of horses, as one bit me once. Maybe that's it for her too.😂
She’s more connected to real humanity through walking. Her life as a person and her socialization all take place on foot on the same level as everyone else on foot. To have the horse is not only a matter of wealth and skill but an action of time… to ride a horse meant you did travel far and fast and that your time or others time was of importance not only that but the roads would need to be designed for horses not an average walking path. You need to not only learn about horses and how to ride but different riding activities which may require different horses, a horse which assists a hunt will be different then the horse you play polo on or different then the little pony that meanders one across a distance or the horses of a carriage. There is also the horse and masculinity not only ideas of sitting above others or having a better car for the time in a prized horse but the notion that one is a rider vs a walker. You never touch the ground the dirt or have dirty dresses if youre hoisted 7 feet above the ground your leather shoes or buttoned up boots never see a spot of dirt. There’s an idea of perfectionism there and how the avoidance of dirt and mistakes results in refinery and grace. Besides that there’s ideas of controlling the reigns. And for some women and men enjoying the ride a little too much. She is someone who walks and walks on the dirt and see the world from the same level her eyes have always been. She is not a floating saint or held in special treatment or regard but a saint as a person which graces the earth with a level head and even steps. She is someone who takes time to walk and walk as far as she pleases in the directions she pleases she is not restrained to be upon an animal which is only fitting for the human desires activity. (To travel on a road is one thing to be on the horse which either doesn’t listen and chooses a different path or to be on a horse which knows exactly it’s job and how to behave to avoid being turned into glue)
I figured it was a significant detail that only Jane could ride horses, and second-eldest Elizabeth's walking a symptom of another form of Mr. Bennet's increasing apathy towards the education of each child
I like this theory.
But Eliza is his favorite. I would rather have said that he kept her ocupied with books snd himself too much to learn to ride.
I agree!
@@nitka711 Agreed, she makes it very clear in the books that he dotes on Elizabeth in particular. If she had wanted to ride, I'm sure she would have had no end of chances
@@nitka711I suppose he showed his love more by spoiling her than concerning himself with her education/preparing her for adult life. After all, he loved her so much but never engaged a governess or anything. He was never that future minded about his daughters’ social standing.
I thought it was to escape the crazy house😂😂
*secret secondary motivation* 😂
I came here to comment this 🤣 anyone would need a walk after a couple of hours with her mom and sisters 🤣
For the same reason her dad hides in his study.
Anybody in a hectic family knows the pleasure and necessity of a walk lol
@@anitalamapachita haha more like a run.
The modern version of this is when you're an adult and you don't have your license so you have to walk everywhere (me) 😂
I have my license but I still don't like to drive!
I cannot get a driver's license, so I walk and ride a bike during summer time. But even if I could get it, I would not want it. The town where I live is very walkable.
I'm fcking terrified of driving and especially parking
Having a drivers license
BUT
the cost of a car, the upkeep of a car, fuel, incurrence, mandatory trier changes,….
*much to expensive* in this economy
…Even as I still worked in IT
@@EughhBrothereughhI'm more terrified of losing the freedom that comes with not driving. I've driven 8+ hours by myself as a woman across Statelines. Driving is generally safe. It also buys you a freedom. You can do anything you want and take yourself anywhere you want. Relying on others or a significant other to drive me places sounds terrifying. My 90 year neighbor still driver herself everywhere. Also, friends, husband's or anyone who regularly has to drive you around, or who has to do the errands because they can't rely on you will start feeling resentment for you. They'll lose respect, become contemptuous and think less of you. If I was the one having to stop by the store on my way home because you couldn't go pick up a few needed items I'd eventually break up with you or stop being friends
If they had a limited amount of horses in their stable and Lizzie didn't like waiting for a turn or causing her younger sisters to wait, walking was a good option. It also gave her more freedom of movement in where she was meandering and letting her own thoughts roam with out having to control and care for an animal.
Yes, plus keeping a riding horse was expensive and they had carriage horses instead and eve they were probably used for other things too.
Best way to get rid of esnoying siblings is to walk because they are too lazy to want to go that far or that fast.
@@Iflie
“They are wanted in the farm much oftener than I can get them.”
@@ragnkja Yeah showing they are probably cart horses not riding ones. They would be ploughing and hauling.
I love how insightful this comment section is, everyone proposing their own theories/possible explanations
Agreed! In the chaos and absurdity of comment sections, this is one of the few calm, safe havens for expressing thoughts and theories! I absolutely love the energy the comment sections of these videos always have! 😁
@@BldElfPrinceit's the only comment section where people aren't just repeating the same joke or copy-pasting each other's comments over and over.
Oh I'm so excited to theorize, now that this question is posed. I have a couple of half-formed ideas.
Ye olde “she can’t drive so she takes the bus”
That's me
@@vickisnemeth7474 hopefully public transportation is favorable for where you live lol
@@dalishrogue3621 It's not the worst in Canada. Way better than what I hear about a lot of US cities. I do walk to the grocery store. Bus to work is mildly slow but not obscene. It's somewhat reliable if I overcompensate by being early for things.
I think she walks because she has time to enjoy being outside and, with not having to concentrate on controlling the horse, she has time with her own thoughts. Also it's easier to talk with a companion (ie Charlotte)on foot, rather than at a slight distance from horseback. Jane, who doesn't seem to have a 'particular friend ', rides because she doesn't have anyone to ramble about with
That's why I don't drive, because I want to enjoy the ride and not concentrate on driving (well, it's one of the main reasons, not the only one, but I do love for a car to just take me away while I daydream). It's also easier to talk to someone who's not driving, yes, otherwise they might lose focus.
Elizabeth was very practical & frugal. Saving $$ on the expense was beneficial to her over indulgent younger sisters. She was very much her father's daughter...
@@aking3624 Mr Bennett wasn't frugal. He let Mrs Bennett spend whatever she wanted up to the limit of their income; hence not having saved anything to go towards dowries for his daughters
@@kikidevine694 He didn't spend money on himself nor was he inclined to reign in his wife's & extravagant daughters spending. I don't recall him splurging on himself, thus my comment of him being frugal...
@@aking3624 the definition of frugal is to be exceptionally careful with money and resources in order to save as much as possible. Which he isn't. He allows Mrs Bennett to give the girls money to waste on bonnets and trimmings and clothes. He lives within his means, but he doesn't scrimp and save
In the 95 miniseries, Elizabeth is shown climbing a wooden stile to cross a fence on her way to see Jane. I wonder if her preference for traveling by foot was because horses would be more limited in where they could travel? Sure, a horse is faster, but I can see Elizabeth opting for freedom of movement over speed.
Horses can jump fences and pretty high ones
@@wiseforcommonsense Wouldn't that be risky for a woman riding side saddle?
@@katherinegraham3803 women didn't ride side saddle all the time.
In England there is a law which still exists today saying that gates should be made so that they can be opened from horseback, I.e. without dismounting. On another note, jumping in side saddle is not that hard for a skilled rider.
@@mycroftholmes8261 The Bennetts kept a few horses that worked on their land and they were occasionally used to pull the carriage when called upon. I highly doubt they would excel at steeplechase...
I love all the theories as to why Lizzy does not ride horses. I'm more interested in why she likes to walk so much. When she's in Kent with Maria and Charlotte, she is the only one of the ladies who goes out each morning for a solitary walk. Hence the opportunity for Darcy and the Colonel to bump into her and join/interrupt her. We know she's capable of long walks with little effort (the 3 mile walk to care for Jane), but Kent shows us that she really enjoys taking walks.
I think that's a good point! Maybe she doesn't dislike riding in itself but just loves walking way more
If I have some "deep thinking" to do, i walk. Up and down the hallway, if no alternative. 😉 My brains don't work properly unless my feet move. 😄 Maybe it's the samr for other people, too. 🤷
I guess that it connects to Elizabeth’s independent and thoughtful personality. In the book, Mrs Bingley considered Elizabeth walking 3 miles to Netherfield to show a form of “conceited independence”. I suppose ladies going for long walks was considered improper perhaps with no male escort.
@@thekingsdaughter4233 I was about to comment the same!
l have always thought that the theme Lizzy loving to walk was a perfect trait for a character created with the drives of the literary romanticism.. all that relationship with the nature, the struggle, a preferred distance to the carriage technology that was not only an indicator of wealth but also an element enabling their contemporary speed, makes a clear contrast with the preferences with the age..but what does this horse detail tell ? l could not figure..
To use one of my favorite quotes regarding horses, "They're crafty at both ends and shifty in the middle."
1. Honestly, horse/horse riding is scary.
2. I wonder if that detail was added to further distinguish her from other ladies in her class? Especially when she arrived at Bingley's and his sisters remarked on her clothes.
Those are great points! And it's such a distinctive character building point across time periods. It's one of the first things people often think of with Elizabeth.
@@EllieDashwood I wonder if, also, it might have something to do with the concept of control: a pedestrian has complete control of where and how to go; and is also basically responsible for only one creature. A horse can be difficult, and requires looking after when you've gotten where you need or want to be. Kind of like needing to park your car...
It's possible she was thrown when she was younger. As someone whose ridden most of my life it's not uncommon for even experienced riders to deal with confidence issues if they're bucked or thrown off in a bad way. Especially if an injury occurs. It's still not uncommon for riders to be killed even with modern day inventions like the riding helmet.
Maybe she just didn't have a good seat. You can like horses, but if you just don't have the knack, a trot is particularly uncomfortable.
Also her parents “allowing her to be willful” a lady of her class would have been forced to learn even after falling off a horse or taken a carriage. That long of a walk was rebellious the mud on top of that 😅
When I've had to share my car with my older sister, I never felt like driving because it felt like an extra step for driving to ask my older sister's permission, Jane and Lizzie were probably close enough and their family's financial situation meant they probably needed to share a horse and their mum who is running the household probably favours Jane for both beauty and being the elder
This is something I found in a Google search
"Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice is portrayed as an active and outdoorsy character, but her lack of interest in riding horses is not explicitly explained in Jane Austen's novel. It could be a narrative choice by Austen to emphasize Elizabeth's distinctive qualities and preferences, as well as to highlight the social and gender norms of the time. Riding horses was a common activity for the upper class during the Regency era, and Elizabeth's choice not to participate might reflect her independent spirit and refusal to conform to societal expectations."
My point exactly! Elizabeth's sister Jane was the perfect eldest sister who was probably graceful in all the 'arts' that a woman was expected to know; languages (at least French and Italian), painting, needlework, flower arranging, and horseback riding (it was considered a 'sport' and exercise at the time).
I hope to write books that will still have people pouring over the details decades in the future, the way people today do over Austen's writing.
For this usage, it’s ‘poring’
I read an article a while back that stated that Elizabeth’s walking was actually a part of claiming her independence as a woman and demonstrating that her womanhood had more to it than her appearance. It reported that there were groups of young women at the time who took to walking long distances over other modes as a form of protest. I’ll link it if I can find it.
I like that answer.
That makes sense, especially considering how shocked the Bingley sisters were by it!
ooooh yes pls share if u ever find💚💚
I wonder what walking has to do with rejecting appearance
@@sunkintreeI would assume it had to do with the fact it was uncommon for women to walk “so much” in those times. Since their feet were too delicate to be touching the ground, and getting calluses. Also can’t have them sweating. It’s a no-no. There was also the issue of the sun. Had to remain as pale as possible. Women in those time were considered such “delicate little creatures” that over exertion of 1 activity, even a small one as walking, was too big of a “workout” for frail frames. A woman of class would never allow herself to be over exerted. So I guess women like Elizabeth choosing to walk over other modes of transportation was them defying the myth of women being frail, delicate “creatures”.
I read a book once that suggested Lizzie doesn't do horses because Jane Austen didn't like them herself. From a plot POV, arriving on horseback probably would've meant she didn't bump into Darcy. Her being 'no horsewoman' she couldn't just ride anyway, because she'd be limited by her own ability to jump fences, etc. And the Bennets clearly don't have the money for spare hacks. (Sidenote, can you imagine how disastrous it would be if Lydia was allowed to join in with super-expensive, dangerous, and fashionable male-centric sports??)
I'll just point out that Lizzy doesn't actually bump into Darcy when arriving at Netherfield in the book. The series added that.
Omg good point 😅
Usually when someone says someone is 'no horseman/woman' it's not about them liking or not liking horses, it means they're not any *good* at it. There's no beef with the horses, she's just not skilled.
Exactly, I agree.
To me it seems like a running character theme with her, she’s intentionally written unconventional
@@goeticfolklore it’s less Lizzie being unconventional and more the narrative giving her a fault. It’s something she’s not good at. It’s something she would be embarrassed to not be good at and she walks everywhere to make up for or even hide that she’s not good at riding.
i also take extremely long walks when i want to escape an unpleasant situation at home. and Lizzie’s home had plenty of opportunities to have unpleasant situations.
yes, I walk for a while most days. I am not extremely athletic because I have a chronic illness, so if she was fit like it says, she could walk that with ease. :).
Until fairly recent times, walking with friends and family was a common activity. Walking to no particular destination, walking to have conversations, walking to see things in detail, walking to work out problems. In a few countries, it is still a social and solitary activity.
Lizzy Bennet walked so the other quirky girls of literature could run 💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽
(And ride horses)
Haha this comment is cute
🥰
Walking is much simpler than riding. You can just get dressed, leave and go wherever you want. If you are riding, you also have to get the horse ready, there aren't as many places where it fits and if you want to take a break you have to also find a place for the horse to rest
I think it could be a matter of taste, but also that with 5 daughters and it being said that the horses are often needed for other things- they dont have their own horses or much opportunity to go horseriding. Jane likes it when she has the option, but Eliza likes exercising and being outdoors more often and so takes her long walks
Plot twist: she loves horses so much she doesnt wanna hurt their backs.
or Allergies?
Horseback riding ( I'm speculating from other novels ) was seen as a sport/hobby that women of *fashion* were expected to take up and be proficient at. Elizabeth was a true nonconformist. 😉
That's one of my favorite parts in the movie adaptation ( the one with Keira Knightly) when she says " Im rather fond of walking" and the way Mr Darcy says " yes I know". There's something in the way he says it, like you can tell its something he loves about her! They did such a good job on that version!
i thought it was because they weren’t sophisticated and rich enough to own horses. i interpreted it as her not being *able* to be a horsewoman
I always kinda thought that Elizabeth might have fallen off a horse as a child making her scared of riding horses.
JA loved to walk so maybe it was a way for her to connect with Lizzie or writing herself into the novel in some way.
Everyone walked in the regency. In er diary Anne Lister is always talking about where and how long she and her acquaintance are walking.
Ladies of that time had to ride side saddle and at a sedate pace. Elizabeth is a lively young woman and probably preferred the freedom of movement that walking gave her. Plus, the family had only one horse, so it could only be used for riding on certain occasions if it wasn't working in the fields. Otherwise, they would travel in the carriage en famille
Women hunted, at speed, riding sidesaddle
@@kikidevine694I'm not sure it's entirely an issue of what you CAN do riding side-saddle, though I'm sure there are limitations, but rather, how women were expected to conduct themselves on horseback.
Also, and I may be wrong, I recall reading something on the development of trousers and split skirt dresses in the 19th century allowing women to ride astride without clothing getting in the way.
@@user-iy2nq6iw1x there are extant Georgian habits with trousers. They were developed to protect the legs against chafing and exposure. A lot of ladies were renowned as fearless riders, sidesaddle, on the hunt. The 'ideal& of women being delicate blooms was actually more of a Victorian middle class thing, upper class women were often expected to be much more adventurous. Obviously not all women would hunt, but a fair number did. Empress Elizabeth of Germany was renowned as a fearless, sidesaddle equestrienne, and she wasn't alone
@@kikidevine694she was Empress of Austria.
Idk how I managed to make my recommended about this Jane Austen stuff but now I am very interested in this, and would probably read every book you talk about now
Perhaps it was another ladylike "accomplishment" that, like playing the piano, she failed to "acomplish".
My thoughts too! I think it’s an ongoing trait that she doesn’t necessarily like to apply herself to these types of activities
@@nataliebechmann939 You two read my mind! GMTA!
Elizabeth *can* play the piano but lacks the desire to practice. She plays at Rosings where Lady Catherine, rather rudely, offers Elizabeth the chance to pratise, saying she "will be in no one's way".
Yes! And the other things commenters have said. It’s multiple layers as with everything in Austen’s work!
Also, I LOVE your shorts and videos!❤
I think it’s also reference to their economic standing. They didn’t have a lot of money for their class. The scene before her long walk already references the horses not being available for the carriage, because they’re working the farm. I don’t think bennets had a lot of time money or horses for pure pleasure riding.
Jane, being the eldest, seemed to know the basics of riding. Lizzie, a nonconformist, was disinterested and perhaps they couldn't spare a mount for her to learn on.
I actually adore your content thank you for enlightening me 💕
Elizabeth not liking to ride horses is a detail I didn't remember. That does provide some things to ponder as to why that may have been the case, especially since she was okay riding in carriages and such pulled by horses.
I read a book that talked about the health of women in that time, and walking was put forward as healthy. But, in reading P& P, My favourite, I thought it was cos they couldn't afford a horse just for riding. But after watching my favourite Austen movies lately, it has to be because riding side-saddle is just too uncomfortable. 😅
You know
That also was true.... Mr. Bennet could spare only so many horses. He needed most of them for field work.
This point is very interesting. Knowing her personality, my guess is that Lizzy prefers to be n control of any aspect of her life that she can be, and horses, while trained, can still be unwieldily.
As someone who walks and takes public transport instead of driving…sometimes it’s just the vibe
I always thought that Elizabeth Bennet wasn’t the best at anything but that was what made her so likable. She wasn’t good at piano and always spoke her mind. She didn’t care what other people thought of her and everyone sought out her advice. It’s why Darcy liked her and hated himself for it. She was just cool.
Some people are afraid of horses, maybe she had a bad fall as a child, or perhaps she was allergic to them. Also at the time, ladies would have had to ride side saddle. As an equestrian myself I once got an opportunity to ride sidesaddle under the instruction of an experienced side saddle rider. It’s absolutely wild. The amount of strength and balance required to do anything more than a very slow walk is massive, and my cranky old spine did not appreciate having to sit twisted for even the 45 minutes of the lesson. So yeah, I can imagine lots of people would opt to either walk or ride only in a wagon/carriage/sleigh if they had the choice. By the way, I’ve been lucky to drive as well and I love it. Especially as I’ve gotten older and I don’t bounce as well as I used to when I was younger. That isn’t to say driving is 100% safe. You can have some absolutely epic wrecks while driving, but the garden variety fall is a lot less common.
It’s interesting that in the other adaptation, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, she does seem to ride horses. Probably because it’s a parallel dimension where knowing how to ride to battle zombies was a necessity. So even if she had beef with the horses, she would have had little choice about it 🤔 I wonder..
I had such a hard time finishing the movie and I'm a huge P&P fan and zombie genre fan. It felt like a bad fanfiction. I'm curious to hear from anyone who finished it if it got better by the end.
@@propogandalfIt definitely felt like two interspliced movies, but I still really enjoyed it! But I am neither a big P&P nor a particular zombie fan, so I wasn't expecting a good portrayal of either.
As a rider: Fear. Horseriding can be absolutely terrifying. They are pretty darn huge. They are fast. And being that darn frightening you would think they'd be laid back, gentle beasts, but they get spooked by anything. Balls, kites, rustling etc. Any rider knows someone who has had a bad fall. If, on top of this inherent danger, I was forced to ride in one of those weird side saddles, I would rather walk as well.
I fell off a horse my papa, pick me up and put me back on and while I was crying. I rode that horse around the corral. and then I was giggling and laughing, and telling Blackie that he was a good horse. He was a good boy. Yes, he was rubbing his neck. i’m glad my paw paw pick me up and put me back on that’s been my whole life if I fall make a mistake I get back on it and that’s because of my paw paw what he did for me when I was four that’s what I do for myself, my whole life that was his doing. I am so glad.
@@biancamoore413 Well yes, riding is awesome and so is getting back in the saddle but I'm referring to that bad fall almost all of us have witnessed, if you just rode for enough years. That time when bones crunched. That time where the instructor told the kid to get back on and they couldn't.
@@JuMiKu I know right I had a friend that did that she fell off when she was nine and her mom put her back on but she got right off and she never rode again. It was just too hard for her. Her fear ran so deep in her, even being around horses, she, she couldn’t, so yeah, I understand that some people just can’t. The fear runs too deep and they just can’t.
@@biancamoore413 I actually meant the more physical "can't". If you witness someone being thrown off and trampled as a kid, it can be enough to put you off for life.
My comment was meant to convey that with bad accidents being pretty common even today, with those death-contraptions that they called side-saddles, I'm guessing that plenty of people rather walked, as they had witnessed or heard of horrible accidents.
@@JuMiKu oh yeah, I did not think about that but I should have. Yeah I can imagine what it was like back then and I bet a lot of people were scared of horses because they saw accidents of their families and friends where they died. that makes total sense.
I feel her in my soul. I dont have a drivers license, so I walk. Its a good way to get places especially backroads. Its not even about beefing with cars/horses, I literally cant drive and am nervous to start after all this time...maybe Lizzie is the same? 😅❤
Honestly, as someone who's learnt how to drive, but avoids it, we stan a walking girli.
"as she was no horsewoman" doesn't mean she doesn't like it, it just means she's not into it/good at it. I'm also no horsewoman, but I have nothing against it. It's just not something I excel at or am super into. She had two options, horse or walk, and she isn't a horsewoman so....walk it is. And luckily, she's learned to love it.
I always thought her distaste for horse riding was a mild form of feminism. Since tiding astride was unlady-like but the more safe and comfortable manner to ride. You also feel safer (whether it was safer or not) to gallop faster astride then riding side saddle.
Feminism wasnt referred to as such but her books always had a lady or means and of none that would buck -in her own way- against the system.
Lizzie might be like me. I love horses, but they hate me. Every time I get near a horse, theres some horrible accident.
your shorts are so interested and entertaining, I forget it's a short then it ends :( hahaha
I don’t have my own theory, but have been loving getting to read everyone elses theories. I did tead a fun crossoverfanfic where Lizzie got questioned about her not riding horses & she said she didn’t know how to ride something that couldn’t talk back, she was a dragonrider in the fic & the dragons could talk. It was a Tremeraire/Pride & predjudicecrossover & in it Lizzie had inherited an aunts posistion as a dragoncapitain in his majesties army.
I always took it as just a trait. Jane Austen is always good at differentiating her characters by their interests, with no real significant reasons and no direct results on the plot, although you could speculate on what is says about their personalities. Like, Elinor and Marianne have diverse talents and interests, drawing and music. You could say that one is quiet and contemplative and involves observation, and the other is passionate and loud and demands notice, but the text doesn't say that explicitly. The Bennetts explicitly COULD learn anything they had an interest in and took initiative to ask for (probably to their detriment). Lizzy was never interested in horse riding (although it doesn't say whether she doesn't KNOW how), so she isn't accomplished in it.
I have two theories: as she told Lady Catherine when they met that her sisters and she had all opportunities to learn disciplines while growing up and their parents gave them the option to choose, perhaps she got more interest on books while Jane did learn to ride and Mary to play the pianoforte. Or, she tried at some point of her upbringing, but fell and never was encouraged to keep on trying (?) Idk
in my last neighborhood everyone always said I loved to walk in general, but I don't actually care at all about walking?? they just said this because I walked everywhere in our neighborhood, where things were like a 10-30 min walk, and I despised most of the people there so I never took their offered rides. and I didn't have a license
The horses were usually used for the farm. Maybe they werent always available for pleasure and the only other option to escape the crazy house was to walk.
Me being a girl with multiple sisters. I never liked having similar hobbies or activities to them. So I imagine it’s that. Her just wanting to be different from siblings everyone keeps saying “they all look or behave alike”. With or, parents always comparing n contrasting them to.
Personally, I think horses are terrifying. I don't hate them, I realize they're extremely intelligent and beautiful, I just have a healthy respect for things that can take me out with one kick.
I read a P&P alternative book in which Elizabeth's story included fear of horses because a man was thrown from a horse and died at her feet when she was a child. I love P&P and became invested in alternate versions at one point. Fun times.
I’ve ridden horses since I could walk as a reference point here. The comment saying she was no horsewoman, said to me more that she was unskilled as a rider, than any other reason. Most of the time a lack of skill stems first from not enough instruction, and then beyond that, fear and lack of confidence.
As this was the primary mode of transportation when not in a carriage, I would say she just has no confidence in her riding abilities and felt better on her own two feet. As someone who seems very sure of herself throughout much of the book, feeling out of her element would have her avoid horseback riding to also avoid any embarrassment or injury.
It's a shame the bicycle hadn't been invented yet. I wonder what took so long?
According to Wikipedia, the first usable "balance bicycle" was invented in 1817 - if you search using its nickname "dandy horse" there is a picture on Wikipedia, and in the same article an illustration of "Johnson's Ladies' Walking Machine" - definitely worth a look.
Maybe this channel could do a short on it, or something slightly longer on why the progress as far as modern bicycles took so long?
Bicycles can be somewhat limited in the countryside when you're dealing with dirt roads. Heavy rain could easily wash out a road so that wheeled transport could become a big hassle (last year I was teaching in a rural area where a couple of farm kids missed a day of school because their driveway was flooded), whereas walking or riding would be more flexible in where you can go.
@@ElizabethJones-pv3sj Also, cobblestones!
@@ugthump2753 I wonder whether an added complication was that rubber wasn't "invented" until about 1830, and (apparently) John Dunlop didn't come up with the rubber tyre until 1882. Without the cushioning that an inflated rubber tyre provides, riding a metal/wooden wheeled bicycle directly on the road must have been a pretty uncomfortable trip! (I hate to imagine what would happen if you rode over a stone or a pothole in the road . . .) I believe the first bicycle with pedals didn't appear until the 1860s, but I'm not sure whether they had brakes or not.
@@katehurstfamilyhistory I'd say so. According to Wikipedia, there's a type of bicycle from the 1860's called a Bone-shaker!
This reminds me of me. I had the option to learn to ride horses like my sister, but just didn't take to it. But I walk all the time. There's something nice about just being on your own two feet.
Since Lizzy is a reader, I think walking provided her time to read while walking as well as being outdoors. Like killing two birds with one stone. Just a thought
Fanfics often have her be afraid of horses due to an accident.
Eliza doesn't strike me as one to be afraid of anything.
I always imagined that she could have an accident while riding a horse in the past. Perhaps when she was a child and we know she is brave and daring she galopped too fast and had a serious accident like Bonnie Blue though she would survive.
As a horse riding coach I can assure you many many people are afraid to ride, riding is dangerous so it’s not an unfounded fear.
i understand. horses are scary and big. they literally smell fear like?? if I had the opportunity to learn, i wouldn’t want to. i love to walk. my friends used to think it was weird how i walked everywhere no matter the weather, even when i had a bike. walking lets me think, and i’m more aware of my surroundings. overall relatable 👍
I think Jane and Elizabeth must has taken lessons together. They have horses and property it wouldn’t have been an additional cost. Jane is very empathetic and did well. Elizabeth probably got into and argument with her horse and fell off and said that she wasn’t going to ride again. Then her parents said “what are you going to do” and she said “walk”. And her parents said “fine” and the parents never forced the other girls to learn.
As a former horse girl... equestrian athletes beat even tackle football for head and neck injuries and brain damage. It is SO easy to get grievously injured around horses, especially if they're not trained and regularly exercised for what you're doing with them. The Longbourn horses are also used for carriage and farm work. Lizzie might have just decided to be sensible and practical and trust in the power of her own two feet, kind of like how she says she'll resign herself to being a spinster who lives with Jane when Jane marries.
I don't care how perfect and strong of a character people seem to be. Everyone is afraid of something. Maybe she witnessed someone's head getting bashed in or fallen off and died? This could have traumatized her enough not to want her to get on a horse...
Personal projection: As someone with much in common with Lizzie, and as someone who's worked with a decent variety of animals, domestic and wild, small and large ... Horses and other large prey animals are kinda scary! I'd rather work with predators any day! They're communicative, cool-headed, and predictable, whereas prey animals get panicky and desperate and do sudden surprising things. Horses are chill overall, I've hung out with horses, but if I had to choose between dealing with a stressed-out horse (or for a better comparison, let's say a moose) or a stressed-out tiger, I'll choose the tiger. I won't win a wrestling match with either one, but I know how to minimize harm from the tiger, and know what will motivate it to leave me alone, whereas with any large hoofed animal, it might just kick the crap out of me until I'm dead because it's simply flipping out and doesn't have any better ideas. Prey animals are spooky lol. I'll ride a horse now and then but as of now my comfort zones are such that I would rather not be extensively involved with them.
I had a notion that Elizabeth might have had the wrong 'figure' for a good seat, which the more classical Jane would have had. Darcy 'detected, with a critical eye, more than one failure if perfect symmetry in her form' so Elizabeth was likely less of the movie star we're accustomed to seeing in the film versions, which might have made it harder to balance side-saddle though it would have made no difference if she could have ridden astride!
Or it could have been simply a plot device to ensure she walked and shocked everyone with no motive behind it 😂 - especially since Jane rides and you don't want all your character to have the same interests!
Walking can be meditative and cathartic. I always thought Lizzy liked to walk because she was a deep thinker and could think without distraction during those walks.
I suspect that it was a combination of 1) the freedom and enjoyment of walking, and 2) a dislike of riding side-saddle? Really, can you envision her riding side-saddle? Ellie - You have done such a great job with these!
Remembering uni discussions about the “meaning” of riding: under the over skirt, female riders wore pants in this era; eagerness for riding was equated with sexual eagerness…
I read a P&P Variation novel where Lizzie reveals she likes horses but doesn't like riding them because as a child she saw a man thrown from a horse & killed. Obviously that's not the canon reason to the original book but some P&PV authors have addressed it.
They're enormous and terrifying mystery solved
"They're dangerous at both ends and crafty in the middle." Sherlock Holmes (R.D.J.)😂
I read it as if respects them and doesn't think they should be forced to carry people around.
I always saw it as an extension of her proud personality. She didn't practice at horse riding or playing the piano because she didn't like them out of hand, she probably struggled with them where other things were easy. Her development is that she starts practicing playing the piano and admits it was her flaw to not practice.
The horse said she was barely tolerable.
I think it's a way of painting her as more grounded (literally) and independent and spontaneous. Riding for ladies was definitely an undertaking: you had to have the correct mode of dress, call the groom ahead of time to prepare your horse, have a groom or gentleman assist you in mounting and dismounting (modern side saddle riders mount themselves but in the 1800s that would be improper for a lady) Elizabeth doesn't need those trappings, she's content on her own two feet
I feel like it’s part of her attraction to natural ways, instead of refined ways, choosing to walk instead of ride a horse (if this makes sense). Sets her apart from other women and what they choose in this day and time where all women should be “accomplished” as Mr. Darcy’s sister explains
Heutzutage wollen alle eine Sprache innerhalb von 3 Monaten fließend lernen, was meiner Meihung nach ein unrealistisches Ziel ist. Wie Sie gesagt haben, nachdem wir die Strukturen und den Wortschatz gelernt haben, müssen wir ihnen Zeit lassen, damit sie sich verfestigen. Manchmal fühle ich mich enttäuscht, dass ich so viele Jahre gebraucht habe, um Deutsch zu lernen, aber dann erinnere ich mich daran, dass es besser ist, kosequent und richtig zu lernen, anstatt zu pauken und am Ende doch nichts gelernt zu haben. Dankeschön für die hilfreiche Videos.
For me it's control, Lizzie likes to be in control of her situation, horses are unpredictable hence why she would prefer walking, I do too
me, a walker myself because i cant drive, realizing why i like elizabeth so much lol
I was thinking that it might be a the usual thing that parents do. The first kid is usually given a much stricter upbringing than the children after. Hence, why Jane is practically perfect and Lydia was so wild she almost destroyed her family’s future.
"Why doesn't this character drive her car?" in other words
Yeah totally relate. I can't drive so I walk. Lucky coincidence, I actually love walking.
I love your content so much, ms. Darcy! :) I've watched it all
I have always wondered about this.
I think we are overthinking. There isn't a lot of age gap between Jane and Lizzy. They would have learned most things together, given how close they are. She was probably just scared of horses or heights.😅
Elizabeth Bennet not wanting to ride horses 🤝 Me not wanting to get a driver's license
Maybe it's showing her good nature and sense. She knew that Jane was nice and people pleaser, so she would give up her mount for Lizzie if she'd asked. Unlikely Bennetts had two lady-saddle horses. So she sacrificed her opportunity for Jane to continue to enjoy riding. As Lizzie said they had all opportunities to learn if they expressed inclination. So she just chose another options of spending time.
Or there is a simpler theory. I love to walk and I am terrified of horses, as one bit me once. Maybe that's it for her too.😂
I would think the side saddle riding would do it for me. I would be walking too.
The last drawing reminds me of Candy Candy 😢
I know how to drive but it doesn’t mean I like to. If I have the option to walk, I usually take it.
She’s more connected to real humanity through walking. Her life as a person and her socialization all take place on foot on the same level as everyone else on foot.
To have the horse is not only a matter of wealth and skill but an action of time… to ride a horse meant you did travel far and fast and that your time or others time was of importance not only that but the roads would need to be designed for horses not an average walking path. You need to not only learn about horses and how to ride but different riding activities which may require different horses, a horse which assists a hunt will be different then the horse you play polo on or different then the little pony that meanders one across a distance or the horses of a carriage.
There is also the horse and masculinity not only ideas of sitting above others or having a better car for the time in a prized horse but the notion that one is a rider vs a walker. You never touch the ground the dirt or have dirty dresses if youre hoisted 7 feet above the ground your leather shoes or buttoned up boots never see a spot of dirt. There’s an idea of perfectionism there and how the avoidance of dirt and mistakes results in refinery and grace. Besides that there’s ideas of controlling the reigns. And for some women and men enjoying the ride a little too much.
She is someone who walks and walks on the dirt and see the world from the same level her eyes have always been. She is not a floating saint or held in special treatment or regard but a saint as a person which graces the earth with a level head and even steps. She is someone who takes time to walk and walk as far as she pleases in the directions she pleases she is not restrained to be upon an animal which is only fitting for the human desires activity. (To travel on a road is one thing to be on the horse which either doesn’t listen and chooses a different path or to be on a horse which knows exactly it’s job and how to behave to avoid being turned into glue)
Geez! Sidesaddle! That just nuts!!
As a 90’s kid horses were totally in, but they scare the bejesus out of me. fall off - dead, get kicked - dead and expensive!!
Maybe it’s because she likes having control of where she’s going and what what pace, especially considering the time she was born in.
I think it is because she was not in support of side saddle riding. Or a fear of falling which is easier in side saddle