Hypnotic Bedtime Story: Pride & Prejudice
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Hi, I'm Jessica Porter, and welcome back to Sleep Magic, a podcast where I help you find the magic of your own mind, helping you to sleep better and live better. Thank you everybody for being here. I love doing this show. Thanks to everyone who's been reaching out lately. I have an Instagram account, and I've gotten messages from Mirella, Keegan, Henry David, Shelly, Debra, many, many people, Lorette.

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This offer ends August 19th. I'll see you over there at Sleep Magic Premium. So, tonight, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Jane Austen was born in 1775 in Steventon, Hampshire, about 60 miles outside of London. But of course, in the late 18th century, that might as well have been a thousand miles. Austen was the youngest child in a large family and started writing early.

She would regularly entertain her family in the evening with her plays and writings, and although she wrote hundreds of letters, most of them were destroyed by family members seeking to maintain their privacy, so we don't have insight into personal details from the author herself. During her lifetime, Austen published her work anonymously, as being a female author was considered unfeminine at the time.

And although her novels, Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, and Emma all did well, it wasn't until after her death in 1817 that her writing got the attention it deserved. Now, what made Austen's writing unique? Well, first, it was a response to a previous and popular literary genre called the novel of sensibility.

which was an interesting thing to Google. These were novels that highlighted feelings, based on the notion that feeling feelings was a mark of character and refinement. She was one of the first writers to push into literary realism, a genre in which the worlds created were, well, more realistic and pragmatic, avoiding more supernatural elements. And Jane Austen was funny.

She was a master of witty dialogue and sketched some very amusing characters. Finally, her work included sometimes scathing social commentary. Her heroines were often intelligent and strong social underdogs trapped by their need to find stability and survival in good marriages. Interestingly, Jane Austen never married and never had children.

Although she lived most of her life in relative poverty, compared to many of the characters she wrote about, and never made much money off her books during her short lifetime, Jane Austen was a free woman who got to express her creativity. That was pretty badass at the time. So tonight I'll be reading from Pride and Prejudice, from the middle of the book.

As always, we'll be doing some hypnosis beforehand to help you relax. So just let Austin's words and the fabulous funny rhythms she created on paper take you deeper and deeper. So get yourself into a safe and comfortable position and let's begin. Allow your eyes to close easily and gently. Yay, it's time for bed. So nice to come home to your body. So nice to rest comfortably.

at the end of the day. So bring your awareness now to your breath and just allowing the awareness to settle gently on the breath. All this stray energy, all these thoughts moving in so many directions are coming back home. Your focus with yourself. Good. Now I'd like you to bring your awareness up into your eyelids.

and imagine that the muscles of your eyelids are feeling heavy and sleepy. Just let them get heavy like you've been reading a book for an hour. And as your eyelids get more and more relaxed, I'd like you to accept the suggestion that your eyelids are so relaxed that they simply will not open. And in a moment, I'm going to ask you to test your eyelids to make sure they won't open by wiggling your eyebrows. So I'd like you to do that now. Test your eyes. Let them stay closed. You're just pretending.

I know you could open them if you wanted to, but just pretend that you can't. Wiggle your eyebrows. Perfect. You can stop testing now. So this lovely relaxation that you have around your eyes is now going to spill back into your head. Let's just imagine it moving back into your head. This wonderful warm relaxation taking over every single cell of your brain. Your brain just

soaking in relaxation and your head is feeling heavy now. Just let your head feel heavy as it sinks into the pillow, getting heavier and heavier. And as your head gets heavy, your face is relaxing and softening and releasing all the mask it had to wear today. Good.

As you imagine warm waves of relaxation lapping up against the beach of your mind, feel those warm waves of relaxation lapping up against the beach of your mind as all mental tension disappears. Good, good. So let's imagine that warm relaxation moving down of your neck,

into your shoulder blade. And tonight we're going to pay some attention to your back. I'd like you to imagine that that warm relaxation that began up around your eyes is moving down your spine. Just one vertebra at a time. So as it goes down between your shoulder blade, just allow that relaxation to very slowly fade

and gently move down so now it's at the back of your chest and you find your chest. Let it go as you imagine that warm feeling moving down and now it's behind the bottom of your rib cage. It's nice to imagine this warm feeling making its way slowly your spine

And as it goes deeper and deeper, and you go deeper and deeper, and the sounds going on around you are taking you deeper and deeper. That warm feeling moving down now to the middle of your back, right across from your upper abdominal muscle, whole upper belly letting go, your breath becoming deeper.

As that relaxation moves down your spine into your lower torso as it attaches to your pelvis and your pelvis is feeling nice and heavy on the bed and the muscles of your lower belly are letting go. As the relaxation moves down into your legs, your legs feeling heavy

your arms feeling heavy and the sound of my voice taking you deeper and deeper. Chapter 16 As no objection was made to the young people's engagement with their aunt, and all Mr. Collins' scruples of leaving Mr. and Mrs. Bennet for a single evening during his visit were most steadily resisted,

The coach conveyed him and his five cousins at a suitable hour to Meryton, and the girls had the pleasure of hearing, as they entered the drawing room, that Mr. Wickham had accepted their uncle's invitation and was then in the house. When this information was given and they had all taken their seats, Mr. Collins was at leisure to look around him and admire

And he was so much struck with the size and furniture of the apartment that he declared he might almost have supposed himself in the small summer breakfast parlor at Rosings, a comparison that did not at first convey much gratification. But when Mrs. Phillips understood from him what Rosings was and who was its proprietor,

When she had listened to the description of only one of Lady Catherine's drawing rooms and found that the chimney piece alone had cost £800, she felt all the force of the compliment and would hardly have resented a comparison with the housekeeper's room. In describing to her all the grandeur of Lady Catherine and her mansion,

with occasional digressions in praise of his own humble abode and the improvements it was receiving, he was happily employed until the gentlemen joined them. And he found in Mrs. Phillips a very attentive listener, whose opinion of his consequence increased with what she heard, and who was resolving to retail it all among her neighbors as soon as she could, to the girls,

who could not listen to their cousin, and who had nothing to do but to wish for an instrument, and examine their own indifferent imitations of China on the mantelpiece, the interval of waiting appeared very long. It was over at last, however. The gentleman did approach, and when Mr. Wickham walked into the room, Elizabeth felt that she had neither been seeing him before nor thinking of him since,

with the smallest degree of unreasonable admiration. The officers of the Shire were in general a very creditable, gentlemanly-like set, and the best of them were of the present party. But Mr. Wickham was as far beyond them all in person, countenance, air, and walk as they were superior to the broad-faced, stuffy Uncle Phillips.

breathing port wine, who followed them into the room. Mr. Wickham was the happy man towards whom almost every female eye was turned. And Elizabeth was the happy woman by whom he finally seated himself.

and the agreeable manner in which he immediately fell into conversation, though it was only on its being a wet night and on the probability of a rainy season, made her feel that the commonest, dullest, most threadbare topic might be rendered interesting by the skill of the speaker. With such rivals for the notice of the fair as Mr. Wickham and the officers, Mr. Collins seemed to sink into insignificance.

To the young ladies he certainly was nothing, but he had still at intervals a kind listener in Mrs. Phillips, and was, by her watchfulness, most abundantly supplied with coffee and muffin. When the card tables were placed, he had an opportunity of obliging her, in return, by sitting down to whist. "I know little of the game at present," said he, "but I shall be glad to improve myself for in my situation of life."

Mrs. Phillips was very thankful for his compliance, but could not wait for his reason. Mr. Wickham did not play at whist, and with ready delight was he received at the other table between Elizabeth and Lydia. At first there seemed danger of Lydia's engrossing him entirely, for she was a most determined talker, but being likewise extremely fond of lottery tickets, she soon grew too much interested in the game.

too eager in making bets and exclaiming after prizes to have attention for anyone in particular. Allowing for the common demands of the game, Mr. Wickham was therefore at leisure to talk to Elizabeth. She was very willing to hear him, though what she chiefly wished to hear she could not hope to be told: the history of his acquaintance with Mr. Darcy. She dared not even mention that gentleman. Her curiosity, however, was unexpectedly relieved.

Mr. Wickham began the subject himself. He inquired how far Netherfield was from Meryton, and after receiving her answer, asked in a hesitating manner how long Mr. Darcy had been staying there. About a month, said Elizabeth, and then, unwilling to let the subject drop, added, He is a man of very large property in Derbyshire, I understand. Yes, replied Wickham.

His estate there is a noble one, a clear ten thousand per annum. You could not have met with a person more capable of giving you certain information on that head than myself, for I have been connected with his family, in a particular manner, from my infancy. Elizabeth could not but look surprised. You may be well surprised, Miss Bennet, at such an assertion after seeing, as you probably might, the very cold manner of our meeting yesterday."

"'Are you much acquainted with Mr. Darcy?' "'As much as I ever wish to be,' cried Elizabeth warmly. "'I have spent four days in the same house with him, and I think him very disagreeable.' "'I have no right to give my opinion,' said Wickham, as to his being agreeable or otherwise. "'I am not qualified to form one. I have known him too long and too well to be a fair judge. "'It is impossible for me to be impartial.'

But I believe your opinion of him would in general astonish. And perhaps you would not express it quite so strongly anywhere else. Here you are in your own family. Upon my word, I say no more here than I might say in any house in the neighborhood. Except Netherfield. He is not at all liked in Hertfordshire. Everybody is disgusted with his pride. You will not find him more favorably spoken of by anyone. I...

"'Cannot pretend to be sorry,' said Wickham, after a short interruption, "'that he or that any man should not be estimated beyond their deserts. But with him I believe it does not often happen. The world is blinded by his fortune and consequence, or frightened by his high and imposing manners, and sees him only as he chooses to be seen. I should take him, even on my slight acquaintance, to be an ill-tempered man.'

Wickham only shook his head. "'I wonder,' said he at the next opportunity of speaking, "'whether he is likely to be in this country much longer. "'I do not at all know, "'but I heard nothing of his going away when I was at Netherfield. "'I hope your plans in favor of the Shire "'will not be affected by his being in the neighborhood.' "'Oh, no. "'It is not for me to be driven away by Mr. Darcy. "'If he wishes to avoid seeing me, he must go.'

"'We are not on friendly terms, and it always gives me pain to meet him, but I have no reason for avoiding him but what I might proclaim to all the world, a sense of very great ill-usage and most painful regrets at his being what he is. His father, Miss Bennet, the late Mr. Darcy, was one of the best men that ever breathed, and the truest friend I ever had.'

and I can never be in company with this Mr. Darcy without being grieved to the soul by a thousand tender recollections. His behavior to myself has been scandalous, but I verily believe I could forgive him anything and everything, rather than his disappointing the hopes and disgracing the memory of his father." Elizabeth found the interest of the subject increase and listened with all her heart, but the delicacy of it prevented further inquiry.

Mr. Wickham began to speak on more general topics. Meryton, the neighborhood, the society, appearing highly pleased with all that he had yet seen, and speaking of the latter especially, with gentle but very intelligible gallantry. It was the prospect of constant society, and good society, he added, which was my chief inducement to enter the Shire.

I know it to be a most respectable, agreeable corps. And my friend Denny tempted me further by his account of their present quarters and the very great attentions and excellent acquaintance Meryton had procured them. Society I own is necessary to me. I have been a disappointed man, and my spirits will not bear solitude. I must have employment and society. A military life is not what I was intended for, but circumstances have now made it eligible.

The church ought to have been my profession. I was brought up for the church, and I should at this time have been in possession of a most valuable living, had it pleased the gentleman we were speaking of just now. Indeed? Yes. The late Mr. Darcy bequeathed me the next presentation of the best living in his gift. He was my godfather and excessively attached to me.

"'I cannot do justice to his kindness. He meant to provide for me amply, and thought he had done it. But when the living fell, it was given elsewhere.' "'Good heavens!' cried Elizabeth. "'And how could that be? How could his will be disregarded? Why did you not seek legal redress?' "'There was just such an informality in the terms of the bequest as to give me no hope from law.'

A man of honor could not have doubted the intention, but Mr. Darcy chose to doubt it, or to treat it as a merely conditional recommendation, and to assert that I had forfeited all claim to it by extravagance, imprudence, in short, anything or nothing. Certain it is that the living became vacant two years ago, exactly as I was of an age to hold it, and that it was given to another man, and no less certain is it

that I cannot accuse myself of having really done anything to deserve to lose it. I have a warm, unguarded temper, and I may perhaps have sometimes spoken my opinion of him and to him too freely. I can recall nothing worse, but the fact is that we are very different sort of men, and that he hates me. This is quite shocking. He deserves to be publicly disgraced. Sometime or other he will be, but it shall not be by me.

Till I can forget his father, I can never defy or expose him. Elizabeth honored him for such feelings and thought him handsomer than ever as he expressed them. She said after a pause, can have been his motive. What can have induced him to behave so cruelly? Thorough, determined dislike of me. A dislike which I cannot but attribute in some measure to jealousy.

Had the late Mr. Darcy liked me less, his son might have borne with me better. But his father's uncommon attachment to me irritated him, I believe, very early in life. He had not a temper to bear the sort of competition in which we stood, the sort of preference which was often given me. I had not thought Mr. Darcy so bad as this, though I have never liked him. I had not thought so very ill of him.

I had supposed him to be despising his fellow creatures in general, but to not suspect him of descending to such malicious revenge, such injustice, such inhumanity as this. After a few minutes' reflection, however, she continued, I do remember him boasting one day at Netherfield of the implacability of his resentments, of his having an unforgiving temper. His disposition must be dreadful.

"'I will not trust myself on the subject,' replied Wickham. "'I can hardly be just to him.' Elizabeth was again deep in thought, and after a time exclaimed, "'To treat in such a manner the godson, the friend, the favorite of his father. She could have added, "'A young man, too, like you, whose very countenance may vouch for your being amiable.' But she contented herself with,

and one, too, who had probably been his own companion from childhood, connected together, as I think you said, in the closest manner. We were born in the same parish, within the same park. The greatest part of our youth was passed together. Inmates of the same house sharing the same amusements, objects of the same parental care. My father began life in the profession which your uncle, Mr. Phillips, appears to do so much credit to,

But he gave up everything to be of use to the late Mr. Darcy, and devoted all his time to the care of the Pemberley property. He was most highly esteemed by Mr. Darcy, a most intimate, confidential friend. Mr. Darcy often acknowledged himself to be under the greatest obligations to my father's active superintendence. And when immediately before my father's death, Mr. Darcy gave him a voluntary promise of providing for me,

"'I'm convinced that he felt it to be as much a debt of gratitude to him "'as of affection to myself.' "'How strange!' cried Elizabeth. "'How abominable! "'I wonder that the very pride of this Mr. Darcy has not made him just to you, "'if from no better motive, "'that he should not have been too proud to be dishonest. "'For dishonesty I must call it.' "'It is wonderful,' replied Wickham.'

For almost all his actions may be traced to pride. And pride has often been his best friend. It has connected him nearer with virtue than any other feeling. But we are none of us consistent. And in his behavior, to me, there were stronger impulses even than pride. Can such abominable pride as his have ever done him good? Yes. It has often led him to be liberal and generous.

To give his money freely to display hospitality? To assist his tenants and relieve the poor? Family pride and filial pride? For he's very proud of what his father was. Not to appear to disgrace his family, to degenerate from the popular qualities or lose the influence of the Pemberley house is a powerful motive. He also has brotherly pride, which with some brotherly affection makes him a very kind and careful guardian of his sister.

and you will hear him generally cried up as the most attentive and best of brothers. What sort of girl is Miss Darcy? He shook his head. I wish I could call her amiable. It gives me pain to speak ill of a Darcy, but she is too much like her brother. Very, very proud. As a child, she was affectionate and pleasing and extremely fond of me, and I have devoted hours and hours to her amusement, but she is nothing to me now.

She is a handsome girl, about 15 or 16, and I understand highly accomplished. Since her father's death, her home has been London, where a lady lives with her and superintends her education. After many pauses and many trials of other subjects, Elizabeth could not help reverting once more to the first and saying, I'm astonished at his intimacy with Mr. Bingley. How can Mr. Bingley...

who seems good humor itself, and is, I really believe, truly amiable. Be in friendship with such a man. How can they suit each other? Do you know Mr. Bingley? Not at all. He is a sweet-tempered, amiable, charming man. He cannot know what Mr. Darcy is. Probably not. But Mr. Darcy can please where he chooses. He does not want abilities.

He can be a conversable companion if he thinks it is worth his while. Among those who are at all his equals in consequence, he is a very different man from what he is to the less prosperous. His pride never deserts him. But with the rich, he is liberal-minded, just, sincere, rational, honorable, and perhaps agreeable, allowing something for fortune and figure. The whist party soon afterwards breaking up

The players gathered round the other table, and Mr. Collins took his station between his cousin Elizabeth and Mrs. Phillips. The usual inquiries as to his success were made by the latter. It had not been very great. He had lost every point. But when Mrs. Phillips began to express her concern thereupon, he assured her, with much earnest gravity, that it was not of the least importance.

that he considered the money as a mere trifle, and begged she would not make herself uneasy. I know very well, madam, said he, that when persons sit down to a card table, they must take their chance of these things, and happily I am not in such circumstances as to make five shillings any object. There are undoubtedly many who could not say the same, thanks to Lady Catherine de Bourgh,

I am removed far beyond the necessity of regarding little matters." Mr. Wickham's attention was caught, and after observing Mr. Collins for a few moments, he asked Elizabeth in a low voice whether her relations were very intimately acquainted with the family of de Burgh. "Lady Catherine de Burgh," she replied, "has very lately given him a living

I hardly know how Mr. Collins was first introduced to her notice, but he certainly has not known her long. You know, of course, that Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Lady Anne Darcy were sisters, consequently that she is aunt to the present Mr. Darcy. No, indeed, I did not. I knew nothing at all of Lady Catherine's connections. I never heard of her existence till the day before yesterday.

Her daughter, Miss de Bourgh, will have a very large fortune, and it is believed that she and her cousin will unite the two estates. This information made Elizabeth smile as she thought of poor Miss Bing. Vain indeed must be all her attentions, vain and useless, her affection for his sister and her praise of himself if he were already self-destined.

to another.