History Funny / PrideAndPrejudice

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[[folder: The Novel]]

-->'''Elizabeth:''' Why, I must confess that I love him better than I do Bingley. I am afraid you will be angry.
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[[folder: The 1940 Film]]
* The early line: "My goodness, what a hullabaloo!"
* Mr Bennet casually suggesting to his wife that they should have drowned some of their daughters at birth. This is what happens when you hire Aldous Huxley to adapt a book.
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[[folder: The 1995 Miniseries]]
* The infamous bit when Darcy dives into a lake and thus spawns the 'wet shirt' fetish. That itself isn't the funny part; the funny part is when he comes face to face with the (at the moment) unrequited and unexpected love of his life, basically almost naked by the standards of the time and dripping wet. The awkwardness is ''hilarious;'' Elizabeth's even DistractedByTheSexy for a moment or two! [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hasKmDr1yrA Enjoy!]]
** Followed by Elizabeth standing in frozen horror for a few seconds before declaring that they must leave at once.
** And possibly the quickest someone's gotten cleaned up ''in the history of England,'' since Darcy's fully dressed, fabulously turned out and looking desperately for Elizabeth, not intending to let her get away, by the time she and her aunt and uncle have gotten back to the carriage. [[note]]In defense of this scene, it is entirely possible that the carriage was parked somewhere out of view, the driver caring for the horses (or having a snack, or a nap) and it would take him a while to get everything ready for departure. The driver would not have been unreasonable to think that their visit would take longer, seeing as they decide to depart quite suddenly. Thus, considering Mr Darcy has a head-start (and probably walks faster than Lizzy could expect from her aunt), it seems fairly reasonable to think he would be at least a couple minutes ahead of them on getting back to the house, and if getting the carriage ready takes a few minutes... well, he's a fast dresser, but not miraculously so.[[/note]]
** After Elizabeth and Darcy meet, they have one of the most awkward conversations in history, while both of them clearly want to run away. Darcy asks after Elizabeth's parents twice, apparently without realising it!
* Darcy's sarcastic expression and rolling of the eyes when his conversation with Elizabeth (and Colonel Fitzwilliam) is interrupted by Lady Catherine.
* Elizabeth providing occasional [[DeadpanSnarker riffing]] on Darcy's letter. "I look back with regret on only one aspect of my behavior in this matter..." "Oh, really? Astound me."
* "Shelves in a closet...Happy thought indeed."
* Any time Caroline says something cutting about Elizabeth, and Darcy manages to turn it around and use it to insult ''Caroline''.
* "Other way, Mr Collins!" Poor Lizzy...
* When Bingley is gushing over Jane after first meeting her, Darcy replies with a gruff "she smiles too much."
* Charlotte details her married life to Elizabeth. She encourages Mr Collins to be in his garden; the fresh air is so healthy. She encourages him to be in his library as reading is good for the mind. She encourages him to call upon Lady Catherine... so it turns out that they hardly spend more than a few minutes of the day together at all. She can bear the solitude quite well.
* There's a teeth-grindingly awkward moment just before Mr Bingley proposes to Jane where Bingley, Jane, Mrs Bennet and the other three remaining Bennet sisters are all seated in the drawing room in uncomfortable silence. Mrs Bennet, seeking to give the young lovers some privacy, attempts to 'subtly' hint to her daughters that they should find an excuse to leave without saying anything, and ends up winking and twitching manically. And unfortunately, Kitty Bennet is a little too dense to get the intended message:
-->'''Kitty:''' What is it, mama? Why do you keep winking at me? What am I to do?
* Early on Lydia and Kitty are arguing over how many guests Mr Bingley will be bringing to the Netherfield ball:
-->'''Kitty:''' "Six ladies and four gentlemen!"
-->'''Lydia:''' "No, it was twelve ladies and seven gentlemen."
-->'''Elizabeth:''' (aside to Jane) "Too many ladies."
* When Elizabeth meets Bingley in Darbyshire, Bingley not-so-subtly asks whether ''all'' her sisters are at home. Elizabeth answers that all but one are. Bingley clearly has a very brief OhCrap moment (while [[PerpetualSmiler continuing to smile broadly]]) before Elizabeth clarifies that her youngest sister has gone to Brighton, whereupon his smile grows even broader.
* After the Meryton Assembly, Mr Bennet is forced to endure Mrs Bennet's long and detailed description of the event, especially her blow-by-blow account of Bingley's dancing, finally bursting out with "Would that he had sprained his ankle in the first dance!" Followed by her switching to the subject of clothes:
-->'''Mrs Bennet:''' "The lace on Mrs Hurst's gown..."
-->'''Mr Bennet:''' (pointing a poker at her) "No lace! ''No'' lace! I forbid it!"
* During the ball at Netherfield, when the company has already had to endure Mary's singing, Mr. Collins then volunteers to sing. Mrs. Hurst, who is to accompany him, clearly decides 'You know what? ''' ''No,' '' ''' and proceeds to hammer out a flawless rendition of "Rondo alla Turca," a tune that's impossible for Collins to keep up with; he's left nodding his head foolishly.
* In a way, Colin Firth's performance during Darcy's first proposal is this. He just ''cannot'' get started!
* Elizabeth's comments on [[MarryForLove marrying for love.]]
-->'''Elizabeth:''' "I am convinced that nothing but the deepest affection could induce me to matrimony." ({{beat}}) "So, I shall end an old maid and teach your twelve children to play and sing very ill!"
* The RunningGag of Mr. Collins mentioning the expensive chimney piece in Lady Catherine's drawing room at every opportunity. When Elizabeth promises to visit Charlotte, she quips that her one condition is to finally see the darn thing.
* On the journey to Hunsford, Sir William Lucas is informing Maria of how much land Lady Catherine owns, and how beneficial it is that Mr. Collins has such a patron. "Your sister has made a fortunate alliance!" he says - and then gets a calm look from Elizabeth, whose family stands to suffer from said 'alliance'. ''Awkward.''
* When Elizabeth first lays eyes on Anne de Bourgh, she takes quiet pleasure that Anne looks "sickly and cross", and that she'll make him (Darcy) a proper wife. Maria is left very confused, since she has no idea what Elizabeth is talking about.
* A lot of Darcy's behaviour in Hunsford, particularly his facial expressions. To wit:
** When Lady Catherine is rabbiting on about her supposed knowledge of music, he gets up from his seat beside her with a look of quiet exasperation and stalks off to listen to Elizabeth play.
** When Elizabeth tells Fitzwilliam about the first time the two of them met, subtly getting in a dig at Darcy for having snubbed her, he looks down with a 'dangit' grimace.
** When Lady Catherine demands to know what they're all talking about -- "I ''must'' have my share of the conversation!" -- the roll of his eyes in annoyance and frustration is epic.
** When he calls on Elizabeth on what we now know to be the first day of his courtship, he's highly alarmed to find she's home alone (save for the servants, of course) and he'll have to make conversation with her ''by himself.''
* On her last visit to Rosings, Elizabeth waxes [[SarcasmMode full sarcastic]] when Mr. Collins starts saying how sad she must be--"I hardly know how I shall bear the loss!" That's funny enough. But look over her shoulder, where Charlotte is giving Lizzy an OhCrap look at the thought that it might break through her husband's {{Sarcasm Blind}}ness. (Fortunately, it ''doesn't'', not even close.)
* In episode 3, Mr Bennet is not taken in by Wickham's woes and simply quips "With such narratives to hand, who would read novels?"
* When Kitty and Lydia meet Lizzie and Maria, they happily show off the feast they arranged and announce they are treating everyone to lunch...as soon as Lizzie gives them the money to cover it, as they spent all their money on clothing (that they readily admit they don't even like).
* Most of Darcy's flashback about his history with Wickham is pretty somber, but there's a hilarious moment during their time at university. We see Darcy strding through the campus in a mortar board and gown, model student, and just as his narration says that Darcy Senior hoped Wickham would make the church his profession...Darcy Junior walks in on a dishevelled Wickham with a half naked girl in his lap. Darcy's look of utter exasperation crowns it.
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[[folder: The 2005 Film]]
* Mr Collins proposing to Lizzie. She knows what's coming and she tries to subtly beg her sisters to stay in the room. She even grabs onto Jane's hand to beg her to stay, but she leaves too - [[NotSoAboveItAll giggling the whole time]].
** When Lizzie refuses the proposal and runs off, her mother runs down the lane after her. Geese, normally not frightened of ''anything,'' run away in '''''absolute terror''''' at Mrs Bennet's approach.
* When Mrs Bennet calls on the ill Jane with her three younger daughters, Caroline Bingley's reaction is made priceless by Kelly Reilly's delivery.
--> "Oh for heaven's sake; are we to receive ''every'' Bennet in the country?!"
** Note that this is after the footman has announced "A Mrs Bennet, a Miss Bennet, [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment a Miss Bennet and a Miss Bennet]]."
** The above introduction is also hilarious because it blatantly disregards the convention of the time. Only the oldest daughter present (presumably Mary, since Jane and Lizzie are already there) would be called "Miss Bennet", and the others would be called "Miss (first name)". The Bingleys' footman is sure to know that, so we can only assume not even the ''footman'' thinks much of the Bennets.
* When the militia are in town, Lydia hopes to get an officer's attention by dropping her handkerchief - clearly hoping one of them will pick it up for her. Instead they just walk on it. And her mother and Kitty collapse into hysterical laughter.
* Miss Darcy gets one in that's also simply adorable. She asks whether Lizzie plays the piano.
--> '''Lizzie:''' Only when forced.
--> '''Georgiana:''' Well, brother, you must force her.
* During the ball at Netherfield, Lizzie has to have Mr Collins as a dance partner. She spends the whole dance talking to Jane about Wickham. And due to the nature of the dance, Jane can only give the news in parts. All this time Mr Collins is trying to talk to Lizzie, who is blatantly ignoring him to listen to what Jane has to say. Collins genuinely thinks this is her playing hard to get.
** Earlier at the ball, Lizzie and Jane are talking with Charlotte when Collins approaches - and they all hurriedly curtsy to him.
* Mary gets a good line in when Lizzie is telling Charlotte about Mr Collins.
--> "Even my piano stool belongs to Mr Collins."
* Lizzie gets a good barb in on Mrs Bennet when she's defending her plan to make Jane sick so she'll have to stay at Netherfield.
--> '''Mrs Bennet:''' "People don't die of colds."
--> '''Lizzie:''' "But she may well perish with the shame of having such a mother."
* Mr Bennet gets in a brilliant jab at his youngest daughter at the first ball.
--> '''Lydia:''' Mama, you'll not believe this.
--> '''Mr Bennet:''' [[DeadpanSnarker You're going to]] [[TakingTheVeil take the veil]].
* Elizabeth: "I wouldn't dance with him for all of Derbyshire, let alone the miserable half!"
* After Elizabeth agrees to dance with Darcy, out of sheer awkwardness.
-->'''Elizabeth:''' Did I just agree to dance with Mr. Darcy?\\
'''Charlotte:''' I believe so.\\
'''Elizabeth:''' That's a bit of an inconvenience, since I swore to loathe him for all eternity!
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** And possibly the quickest someone's gotten cleaned up ''in the history of England,'' since Darcy's fully dressed, fabulously turned out and looking desperately for Elizabeth, not intending to let her get away, by the time she and her aunt and uncle have gotten back to the carriage.
*** In defense of this scene, it is entirely possible that the carriage was parked somewhere out of view, the driver caring for the horses (or having a snack, or a nap) and it would take him a while to get everything ready for departure. The driver would not have been unreasonable to think that their visit would take longer, seeing as they decide to depart quite suddenly. Thus, considering Mr Darcy has a head-start (and probably walks faster than Lizzy could expect from her aunt), it seems fairly reasonable to think he would be at least a couple minutes ahead of them on getting back to the house, and if getting the carriage ready takes a few minutes... well, he's a fast dresser, but not miraculously so.

** It's even funnier when you know that when she offers to "mend his pen", she's essentially offering to give him a hand job, "mending one's pen" being common slang for a hand job at the time.

* When Elizabeth first lays eyes on Anne de Bourgh, she takes quiet pleasure that Anne looks "sickly and cross", and that she'll make Darcy a proper wife. Maria is left very confused, since she has no idea what Elizabeth is talking about.

--> "Are we to receive ''every'' Bennet in the country!"
** Note that this is after the footman has announced "Mrs Bennet with Miss Bennet, [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment Miss Bennet and Miss Bennet]]."

* After the whole mess with Lydia is settled, he declares that Wickham is going to be his favorite of the husbands just for the entertainment value.

* The infamous bit when Darcy dives into a lake and thus spawns the 'wet shirt' fetish. That itself isn't the funny part; the funny part is when he comes face to face with the (at the moment) unrequited and unexpected love of his life, basically half naked by the standards of the time and dripping wet. The awkwardness is ''hilarious;'' Elizabeth's even DistractedByTheSexy for a moment or two! [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hasKmDr1yrA Enjoy!]]

* Mr Bennet, meanwhile, is not taken in by Wickham's woes and simply quips "With such narratives to hand, who would read novels?" And after the whole mess with Lydia is settled, he declares that Wickham is going to be his favorite of the husbands just for the entertainment value.

* When Mrs Bennett calls on the ill Jane with her three younger daughters, Caroline Bingley's reaction is made priceless by Kelly Reilly's delivery.
--> "Are we to receive ''every'' Bennett in the country!"
** Note that this is after the footman has announced "Mrs Bennett with Miss Bennett, [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment Miss Bennett and Miss Bennett]]."
** The above introduction is also hilarious because it blatantly disregards the convention of the time. Only the oldest daughter present (presumably Mary, since Jane and Lizzie are already there) would be called "Miss Bennett", and the others would be called "Miss (first name)". The Bingleys' footman is sure to know that, so we can only assume not even the ''footman'' thinks much of the Bennetts.

* Lizzie gets a good barb in on Mrs Bennett when she's defending her plan to make Jane sick so she'll have to stay at Netherfield.
--> '''Mrs Bennett:''' "People don't die of colds."

* Mr Bennett gets in a brilliant jab at his youngest daughter at the first ball.

--> '''Mr Bennett:''' [[DeadpanSnarker You're going to]] [[TakingTheVeil take the veil]].

** When Lizzie refuses the proposal and runs off, her mother ''books it after her with her dresses up, scattering birds and ducks.''

* On the journey to Huntsford, Sir William Lucas is informing Maria of how much land Lady Catherine owns, and how beneficial it is that Mr. Collins has such a patron. "Your sister has made a fortunate alliance!" he says - and then gets a calm look from Elizabeth, whose family stands to suffer from said 'alliance'. ''Awkward.''

'''Elizabeth:''' These are heavy misfortunes. But the wife of Mr Darcy must have such extraordinary sources of happiness necessarily attached to her situation, that she could, upon the whole, have no cause to repine.

* The book's best piece of [[LemonyNarrator Lemony Narration]] comes when Elizabeth runs into her least favorite person, Mr Darcy, during her walk through Rosings Park: "She felt all the perverseness of the mischance that should bring him where no one else was brought; and to prevent its ever happening again, took care to inform him at first, that it was a favourite haunt of hers. How it could occur a second time, therefore, was very odd!" Clueless thy name is Elizabeth.

** The above introduction is also hilarious because it blatantly disregards the convention of the time. Only the oldest daughter present would be called "Miss Bennett", and the others would be called "Miss (first name". The Bingleys' footman is sure to know that, so we can only assume not even the ''footman'' thinks much of the Bennetts.