Track 2: Pat Benatar "Hit Me With Your Best Shot"
Song: Hit Me With Your Best Shot
Artist: Pat Benatar
Album: Crimes of Passion
Released: 1980
YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VopgyAc-F9U
Artist: Pat Benatar
Album: Crimes of Passion
Released: 1980
YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VopgyAc-F9U
The second track on this playlist is by another of my favorite rocker chicks, Pat Benatar. Her hit song, “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” was selected for chapter three, during which we have the first encounter between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy at the first ball. Elizabeth is without a dance partner and Mr. Bingley entreats Mr. Darcy to ask her to dance. Within earshot of Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy says, “She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me,” (pg. 7). In other words, she wasn’t pretty enough for him to bother with her. Upon overhearing this, Elizabeth decides immediately that she detests him. Thus begins a verbal sparring match between the two that takes place throughout the first half of the novel.
Elizabeth makes no secret of her dislike for Mr. Darcy, and on more than one occasion she is rude to him. This is a very bold act for a woman of her time, and this is why I picked “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” for this part. In the song, Benatar sings, “Put up your dukes, let’s get down to it, Hit me with your best shot.” This reminds me of the verbal spats that Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth get into throughout the first part of the novel. At a later ball, Elizabeth even spurns Mr. Darcy by refusing to dance with him after he has asked her. Elizabeth spats, “Indeed, Sir, I have not the least intention of dancing.” This rebuff only serves to spark Mr. Darcy’s interest in her, but she has no clue of this. Benatar also sings, “You better make sure you put me in my place.” By speaking to Mr. Darcy this way, Elizabeth is almost taunting him to get angry with her and put her in her place.
Elizabeth makes no secret of her dislike for Mr. Darcy, and on more than one occasion she is rude to him. This is a very bold act for a woman of her time, and this is why I picked “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” for this part. In the song, Benatar sings, “Put up your dukes, let’s get down to it, Hit me with your best shot.” This reminds me of the verbal spats that Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth get into throughout the first part of the novel. At a later ball, Elizabeth even spurns Mr. Darcy by refusing to dance with him after he has asked her. Elizabeth spats, “Indeed, Sir, I have not the least intention of dancing.” This rebuff only serves to spark Mr. Darcy’s interest in her, but she has no clue of this. Benatar also sings, “You better make sure you put me in my place.” By speaking to Mr. Darcy this way, Elizabeth is almost taunting him to get angry with her and put her in her place.