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| The 2005 movie tie-in cover |
Now, eight years later, as a college senior, I once again find myself in a situation where I have this famous book as part of my course. Being nine years older and having read this classic once again (with a much more mature point of view) I must say, this book is an immortal classic for a reason- it still holds up nearly 200 years after its publication.
Pride and Prejudice tells the tale of the Bennet family, whose five (very eligible) daughters are at the "proper" age to get married. The Bennet estate is entailed to the closest male heir, in this case, an obnoxious cousin of the girls named Mr. Collins, and thus, their mother Mrs. Bennet is anxious to see her daughters well settled. Each of the Bennet girls has their individual characteristics. The eldest, Jane, is sweet and caring, the third, Mary, is shy and aloof, the fourth and fifth, Kitty and Lydia, are fun-loving and flirtatious, and the second eldest, Elizabeth, the heroine of the story, has a mind of her own. Elizabeth is sharp, quick and witty, and has her head upon her shoulders.
At a ball, Jane attracts the attention of a wealthy and handsome gentleman named Mr. Bingley and she herself falls head over heels for him. Despite the connection, the two refrain from expressing their love for each other. Elizabeth meets the handsome and even wealthier My. Darcy, but she considers him proud and self-centered- even to the point of rejecting his proposal. Elizabeth's attention is caught by the dashing Mr. Wickham, a young soldier whose personality enchants her. Mrs. Bennet's only goal in life is to have her daughters married off well, while Mr. Bennet honestly couldn't care less about the women's affairs.
The entire novel is indeed a story of the five sisters' search for love and happiness- but all in all, it tells us mostly about things from Elizabeth's perspective. Her opinion of issues, her relationships, and the decisions she makes, all make up the core of the book. The other four Bennet girls as well as their parents are reduced to supporting roles- but remain important enough for the story to revolve around them as well.
Elizabeth Bennet turns out to be one of the strongest female characters I have ever encountered in a book (yes, even more than Hermione Granger). She is confident, determined, headstrong and gifted with virtues of beauty and brain in the perfect balance. Although she makes a few mistakes, she is mindful enough to acknowlege them and correct herself for the better. I'm sure many female readers (and even a lot of male ones) will identify with Elizabeth. She goes through much the same problems as we do today. She falls in and out of love, jumps to conclusions, is occasionally socially awkward and has to deal with barbs from several directions (like the Bingley sisters and Lady Catherine de Bourgh).
Elizabeth's love interest, Darcy, is portrayed with a certain finesse, you think along with Elizabeth that he is not a pleasant character, but the tables turn in the latter part of the novel. Pride and Prejudice is indeed an apt title, Elizabeth is partly blinded by her prejudice towards Darcy and Darcy's pride prevents him from coming across as likeable. But this in itself is the beauty of the story- two characters with major flaws overcome their individual issues and come together in the end. It's something that has been emulated in innumerable books, movies and TV series over the past two centuries.
Although the book is set in late 1700's England, that does not allow the freshness of the story to fade. So much of the book is applicable to modern day settings. Universal themes like love, marriage, pride, vanity, selfishness and the desire to meet expectations, shine brightly than ever. In fact, I am at a loss to think of another book where so many domestic issues are balanced as effectively as in this one.
As far as negatives are concerned, I would say the major drawback of the novel is the inaccessibility of the language. Jane Austen's use of proper but outdated English may be difficult for younger readers (like me when I was twelve). The English language has evolved a lot since the 18th Century, and modern day novels are a world apart from this one. Some parts of the novel also tend to lag and the pacing isn't fluid throughout, with long dialogues and lengthy letters thrown in, but the book wraps up reasonably well. The ending is satisfying, albeit predictable, and to use modern terms, sappy.
Despite the innumerable situations and events in the book, Pride and Prejudice is what it is- a romance. And to that end, it serves its purpose very well. We cross paths with characters we could relate to in our everyday life; from the scatterbrained Mrs. Bennet to the pompous Mr. Collins, we all have encountered characters like these in our life (or at least I have). That is probably the most charming part of the novel- we can relate to it. Elizabeth is more than just a heroine, she is the driving force of the story. Her trials, emotions and impressions are the ones we face as well. Following her journey through the course of the book is an experience in itself.
For what it's worth, Pride and Prejudice is a brilliant book. Jane Austen's meticulous portrayal of domestic life in the 18th Century is a marvel of English Literature. The endearing, relatable characters, the sweeping romance and the fascinating visuals all make for a delightful read. This is one classic for the ages.
RATING: ★★★★★