I read one of the most popular books in the English literature: Pride and Prejudice. It is a novel of manners by Jane Austen, first published in January 1813. I read this book mostly because it is so famous and cherished among the whole world, so I wanted to civilize myself and take a look what this story is all about.
”Pride and Prejudice” tells the story about a life in the society of English countryside at the end of the 18th century, where the manners, morality, reputation and marriage where quite a different thing than nowadays. The novel centres on Elizabeth Bennet, who is twenty years old and is intelligent, playful, attractive and witty. Elizabeth has four sisters, and they all have pretty different personalities: the oldest sister, Jane, is beautiful and charismatic, while Elizabeth is not so pretty but is clever and quaint, Mary is intellectual and bookish, Kitty childish and a little immature, and Lydia is the raucous and the wild one. Their mother’s, Mrs Bennet’s, life mission seems to be to get her all daughter’s married to some gentleman with a good fortune.
The narrative opens with news in the Bennet family that Mr Bingley, a wealthy, good-looking and charismatic young bachelor, is moving into Netherfield Park in the neighborhood. Mr Bingley is soon liked and admired, while his friend, Mr Darcy, draws different kind of attention. ”Mr Hurst merely looked the gentleman; but his friend Mr Darcy soon drew the attention of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien; and the report which was in general circulation within five minutes after his entrance, of his having ten thousand a year. The gentleman pronounced him to be a fine figure of a man, the ladies declared he was much hadsomer than Mr Bingley, and he was looked at with great admiration for about half the evening, till his manners gave a disgust which turned the tide of his popularity; for he was discovered to be proud, to be above his company, and above being pleased; and not all his large estate in Derbyshire could then save him from having a most forbidding, disagreeable countenance, and being unworthy to be compared with his friend.” Mrs Bennet hopes for marriage between one of her daughters and Mr Bingley, and soon Jane and Bingley seems to be the perfect pair. When the story goes forward, Mr Darcy finds greater and greater attraction in Elizabeth whom he thought too unexceptional to dance with at the Meryton ball. Elizabeth deeply cares about Darcy, but because of his pride and pretentious behavior she rejects his proposal. After that Darcy takes some of Elizabeth’s scathing insults to heart and makes himself into a nicer person. But then Darcy’s old enemy, Wickham, accidentally arrives on the scene and tells Elizabeth unpleasant gossips about Darcy turning Elizabeth’s opinions about him. Bingley and Jane’s love is also at stake, when Darcy convinces Bingley that his love is not returned. After many plot twists both ladies and men receive their heart’s desires when each couple spends some time alone and solves their problems. After that, two weddings are happily celebrated.
I think that ”Pride and Prejudice” was the best book what I have read in a long time. The story is engaging at every stage: while strong characters carry the drama of the story, ludicrous personalities keep the reader entertained. ”Pride and Prejudice” is also historically interesting, because it describes well life at the beginning of 19th century. People’s lives were very different compared to present days. Especially marriage was a whole different thing in that time: most girls married not for love but for security. Rather than the man being in want of a wife, the woman is in want of a husband who is ”in possession of good fortune”. The novel has a strong marriage motif, which can be seen even from the opening line of the novel: ”It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.”
People’s social life was also little different: good manners were important, and one must curb their feelings. Good social status was a major thing, and that is why people need to guard their reputation. In ”Pride and Prejudice” there also exists class divisions. That can be seen in Darcy’s behavior: his first impressions on Elizabeth are colored by his snobbery. He can’t admit his love to Elizabeth because of his pride. His first proposal clearly reflects this snobby attitude: ”In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.” Also, Elizabeth believes without a blink of an eye Wickham’s accusations of Darcy because of her prejudice against him. ”Pride and Prejudice” highlights the question of relations between the classes, and the limits of individual rights to free expression.
The language of the book was very interesting because of it’s well-groomed style. Sometimes it was really hard to read, and there were many words, which I haven’t heard ever before. Still throughout the book I was thinking that did people really speak like that in the old good times? Because if so, that would be so amazing.
I also liked the characters of the book. ”Pride and Prejudice” not only relates to the past but to people in this time period. Elizabeth Bennet is a character I can relate to, and Mr Darcy is the type of a man who is probably every girl’s dream. The book also had many other diverse characters, which some of them were lovable and some detestable.
Overall ”Pride and Prejudice” was an excellent book. It has everything you could want – a timeless, gripping storyline; intriguing characters; humor and romance. Even though the ending of the book was predictable, a little lame ”happy ending”, which made the plot look a little unrealistic, it was just the thing what made the book so lovely and dreamy. Like Dr Ian Littlewood said: ”In literature, as in life, it is sometimes preferable to shut the gates against reality.”