I’m starting a new, hopefully monthly, Blogging the Classics feature. To get started, I am going with the beloved Pride and Prejudice. It has been a long time since I read it, so I listened to it again on audio. I included a book description from Amazon, although I’m sure most or all of you won’t need it.
BOOK SUMMARY
Love is in the air when five sisters discover that a wealthy and eligible bachelor is suddenly within reach. But it is his friend, the haughty Mr. Darcy, who becomes smitten. Unfortunately for him, the object of his affection is not so easily swayed.
One of the most popular characters in English literature, Elizabeth Bennet is intelligent, witty, well-spoken, and ahead of her time. If the terrible rumors about Mr. Darcy are true, he doesn’t stand a chance. Yet not all gossip is to be believed when marriage, money, and reputations are on the line. Will Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy circumvent her haste, his ego, and society’s expectations to find love?
Written more than two centuries ago, Jane Austen’s enduring story of manners, family, and love continues to delight new generations of readers.
BOOK REVIEW
How does one review a beloved classic? I will do as I usually do and share my impressions. For a book as established and well-loved as this one, I can’t provide any new perspectives, so I will just talk about the aspects that I found the most interesting.
First, Mrs. Bennet is a piece of work! How she produced Jane and Elizabeth, I have no idea. Trying to push Elizabeth off on the annoying Mr. Collins was laughable. However, at that time, people sold their daughters off for their own interests quite regularly. The girls’ father, Mr. Bennet, seems, for most of the book, completely unworried about what happens to them in the future, so that might explain Mrs. Bennet’s over-the-top actions in trying to get her daughters married. I love Mr Bennet’s sense of humor, but appreciated his acknowledgement after the Lydia incident that he needed to be more involved in his family. Perhaps this might have strengthened the relationship of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, who do not seem to have anything in common but their daughters.
Jane Bennet is beautiful and seems to be faultless, almost too perfect in every way. However, I believe she and Elizabeth learn lessons from each other. Elizabeth learns to withhold judgment, and Jane learns to express her feelings more. Why did Jane Austen give this character her name? My guess would be that since Austen published anonymously, giving characters her own name was a way of quietly showing herself to the world. Overall, she named six of her characters “Jane” in various works. It’s an interesting thing to ponder. None of her works were published under Austen’s name until after her death. Writing for publication by a woman at that time was considered improper and unladylike, so naming the very ladylike and proper Jane Bennet after herself may have been an extremely tongue-in-cheek thing to do. I love it.
The snobbery of the upper classes at the time is on full display. Caroline Bingley is particularly awful, undermining Jane’s possible marriage to Bingley at every turn, especially by keeping them apart. This quote sums Caroline up nicely: “I have an excessive regard for Miss Jane Bennet, she is really a very sweet girl, and I wish with all my heart she were well settled. But with such a father and mother, and such low connections, I am afraid there is no chance of it.”
Then there is Lady Catherine de Bourgh, who actually visits Elizabeth at her home to tell her to refuse Mr. Darcy, should he propose. When Elizabeth says no, she is taken aback by her audacity. “Miss Bennet, do you know who I am? I have not been accustomed to such language as this. Your alliance will be a disgrace; your name will never even be mentioned by any of us…..You are a gentleman’s daughter; but who was your mother? Who are your uncles and aunts? Do not imagine me ignorant of their condition.”
Mr. Collins, the self-important clergyman and heir to the Bennet’s estate, is a great source of comic relief, especially his repeated refusal to accept the fact that Elizabeth has turned down his proposal. The way he grovels to Lady Catherine is pathetic, and he serves as a self-appointed messenger to the Bennets from Catherine in some of his letters. I feel that Lady Catherine is a representative of the worst of the aristocracy and Mr. Collins represents the worst of the sycophants who long to be part of their world, but never are.
Jane Austen herself was the daughter of a clergyman, on the fringes of aristocracy, but not a part of it. This gives her a unique insight into the circumstances of the Bennets. She uses Elizabeth, in my opinion, to speak out against certain aspects of it.
But then Austen gives the aristocracy a break. Jane and Elizabeth both join it, and although Darcy stops talking to Lady Catherine for a time, Elizabeth convinces him to invite her back in. Caroline, so vehemently against the union of Jane and Bingley, comes to accept it, although perhaps not enthusiastically. What is Austen’s message here: I think she found the aristocracy to be very judgmental and condescending, but seems to say that they had a chance, if they were more accepting and less proud, to find real happiness. She also acknowledged through Elizabeth that those not in the aristocracy could be unfairly biased against it.
The character development is interesting. Jane becomes more open with her feelings and possibly a little less trusting. Elizabeth learns to get the whole story before making judgments and conclusions against others. She learns a little humility as well, while still retaining her outgoing, outspoken nature.
Mr. Darcy learns to overcome his pride, and his love for Elizabeth makes him realize that he should not judge others by social status.
Mr. Bennet, as mentioned above, realizes he needs to take his younger daughters firmer in hand, and I believe he regrets his mental absence from the family. He was there, but he wasn’t there. He seems to be changing that by the end of the book.
I believe that the only thing that changes for Mrs. Bennet is that she no longer has to worry about her daughters due to the successful marriages of Elizabeth and Jane, and her husband’s resolve to take more interest in their family. Perhaps this would have changed her character in the future.
I’m not sure Lady Catherine changed that much, but she did learn that not everything is under her control.
Mr. Collins is funnily unchanged. At the end of the book, he is still hilariously self-important, social climbing, and oblivious. He serves as comic relief throughout most of the book. Even some of his crueler statements come off as comedy.
Pride and Prejudice is an informative and eye-opening look at class differences in Regency England. I believe it has remained popular because of Elizabeth’s strong character and refusal to be put down by society, as well as Darcy’s willingness to prioritize love over class.
At this time, I have decided not to put star reviews on the classics on this blog. However, if you think I should, let me know.
Please let me know your perceptions of the characters and themes of Pride and Prejudice in the comments below.
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