In a society, a woman’s reputation is of the utmost importance not only to her, but to everyone around. A woman is expected to behave in certain ways that are set as standards to be fulfilled. Stepping outside the social norms makes her vulnerable to repudiate.
The theme is well explained in a classic novel, ‘Pride and Prejudice’ by Jane Austen. How a woman should behave, but how the protagonist actually fulfills her needs and everything she wants out of her life are contradictions, yet an extremely crucial point to be understood.
Introduction
Book’s Name - Pride and Prejudice
Author’s Name - Jane Austen
Genre - Historical fiction, romantic, satirical
Language - English
Synopsis - Spoiler Alert
Mrs. Bennet attempts to coax Mr. Bennet to visit Mr. Bingley, who is a rich bachelor who has recently arrived in the neighbourhood. After some verbal wrangling with her husband, Mrs. Bennet believes he will not call on Mr. Bingley. Mr. Bingley's sisters, Caroline and Louisa later invited Jane to Netherfield for a dinner.
On her way there, Jane was caught in a rain shower and catches a bad cold, forcing her to stay at Netherfield to convalesce, much to Mrs. Bennet's delight. When Elizabeth goes to see Jane, Mr. Darcy finds himself slyly getting attracted towards Elizabeth, stating that she had ‘fine eyes’.
While Miss Bingley grows jealous of this fact, as she herself has her own desires for Mr. Darcy. However, Elizabeth at first, herself is indifferent and completely unaware of his developing interest in her.
About the Author
Jane Austen was born on 16th December 1775, in Hampshire, England and died on 18th July 1817. She was an English writer who gave the novel its distinctly modern character through her treatment of ordinary people in everyday life. In her lifetime, she published a total 4 novels, Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814) and Emma (1815).
About the Book
Pride and Prejudice is a romantic novel of manners written by Jane Austen in the year 1813. The novel follows the character development of Elizabeth Bennet, the dynamic protagonist of the book who learns about the repercussions of hasty judgments and comes to appreciate the difference between superficial goodness and actual goodness.
Its humor lies in its honest depiction of manners, education, marriage, and money during the Regency era in Great Britain. Mr. Bennet of Longbourn estate has five daughters, but his property is entailed and can only be passed to a male heir. His wife also lacks an inheritance, so his family will be destitute upon his death. Thus, it is imperative that at least one of the girls marry well to support the others, which is a motivation that drives the plot.
The novel basically revolves and evolves around the importance of marrying for the emotions of love rather than money or prestige of the society, and also despite the communal pressure to make a wealthy match to become a successful couple. Pride and Prejudice has consistently and often appeared near the top of lists of the "most-loved books" among all the literary scholars and the reading audience.
It has now become one of the most popular novels in the whole history of English literature, with over 20 million copies sold. It has inspired many descendants in modern literature. For more than a century, dramatic adaptations, reprints, unofficial sequels, films, and TV versions of Pride and Prejudice have portrayed the memorable characters and themes of the novel, reaching mass audiences.
Although this book is a mine of heart throbbing quotes and dialects, but if I were to choose, these three of them comes in my mind utmost:
- “Do not consider me now as an elegant female, intending to play you, but as a rational creature, speaking the truth from her heart.”
- “I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine.”
- “My good opinion once lost, is lost forever.”
The Bottom Line
Pride and Prejudice is one of the ‘most loved’ novels in English literature, which contains the most cherished love story of Darcy and Elizabeth. And like any other love story, the lovers of the book had to cross through various hurdles in order to succeed in love.
Elizabeth’s pride stuck in between makes her misapprehend Darcy on the basis of a poor first impression he had upon her. However, this is not just a one way miscommunication. Darcy’s prejudice against Elizabeth’s poor social standing blinds him as well, and for a time, to her many virtues actually.
In short, one could also say that Elizabeth is guilty of prejudice and Darcy of the pride, which also cuts and explains the title in both ways.
Yet for a better understanding of it, you should definitely get a copy of the book from Amazon- Pride and Prejudice.
My Ratings for the book - 5 on 5
Written By - Pavas Shrigyan
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