Scribd
Upload
283 views2 pages

Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen was a popular 19th century author known for her works including Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and Emma. Pride and Prejudice focuses on the Bennet family, specifically daughters Elizabeth and Jane, as they seek husbands in Regency-era England. The story follows the developing relationships between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, as well as Jane and Mr. Bingley, as societal expectations pressure the women to marry. While confusing at times to keep the characters straight, the novel provides historical insight into culture, society, and gender roles in Austen's era through the romantic plotlines and witty dialogue.

Uploaded by

naveedzia01
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
283 views2 pages

Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen was a popular 19th century author known for her works including Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and Emma. Pride and Prejudice focuses on the Bennet family, specifically daughters Elizabeth and Jane, as they seek husbands in Regency-era England. The story follows the developing relationships between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, as well as Jane and Mr. Bingley, as societal expectations pressure the women to marry. While confusing at times to keep the characters straight, the novel provides historical insight into culture, society, and gender roles in Austen's era through the romantic plotlines and witty dialogue.

Uploaded by

naveedzia01
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

BY
JANE AUSTEN
About The Author :

Jane Austen (1775-1817) was a popular 19th century author whose works became more popular after
her death. Besides Pride & Prejudice her other major works include Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield
Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey, and Persuasion. Not only have her works been widely studied, they
have been turned into movies, again and again. Despite varying opinions on the validity of her
contribution to literature her work has had unwavering popularity through the decades and some say it
has become the template for many of today's romance novels.

The Book

Pride and Prejudice is a story about society and the relationships of family. Its focus is on one family, the
Bennet's, specifically the two eldest daughters; Elizabeth (Lizzy) and Jane. Societal law demands upon
the death of the supporting male, all funds and fortune are entailed to the next living 'male' relative.
This puts the Bennet family at a disadvantage because they have five daughters. Mr. Bennet's fortune
will pass to his estranged cousin, Mr. Collins.

Because of these circumstances it is Mrs. Bennet's direst wish to make sure her daughters are married
off to stately gentlemen as soon as possible. Pride & Prejudice opens with the arrival of Mr. Bingley who
brings high hopes of a possible suitor. They are all amenably introduced and attend a few parties where
they had the delight of meeting the most wonderful [in his own mind] Mr. Darcy. Mr. Darcy leaves a cold
and rude impression on Elizabeth.

Bingley and Jane hit it off immediately and everyone thinks it's a matter of time before they announce
their engagement but without notice to the Bennet's or anyone else Bingley and his catty sisters, along
with Darcy, pack up and head back to London leaving Jane depressed and wallowing in her loss. This is
just one of the on again off again possible matrimonies in Pride & Prejudice. With so many daughters to
find husbands for it's no wonder the extremes Mrs. Bennet has to go to find them mates. Including
sending one off in the rain to become deathly ill and sending another off to visit with soldiers in a
neighboring county.

All the semantics is quite fun despite being somewhat confusing at times. You almost need a map to
keep the lineage, women and suitors straight. It took a few pages to get into the dialogue. Strangely, I
find it easier to read it aloud, although, someone listening to me probably wouldn't think so. There's a
formality to reading Jane Austen not present in today's writing. Even the way the characters address one
another. Mrs. Bennet refers to her husband as "Mr. Bennet". I wondered if this formality carried on into
private moments.

My Thoughts

Despite having unique personalities I found it confusing to keep each "Miss Bennet" straight when more
than one was involved in a scene and didn't know who was who or that the perspective had changed
until the next paragraph. Austen switches back and forth between their formal and given names. I also
find the point of view flips back and forth carelessly. Something not widely used today.

Pride and Prejudice has a comedic feel to it but I didn't find my self chuckling or laughing aloud from
their antics and dialogue. It is really quite dramatic. I found the story to be more ironic than comedic.

What I really enjoy about the novel is the look into society, culture, relationship dynamics and women in
an era I have no way to comprehend. It's a historical lesson hidden within a love story and once the
journey was over, most enjoyable.

You might also like