Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen, 1813 (first published)
T. Egerton, Whitehall (original publisher), 272 pgs (Dover ed.) 

A classic romance novel that needs no introduction, Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is one of the most popular classic novels of the 20th century. It's estimated to date that it as sold more than 20 million copies since the first publication in 1813. Has sparked many movies, numerous adaptations, and is the second most beloved book in the United Kingdom (first being Lord of the Rings). I had never read any of Jane Austen's works and wanted to pick a well-known and very well received romantic tale of self growth and courtship for my "good" Valentine's Day pick. The book also presented a challenge as I am unfamiliar with Early English Language (the oldest book I've ever read to date was A Moveable Feast, published in 1976 and written in the 1920's by some American dude named Hemingway.) I was determined to jump into a classic book with both feet, and see if I could wade through the language of early 19th Century English language. I mean, I've seen enough Downton Abbey. It couldn't be any more confusing, right? 

Well, funny you should mention that... 

As most of you are aware of the plot of this book, I will try to give it the shortest summary possible, since most of us already know what happens at the end, I will forgo my oath just this once and summarize the entire novel, that being said: THIS WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS. So if you haven't read the book, or, if you've read the book and just want to get to the good stuff, you may skip the next few paragraphs. 

The story focuses on the Bennett Family, who have 5 daughters (oldest to youngest) Jane, Elizabeth (protagonist, witty, smart, yet prejudiced), Mary, Kitty, and Lydia. They are all hoping to be wed soon as Mr. Bennett will die and of course this being pre-women's rights, will lose their inheritance/land if not passed to another married male. (Which, I mean, is such fucking bullshit, right?) Mr. Bingley (wealthy, handsome, charming) moves into the estate next door (Netherfield) with his sister Caroline and his friend, Mr Darcy (brooding, prideful, party pooper.) They invite the Bennett's to a dance, Mr Darcy is being a party pooper and won't dance with anyone, Mr Bingley falls for Jane, Jane secretly loves Mr Bingley but is playing hard to get, Elizabeth thinks Darcy a dickhole.
Jane rides over to Netherfield, catches cold and cannot come home, Elizabeth walks over there to care for her,  Caroline opens the door, sees Elizabeth looking less then refined in a muddy dress. Immediately despises her. Darcy sees Elizabeth, finds this incredibly hot. Is taken by her, Elizabeth still thinks Darcy is a dickhole. Caroline (who is in love with Darcy. Don't worry if this is getting too confusing, because I was wicked confused too.) despises Elizabeth even more.

Meanwhile, Mr. Collins (Clergyman, an idiot who says he despises books, the heir to the Bennett estate) comes to visit, finds his cousin Elizabeth attractive and proposes to her (ew ew ew ew ew) She refuses. the wounded Collins decides to bounce back and proposes to her best friend, Charlotte (kind, intelligent, but poor daughter of local Knight.) Meanwhile,The Bennett family entertains a militia stationed nearby, One of them is named Wickman, who tells Elizabeth about how Mr. Darcy is an ass to his servants and swindled him out of his rightful inheritance. Elizabeth further finds Darcy to be the ultimate dickhole.

Darcy and the Bingley's return to London after the summer, Jane becomes upset as he left without proposing or admitting his love to her. It's reviled later that Mr Darcy helped in convincing Mr Bingley to not marry her. So a few weeks later Jane decides to visit friends in London and hopes to run into Mr Bingley. She meets up with Caroline who acts like an ass to Jane (because Darcy is now in love with her sister Elizabeth and not herself. and the fact the the Bennets are on a lower class system than the Bingleys.) Tells Jane about Darcy's role in not proposing to her. Mr Bingley never sees her. Jane is tossed into depression. Elizabeth visits Collins and Charlotte at her aunts house (Lady Catherine de Bourgh.) Darcy visits her aunt and sees Elizabeth, both start spending more time together. Darcy proposes to Elizabeth in a not very kind manner ("I think you're rad, but your family is pretty poor and kinda awful. But I can try to look past that." PRIDE!) Elizabeth obviously refuses, calls him out on being a dickhole, tells him that he was responsible for breaking up Jane and Bingley, being an asshole to his servants, and swindling Wickman out of inheritance. Darcy responds telling Elizabeth that Wickman traded inheritance for cash payment, squandered all his money, ran off to war, then when couldn't get back into his inheritance tried to marry his sister. He foiled that plan and now Wickman hates him for it. As for Bingley and Jane, Darcy states that Jane showed no interest in Bingley,  as well as Elizabeth's parents acting very desperate, took to think they were golddiggers too and bro'd Bingley out on the info to prevent heartbreak. Elizabeth then sees the err of her ways by pre-judging him (PREJUDICE!) and has second thoughts about Darcy.

bah, this is getting too long, basically all you need to know at this point is that Wickman is a dickhead, Darcy was right, Elizabeth gets over herself and decides to marry dark and mysterious Darcy. Everyone is happy.
Needless to say, this book was eh.

Now don't go jumping down my throat just yet, because I understand the importance of this book and the great impact it had on fiction and classical literature. I also understand that this was written in the early 19th century and Elizabeth is supposed to be the daring Katinss Everdeen of her day (riding through a rainstorm and getting her dress muddy = Feminism!) I can get behind that, but still. I feel like there could have been more intrigue rather than a whole he-said, she-said, they-said plot. Everything felt so neat and status quo. I wished it was a bit more salacious or even scandalous, since I WAS reading this for the ROMANCE because it was VALENTINE'S DAY. This was like reading my 6th grade diary (albeit more flushed out and in 19th cent English instead of poor Swenglish.)  I'm not here to say that this book wasn't romantic, it was. I enjoyed Austen's more realistic and cynical take on the various relationships of her characters (Darcy and Elizabeth, of course but also her BFF Charlotte for marrying the ditzy Mr. Collins because he's got moolah, as well as man-crazy Lydia, who wants to flirt around with the colonel.) I also enjoyed Darcy's well-known speech given to Elizabeth when she decides to marry him "You've bewitched my body and soul" yadda yadda yadda. However, that's not exactly how it went down in the book. Here's what he said, verbatim 

Elizabeth was much too embarrassed to say a word. After a short pause, her companion added, “You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on this subject forever.” Elizabeth feeling all the more than common awkwardness and anxiety of his situation, now forced herself to speak; and immediately, though not very fluently, gave him to understand, that her sentiments had undergone so material a change, since the period to which he alluded, as to make her receive with gratitude and pleasure, his present assurances.

See the difference? the most often quoted romancey samanchy line ISN'T EVEN IN THE BOOK. They actually wrote it into the 2005 movie version. (which, phew! that was pretty romantic and adorable, bt-dubs.) So, chew on that, Janeaphiles!

Long story short, I wasn't enthralled with this book being my date for valentine's day. I felt like it was too button up, proper, and gossipy. Not to say I didn't enjoy it, but...well, it wouldn't be my first choice. I enjoyed the idea of this novel, but I didn't enjoy the execution. If I want forbidden early 19th century romance, I should have picked up Wuthering Heights.

Book Haiku

Middle class spinsters!

Reluctant, cynical love!

More "eh" than awesome.




Bonus Material (cause they made me laugh):

AW Auden also gets into the poetry book review scene.

Jane Austen Comics

Lizzie Bennet Diaries