What one reviewer said about Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Irene Sutcliffe:
For anyone who has ever thought, "I really should read the classics," 'Pride and Prejudice' is a wonderful place to begin. Why? First, the work is very readable, even though it was written well over a hundred years ago. Second, it's not too long and the chapters are very short. (I hope I'm beginning to convince you...) Third, maybe you'll see yourself in the book or someone you know. Fourth, Austen takes a humorous, entertaining, and throught-provoking look at human nature, which has not changed and probably never will.
Austen's heroine, Elizabeth Bennett, is a bright, intelligent young lady who is delighted to see her older sister Jane meet and fall for an English gentleman. At the same time that her sister meets someone, Elizabeth meets a brash, arrogant man named Darcy. Darcy's manner quickly irritates and disgusts Elizabeth beyond belief. There's no way this couple could ever get together, right? :)
Austen does a masterful job of telling an intelligent story that works as social commentary, a study of human nature, class distinctions, and so much more. So many subtle shades of human pride, prejudice, arrogance, condescension, and forgiveness are present in the book as they are in real life.
Mr. Collins’ Three letters After reading the novel Pride and Prejudice, the readers may feel satisfied with the two young couples’ final happy ending. At the same time, several other figures in the novel should also be vividly left in their mind. The clergymen, Longbourn’s heir—Mr. Collins must be one of them. Jane Austen does not only describe this character by an unique way, but also reveal other main characters’ views on marriage, and prepares the further development of the plots in the novel through this minor role. In the novel, Jane Austen describes Mr. Collin mainly by his three letters and his actual behaviors. His first letter – also his debut, is filled with long and formal words, which conveys his social position and his intention to visit Longbourn: “ to assure you of my readiness to make them every possible amends…”(51). With his pompous amends “ This was his plan of amends—of atonement—for inheriting their father’s estate; and he thought it an excellent one, full of eligibility and suitableness, and excessively generous and disinterested on his own part.”(57), Mr. Collins begins his funny courtship. Mr. Collins himself is the man who holds the view that is shown in the very beginning 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.”(1). Complying with the social standards (Having now a good house and very sufficient income, he intended to marry…”(57), he changes his targets from Jane to Elizabeth, to Charlotte in amazingly rapid succession. He is not to marry for the real marriage, but for the social acceptance. On the other hand, the whole procedure also mirrors the concerned characters’ values of marriage. The protagonist—Elizabeth’s flat refusal to Mr. Collins’ proposal indicates her expectation of marriage: “ You could not make me happy, and I am convinced that I am the last woman in the world who would make you so.”(87). What she demands to acquire from the marriage is not “a good fortune”, but happiness and true love. That’s the reason why she is so astonished when she hears that Charlotte will engaged with Mr. Collins “ …when called into action, she would have sacrificed every better feeling to worldly advantage. Charlotte the wife of Mr. Collins, was a most humiliating picture!”(101). But Charlotte, who has almost the same social position as Elizabeth’s, is convinced that “…and considering Mr. Collins’ character, connection, and situation in life…my chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on entering the marriage state.”(101). Like most women at that time, she judges marriage with the materialistic standards. When the Bennets are anxious about lydia’s infamous elopement, Mr. Collins’ second letter occurred unexpectedly. His insincere care and advice “throw off your unworthy child from your affection for ever and leave her to reap the fruits of her own heinous offence.”(237), shows his fake religious belief. In addition, the words about Lady Catherine in the letter “They agreed with me in apprehending that this false step in one daughter will be injurious to the fortunes of all the others; for who, as Lady Catherine herself condescendingly says, will connect themselves with such a family?”(227), reveals Lady Catherine’s disgust with the Bennets. It also predicts that she will take this notorious affair as the most powerful weapon to prevent the marriage between her nephew and Elizabeth “I am no strange to the particulars of your youngest sister’s infamous elopement. I know it all…And is such a girl to be my nephew’s sister?…Heaven and earth—of what are you thinking? Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted?”(275). Mr. Collins’ third letter is sent when Elizabeth hesitates over how to solve the problem between her and Mr. Darcy. In order to guard the benefit of his patroness and also of his own, Mr. Collins expresses his strongly objection on their “has not been properly sanctioned” marriage. It’s his arrogant words that consequently make Elizabeth resolve to open her heart to Mr. Darcy when they meet. Ironically enough, their final happy marriage should owe a part to the influence of Mr. Collins’ letter. Beauty generates by comparison. Mr. Collins’ long-winded words and worldly action serves as a stiff tone to contrast and also to restrain the bulk of bright tone in the novel. Through the contradiction, what the author praises and opposes are more obvious and the motif of the novel is more sensible. In addition, it also can be regarded as a hint to push forward the progress of the plots and lead the novel to the final climax.
Jane Austen opens this book with a cynical commentary on the Eighteenth Century conception of the value of love - Jane Austen takes us through the lives and loves of Jane, Elizabeth and their wider family and friends in this most sparkling of her novels. Elizabeth Bennet is the intelligent and witty daughter of a country gentleman. Mr. Darcy is a wealthy landowner. Darcy's pride regarding his status in society and Elizabeth's prejudice against Darcy's arrogant behavior keep these two apart. Lizzy's sensible older sister, Jane is in love with Mr. Bingley, whose family is against the relationship. As for the younger sisters, Mary only cares about books, while Kitty and Lydia chase after every man they see. At the close of the novel, Darcy finally shows his true generous nature and Elizabeth discards her prejudice in favor of his love. Elizabeth (Lizzy) Bennet is forced to deal with a mother whose only goal is life is to marry off all of her daughters. Lizzy meets Mr. Darcy, a wealthy, yet arrogant man. They hate each other at first, but then Darcy realizes that he's madly in love with her! This book is a parody of the battle between the lower gentry of merrie England and the slightly higher toffs as they each search for love, but each is hindered by pre-conceived 'prides' and 'prejudices' of other social classes. The main pratagonist, Lizzy Bennett, manages to overcome her mother's objections to the pomposity and deign of her long-time adversary, Mr Darcy, and find true love. The book is full of minor characters who all marry for the wrong reasons. Charlotte for status, Lydia for sex and Mrs Hirst for money. But the Bennett sisters are maniuplated by Austen to marry for the only thing worth marrying for ... love.
I am a 17 year old who has fallen in love with the book and the series. I love the olden days and Jane Austen is the greatest writer EVER. I know not many people my age have any interest in olden times and how people lived or how the women were married off for money rather than love but this shows it brilliantly. 10 out of 10 for this Love it. Jade xx
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