Hi ppl,
Such gorgeous reviews have been written on ’’Pride and Prejudice’’ and no matter what I write or say , words will always be too inadequate to reflect the grandeur and beauty of this ’’classic’’ classic.
When you think of P&P, immediately the magnificent characters of Elizabet Bennet flash across your mind.In this book, one gets to see both Jane Austen’s talent and her keen observation of the then English society .
P&P revolves around two main protagonists - Elizabeth Bennet- attractive, lively, intelligent, diametrically opposite to the norms of ladyhood, free and fiery of spirit.
Fitzwilliam Darcy- aristocratic, a typical very alpha male, arrogance and attitude personified and ya, okay, devastatingly handsome- You know the kind you put into the category of ’’classic manhood’’. Both of them come from different backgrounds, different stratas of the ’’stuck-up’’ English society, different planes of thought and to make matters worse, war is declared in their very first meeting when Darcy replete with his signature arrogance ’’mortifiies ’’ Elizabeth’s pride.
Then, situations continue to throw them together and before Elizabeth, its Darcy who falls in love with this livewire.Elizabeth’s straight-forward outlook, her genuine quality free of all airs and graces and her provocation of Darcy by way of their fiery exchanges and not to forget her ’’fine eyes’’ break through Darcy’s sophistication, ultra-polished pride and he is forced to tell her that he loves her ’’inspite of himself, against his will.
’’Liz’s refusal turns Darcy on the path of ’’self-intospection’’ and just for love, he changes himself. Elizabeth’s beautiful transformation of feelings for Darcy is sensitively handled.Sigh, sigh, till date I am surrounded by Darcy-lovers.
Just imagine, the author of such a classic love-story never married! Such remarkable women are great inspiration for girls like me.
Parallel to this firebrand love-story run many other plots. The love angle between Elizabeth’s elder sister, Jane and Darcy’s adorable and amiable best friend Bingley, the viciousness of the classic creep Wickham and his shameless angle with Liz’s psycho sister Lydia, Gardiners’ adorable role in bringing Darcy and Elizabeth together, Mrs. Bennet’s loud and vulgar character and its generous display everywhere, the pseudo-serious and genuinely amusing characters of Mr. Collins and Lady Catherine, Miss.Bingley’s unreciprocated affection for Darcy and many more. Each track is handled deftly and Austen’s skill clearly shines through.Each and every character is very close to real life, infact, you can find a lousy Mrs. Bennet anywhere in the ’’aunty brigade’’.
P&P casts a critical eye on the position of women during that era in England where girls were brought up with the sole aim of finding a husband with a comfortable income and if not that then they settled as a governess in spinsterhood.This is reflected in Charlotte’s marriage to a ’’much-beneath-her’’ and extremely stupid Mr. Collins just for monetory security..’’Husband-hunting’’ women, as a critic has callled them.So, when Elizabeth, the most different of the Bennet daughters decides to marry for love and not money, Mrs.Bennet doesn’t understand this ideology.Infact, basically, Mr.Bennet and Jane are the only sane people in the Bennet house besides Elizabeth.
Darcy, Elizabeth, Lydia, Mrs.Bennet and Wickham are the most interesting and well-etched characters of this classic.Liveliness of Elizabeth, wild and thoughtless streak of Lydia, shocking vulgarity of Mrs. bennet and the sophisticated meanness of the wicked Wickham and above all the irresistible charm of Darcy stay with you long after you are done with this book.Personally, I think Darcy is the most interesting and intriguing character in English Literature besides Rhett Butler (Gone with the wind), Captain Bluntschli(?)( Arms and the man) and a few others.
I call it a study in a human psyche because it reinstates the basic fact of human psychology- we have a tendency to be repelled by and attracted to people at the same time and its always those who run away from us that excite us. Hmm....think it over , people.
DOMINUS VOBISCUM SPIRITUO TUO.