I recently ordered a t-shirt for myself (read: shamelessly falling prey to the advertising on Instagram) that features a reference to Pride and Prejudice. I figured that since I had spent the money (and convinced a fair number of my friends to order matching shirts), it was only right that I read the book another time.
For those of you who have never read Pride and Prejudice, I will offer this summary:
Elizabeth Bennet is the second of five daughters. Her mother claims that it is her only aim to see each of her daughters married and married well, and then she can happily withdraw into the background, spending the rest of her days quietly at home. The reader safely assumes that while she does certainly want to see her daughters married, she will spend the rest of her days neither in quiet nor at home, for she craves attention and merriment as much as her flighty, vain youngest daughter, Lydia. Elizabeth's father does nothing to check the willfulness of his younger daughters or the imprudence of his wife, preferring instead to stay isolated in his library or watch their mishaps with a chuckle and shake of his head. Elizabeth's older sister, Jane, is lovely and gentle and sees only the good in everyone. She is Lizzy's only consolation.
The book begins with Mrs Bennet excitedly announcing to her husband that a rich young man has taken tenancy of a grand house nearby, and he is unmarried, so this can only mean that he is hoping to find a wife, and she wants one of her daughters to be that lucky one. She pressures her husband to meet him so that they can begin regular visits, and she pushes her daughters on him, focusing most of her praise on her lovely oldest, Jane.
Mr Bingley is kind and polite, and of course he is interested in Jane, but his sisters are condescending, and his friend, the even richer Mr Darcy, is even more so. Mr Darcy is assumed by most of the people at the first party to be proud, rude, and unfriendly. Even though he is much richer than Mr Bingley, they cannot like him because he is so aloof. Even Lizzy, the heroine, dislikes him after he snubs her.
Events continue, relationships grow and wane, and Lizzy realizes that she was mistaken about many things, including Mr Darcy's true character and her own feelings. It ends happily and everyone gets what they deserve, for the most part, so that is rewarding.
But the rewarding thing about the novel, in my opinion, is the sneaky humor found in the words and actions so many of the characters. The pompous ones are the best source for humor, in my opinion, characters like Mr Collins and Lady Catherine de Burgh. In one memorable scene, Lady Catherine talks about music at length while watching Lizzy play the piano. She claims that she is one of the most talented musicians in all of England...or she would have been, if she had ever learned to play. Seriously? How could Lizzy keep a straight face and keep playing? I couldn't.
Also, although they can be annoying, Mr and Mrs Bennet have their moments. She is just so, so clueless and he is so, so gently cruel to her--and she doesn't ever know. Ever. She just lets it slide past.
And of course, there is the romance of Lizzy and Mr. Darcy. All of us who shelter a romantic heart love to watch as they slide further into love without realizing it, we agonize over their mistakes and hasty words, and we rejoice when they finally get to voice their true feelings.
I enjoyed reading the book again and finding the "headstrong, obstinate girl" line that is featured on my new shirt. I have to say I don't love this Austen novel as much as I love Emma. I can't articulate quite why at this point. I think it has something to do with the sensitivity behind the humor in Emma and the more harmonious family relationships there. I have come to really have problems with Mr and Mrs Bennet, even though they make me laugh sometimes. I just can't enjoy reading about the trouble they create by not doing anything.
Anyway, read this book if you haven't...or haven't in awhile. Watch one of the film adaptations when you finish and see what the director got right.
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