Jane Austen’s fiction Pride and Prejudice was published in 1813. The theme of this novel is that love is unpredictable, and appearances are often contrary to reality.
Elizabeth Bennet is an intelligent young woman whose mother only has one concern: marrying her and her sisters to reliable (and rich) gentlemen. When Mr. Bingley and his friend Mr. Darcy (both wealthy bachelors) arrive to the small town of Meryton, it seems such an opportunity has presented itself. While Bingley immediately falls for Elizabeth’s kind older sister, Jane; Darcy and Elizabeth loathe each other. Of course, there’s always the fact that the Bennet family’s house will be inherited by an incompetent cousin. Or that Kitty and Lydia Bennet flirt excessively with any soldiers who come to town (in an era where this is unbelievable), and are rather poor judges of character? In this world, pride and prejudice reign supreme. The hunt to find a happy ending is on.
I adored this novel! The book (having been written about two hundred years ago) is slightly difficult to read. It’s quite funny, as well as making excellent statements and having 3-D characters. I agree with the sentiment of the book, especially with the time period it was written in. Women did not have the ability to inherit property, which places more emphasis on marrying well. To be able to find a person who you really loved was even more rare and remarkable than it is today. The extreme need for a woman’s “virtue” to be untouched is somewhat overhyped, however. Other books which support similar ideas are…well…most period pieces. One which is adjacent is the novel Belladonna, but as it has a protagonist who is an embodiment of death, it seems a poor example. Bridgerton, perhaps, though I have neither watched nor read the book. However, the theme of finding out who someone really is remarkably applicable to the modern day. Women continue to be targeted by undeserving people. People still make undeserved remarks, or judge others. Make Wickham a seemingly well-behaved party boy, remove the stress on not having intimate relations, and the book still delivers. I believe that until the world moves past people who take advantage of others, and does not want a good enemies-to-lovers story, this novel will be loved. Pride and Prejudice is a fantastic book. I most certainly will read it again.
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