Scan barcode
A review by syliu
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
This was, for the most part, a leisurely and fun read. Austen has a talent for writing incredibly vivid and engaging dialogue, and it were always the moments in which characters spoke with each other that I enjoyed the most.
Unfortunately, the characters don’t often talk about anything of substance, and only a few relationships really stood out to me as being well defined. I liked Jane and Elizabeth, who are very sweet and supportive of each other. Mr. Bennet and Mrs. Bennet have an intriguing relationship, as do the whole Bennet family. Most of the other characters fall rather short.
My main gripe with this book is the central relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth.Between their first meeting and Darcy’s proposal there simply aren’t enough interactions for me to be convinced of his overpowering love for her. I was most disappointed when Elizabeth asks Darcy to explain why he fell in love at the climax of the novel, and she answers the question for him instead of letting him speak. Even worse, much of the dialogue at this climax, which I’d been looking forward to very much, was substituted with lines such as “he told her of feelings, which, in proving of what importance she was to him, made his affection every moment more valuable”. What feelings?!? Darcy’s feelings and general character are both too unbelievable — he seemed like an asshole to begin with (or the archetypical ‘bad boy’ as people like to say) but was soon revealed to be better than a saint, rich and handsome, and inexplicably in love besides?
At the end of the day neither Darcy nor Elizabeth had any real character flaws, and the whole romance felt far too gratuitous. I understand enjoying the book for its other aspects — glimpses into upper class family life and society, but there wasn’t enough to fill in the gaps. I also wish we got to see more of what their married life is like, instead of being squeezed into the last twenty or so pages.
Unfortunately, the characters don’t often talk about anything of substance, and only a few relationships really stood out to me as being well defined. I liked Jane and Elizabeth, who are very sweet and supportive of each other. Mr. Bennet and Mrs. Bennet have an intriguing relationship, as do the whole Bennet family. Most of the other characters fall rather short.
My main gripe with this book is the central relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth.
At the end of the day neither Darcy nor Elizabeth had any real character flaws, and the whole romance felt far too gratuitous. I understand enjoying the book for its other aspects — glimpses into upper class family life and society, but there wasn’t enough to fill in the gaps. I also wish we got to see more of what their married life is like, instead of being squeezed into the last twenty or so pages.