Scan barcode
A review by gretatimaite
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
4.0
It's funny how much honesty to yourself can change the experience of reading a book.
It's my second time reading 'Pride and Prejudice' and the first time I did I had a prejudiced attitude. I was thinking I should read it as it's classics but expecting myself not to like because, well, I'm not someone to be into love stories, ok. I felt myself liking it but not admitting so in my head I only credited Austen with the nice and witty writing style. I'll ignore the fact that I watched the 1995 and 2005 adaptations. Few years fast forward, searching for non-academic reading that I know would make me enjoy the story, I turned to 'Pride and Prejudice'. I admitted to myself, like a real adult, that I liked it back then and would recommend the book.
The relationship between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy is phenomenal and memorable, one that makes you a little bit envious but happy nevertheless. Other characters (do I mention Mr. Collins or Mrs. Bennet?!) are no less memorable and enjoyable to follow. But nobody beats the couple, of course.
One of the most vivid and thought-provoking situations for me was Mr. Collins marriage proposal to Elizabeth. His insistence that Lizzie's rejection is based on the idea that such an action would make him fall even deeper in love for her and that he understands (!) this and doesn't mind her doing this is mind-blowing.
"that it is usual with young ladies to reject the addresses of the man whom they secretly mean
to accept, when he first applies for their favour; and that sometimes the refusal is repeated a
second, or even a third time. I am therefore by no means discouraged"
It just made me think of when a woman tells a dude (or vice versa) that she does not want to have any sexual contact with him or move further, he believes that she plays some mind games and just wants him to want her more and thus says, "I know you want this too, you're so aroused!". Appalling.
Also, Mr. Collins is great at mansplaining too: "I consider myself more fitted by education and habitual study to decide on what is right than a young lady like yourself". Yeah mate, you are indeed a well-educated man whose judgment is always spot on. I deem it was very uncommon for young ladies like Elizabeth to be dismissed like this on the grounds of them lacking education, not to mention the idea that only an 'educated' one knows what is right and wrong. Gravely intolerable.
So yeah Jane Austen is still relevant today and maybe even more so as it's hard not to notice how many notions and stereotypes are still prevailing and, alas, I doubt will go away any time soon. The strong and well-developed character of Elizabeth's is refreshing and inspiring. She is not faultless but reflexive. The story's not complicated but containing many interesting themes like marriage, class, honour, and education and, of course, the issues of pride and prejudice :) the only thing I'm worried about is that the rest of Austen's books aren't as enjoyable as this one.
It's my second time reading 'Pride and Prejudice' and the first time I did I had a prejudiced attitude. I was thinking I should read it as it's classics but expecting myself not to like because, well, I'm not someone to be into love stories, ok. I felt myself liking it but not admitting so in my head I only credited Austen with the nice and witty writing style. I'll ignore the fact that I watched the 1995 and 2005 adaptations. Few years fast forward, searching for non-academic reading that I know would make me enjoy the story, I turned to 'Pride and Prejudice'. I admitted to myself, like a real adult, that I liked it back then and would recommend the book.
The relationship between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy is phenomenal and memorable, one that makes you a little bit envious but happy nevertheless. Other characters (do I mention Mr. Collins or Mrs. Bennet?!) are no less memorable and enjoyable to follow. But nobody beats the couple, of course.
One of the most vivid and thought-provoking situations for me was Mr. Collins marriage proposal to Elizabeth. His insistence that Lizzie's rejection is based on the idea that such an action would make him fall even deeper in love for her and that he understands (!) this and doesn't mind her doing this is mind-blowing.
"that it is usual with young ladies to reject the addresses of the man whom they secretly mean
to accept, when he first applies for their favour; and that sometimes the refusal is repeated a
second, or even a third time. I am therefore by no means discouraged"
It just made me think of when a woman tells a dude (or vice versa) that she does not want to have any sexual contact with him or move further, he believes that she plays some mind games and just wants him to want her more and thus says, "I know you want this too, you're so aroused!". Appalling.
Also, Mr. Collins is great at mansplaining too: "I consider myself more fitted by education and habitual study to decide on what is right than a young lady like yourself". Yeah mate, you are indeed a well-educated man whose judgment is always spot on. I deem it was very uncommon for young ladies like Elizabeth to be dismissed like this on the grounds of them lacking education, not to mention the idea that only an 'educated' one knows what is right and wrong. Gravely intolerable.
So yeah Jane Austen is still relevant today and maybe even more so as it's hard not to notice how many notions and stereotypes are still prevailing and, alas, I doubt will go away any time soon. The strong and well-developed character of Elizabeth's is refreshing and inspiring. She is not faultless but reflexive. The story's not complicated but containing many interesting themes like marriage, class, honour, and education and, of course, the issues of pride and prejudice :) the only thing I'm worried about is that the rest of Austen's books aren't as enjoyable as this one.