Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Rating: ★★★★★
I have yet to find a writer that can exceed the brilliance, wit, and elegance crafted by the pen of Jane Austen. I have recently started to collect Jane Austen's works. Unfortunately Pride and Prejudice is only the second of her novels that I have read in its entirety, the first being Northanger Abby. That being said, I have been thoroughly dazzled by both these works. Jane Austen was so far ahead of her time. Not only was she a female writer in a time when women were subservient in the eye of society, but she wrote about women who outsmarted this system and took control of their own happiness and wellbeing. If you have not yet given Jane Austen a chance, I implore you to check your prejudice of classic literature and crack open an Austen (it's like cracking open a beer, but much better).
Pride and Prejudice is probably Jane Austen's most well-known work, and for good reason. Mr. Darcy is the original heart throb. He stole my heart, not because of his charm, but because he is so complicated and multidimensional. He is the classic misunderstood man, but he is not the focus. The story belongs to Elizabeth Bennet. Elizabeth is the second oldest sister in the Bennet family, and she is a strong, intelligent, independent female lead (thank you Jane Austen). Elizabeth knows what she wants and what she doesn't want, and she doesn't let anyone else decide her future for her. The private scene between Elizabeth and Mr. Collins is one of my favorite scenes in the book. Elizabeth held her ground and made Collins look an idiot. I adored it.
This leads me to another of Austen's strong suits. Every character in this story is so well rounded and complete. Mr. Collins is one of the most annoying ridiculous men I have ever read about, but he is real. He is so complete that I couldn't help, but think of people I know in real life who act as ridiculous as he does. Mrs. Bennet is not a cookie cutter mother, and Mr. Bennet is not a cookie cutter father. They are each fleshed out as their own individual people with very real driving forces beyond their parenthood. Each sister has her own fleshed out personality. I could go on and into detail, but I will spare you that. Read Pride and Prejudice yourself if you're still curious!
Favorite Quotes:
"To such perseverance in willful self-deception Elizabeth would make no reply, and immediately and in silence withdrew; determined, if he persisted in considering her repeated refusals as flattering encouragement, to apply to her father, whose negative might be uttered in such a manner as must be decisive, and whose behavior at least could not be mistaken for the affectation and coquetry of an elegant female" (128).
"The more I see of the world, the more I am dissatisfied with it; and every day confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters, and of the little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of either merit or sense" (156).
"Far be it from me, my dear sister, to depreciate such pleasures! They would doubtless be congenial with the generality of female minds. But I confess they would have no charms for me. I should infinitely prefer a book" (256).
"but angry people are not always wise" (309).
"Neither duty, nor honor, nor gratitude have any possible claim on me, in the present instance. No principle of either would be violated by my marriage with Mr. Darcy. And with regard to the resentment of his family, or the indignation of the world, if the former were excited by his marrying me, it would not give me one moment's concern -- and the world in general would have too much sense to join in the scorn" (407).
