Okay, so I finally managed to beg and borrow (actually there wasn't that my begging involved) a copy of P&P from Lori. I have been very excited to read this book, as I haven't read it since I was about fifteen, and I'm not sure if I read it all then. Certainly I am much better able to enjoy it now.
I am about half way through now. In particular I have enjoyed reading the conversations, which always get cut short in the movie versions. Elizabeth's (should I say Jane Austen's?) wit really is splendid. Indeed, poor Mr. Darcy seems almost like a back drop, a foil to set off her sparkling personality. Even he, however, seems to me to have gotten short shrift from most of the movies, which have him barely able to crack a smile even at the end. I noticed several places that it says he smiled, and spoke with warmth or passion.
A few observations:
1) Darcy's and Bingley's relatives are every bit as awful as Elizabeth and Jane's, and just as ill-bred and rude. Their only superior claims are money and education.
2) "His pride," said Miss Lucas, "does not offend me so much as pride often does, because there is an excuse for it. One cannot wonder that so very fine a young man, with family, fortune, everything in his favor, should think highly of himself. If I may so express it, he has a right to be proud." (Ch 5) It seems to me that this quote from the practical Charlotte is, in fact, the key to Darcy's character. Yes, he is proud--but he has good reason for it! His pride not only causes him to think well of himself, but to behave as well too, in accordance with all the principles he believes a man of honor should adhere to.
3) The key to Elizabeth's reaction to him is found in her own words, following Charlotte's: "That is very true," replied Elizabeth, "and I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine."
4) Who is proud and who is prejudiced?? This has always been one of the questions of the story to me. Any opinions, any one?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
So very true about the movies. They never do Darcy's transformation justice. And...I can't stand the most recent rendition with Keira Knightly. They leave out SO much of the book and change things around too much. Jim actually conceded to watch it with me. I kept pausing to tell him, "That's not how the book goes..." He kept getting so frustrated!
Who's proud, who's prejudiced... they both are. But their transformation is at the pinnacle of the book.
that's my 2 cents for today.
Aww Lara, you have proved beyond on a shadow of a doubt why I am so thrilled to be doing this book club! This book has always excited me and I love love love to read what everyone else thinks about it! I agreed 100% w/ everything you said and can't wait to talk about all of it on the 6th.
As to who is Pride & who is Prejudice, I have to agree they are both, both! The whole title is ironic. What they value in themselves, they mistakingly dislike in the other. And while one is being Pride then the other Prejudice, you turn to 2 pages later, and they have switched roles. Austen is simply brilliant! Its interesting that the first title of the book was "First Impressions", I love that title as well!
Yes, I think that the only conclusion one can reach is that they are both pride and prejudice. And yet it's clear that on the surface, Darcy is pride and Elizabeth is prejudice. But more subtly, as I pointed, out Elizabeth is prejudiced, not just by his pride, but her own as well. And Darcy, although he "prides" himself on not being prejudiced, always stricly rational, comes to discover that he is more subject to his passions and pride than he thought.
I agree about the movie. I saw it once, and was not impressed with it. I just watched it again (since someone gave it to me), and liked it even less! Although I will say that Darcy was more human and approachable than usual. But it profoundly irritated me. If it's our only choice in movies, I would rather spend the time talking. I've got some more observations I'm going to make. Come on, give us some of your thoughts!
Post a Comment