[caption id="attachment_2013" align="alignleft" width="292" caption="Portrait of Jane Austen Source: http://www.janeaustenfestival.org/"]<a href="http://jeanatacc.com/2011/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jane.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-2013 " src="http://jeanatacc.com/2011/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jane.jpg" alt="" width="292" height="224" /></a>[/caption]
<p align="left"><em>Pride and Prejudice</em> was completed in August of 1797 by Jane Austen and is an epic and cautionary tale about marriage.  Don’t let that fact discourage you from enjoying this piece of literary excellence. It is a book about how personal pride and unknown prejudices can ruin lives, devastate families, divide generations and drive life-long wedges between people. Fortunately, it is also a book about overcoming obstacles, healing personal flaws, avoiding catastrophes and forming a love-filled marriage based on mutual respect. This iconic piece of literature must be preserved for all future generations because <em>Pride and Prejudice</em> changed the world by offering insight into how married life could be both disastrous and wonderful.<!--more--></p>
<p align="left">The protagonist of the story is Miss Elizabeth Bennet. She is considered Jane Austen’s most memorable feminine heroine, and her intelligent and strong-willed character single-handedly effects a monumental change in societal views that is still heralded, discussed, debated and agonized over today, some 198 years after the novel was completed [Marsh].  The classic and well-loved story was published in 1813 and details the life of Elizabeth Bennet, as she confronts issues of etiquette, manners, morality, education and marriage in the society of the affluent classes during early 19th-century England.</p>
<p align="left">Elizabeth is the second of five daughters and part of a middle-class family that lives near the fictional English town just outside of London. The original title of this work was <em>First Impressions</em> but I am pleased that the title was changed to <em>Pride and Prejudice </em>[Shields]. The fictional story focuses on a myriad of prejudices that each of us acquire as we travel through our lives and how our pride can cloud our view of others. The storyline clearly shows how one’s decisions are influenced by unknown prejudices and stubborn haughtiness. The end result of this fictional work is a message that is timeless.</p>
<p align="left">Miss Bennet miserably suffers through the typical adventures of an early 19th-century middle-class woman with the constant shadow of societal expectations looming over her shoulder. Bennet and the other five eligible females in the story are counted upon to land well-established, wealthy and aristocratic husbands starting around their sixteenth birthday. These marriages were often the means by which families survived, plain and simple. Therefore, grooming their daughters in an effort to secure a rich son-in-law was paramount to all middle-class families. Daughters were generally compliant and actively participated in the delicate dance of snaring an eligible (and wealthy) husband. However, Miss Bennet differs greatly from her peers because she is highly self-reliant, well-read, assertive, independent and strong-willed. And, she is not so sure that a “good marriage” is actually possible for any woman.</p>


[caption id="attachment_2014" align="alignright" width="300" caption="The Five Bennet Sisters Source: http://tinyurl.com/3mr6t7y"]<a href="http://jeanatacc.com/2011/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/group1.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-2014" src="http://jeanatacc.com/2011/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/group1-300x211.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="211" /></a>[/caption]
<p align="left">She is not mesmerized by the gentry (what the upper-middle-class were often called) or the aristocracy and does not fall prey to the typical aristocratic and societal expectations. Bennet is not the typical young woman of the early 1800s. She abhors arrogance and much to her frustration, finds it in abundance among aristocratic men. According to the tenets of society, Bennet, her four sisters and their family friend, Charlotte Lucas, <em>require</em> husbands. There was no other means available for a young woman to make her way in the world besides riding on the coattails of a husband. Men were the only ones allowed to own land and other property. Even if a woman inherited a fortune, it was rare that she was allowed to manage it or even touch any of it. Women were considered too delicate and unsophisticated to have financial or business minds. Bennet was hearing none of that and remained head-strong.</p>
<p align="left">Austen’s tale accompanies the six women through various garden parties, drawing rooms, ballrooms and dramatic performances on their way to finding their perfect match. Most of the interactions between the characters in the book are quite interesting including the possibility of cousins marrying each other, sex before marriage, social class rivalries and dramatic verbal altercations. Critics of Austen’s work have generally discounted the authenticity of her writing because she rarely mentions the undercurrent of real-world political events that were in existence at the time [Watt]. The plot of <em>Pride and Prejudice</em> does not introduce these women to the historical events swirling around them and some say that fact is a shortcoming of Austen’s writing. In the story, there are off-handed and miscellaneous references to the excitement surrounding soldiers visiting the quaint town, including the blackguard George Wickham, but the intricate details of the political upheaval in England are skillfully ignored by Austen. It appears to modern-day readers that Austen has tried to focus her novel on bringing to light the strict marital obligations placed upon young women of the day and she carves out a picture-perfect environment and does not allow the fears of revolution in Great Britain to encroach on her story.</p>
<p align="left">Austen has also been criticized for writing about what she knew, and that mundane topics were not scintillating enough for the newer and more discerning reader of  the early 1800's [Shields]. The world of 19<sup>th</sup> Century England and the pressures on women were the focus of all of her books. I don’t find this unusual or lacking at all. It was natural for Austen to write about being encumbered by society’s expectations because she experienced that in her own life. As a middle-class young woman the political disturbances of the time did not affect her much. Nor did it affect the characters she conceived in <em>Pride and Prejudice</em>.</p>
<p align="left">When Austen began laying the foundation for this novel, in 1796, the British government was still reeling after their devastating loss of thousands men in battle against the Colonists, and they had depleted their coffers to the tune of an estimated $100 million in the fight to maintain control over the thirteen colonies [Fiero]. The political climate in Great Britain was horrific when the remnants of that war were coupled with their four-year-long conflict with France. Toward the end of her writing <em>Pride and Prejudice</em>, in 1797, the British began the blockade of Spain and this move brought further political uproar. Great Britain had become a shadow of its former self and Austen may have intentionally ignored the political chaos and written the novel as an enormous distraction for the nation. In fact, she does not mention the Napoleonic wars a single time in any of her nine novels [Shields].</p>
Generally, popular literary work of the time was either romantically sentimental to the point of being sickening sweet and unrealistic or Gothic-related horror. This type of sensationalism repelled Austen and she refused to construct her novels in a similar fashion. For example, <em>The Castle of Otranto</em> (Horace Walpole, 1765) and <em>The Mysteries of Udolpho</em> (Ann Radcliffe, 1794) were set in far-off, unrealistic places and filled with princes, dukes, and counts. These two novels were also known for their “violent, horrific and often supernatural action,” states Marsh. Readers were so used to being taken on a fantasy ride while reading a novel that they considered Austen’s <em>Pride and Prejudice</em> boring when it was published. Her book was not typical of its era because it was written in a ironic style that showed that ordinary, real life in a familiar town could also be malicious and terribly cruel.

[caption id="attachment_2015" align="alignleft" width="174" caption="Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy Source: http://en.paperblog.com/talking-jane-austen-84059/"]<a href="http://jeanatacc.com/2011/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Darcy.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-2015" src="http://jeanatacc.com/2011/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Darcy-174x300.jpg" alt="" width="174" height="300" /></a>[/caption]

Another reason why Austen’s <em>Pride and Prejudice</em> was considered unusual for its time was because it was one of the first books that blatantly addressed society’s oppression of women. Her creation of a complex main character that was embarrassed by her own family’s etiquette and yet wanted to defend their right to be themselves (no matter what their habits may be) had never been seen in a main character before [Baker]. At one point in the story, Bennet refuses a marriage proposal from Mr. Darcy (the richest and most well bred aristocrat in all of England), she does so with such insolence, and audacity that the readers must have gasped, dropped their snuffboxes, and tossed the book across the room upon reading that section. Refusing a man such as Mr. Darcy was simply <em>not done</em>. Nor were stories of such ill-mannered behavior told in polite society. Miss Elizabeth Bennet was, indeed, a rebel and created a storm of controversy. Click here to watch the scene where Elizabeth rebuffs Mr. Darcy and his proposal of marriage: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJX5_rj2lZg">Elizabethe refuses Mr. Darcy Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJX5_rj2lZg</a>
<p align="left">Sadly, it was not until after her death in 1817, at the age of 42, that her writing managed to gain popularity with the English. <em>Pride and Prejudice</em>, in particular, has become one of the most popular novels in English literature, and receives considerable attention from literary scholars. Modern interest in the book has resulted in a large number of dramatic versions and a profusion of novels and tales imitating Austen's memorable characters and themes about strong-willed and independent women. <em>Pride and Persuasion</em> has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide, been made into several movies, mini-series dramas, and plays [Marsh].</p>
<p align="left">When researching the scholarly view of Austen’s work, I stumbled across an organization called the English Association. This body of work was created after the First World War (WWI) when many pieces of English Literature were lost during the skirmishes of war. The organization was founded by A.C. Bradley, a University professor and advocate for placing Austen’s work on the Association’s list of English Literature to be studied on the University level. In his 1911 lecture, A.C. Bradley stated, “I was meant to fall in love with her [Bennet], and I do.” The popularity of Austen’s work was greatly elevated in the years immediately following WWI, as shown in the mention of her work in Rudyard Kipling’s <em>The Janeites</em> (1922). Kipling speaks of soldiers reading Austen's books (<em>Pride and</em> <em>Prejudice</em> in particular) in the trenches of war to uplift their spirits. Baker states in his review of <em>Jane Austen Once More</em> that Austen’s work had a “class-less appeal that helped severely shell-shocked soldiers through the healing process” after WWI. The Jane Austen Society, created during the Blitz, was hell-bent on preserving and restoring Austen’s texts as if Jane Austen was a saint and her writings were prized relics. [Baker]</p>
<p align="left">This book has impacted my life in many ways. I know men and women that have entered into marriages for reasons other than love. It happens every single day, actually. I believe that people spend more time choosing a house than a life partner. I do not see that will change anytime in the future. One poignant moment in the book was when, speaking of her mother, Elizabeth Bennet's father says that he "had married a woman whose weak understanding and illiberal mind had, very early in their marriage, put an end to all real affection for her." He admitted to his daughter that he had not thought things through when he married her mother. He further stated that he was, "captivated by youth and beauty, and that appearance of good humour" and then had tears in his eyes when he admitted he had not loved his wife in years [Austen]. This innocent and touching conversation in the father's library affected me deeply.  I have often wondered if my parents have felt the same way as Mr. Bennet after their 59 years of marriage.</p>
<p align="left"> I was also profoundly affected by the thread of prejudice that runs through the book. The prejudices spotlighted in this book are not the usual type of prejudice that we see and hear about today, but they run deep, occur on many levels and for many different reasons. Reading this book has caused me to inspect my own prejudices and see how they may be limiting the experiences in my own life. Sure, readers of this novel should be moved by the numerous events that occur. If nothing else, they should value the microscope that shines a light on all of our own prejudices that magically defy time and place. Today, we have some of the same prejudices that Jane Austen had back in 1796.</p>


[caption id="attachment_2016" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Five Bennet Daughters with Mother Source: http://tinyurl.com/69dbq5p"]<a href="http://jeanatacc.com/2011/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/5daughters.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-2016" src="http://jeanatacc.com/2011/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/5daughters-300x213.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="213" /></a>[/caption]
<p align="left"> Marriages are not a means to climb the social ladder, become popular, or support your parents in their old age. Marriages are meant to be a joining of two people with the same goals, aspirations, and visions for their future. It is not enough for a woman to want to find “true love” before she marries. It is not enough for a man to heal his financial ills by obtaining an enormous dowry from his new wife. The back room political and financial wrangling that took place during the time Austen wrote this epic story was always slanted toward the absurd. This book shall stand as an example of what we do <em>not want</em> in marriages of today.</p>
<p align="left">I suppose I don't have to tell you that Simon Langton’s 1995 version of <em>Pride and Prejudice</em> (with Colin Firth) is the only DVD I own. I am thankful that times have changed for women and that the pressure of a "good marriage" is not placed squarely on the shoulders of young, naive women. If you are not married yet, read this book and then take time to find a partner that believes in mutual respect and honesty. This book must be preserved for numerous reasons; the very least of which is that it just might save you from entering a bad marriage!  Remember, don't judge a book (or a person) by its cover!</p>
<p align="left"><strong>WORKS CITED</strong></p>
<p align="left"><strong>Austen</strong>, Jane. <em>Pride and Prejudice</em>. London: Penguin, 2003. Print. This is the original, reprinted version of the book that I used to quote Mr. Bennet when he was speaking of his own marriage.</p>
<p align="left"><strong>Austen</strong>, Jane, 1775-1817. <em></em><em>Pride and Prejudice</em> / Jane Austen; edited with an introduction and notes by Vivien Jones; with the original Penguin Classics introduction by Tony Tanner. Imprint London; New York: Penguin Books, 2008. This is a Biography and I used the Introduction and Notes sections of this Biography, written by Vivian Jones, when referencing the original, reprinted text of <em>Pride and Prejudice</em>.</p>
<p align="left"><strong>Austen</strong>, Jane, 1775-1817. <em>The Complete Novels of Jane Austen.</em> Imprint New York, The Modern Library 1933  This is a compilation of Jane Austen's writing that I used to compare themes regarding strong-willed women characters.</p>
<p align="left"><strong>Baker</strong>, William.<strong> </strong><em>Jane Austen Once More</em>. Rev. of Jane Austen and The Enlightenment by Peter Knox-Shaw. Studies in the Novel, Fall 2007, Vol. 39 Issue 3, p357-367. Accessed online EBSCO Database on October 31, 2011. Website: http://tinyurl.com/4yfo2nq</p>
<p align="left"><strong>Fiero</strong>, Gloria., The Humanist Tradition, Volume Two, Chapter 26, McGraw-Hill, New York, 2011. Accessed online version, pages unknown; Date accessed October 24-26, 2011. This is a college-level course textbook that I used to learn about Jane Austen's literary piece called, <em>Pride and Prejudice</em>. I researched romantic stereotypes at the time <em>Pride and Prejudice</em> was written.</p>
<p align="left"><strong>Marsh</strong>, Nicholas. <em>Jane Austen: The Novels, Analyzing Texts</em>. New York: St. Martin's, 1998. Print. I used this analytical study of Jane Austen's writing to research how she created her characters from real-life examples, the general view of women in society at the time <em>Pride and Prejudice</em> was written and what the critics thought of this work when it was published.</p>
<p align="left"><strong>Shields</strong>, Carol. <em>Jane Austen.</em> New York: Viking Penguin, 2001. Print. I used this Biography to research Jane Austen's view of her family life and how it manifested itself in her writing. I used the facts of her broken engagement and her view of marriage to compare with the views of the characters she created.</p>
<p align="left"><strong>Watt</strong>, Ian P. <em>Jane Austen: A Collection of Critical Essays</em>. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1963. Print. I used this book of criticisms and interpretations for research about how the book is viewed today.</p>