Book review of "Pride and Prejudice "

 Story Line:

 'Pride and Prejudice' is a romantic novel written by Jane Austen and first published in 1813. The book follows the life of Elizabeth Bennet, a headstrong, intelligent woman. It takes place in the early 1800s and is about the emotional development of the main character. Elizabeth has four sisters and no brother. According to the succession rights, none of the girls can inherit the property, and Mrs. Bennet (Elizabeth's mother) thinks that good marriages are the only way for them to lead a good life. Her main ambition in life is to see that her daughters marry wealthy men. However, the novel emphasizes that one should marry for love and not only for money. Mr. Bennet tolerates his wife's behaviour and is dryly sarcastic when she is silly. There are villainous characters like George Wickham and comic ones like Mr. Collins.

Social/Historical Context: 

In Pride and Prejudice, the Bennets are members of the educated upper middle class. At that time, a man's income was always reported as a 'number of pounds per year'. Mr Bingley has 'four or five thousand vear' while Darcy's income is a very impressive a 10,000 a year. Thus, Darcy is considered to possess a fortune, and hence a very eligible bachelor. The formal manners of behaviour are obvious in the custom of paying visits and leaving calling cards, the necessity of giving formal introductions, etc. Marriage was considered to be the only acceptable role for any woman, and getting married was high on the list of priorities. The clothes and customs all reflect the time. The French revolution was in progress during the time of the writing of this novel. Though it is difficult to relate to such customs and such priorities today, the novel still holds our interest.

 Writing Style : 

Jane Austen has threshed out her characters well, and given good character sketches of all, whether it is the silly, materialistic Mrs. Bennet as the mother or Elizabeth as the strong-willed daughter. Her writing is sharp, with plenty of sarcasm and irony. Many times it is a bit too detailed; but that was the style of writing at that time. She wrote about ordinary people and their ordinary lives in an exceptional way. She recognized the flaws in society, especially as far as marriage is concerned. The opening words of her novel, 'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.', are unforgettable and are still quoted.

 My Thoughts: 

When I first read it, it was out of compulsion; it was a part of our school activity, and I disliked it. I was too small to appreciate the undertones. I found too many unnecessary details. However, when I read it a few years later, I had already read many other books based in that time period. Hence, I could appreciate their customs, their dresses and their way of talking. I had also seen a film based on it, and things became clearer. I plan to read it again and see if I can find new meaning in it now.