zarkinpants

3 days ago

The characters in this 18th-century novel, essentially social commentary about the preoccupation with marriage during the time of the book's publication, seemed astonishingly fresh and real. This is due to the intricacies of their character traits and emotions—a testament to Austen's skill as a novelist. The overarching idea of the novel, though, is simple enough: marriage. Since the whole of the Bennet children are at marrying age and female, which, at the time, meant that their financial security depended on marrying well, and also because their father's estate will be passed down to their cousin, much of the novel details interactions between them and potential suitors, focusing on playful Lydia, attractive Jane, and contemplative Elizabeth, the protagonist of this novel. The story opens with the arrival of one such young man: Mr. Bingley, a rich person who has just rented the estate down the street. His friend, Mr. Darcy, however, is rejected as a rude, stuck-up man; but on the other hand, Mrs. Bennet is overcome with the wish, however unlikely it may seem, of Mr. Bingley marrying Jane. Indeed, she might have succeeded, had Bingley's two sisters, Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst, not intervened. Meanwhile, Mr. Darcy's affection for Elizabeth grows, but she remains oblivious. One day, Bingley decides to go to London; this news is tragic to not only Mrs. Bingley but also Jane, who'd begun to develop feelings for him. Much more happens, but in the end, at least some of the characters do end up married, and they experience a shocking scandal. This book, what with its length and lengthy descriptions and formal sentence structure, will appeal to those who like detail sprinkled in their books. Moreover, these sentences are playful and ironic, particularly portrayals of Mrs. Bennet and the Bingley sisters, one of whom has a crush on Mr. Darcy. It's also perfect for those who want to take a look into the lives of women in the gentry class of Regency England, when people rode horse-drawn carriages and society imposed strict rules regarding women's behavior. In contrast, those who do not like this book will probably attribute this dislike to a simple thing: there is not enough action in the book— several parts are devoid really of anything like that at all. Also, you may not like this book if you prefer clear, concise plots (at times the main character, Elizabeth, seems to be hopping around from place to place). There is also use of heavy passages of dialogue to show the characters' thoughts, traits, and emotions. So, if you are not a fan of those things, go read something else. But if you enjoy reading about character interactions and humorous, complex, characters, go ahead and pick up this classic book, considered a monumental work of British literature.