Jane Austen is my all-time favorite (or should I say favourite) writer. I adore her illustrative tales of culture, relationships, and love.
I began reading Austen in my early college days under the tutelage of Marti Leighty, a professor of mine. I don't know whether I was reading Austen at the right time at the right place or just with the right person, but I was immediately enveloped in the passion that is Austen.
My favorite of the Austen novels is Pride and Prejudice. I will likely post about this several times as I plan to re-read the book this spring before my own nuptials. I find the heroine, Elizabeth Bennett, written as close to the true nature and heart of a woman if I have ever read one. She is not without flaw and failure, has a temper and can be rude, but is keenly aware of her place (and her family's place) among the society of the country and with valiant efforts, and true heroic form, tries to save them from perilous ruin by the un-managed manners of the Bennett household.
How often does she intelligently speak of her interests or of the people around her... how much does Austen give way to the failure of Lizzy to always be self-controlled (glorious!)... how much more victorious and enjoyable is the ending having witnessed such love, regret, humility and, yes, pride... more than a novel of politics, manners or quaint country folk. I believe this novel, better than any romance I have read, keenly defines the trappings of manhood and womanhood in society, regardless of time, culture, language... at the heart of a story is a woman, like a few modern women I know, fighting with her own desire to be whole without a man, but once in love or intrigued by love, can no longer deny she has a deep desire to be loved and to be acknowledged in her beauty, intelligence and talents.
Like Elizabeth, Darcy is a man coming to terms with his station as a gentleman... unexpected though she may have been Darcy must, once encountering Elizabeth, deal with her. She is not to be ignored, overlooked or simply, as we find, swept away by a mediocre proposal.
Happily ever after does not mean peace and happiness forever after and I believe, given the whole of P&P that these two will continue to conflict with one another, enjoy the passionate commonalities of their lives and revel in the strengths of the other... as any good marriage would.
More, of course, to come on this most fantastic work.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
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1 comment:
I just finished reading P&P two days ago. This book is a winner, no doubt. I might chime in a bit on it.
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