Title: Pride and prejudice

Reading log 1
Title:Pride and prejudice
Author:Jane Austen
Language:English
Genre:Romance novel
Published:1813
Setting:19-century
Summary:In rural England in the early 19th century, Mrs. Bennet attempts to persuade Mr. Bennet to visit Mr. Bingley, a rich bachelor recently arrived in the neighbourhood. After some verbal sparring with her husband, Mrs. Bennet believes he will not call on Mr. Bingley. Shortly afterwards, he visits Netherfield, Mr. Bingley's rented residence, much to Mrs. Bennet's delight. The visit is followed by a ball at the local assembly rooms that the entire neighbourhood attends.At the ball, the neighbourhood is introduced to the whole Netherfield party, which consists of Mr. Bingley, his two sisters, the husband of one of his sisters, and Mr. Darcy, his dearest friend. Mr. Bingley's friendly and cheerful manner earns him popularity among the guests. He appears attracted to Jane Bennet (the eldest Bennet daughter), with whom he dances twice. Mr. Darcy, reputed to be twice as wealthy, is haughty and aloof, causing a decided dislike of him. He declines to dance with Elizabeth (the second-eldest Bennet daughter), stating that she is not attractive enough to tempt him.Elizabeth finds this amusing and jokes about it with her friends.. Bingley's sisters, Caroline and Louisa, later invite Jane to Netherfield for dinner. On her way there, Jane is caught in a rain shower and develops a bad cold, forcing her to stay at Netherfield to recuperate, much to Mrs. Bennet's delight. When Elizabeth goes to see Jane, Mr. Darcy finds himself attracted to Elizabeth (stating she has "fine eyes"), while Miss Bingley grows jealous, as she herself has designs on Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth herself is indifferent and unaware of his developing interest in her.Mr. Collins, Mr. Bennet's cousin and the heir to the Longbourn estate, visits the Bennet family. He is a pompous, obsequious clergyman who intends to marry one of the Bennet girls. After learning that Jane may soon be engaged, he quickly decides on Elizabeth, the next daughter in both age and beauty.

Elizabeth and her family meet the dashing and charming army officer, George Wickham, who singles out Elizabeth. He says he is connected to the Darcy family and claims Mr. Darcy deprived him of a "living" (a permanent position as a clergyman) promised to him by Mr. Darcy's late father. Elizabeth's dislike of Mr. Darcy is confirmed.

At a subsequent ball at Netherfield, Mr. Darcy asks Elizabeth to dance, and, despite her vow never to dance with him, she accepts. However, Elizabeth's mother and younger sisters display a distinct lack of decorum. Mrs. Bennet hints loudly that she fully expects Jane and Bingley to become engaged, and the younger Bennet sisters expose the family to ridicule by their silliness.Mr. Collins proposes to Elizabeth. She rejects Collins, to her mother's fury and her father's relief. After Elizabeth's rejection, Mr. Collins proposes to Charlotte Lucas, a sensible young woman and Elizabeth's friend, who is already aged 27. Charlotte is grateful for a proposal that guarantees her a comfortable home and a secure future. Elizabeth is aghast at such pragmatism in matters of love. Shortly afterward, the Bingleys suddenly depart for London with no plans to return, and it appears that Mr. Bingley has no intention of resuming their acquaintance. A heartbroken Jane visits her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner in London to raise her spirits.In the spring, Elizabeth visits Charlotte and Mr. Collins in Kent. Elizabeth and her hosts are invited to Rosings Park, the imposing home of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, imperious patroness of Mr. Collins and Mr. Darcy's wealthy aunt. Lady Catherine expects Mr. Darcy to marry her daughter, as planned in his childhood by his aunt and mother. Mr. Darcy and his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, are also visiting at Rosings Park. Fitzwilliam tells Elizabeth how Mr. Darcy recently saved a friend, presumably Bingley, from an undesirable match. Elizabeth realises that the prevented engagement was to Jane and is horrified that Mr. Darcy interfered. Later, Mr. Darcy proposes to Elizabeth, declaring his love for her despite her low social connections. She rejects him angrily, firmly stating that he is the last person she would ever marry and saying she could never love a man who caused her sister such unhappiness; she further accuses him of treating Wickham unjustly. Mr. Darcy brags about his success in separating Bingley and Jane and suggests that he had been kinder to Bingley than to himself. He dismisses the accusation regarding Wickham sarcastically but does not address it.In the spring, Elizabeth visits Charlotte and Mr. Collins in Kent. Elizabeth and her hosts are invited to Rosings Park, the imposing home of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, imperious patroness of Mr. Collins and Mr. Darcy's wealthy aunt. Lady Catherine expects Mr. Darcy to marry her daughter, as planned in his childhood by his aunt and mother. Mr. Darcy and his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, are also visiting at Rosings Park. Fitzwilliam tells Elizabeth how Mr. Darcy recently saved a friend, presumably Bingley, from an undesirable match. Elizabeth realises that the prevented engagement was to Jane and is horrified that Mr. Darcy interfered. Later, Mr. Darcy proposes to Elizabeth, declaring his love for her despite her low social connections. She rejects him angrily, firmly stating that he is the last person she would ever marry and saying she could never love a man who caused her sister such unhappiness; she further accuses him of treating Wickham unjustly. Mr. Darcy brags about his success in separating Bingley and Jane and suggests that he had been kinder to Bingley than to himself. He dismisses the accusation regarding Wickham sarcastically but does not address it.Later, Mr. Darcy gives Elizabeth a letter, explaining that Wickham, the son of his late father's steward, had refused the living his father had arranged for him and was instead given money for it. Wickham quickly squandered the money and when impoverished, asked for the living again. After being refused, he tried to elope with Darcy's 15-year-old sister, Georgiana, for her considerable dowry. Mr. Darcy also writes that he separated Jane and Bingley due to Jane's reserved behaviour, sincerely believing her indifferent to Bingley, and also because of the lack of propriety displayed by some members of her family. Elizabeth is ashamed by her family's behaviour and her own lack of better judgement that resulted in blinded prejudice against Mr. Darcy.Some months later, Elizabeth accompanies the Gardiners on a tour of Derbyshire. They visit Pemberley, Darcy's estate, after Elizabeth ascertains Mr. Darcy's absence. The housekeeper there describes Mr. Darcy as kind and generous, recounting several examples of these characteristics. When Mr. Darcy returns unexpectedly, he is exceedingly gracious and later invites Elizabeth and the Gardiners to meet Georgiana and Mr. Gardiner to go fishing. Elizabeth is surprised and delighted by their treatment. Upon meeting, Elizabeth and Georgiana connect well, to his delight. She then receives news that her sister Lydia has run off with Wickham. She tells Mr. Darcy immediately, then departs in haste, believing she will never see him again as Lydia has ruined the family's good name.After an agonising interim, Wickham agrees to marry Lydia. With some veneer of decency restored, Lydia visits the family and tells Elizabeth that Mr. Darcy was at her and Wickham's wedding. Though Mr. Darcy had sworn everyone involved to secrecy, Mrs. Gardiner now feels obliged to inform Elizabeth that he secured the match, at great expense and trouble to himself. She hints that he may have had "another motive" for having done so, implying that she believes Darcy to be in love with Elizabeth.Bingley and Mr. Darcy return to Netherfield. Bingley proposes to Jane, who accepts. Lady Catherine, having heard rumours that Elizabeth intends to marry Mr. Darcy, visits Elizabeth and demands she promise never to accept Mr. Darcy's proposal. Elizabeth refuses and the outraged Lady Catherine withdraws after Elizabeth demands that she leave for making insulting comments about her family. Darcy, heartened by his aunt's indignant relaying of Elizabeth's response, again proposes to her and is accepted. Elizabeth has difficulty in convincing her father that she is marrying for love, not position and wealth, but Mr. Bennet is finally convinced. Mrs. Bennet is exceedingly happy to learn of her daughter's match to Mr. Darcy and quickly changes her opinion of him. The novel concludes with an overview of the marriages of the three daughters and the great satisfaction of both parents at the matches made by Jane and Elizabeth.
Reflection on the novel
The reading was inherently interesting to analyze from the context of comparing social elements among times while examining the human psychology that Austen highlights in her writing. The reading had an impact on me by instigating the thoughts of why my romantic relationships existed and how they began. Despite a difference in times, many romantic partners often consider material wealth and social status as a criterion in marriage. While most people would not readily admit this, citing emotions and personal connection as the cause of attraction, wealth and power still has relevance. Therefore, it poses the question of whether it was better to be open about it as the novel describes 19th century England or be less direct about it as in modern times. In my relationships, that may be a topic I would want to discuss with my partner.
Critical analys
Jane Austen (16 December 1775 – 18 July 1817) was an English novelist, who used realism, biting social commentary and free indirect speech in her novels. Austen's works are more or less affected by her background, place and time. They critique the novels of sensibility of the second half of the eighteenth century and are part of the transition to nineteenth-century realism. Austen's plots, though fundamentally comic, highlight the dependence of women on marriage to secure social standing and economic security. One of the strongest influences on her writing and her works are concerned with moral issues.Pride and Prejudice follows the life of Elizabeth Bennet, a headstrong, intelligent woman. Taking place in the early 1800's it is a romantic comedy about the pride of a man and the prejudice of a woman. In a time where the only way for a woman to become wealthy, or increase her social status is by marrying, there is the family of Bennets. The fact that the Bennet family has no son and five adolescent daughters, Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Lydia and Kitty, are arguably middle-class affects their social behaviour.The events begin with the arrival of the Bingley’s in Hertfordshire where the Bennets lived. The Bennet girls and Mr. Bingley were introduced at a dance and right away Mr. Bingley took a liking to Jane. Mr. Darcy is a close friend of Mr. Bingley and is also present in the party. His unusual reserved laconic attitude is taken and understood by the social gathering as improper and pompous, particularly Elizabeth. Ironically, he begins to like her. Events lead Mr. Bingley to fall in love with Jane. However, Mr. Darcy is circumspect and believes Jane isn’t in love but after money, and so tears them apart. Following long periods of no interaction between the families, the Bennets give up hope of Jane’s marriage and are depressed, especially Mrs. Bennet whose sole aim in life is successful marriage of her daughters.Mr. Collins and Mr. Wickham can be said to be as the villains. Their introduction brings aboutdifficulties in lives of the Bennets, particularly the latter who cheats Lydia, the youngest Bennet, into love and runs away and later demanding money for their marriage, so as to avoid notoriety to the Bennet family. Among these events Elizabeth is proposed by Mr. Darcy and she, ignorant of the truth and full of hatred towards him, refuses him coldly. However, she later comes to know the true character of Mr. Wickham and Mr. Darcy, and regrets her past actions and prejudices.The plot and story is quite simple. The events bring about to the reader the prevalent custom among families, men and women. “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife. And, of course, a single woman in search of a good fortune must equally be in want of a husband who has one!” These lines seem true for all the characters in the book, be it Miss Jane, or relatively rich Miss Darcy. The story focuses on the social problems Concerning young girls of diverse characters, be it optimistic Jane, prudent Elizabeth, introvert Mary
and Kitty, or the ignorant flirt Lydia.The described context may not be found in western countries today, but such situations can be discovered in developing parts of India. The superb catering of guests and other formalities certainlybe absent from today’s society, but a family of five daughters only may very well face similar problems and public humiliation due to improper conducts similar to that by Miss Lydia Bennet. The book in itself doesn’t convey a message, but asks of its readers for develop their own understanding.The language of the novel is quite plain and verbose at times, rendering the reading monotonous as is the case with most feminist novels. However, one cannot expect a feminist book written in typical Dan Brown suspense fashion in 1813. Personally .I give this book 10/10