Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Jane Austen is one of my favorite authors, and Pride and Prejudice is her most famous work.

Therefore, it is natural that I would have some heavy expectations from this book. This was coupled by the fact that I read this book some 5-6 years ago, when I was in class 5 or 6, and obviously did not understand most of it (and even though I later read many Austen novels like Mansfield Park and Persuasion which convinced me of her genius, I somehow never read Pride and Prejudice again) and my view of the book was that it had become quite dated. Nevertheless, as part of my great classics read (and re-read) this book also came under the 'classics' section, so I picked it up.

I'm glad.

You see, if I look at this book on a superficial level I have nothing in common with Elizabeth (though she is, for her times, a remarkably forward and independent character) and I might not have been able to sympathize with her at all. On the outward level, the very values in this novel seem outdated and prudish. However, when we consider the underlying themes of this book - such as the theme of education (also a very strong theme in Mansfield Park), the theme of parenting, the theme of social barriers and the theme of trust and betrayal (among many others) we see that these issues haven't really changed. (In fact, these are things that I think will never change. Humans, as long as they live, are always going to wonder and have contrasting opinions about how children should be raised and educated, and jealousy and betrayal are always going to happen when there are three humans together.)

I think it is this which separates a 'classic' from an ordinary book.

Why is Austen's book remembered after so many years? It might indeed be the storyline - the instant dislike of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, his subsequent growing love for her, and her subsequent growing hatred of him (aided by Wickham), his winning her over by helping her sister, and their eventual love, but I think its more than that. It is that Austen describes some basic human emotions in a raw and beautiful way, and we are so taken in by that we are never going to stop liking this book (I have no doubt that all classics might be read less in the future, nonetheless, they will still remain classics and people like me will still read them).

The characters, of course, have a mighty part to play - proud, haughty Darcy (who has it in him to run half way across the country and do something he finds very humiliating for the woman he loves, and not even want to tell her), lively, laughing Elizabeth (who has it in her to diss a duchess) and even Jane and Bingley (who are, admittedly, both a little too good to be true - after all, Jane's primary fault is to not think anyone capable of bad, and Bingley's is to trust his best friend) steal away this story and take it to the level it has reached. Even Mary (Elizabeth's 'intellectual' sister, who made me smile several times) and Lydia (another of Elizabeth's sisters, and perhaps the most irritating character I have ever seen) Miss Bingley (who is in love with Mr. Darcy and who I found very, very interesting), Mr. Collins (who is so bad he's good), Mrs. Bennet (who is loud and without a particle of sense) and Georgina Darcy (sweet, shy, and quite well-characterized for the minimal page-space she gets) all have it in them to steal your heart.

The archaic language and odd structure may put you off, but if you have it in you to look a little deeper, I think you'll find a gem of a book.

Final thoughts: Some books you read from a library and then want to buy so you can keep them in your house. This is one of them. Exactly what you'd expect from Austen's most famous book. Read it for Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, read it for love, and read it because you must read this book once before you die. Of course, there are also the movies:

Other things: The Great Classics Read (and Re-Read) continues. Next I've picked up Sherlock Holmes(which I've never read before, surprisingly) and I'm enjoying it so far. Also on my list are, 'A Secret Garden', 'Frankenstein' and 'Wuthering Heights'. Of course, if you have a classic to add to this list, feel free to drop me a comment. :)