America Still Loves its Outdated Values Concerning Gender & Socioeconomics

This series had me from the beginning point of printing "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife" on a t-shirt. Albeit, that quote is probably already printed on many t-shirts around the world anyway, but the presumption that it was their *mother* who put it on the shirt was incredibly hilarious to me, and was largely representative of mothers who still act like this! In the twenty-first century! Still increasingly concerned with whether or not their daughters are single! Ah!

But what was most impressive to me about this vlog series is that it answered the questions that many of us probably ask ourselves while reading classic literature: Are these problems in this novel still relevant today? If this story were in a modern setting, how would it look? Would it be silly? Would it be serious? Would it even work? LBD answered all of those questions for Pride and Prejudice. While this series had a much sillier tone than the classic novel (as it should, since it's literally a series made of vlogs) it still had impactful emotional moments and thorough plot points in-between all of the kind of cringy acting. Lizzie and Lydia were hilariously at VidCon when they meet Mr. Collins, Lizzie (a modern working woman) shadows at Mr. Darcy's communications company--the series presented major plot points in these modern, relatable settings, and it not only worked--but it was entertaining and probably much easier for a modern audience to understand. The plot of Pride and Prejudice was proven by this series to still be largely relevant: Mothers still trying to control their daughters and their romantic lives, the confusing lines and mixed communication that can happen between romantic partners and even family, and both not having to sacrifice your identity for a potential partner, while also having them inspire you to become a better version of yourself.

We try to act like we are past the many dated conceptions that Pride and Prejudice presents to us in its story. But LBD proved that really, we are not, but rather far from it.

Thoroughly enjoyed meta moments like this one that were sprinkled throughout the series!

Please Stop Yelling at Me

Lizzie and Darcy - found on Pinterest

Okay, so at first I really was not feeling "The Lizzie Bennet Diaries." I mainly felt this way because I was kind of just overwhelmed with the fact that everyone was screaming and there was just so much overdramatic acting, but then I realized... That's what is so charming about it. It honestly wasn't until around episode 43 that I really started getting into it, but once I did, I was happy I watched it. The cool thing about watching is probably the obvious - we know all of the nods to Austen and can see the differences between the novel and the series, as opposed to some viewers who only watched the videos and had never read the book. One of the things I really liked was the discussion about Pemberley Digital in episode 83:

Lizzie: "Let's start with the name. What does 'Pemberley' mean?"
Darcy: "Oh, uh... Pemberley is the name of the place my father's family comes from in England."

I had a feeling they had to discuss the name somehow, and I think they did a pretty decent job of tying it into the original text. One of the other modernizations I really liked was the fact that Mr. Collins didn't propose to Lizzie for her hand in marriage, but her hand in partnership. The one thing I did have some issues with was the fact that she didn't really change the character of Mrs. Bennet to match the rest of the series... She didn't seem to be very modernized like everything else was.

After I looked past the original shock of being screamed at by the cast of the web series, I was able to see the intelligence and thought that went into creating it, and I actually really enjoyed it (until the end when it got RIDICULOUSLY corny, but that's a blog post for another day, I guess).

My main question would be: should the character of Mrs. Bennet have been modernized like the rest of the storyline, or was it "okay" that she wasn't really changed much to match the new narrative?

Status and Wealth in Pride and Prejudice

While we all know that Austen is writing Pride and Prejudice to be set in late-1700s early-1800s England and things were very different then, I still couldn't help but notice the very obvious focus on status and wealth. As I said, because this theme is so obvious, I want to delve a little deeper into the character of Elizabeth Bennet and how she perceives status.

In the very beginning, it seemed as if Elizabeth wasn't too caught up in trying to find a wealthy husband, even though she practically had to in order to stay "relevant" in society. Seeing as her father wasn't an incredibly wealthy man and wouldn't be able to leave his estate to his daughters, marrying rich really was the only option for the Bennet girls. However, while Elizabeth thought very highly of Mr. Bingley, she wasn't enthralled with the fact that he was rich. She simply respected the fact that he was a true gentleman, and later, that he treated Jane well.

If Lizzy really did care about status and wealth, she would have accepted Mr. Collins's proposal of marriage. She, however, responded with: "I am very sensible of the honour of your proposals, but it is impossible for me to do otherwise than decline them" (77). At this point, I figured Lizzy was a romantic and really just wanted to find someone she actually had feelings for (i.e. Mr. Darcy), but when she visited Pemberley, my entire opinion of her shifted.

While I believe Elizabeth's change in heart did not derive directly from seeing the grounds at Pemberley, I do think that the setting certainly didn't hurt. The kind words from Mrs. Reynolds the housekeeper definitely made Mr. Darcy seem much more marketable to Elizabeth, and while walking the grounds, she started to picture herself as the mistress of Pemberley. While of course she also wanted to get back at Miss Bingley and make her feel badly about her own feelings for Darcy, I believe Elizabeth may not have had such strong feelings for him if she hadn't visited the estate.

If all of that had happened at Longbourn, would she have felt the same way, or was it the air of wealth and success of Pemberley that pushed her affection along?

Image from giphy.com

Secondary Characters in Pride and Prejudice

I read the annotated version of Pride and Prejudice as well as watched the film from 2005.  One of the main things I noticed about the story was the difference in the treatment and endings between the main and secondary characters.  The Bennett household was not particularly wealthy or of a high status in comparison to the Bingley or Darcy households.  Mrs. Bennett pushes Jane and Elizabeth to get married so the family can be taken care of if something were to happen to Mr. Bennett.  Despite their lower social class, Jane and Elizabeth manage to win the hearts of Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy.  They have the opportunity to marry for love rather then circumstance.  Charlotte Lucas represents the more realistic situation for young women in the period.  She does not choose to marry Mr. Collins because of love, but as a way to live her life honorable.  On her engagement to Mr. Collins she says to Elizabeth: “‘I am not romantic, you know.  I never was.  I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collins’s character, connections, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on entering the marriage state.'”(PP Ch.22)  Looking at the character of Anne De Bourgh, we do not learn that much about her except that she is sickly and has not been presented to society.  She was also betrothed to Darcy.  What can be made about her character?  Was it her destiny to live out her life as a spinster?  The freedom that the Bennett sisters have is much greater then most of the secondary female characters in the novel, they are able to break social norms.  Why did Austen create this juxtaposition between those sets of characters?

Image Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/108156828531539012/

The Plight of Pride and Prejudice in Pop-Culture

I am equal parts excited to discuss Pride and Prejudice and completely dreading it. I wouldn't say I idolize Jane Austen; however, I can fully admit she's my favorite writer and at times I can be extremely bias. Now that being said this particular work is my second-to-least favorite Austen text. As a result of this class, I am now being forced to analyse why exactly it comes up short among the six completed novels. I also want to explore why P&P garners the most attention in pop-culture.

To start P&P feels more juvenile than Austen's later work. When comparing P&P to the works Austen wrote after her hiatus the plot is noticeably thinner than say Emma or Persuasion. For example, Austen deals her later heroines harsher consequences and forces them to examine their own personalities and the responsibility they have when making choices. Anne Elliot (Persuasion) rejects Captain Wentworth due to his lack of social status and must live with that choice for six years. After that she must watch as a twenty-six year old--a spinster in the Regency Era--as he peruses different romantic partners before they finally resolve their relationship. In contrast, Lizzie Bennet waits an insignificant amount of time to gain her happy ending after initially rejecting Darcy.

Now my personal issues with Lizzie Bennet. Again my issue becomes one of comparison: when you line up Lizzie with Anne Elliot or Emma Woodhouse she is not nearly as strong or well developed. I have always been fascinated by people's love of Lizzie Bennet- their reasoning being her strong-willed personality. Yes, Lizzie can be strong willed and have a bit of an attitude (in a good way), but the consequences of that attitude are minimal. The greatest tribulation Lizzie must overcome is a lack of dowry and her ridiculous family. Anne Elliot must be alone for six years and Emma Woodhouse is forced to completely take stock of her actions and refine her entire personality, all while thinking she lost the love of her life to one of her closest friend.

With all that being said my main frustration with P&P? It is often times the only work of Austen's that people are familiar. Leading me to ask why? Austen has five other novels that are just as, often times more, entertaining. When I talk with people I am happy to hear they at least know something of Sense and Sensibility, but usually just P&P. Additionally, most people are only familiar with the 2007 Keira Knightley adaption or the Colin Firth BBC mini-series; and not the novel.

One possible conclusion: it's the first published work. Doesn't seem to be enough, though. The multiple adaptations and re-mixes of P&P are definitely a leading factor. Why is this the most appealing Austen work to adapt to film or re-mix? I personally believe it comes back to our instinctual love of fairy-tales; and P&P has all the elements of a Cinderella story. In fact, as an undergrad I wrote an entire paper charting the characters of P&P with their Cinderella archetype. Quick summary: Lizzie = Cinderella, Mrs. Bennet/Catherine de Bourgh = evil step-mother, Ugly Step-Sisters = Lydia and Kitty/Caroline Bingley, Fairy God Mother = Mrs. Gardiner, etc. You get the point, we love the familiar (as we have all learned in this class, nothing groundbreaking) and I personally feel much of P&P is familiar to our childhood stories.

All that being said? I still love P&P. It is still one of my favorite novels. Why I personally love the novel is different than other peoples. My favorite characters? Mrs. Bennet and Charlotte Lucas. Mrs. Bennet while annoying and ridiculous faces a difficult reality: five daughters who cannot inherit and so must marry to survive. She is smart enough, and loves her daughters enough, to know if they remain unmarried after their father's death the world will be a cold place for them. Charlotte Lucas faces a similar reality as Lizzie, but doesn't exactly get her happy ending. She is realistic, though, making the best of the situation she is in and marries Mr. Collins not out of weakness but strength, knowing it is her way to get by.

Alright rant over. I can't wait to read others thoughts. And please, if you haven't already, read some of Austen's other work. Emma is my personal favorite, Mansfield Park is my least (I do not recommend reading it next). 

We Stan Men Putting Aside Their Pride!!!!!

"'In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.' Elizabeth's astonishment was beyond expression. She stared, coloured, doubted, and was silent. This he considered sufficient encouragement, and the avowal of all that he felt and had long felt for her, immediately followed. He spoke well, but there were feelings besides those of the heart to be detailed, and he was not more eloquent on the subject of tenderness than of pride. He sensed her inferiority--of its being a degradation--of the family obstacles which judgement had always opposed to inclination, were dwelt on with a warmth which seemed due to the consequence he was wounding, but was very unlikely to recommend his suit." (131)

Mr. Darcy's suddenness here of his first proposal to Elizabeth was a significant point in the novel--for the first time Mr. Darcy is setting aside his pride to admit what he really wants--it's the first sign that he is willing to better himself for her. This act of love shocks Elizabeth, and intrigues her. This is one of the moments that always stands out the most to me--and I'm intrigued, especially by the male members of the class, what everyone thinks of this moment? Was he overstepping? Was it too much? Was this a sign of sincerity or his first sign of maturity? Because for me, this novel was filled with a lot of romantic gestures that made my heart swell, and this was really the first one of them. I love that both Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy bettered themselves for one another!!