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Pride and Prejudice, or Never Judge a Man by His Charm
I've been ruminating a great deal on Austen's most famous work lately (it is her most famous, isn't it? I haven't done any quantifiable research, but it seems to be the case from general observation) because of The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, a clever modern adaptation in the form of video blogs. (Check it out if you haven't already; it's on YouTube. Just start with episode 1 and, if you're like me, spend the next four hours compulsively clicking on the next one.) P&P has been endlessly adapted, including a few in modern settings. But this is perhaps one of the most ambitious for taking on a unique format, which requires that many of the plot points are conveyed in recap form. Don't worry, though - the "costume theater" reenactments make it far from boring. Since the characters who appear most frequently in Lizzie's diaries are her sisters and close friends, the narrative leans heavily toward the female characters' stories and relationships with each other. It has the most nuanced portrayal of Lydia that I've ever seen as well. So, hooray for that! Of course there's romance, by nature of the original story, but it's more than that. Oh, and it's definitely a comedy. Very, very funny.
In any case, watching the story unfold gradually in 3-4 minute segments over the course of months, has stirred all sorts of reflections about the major themes of the original novel. I've lost track of how many times I've read the book, and I adore the 1995 miniseries. I've seen bits of the 2005 version but it just seemed overwrought compared to the miniseries. And occasionally anachronistic. I'm a purist. So I would say I have a fairly obsessive knowledge of the story, and can anticipate the general idea of what's coming next. (It's currently at the point when Lizzie comes home from Huntsford, after Darcy's first proposal and the letter, sadder and wiser.) There's lots of speculation at this point about the Pemberly arc, and how Lydia's elopement will be translated to the modern era. Taking away the trappings of the Regency era has required that everything be distilled to its essentials. And even though social expectations are vastly different in 21st century America, I believe that the story, at least in one facet, is still about good character. That a charming attractive person like Wickham may earn immediate admiration, but his dishonest and reprobate nature will eventually be revealed. That a proud, socially-awkward man like Darcy may gain quick dislike from casual acquaintances, but the strong principles at the core of his character will become clear to anyone who has the chance to really get to know him. And so far this adaptation has every indication of following through with that.
Which is why it drives me slightly insane to see people speculating about whether they'll include the "pivotal lake scene" at Pemberly. First and foremost, there is no such pivotal scene. That's from the miniseries, and only pivotal if you have a burning need to know whether Colin Firth looks good in a wet shirt. The real purpose of that scene is to create a profoundly awkward moment, and I suppose the wet shirt accentuates that for people who wouldn't pick up on it otherwise? But more importantly, this fixation on Darcy's attractiveness betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of the novel's themes.
P&P has inspired many a romance; in fact, you could reasonably argue that it spawned the entire romantic comedy genre. Boy meets girl and inspires instant dislike, misunderstandings ensue, feelings change, kissing commences. But I cannot count the number of times those shifting feelings are portrayed by the sudden realization of long-repressed physical attraction. Bleargh. Physical attraction is a nice element of romantic relationships, but it absolutely cannot be the foundation. The ironic thing is, Pride and Prejudice illustrates that very truth. Wickham is handsome and attracts Elizabeth from their first meeting. But her interest has begun to wane even before she finds out his true nature (she feels no bitter envy toward Mary King, his new pursuit) and feels all the shame of her unfounded preference toward him when she does find out what a total scumbag he really is. As for Darcy, no one ever argues that he's not handsome. When Elizabeth's feelings begin to change toward him, it's not revealed through page after page of loving descriptions of his gorgeous face or muscle-y frame. It's her observations of his concerted efforts to be more friendly and approachable and his obvious affection for his sister, and finally the tremendous task he takes on of rescuing Lydia and their family from disgrace and ruin. In other words, his excellent character.
Elizabeth and Darcy do not fall in love at first sight and then deny and hide and repress those feelings until some contrivance forces them out. Remember that Darcy, though he falls quickly, first speaks of Elizabeth as "tolerable." He comes to loves her for her playful, witty personality. Those "fine eyes" he so admires are just a reflection of her admirable character. And what about those who do base their attachments on physical attraction?
"How Wickham and Lydia were to be supported in tolerable independence, she could not imagine. But how little of permanent happiness could belong to a couple who were only brought together because their passions were stronger than their virtues, she could easily conjecture." Hardly the heroes of the story. (I assume the LBD Lydia will have a better end because she's proven to have depth beneath her shallow silliness, and it doesn't make sense in our era to have marriage to a cad as the best possible ending for an errant daughter.)
To sum up all this rambling, I wish people would take more from P&P than the template of romantic misunderstandings, or the confused notion that Darcy's status as a swoonworthy romantic lead comes from how he looks in a wet shirt or from being silent and brooding. Those are really dumb requisites for romance, and frankly, women deserve better than that.
In any case, watching the story unfold gradually in 3-4 minute segments over the course of months, has stirred all sorts of reflections about the major themes of the original novel. I've lost track of how many times I've read the book, and I adore the 1995 miniseries. I've seen bits of the 2005 version but it just seemed overwrought compared to the miniseries. And occasionally anachronistic. I'm a purist. So I would say I have a fairly obsessive knowledge of the story, and can anticipate the general idea of what's coming next. (It's currently at the point when Lizzie comes home from Huntsford, after Darcy's first proposal and the letter, sadder and wiser.) There's lots of speculation at this point about the Pemberly arc, and how Lydia's elopement will be translated to the modern era. Taking away the trappings of the Regency era has required that everything be distilled to its essentials. And even though social expectations are vastly different in 21st century America, I believe that the story, at least in one facet, is still about good character. That a charming attractive person like Wickham may earn immediate admiration, but his dishonest and reprobate nature will eventually be revealed. That a proud, socially-awkward man like Darcy may gain quick dislike from casual acquaintances, but the strong principles at the core of his character will become clear to anyone who has the chance to really get to know him. And so far this adaptation has every indication of following through with that.
Which is why it drives me slightly insane to see people speculating about whether they'll include the "pivotal lake scene" at Pemberly. First and foremost, there is no such pivotal scene. That's from the miniseries, and only pivotal if you have a burning need to know whether Colin Firth looks good in a wet shirt. The real purpose of that scene is to create a profoundly awkward moment, and I suppose the wet shirt accentuates that for people who wouldn't pick up on it otherwise? But more importantly, this fixation on Darcy's attractiveness betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of the novel's themes.
P&P has inspired many a romance; in fact, you could reasonably argue that it spawned the entire romantic comedy genre. Boy meets girl and inspires instant dislike, misunderstandings ensue, feelings change, kissing commences. But I cannot count the number of times those shifting feelings are portrayed by the sudden realization of long-repressed physical attraction. Bleargh. Physical attraction is a nice element of romantic relationships, but it absolutely cannot be the foundation. The ironic thing is, Pride and Prejudice illustrates that very truth. Wickham is handsome and attracts Elizabeth from their first meeting. But her interest has begun to wane even before she finds out his true nature (she feels no bitter envy toward Mary King, his new pursuit) and feels all the shame of her unfounded preference toward him when she does find out what a total scumbag he really is. As for Darcy, no one ever argues that he's not handsome. When Elizabeth's feelings begin to change toward him, it's not revealed through page after page of loving descriptions of his gorgeous face or muscle-y frame. It's her observations of his concerted efforts to be more friendly and approachable and his obvious affection for his sister, and finally the tremendous task he takes on of rescuing Lydia and their family from disgrace and ruin. In other words, his excellent character.
Elizabeth and Darcy do not fall in love at first sight and then deny and hide and repress those feelings until some contrivance forces them out. Remember that Darcy, though he falls quickly, first speaks of Elizabeth as "tolerable." He comes to loves her for her playful, witty personality. Those "fine eyes" he so admires are just a reflection of her admirable character. And what about those who do base their attachments on physical attraction?
"How Wickham and Lydia were to be supported in tolerable independence, she could not imagine. But how little of permanent happiness could belong to a couple who were only brought together because their passions were stronger than their virtues, she could easily conjecture." Hardly the heroes of the story. (I assume the LBD Lydia will have a better end because she's proven to have depth beneath her shallow silliness, and it doesn't make sense in our era to have marriage to a cad as the best possible ending for an errant daughter.)
To sum up all this rambling, I wish people would take more from P&P than the template of romantic misunderstandings, or the confused notion that Darcy's status as a swoonworthy romantic lead comes from how he looks in a wet shirt or from being silent and brooding. Those are really dumb requisites for romance, and frankly, women deserve better than that.