It's time for the next intallment in the Read It Ribbit Cheat Sheet series. This month, it's the turn of the original romantic comedy, my favourite book: Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice
Cheat Sheet 2: Pride and Prejudice
Title (s): Pride and Prejudice
Author: Jane Austen
Who’s Who:
Miss Elizabeth (Lizzy) Bennet : The witty, feisty heroine. The second of the five daughters of Mr Bennet (apathetic with little patience for non sensible people which is a shame because most of his family are) and Mrs Bennet (a gossip and fairly vulgar woman whose aim in life is to marry off her daughters to rich men), Lizzy is determined not to marry for anything but love.
Mr (Fitzwilliam) Darcy: Seemingly arrogant but actually socially awkward. Rich gentleman who falls for Lizzy, mostly against his gentlemanly will and (in his own words) ‘reason’. Smooth Darcy, smooth.
Jane Bennet: the oldest of the Bennet sisters. Commonly described as the prettiest and generally nicest sister. Acts as Lizzy’s confident.
Mary, Kitty and Lydia Bennet: The remaining Bennet sisters, each one sillier than the last.
Mr Bingley: Darcy’s best friend who rents Netherfield Park and in so doing, kick starts the story. Has a soft spot for Jane Bennet.
Mr Collins: Distant cousin of the Bennets and toadying clergyman. Thanks to the practise of the day, he is set to inherit the Bennet’s Longbourne estate, leaving the sisters without independent finances.
Charlotte Lucas: Lizzy’s very sensible and practical friend who agrees to marry Mr Collins after he is rejected by Lizzy because she’s 27 and it is her last chance.
Mr Wickham: Charming officer stationed at Merryton who captures the approval of everyone in the area, including Elizabeth.
What happens then?
The main plot revolves around the romantic lives of the Bennet sisters. Mr Bingley moves into the neighbourhood and immediately falls in love with Jane. His friend, Mr Darcy, first dismisses Elizabeth but soon grows to like her ‘fine eyes’ as well as other attributes. Meanwhile, Lizzy decides that she detests him and goes about her daily business which includes batting off proposals from her obsequious cousin Mr Collins, dealing with her mother’s ‘nerves’ and getting to know a dashing young soldier called Wickham.
Bingley gets bundled off to town by his family and Darcy, separating him from Jane and plunging her into despair. Lizzy visits her friend, Charlotte where she finally gets to meet the great Lady Catherine de Bourgh of Rosings Park, who just happens to be Darcy’s aunt and look, he’s visiting! Then Darcy really puts his foot in it by delivering the worst thought out proposal of all time. Opening with: ‘In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed’ before sliding into a verse on how her connections are a degradation to his standing in life and rounding up by once again stressing that he has very sensibly tried to convince his heart to listen to his snooty head, but it wouldn’t so they should probably get married then?
Of course, he’s rejected and slinks off, but not before handing over a letter to Lizzy that proves that Wickham is an old fashioned cad who tried to have his wicked way with Darcy’s fifteen year old sister but was stopped just in time. So Lizzy does a complete u-turn on her opinions about both Darcy and Wickham.
After a pit stop at Longbourne, Lizzy goes gallivanting around the Lake district with relatives. She ends up visiting Pemberley, Darcy’s ancestral home and realises just how many bonnets £10,000 a year can buy her. Surprise, surprise: just as they are leaving, who should turn up but Mr Darcy, who seems much more friendly than usual. Just as they’re getting along, a letter arrives saying that Lydia (their youngest, stupidest sister) has run off with Wickham, before they are married- scandal!
As the family all despair at their loss of respectability, Mrs Bennet’s brother saves the day, finds the errant pair and forces them to marry. Except the real hero of the day is Darcy, who stumbles upon Elizabeth just as she receives the bad news and rides off to London to save the fair maid from distress whilst swearing everyone to secrecy about his part in events.
Big mouth Lydia lets slip to Lizzy that, actually it’s Darcy who’s the hero, so when Lady Catherine de Bourgh shows up all guns blazing because she heard a rumour that Lizzy was engaged to Darcy, she tells her to get stuffed and refuses to promise that she won’t marry him. Mr Bingley pops up to propose to Jane and when Elizabeth and Darcy are thrown together again, they can finally declare undying love and all the sensible characters get their happy ending. Hooray!
What else?
Has one of the most famous opening lines in history: ‘It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man, in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.’
Is there a Film Version?
Several, but the general consensus is that Andrew Davies’ television adaptation starring Jennifer Ehle and Cloin Firth is the closest to the spirit of the book. Pride and Prejudice has single handedly created the costume drama genre of television and has therefore helped to feed generations of poor, malnourished thespians.
Things the Fans Say
- I am Elizabeth Bennet.
- Keira Knightley is way too pretty to be cast as Lizzy! She’s meant to be averagely pretty cough*and therefore her life is more attainable for an ordinary person like me* cough cough.
- Oh Mr Darcy!
- Ha! Take that Caroline Bingley!
- Don’t do it Charlotte!
Random Facts
- Darcy doesn’t dive into a pond in the book: that was the BBC director taking advantage of Colin Firth’s excitable fan base.
- The original title was First Impressions but it was published anonymously as Pride and Prejudice in 1813.
- There have been SO MANY spin offs and re-imaginings of this book including Bridget Jones and of course, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies which is currently being made into a film.
*The picture used is for the Cheat Sheet logo is a scan of my copy of a Peguin Classics edition and all cover design and pictures used remain the property of their respective owners :)
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