Imagine an artificial world. Seemingly perfect, it has the complexion of a ripe orange – you imagine that upon peeling away the pulpy orange peel, you will find a golden globe, gleaming and bursting with possibility.
And such is the world painted by author Jane Austen. In the novel “Pride and Prejudice,” she depicts a surreal world, restricted by conformity and entrapped by a thick, imperfect “peel,” if you will.
Austen has a gift for social nuances. And this, if not anything else, bursts in brilliant colors in the novel.
Elizabeth Bennet, witty heroine of “Pride and Prejudice,” embarks on a romance in a household that prioritizes the idea of marriage for economic stability over all else. Through her fierce independence and ability to step beyond the boundaries of conformity, she shares a human message and even today, her character resonates with us.
When faced with the dilemma of her sister’s potential unhappiness and of unwanted suitors, Bennet stretches the limits of the role society mandates for her. And yet, in doing so, she transcends expectations – indeed, through this, she is able to truly blossom and succeed as a character – she comes to life and forces us to recognize her as undeniably, unquestionably human.
Indeed, Austen weaves her plot further, however, and it surpasses the boundaries of a mere love story. Through her portrayal of Mrs. Bennet, the mother of the household, and Charlotte Lucas, Elizabeth Bennet’s best friend, Austen makes us question society’s expectations of us and how they disfigure our characters and our lives.
In a world of seemingly facile and superficial characters, Bennet becomes known for her dry wit and cynical outlook, both of which are beloved and simultaneously despised in her world of classical English society. Embarking on a bittersweet and self-revelatory adventure into love, she meets proud and haughty Mr. Darcy, owner of an immense estate who allows his prejudice to blind him – yet another facile character with the potential to blossom into more.
Of course, Austen is not without her faults. In some ways, the triviality of many of these characters can serve as a deterrent. But look past the superficiality, and you find that this world remarkably resembles our own. In many ways, our own preoccupation with more modern entrapments is eerily reminiscent to that which the characters display in the novel.
As the novel winds its way to an ironically sweet conclusion, it appears to end on a note of triumph for the ideas of love and independence. But Austen is heralded in society today for more than just this, and even this seemingly trivial ending has a soft spot in our hearts for its careful analysis of society and what accomplishments mean.
What you gain from this book ultimately, however, stems from what you bring to it. Its vividness of life promises to enthrall you if you accept the theme of social propriety and boundaries that it offers. Interpreted time and again by critics, its message is equivocal and subject to new interpretations. But look beyond that and peel into the crusty orange peel, and you find a world of potential and possibilities at your fingertips. Whether or not you take that bite to delve further into understanding what it truly means is a choice left in your hands.
