I don't know what to say about Pride and Prejudice, because I've read so many reviews by readers who adore it. I can't match them in any way.

I can only contribute that the book is deceptively complex, the themes of pride, prejudice, class, family, and marriage playing a big role in shaping this story.

Please excuse my lack of ideas. This novel is the work of a person with such a strong mental fortitude that my words of praise ring hollow to me. Jane Austen humbled me with her perception. She is such a fantastic writer.

This is what happens when you write not to please everybody. Disney take note, you bastard. My first 5 star book of the year.

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." Thus begins one of the most iconic classics, Pride and Prejudice by Miss Jane Austen. It is also a truth most recently acknowledged, that I am utterly obsessed with this book. I first read it in 2016, at the tender age of 20, and didn't really care for it. I think, at the time, my English wasn't good enough to properly get all the nuances of Austen's writings. Half of the time I didn't understand what she was saying, and Pride and Prejudice is a novel that relies a lot on humor and sarcasm, as well as being able to read between the lines. Now, 7 years later, I finally came back to this story, and I am more than happy to report that it has become one of my favorite romances of all time. Like, for real. This book is so addictive. I am utterly obsessed with it. Lizzy and Darcy deserve each other, in every sense of the word. They are a perfect match, or at least come to be one throughout the course of the story.

I honestly have no idea how to review this book, because everything that needs to be said about it has already been said, and I'm certainly no Austen expert. And so I thought I would just go through my annotations chronologically and share with you my favorite moments in this book. Maybe not the most original take for a review but I seriously need all of these moment on record somewhere, so prepare for a lot of quotations! [Edit: Now that I've finished writing this: this is one of my longest reviews ever written, lmao, and I literally ran out of characters and couldn't even mention everything I've wanted to mention. Good lord. Grab a snack, grab all the snacks. This is a long one.]

As we are introduced to the Bennet household in the beginning of the novel, we are not just introduced to the five sisters – Jane, Lizzy, Lydia, Mary and Kitty – but also to their parents – Mr and Mrs Bennet (née Gardiner). And whilst I hated Mrs Bennet the first time around (I thought she was way too annoying and embarrassing) and loved Mr Bennet (he was so sassy & funny), I have to say that upon my reread, Mr Bennet does not hold up as a character. I think I despise him more than his wife. It was his duty, as a man, to provide for his family, not just in the present, but also in the future. But due to lazy or ignorance or whatever, he failed to do so, leaving his daughters with nothing upon his own death. Absolute shameful behavior. But what probably annoyed me the most is his holier-than-thou and degrading attitude towards his children. He only cares for Lizzy, and has nothing but insults and disdain for his youngest three kids: "They have none of them much to recommend them, they are all silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy has something more of quickness than her sisters.", later he says: "From all that I can collect by your manner of talking, you must be two of the silliest girls in the country. I have suspected it some time, but I am now convinced." I'm absolutely horrified by the shit he said about his own kids. And even if some of what he says is true, it is absolutely his own fault. These are his kids, he is responsible for their education. Ugh, this man was getting on my goddamn nerves.

As for Mrs Bennet, while I understand her desperation better nowadays, she still got on my goddamn nerves, and I think she was unfair to Lizzy ("Elizabeth was the least dear to her of all her children;). In a way, I think that Austen was unfair to her. You can kind of tell that Austen didn't really care for her and she is one of the most one dimensional characters in the entire novel, often portrayed to be rather silly (especially in her treatment of Lydia and Wickham – we'll get to it later). So maybe we should judge Austen more than Mrs Bennet, but I'm not her biggest fan, sorry.

I also love Darcy's introduction into the story because it's such a mess. As Mr Bingley moves to town with his party, he decides to host a ball at Netherfield for the whole neighborhood. Mr Darcy, reputed to be twice as wealthy as his good friend Mr Bingley, is present as well as the Bennets. He acts so haughty and aloof that within minutes the whole neighborhood hates him. It is actually quite brilliant. I also love that he declines to dance with Lizzy ("She is tolerable: but not handsome enough to tempt me..." UMM, EXCUSE ME?) because it gives both of their characters room to grow over the course of the book. I know that modern writers often read Darcy as autistic or socially awkward etc. and there's definitely merit to these readings, but I think it's important to acknowledge that his actions are absolutely unacceptable and rude at the Netherfield ball, and that he knows it. It gives him room to reflect and see the fault of his ways... room to... overcome his pride and prejudices, one might say. ;)

I also love that when Lizzy shares this with her friend Charlotte, she hits her with: "If I may so express it, he has a right to be proud." (gotta love practical Charlotte), but I also love Lizzy's reply: "That is very true, and I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine." Yes, yes, yes. Mama Austen was cooking with this one. I love the initial conflict between the two. It is so natural, and makes sense (=> for Darcy to think of himself as better, and for Lizzy to be hurt by his words).

As these two continue to encounter each other at social events, Mr Darcy secretly begins to find himself drawn to Elizabeth, appreciating her wit and frankness ("It is your turn to say something now, Mr. Darcy. I talked about the dance, and you ought to make some kind of remark on the size of the room, or the number of couples."). One of my favorite moments is when Lizzy is at Netherfield to be at Jane's side (who was forced to stay with the Bingleys due to a cold that she caught on her way to them), and she is walking with Caroline in the salon, as Darcy watches them. He says: "You either choose this method of passing the evening because you are in each other’s confidence, and have secret affairs to discuss, or because you are conscious that your figures appear to the greatest advantage in walking: if the first, I should be completely in your way; and if the second, I can admire you much better as I sit by the fire." Holy smokes, Jane???? Darcy knows how to flirt??? Has me blushing and shit. I am obsessed. And I have no idea about how gentlemen conducted themselves during the Regency era, but this seems super bold and frank to me. I love it!

One of the plot lines that had my blood boiling from start to finish was Mr Collins and his unhinged misogyny. Mr Collins, bestie, it's ON SIGHT. Mr Collins, the heir to the Longbourn estate, visits the Bennet family with the intention of finding a wife among the five girls under the advice of his patroness Lady Catherine de Bourgh, also revealed to be Mr Darcy's aunt. He decides to pursue Elizabeth in such an aggressive way, not taking her rejection seriously, that it literally made me want to throw hands with him. Austen describes the oppression and desperation that Lizzy feels in his overbearing presence so well, I truly felt for her. She was so CLEAR in her refusal, yet this motherfucker chose to simply ignore it. "The moment of her release from him was ecstasy." Poor, poor thing. Frustrated she concludes, "that if he persisted in considering her repeated refusals as flattering encouragement, to apply to her father, whose negative might be uttered in such a manner as must be decisive, and whose behaviour at least could not be mistaken for the affectation and coquetry of an elegant female." Lizzy knows that Mr Collins will only accept the opinion/the word of a man. Arggghhhh. Austen, ever the feminist. Gotta love her for it.

I also loved the bond between Lizzy and Jane. This is the one sibling relationship done right in the novel; the other siblings relationships are a bit weird for me (not close enough in regards to the younger sisters, too exploitative in regards to Caroline and Bingley, too devoted in regards to Georgiana and Darcy...). I love that Lizzy and Jane talk so much about their feelings, and that they are also not above gossiping, at one point Lizzy reassures Jane (who is very self-conscious and self-denying when it comes to Bingley's affection for her): "Indeed, Jane, you ought to believe me. No one who has ever seen you together can doubt his affection; Miss Bingley, I am sure, cannot: she is not such a simpleton. Could she have seen half as much love in Mr. Darcy for herself, she would have ordered her wedding clothes." There are many moments in which Lizzy is super judgemental of other women, and she has big "I'm not like other girls"-energy (as can be seen in the quote and her comments about Miss Bingley), but I love that she is reassuring her sister. Lizzy truly is Jane's #1 fan, and that's how it should be with sisters.

Charlotte Lucas, Lizzy's best friend, is one of my favorite characters in the novel, and Lizzy's treatment of her is appalling. Again, it's giving "I'm not like other girls". Of matrimony, Charlotte, ever the pragmatist, says this: "Without thinking highly either of men or of matrimony, marriage had always been her object: it was the only honourable provision for well-educated young women of small fortune, and, however uncertain of giving happiness, must be their pleasantest preservative from want." It's giving Florence Pugh as Amy from Little Women, and I love every second of it. Charlotte doesn't have the privilege to be a feminist, to marry for love. She knows she needs a husband if she wants to live in some semblance of freedom and security. And when she takes the opportunity to marry Mr Collins, after Lizzy turned him down TWICE, I honestly couldn't blame her for it. Sure, I love Mr Collins with a passion of a thousand burning suns, and Charlotte does deserve better, but let's be realistic here, she will not get better. So Mr Collins it is. And Lizzy has no right to judge her for it, especially not as harshly as she does. Lizzy truly has the audacity of feeling that "no real confidence could ever subsist between them again." Bitch, what are you on about? That's your BEST FRIEND. Stand by her side.

Anyways, let's move on to happier (and even messier) things. Darcy's first proposal to Lizzy. "In vain have I 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." CAN YOU HEAR ME SCREAMING FROM THE TOP OF MY LUNGS??? I love this so much bc wtf was this man thinking? "In vain have I struggled" – um sir, is loving me such a burden to you, wtf??? "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. His sense of her inferiority, of its being a degradation, of the family obstacles which judgment 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." BAHAHAHAHA. THIS IS SO MESSY. I AM IN LOVE. Lizzy truly had the best, and only possible, response for him: "I might as well inquire, why, with so evident a design of offending and insulting me, you chose to tell me that you liked me against your will, against your reason, and even against your character?"

But bestie babes, brace yourselves, bc this man had the audacity to reply this: "Could you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your connections?—to congratulate myself on the hope of relations whose condition in life is so decidedly beneath my own?" I LITERALLY CAN NOT. WTF. Darcy is crazy. Expect saying that to a girl while PROPOSING (!!!) and expecting her to say YES. Being a man must be truly something else. Ya'll, it's the delusion for me. Lizzy had every right to reject him, well done, sis.

Okay, let's get back to why I hate Mr Bennet, lmao. I haven't talked about Wickham and the officers yet. But basically there's a regiment in town and all the (unmarried) women are hella excited bc the officers are good husband material. Lydia becomes obsessed with this fella named Wickham, and wants to follow him to a new town as the whole regiment is set to move. Lizzy doesn't think it's a good idea and when she brings it up to her father, the motherfucker says this: "Lydia will never be easy till she has exposed herself in some public place or other, and we can never expect her to do it with so little expense or inconvenience to her family as under the present circumstances." And later: "The officers will find women better worth their notice. Let us hope, therefore, that her being there may teach her her own insignificance. At any rate, she cannot grow many degrees worse, without authorizing us to lock her up for the rest of her life." I hope you rot in hell, sir. Lydia is 15 years old, by the way, yet Mr Bennet has not an ounce in his body that wants to protect her. It is absolutely wild.

And of course EVERYTHING goes to shit when Lydia is being taken advantage of by Wickham and the two of them elope. Mr Darcy is the only reason that scandal was averted bc he managed to pay Wickham out and thus force his marriage with Lydia, and thus restoring her "virtue". Mr Bennet didn't do shit, because he is a weak ass man with no power, and he didn't know what the fuck was going on. Also, the AUDACITY of Mr Collins writing to Mr Bennet the following: "The death of your daughter would have been a blessing in comparison of this." Uff, had my blood boiling. Not that Mr Bennet doesn't deserve it, but Lydia doesn't deserve that misogynist shit. "Her death would have been a blessing in comparison to this"???? MR COLLINS, YOU WILL CATCH THESE HANDS!!!!

The only good thing coming out of the elopement and Darcy's help is that Lizzy finally sees Darcy in a new light: "But above all, above respect and esteem, there was a motive within her of good-will which could not be overlooked. It was gratitude;—gratitude, not merely for having once loved her, but for loving her still well enough to forgive all the petulance and acrimony of her manner in rejecting him, and all the unjust accusations accompanying her rejection. He who, she had been persuaded, would avoid her as his greatest enemy, seemed, on this accidental meeting, most eager to preserve the acquaintance; and without any indelicate display of regard, or any peculiarity of manner, where their two selves only were concerned, was soliciting the good opinion of her friends, and bent on making her known to his sister." HOW LOVELY. Lizzy realises "that he was exactly the man who, in disposition and talents, would most suit her. His understanding and temper, though unlike her own, would have answered all her wishes. It was an union that must have been to the advantage of both: by her ease and liveliness, his mind might have been softened, his manners improved; and from his judgment, information, and knowledge of the world, she must have received benefit of greater importance." I'm telling you these two are a perfect match, and they both grew so much over the course of this story. THEY DESERVE EACH OTHER. Also one of the sweetest moment: "He had done all this for a girl whom he could neither regard nor esteem. Her heart did whisper that he had done it for her." *sobbing*

And then Darcy, THE MAN THAT HE IS, actually overcomes his pride and proposes to her AGAIN. Literally, shoot me now, this man is perfected. And Lizzy is so overwhelmed, she can't fucking believe it (GIRLIE SAME), and when she doesn't immediately reply, he's like: "You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on this subject for ever." I LOVE IT: "TELL ME SO AT ONCE", like our guy was ANXIOUS (can't blame him tho). Of course, she accepts his proposal (who wouldn't), and they actually talk about the first proposal and you can see how much they both have grown. Darcy reassures her: "What did you say of me, that I did not deserve? For, though your accusations were ill-founded, formed on mistaken premises, my behaviour to you at the time had merited the severest reproof. It was unpardonable. I cannot think of it without abhorrence." LIKE YES, HE'S ONE OF THE GIRLS NOW. Love that for him.

And when she asks him, when he started to love her, he says THISSS: "I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun." AjhAHGJDgjafbjfbjb. LOVE ACTUALLY IS... ALL AROUND.

And then they talk about their behavior towards each other afterward and Lizzy is like: "You might have talked to me more when you came to dinner.", to which he replies: "A man who had felt less, might." AHUDJDHHHH. Words escape me.

One thing I found really scary (and revealing) though, was Mr Bennet's reaction to Lizzy telling him that Darcy proposed to her (at this point, he didn't yet know that Darcy was the one who saved Lydia; he still thought Darcy was an ass): "He is the kind of man, indeed, to whom I should never dare refuse anything, which he condescended to ask." SO FUCKING SCARY. I mean, it turned out great because DARCY is great, but imagine he had been an abusive asshole with money. Mr Bennet would've sold his darling child right off to him. SCARY STUFF.

Anyways, let's leave on a high note, heck the high note of the entire novel, as much as I hate Mr Bennet (ROT IN HELL, SIR!), I love his revenge letter to Mr Collins. After the shit he wrote to him about Lydia being better off dead (I AM STILL NOT OVER IT, YOU GUYS), Mr Bennet writes him this after Lizzy's engagement to Darcy, knowing full well that he's a better catch than Collins will ever be: "DEAR SIR, I must trouble you once more for congratulations. Elizabeth will soon be the wife of Mr. Darcy. Console Lady Catherine as well as you can. But, if I were you, I would stand by the nephew. He has more to give. Yours sincerely, etc." BAHAHAHAHA. THE PETTINESS. I am obsessed. I need this letter tattooed on my body, it's possibly the most iconic thing I've ever read. THANK YOU JANE FOR WRITING THIS MASTERPIECE.

Eh, just okay. Basically a character study of 19th century England, society, courtship, etc. Nothing all that mind blowing or enthralling happens. In fact, not much really happens at all.

I know some out there love this one, but it wasn't really for me. To tell you the truth, I read this because I have Pride & Prejudice & Zombies sitting on my shelf ready to go, but I figured it would be best if I familiarized myself with the source material first.

Welcome back to another edition of Tim has an unpopular opinion: and this is a big one, as Tim is about to state that he frankly dislikes one of the most popular books ever written.

Yes, I dislike Pride and Prejudice. I’ll be honest, the only reasons it gets two stars is because of its historic influence on literature and the fact that it made me laugh on a few occasions, all from dialogue by Mr. Bennet, who while a flawed character was a joy to read. I dare say it would have been a 5 star read had it just been about him sitting in his library, tired of his relations and trying to get out of the story by mocking all of them.

I just don’t get it. Don’t get me wrong, I understand it’s influence, and I respect the people who love it, but I was bored the entire time and don’t get the love for it.

Abridged recap of the book: let’s go to a party. Let’s visit someone’s house. Oh my, now they are visiting us! What fun! Oh no, drama and gossip. Elopement… scandalous. Oh, hooray, a visit. That visit went poorly, hopefully the next will be better. Huzzah, it was!

I guess if I was trying to compliment it further, I should note that it is a rare example of a “pure” character done right. Jane is the annoying “see the good in everyone” but is actually able to see ill, she just doesn’t want to. It hurts. It’s not stupidity but a form of self preservation. This is refreshing, as usually in 19th century literature their purity just shines seemingly from stupidity.

Sorry everyone, I know this is a loved classic, but all I can say is that at least I’ve crossed it off my list of ones to read. It is at this point that I must just assume that Austen is not for me (though I at least did not despise it like I did Northanger Abbey.) 2/5 stars

Pulls me in every time, regardless of how wordy it is. I need to read more Austen now, and obvs watch every adaptation of every of her novels.
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Finished my post-election therapeutic P&P binge.

I re-watched this:


and this:


and even this:


and then listened to this:


And yet, I am still not sufficiently comforted. What to do?

I loved this book. I think its place is among my favorites. This was my grandma's favorite book. I think she read it tens of times. Maybe once a year. I tried to read it once but I abandoned it. I am so happy that I started to read it again.

I am so genuinely surprised at the positive experience I had reading this book! I had so much fun reading it and can now understand why people love it so much :3 Let's be real this deserves 5 stars <3

Around the Year in 52 Books Challenge Notes:
- 9. A book mentioned in another book

Just a few words to express how I loved Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. So much has already been said, that I feel almost redundant.

'Pride and Prejudice' for me is above all about women’s choices in marriage, or the possibility of love versus choosing for money or social position. During Austen's time, marriage was the only option a woman had, except if she was rich enough to disregard the expectations of society; except if she was willing to live as a poor relation, which usually meant being used as an unpaid servant. Of course, there was always the option of becoming a governess, but that represented not only miserly wages, even worst it implied becoming barely respectable and existence in an ambiguous class oblivion of social invisibility and no autonomy. What could be worst? Thus, let’s not criticize Austen’s contemporaries who saw marriage as their only choice, let’s even try to understand Mrs. Benet predicament:
n  

”If I can but see one of my daughters happily settled at Netherfield,” said Mrs. Bennet to her husband, “and all the others equally well married, I shall have nothing to wish for.”

n
But we have to remember that woman’s necessity was not one-sided:
n  

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.

n
But, alas, that has probably been said before. What else can I mention here? That Jane Austen was ahead of her time, and her heroine, the witty and charming Elizabeth Bennet, makes us fall in love with her by her accurate view of the world:
n  

There are few people whom I really love, and still fewer of whom I think well. The more I see of the world, the more am I dissatisfied with it; and every day confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters, and of the little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of merit or sense.

n
And let’s not forget Mr. Darcy, for I am a romantic at heart, and he conquered me with his truthful statement, and even more crucial for me, ended up changing for Elizabeth:
n  

In vain have I 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.

n
What I most liked about Elizabeth and Darcy’s relationship is that it is not a simple romantic tale, but I loved how they overcome his pride and her prejudice and grow up gradually from a mutual antipathy to an understanding. And that does not happen overnight but over a period of over a year.

All this, and much more if I wished to be even more redundant is what makes this novel so popular and enduring. It was refreshing to have a story that despite questioning prevailing values makes us smile. Highly recommended.
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(Book 938 from 1001 Books) - Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice is a romantic novel by Jane Austen, first published in 1813.

The story charts the emotional development of the protagonist, Elizabeth Bennet, who learns the error of making hasty judgments and comes to appreciate the difference between the superficial and the essential.

عنوان: غرور و تعصب - جین اوستین (نشر نی، بنگاه ترجمه و نشر، زرین) ادبیات انگلستان؛ تاریخ نخستین خوانش: سال 1974میلادی

عنوان: غرور و تعصب؛ اثر: جین اوستین (آستین)؛ مترجم: شمس الملوک وزیری؛ مشخصات نشر: تهران، بنگاه ترجمه و نشر کتاب، 1336، در 661ص، زیر نظر احسان یارشاطر؛ موضوع داستانهای نویسندگان بریتانیا - سده 19م

مترجم: شاهرخ پورانفر، تهران، زرین، 1362، در 536ص
مترجم: رضا رضایی، تهران، نشر نی، 1385، در 449ص

ترجمه های دیگر خانمها و آقایان: «شایسته ابراهیمی»؛ «فرزانه حاجیلوئیان»؛ «صنعان صدیقی»؛ «راضیه میرزایی»؛ «عبدالحسین صبوری»؛ «اعظم ضامن‌پور»؛ «مرتضی صادقی‌زاده»؛ «مجید غلامی شاهدی»؛ «فائزه ارباب»؛ «فرناز سلطانی»؛ «سهیلا امامی»؛ «سعیده هاشمی»؛ «میروحید ذنوبی»؛ «الهام رحمانی»؛ «نوید اصلانی»؛ «مجید معتمدی راد»؛ «بهاره هاشمیان»؛ «میترا میرشکار»؛ «فرشید غضنفری و حسن طاهری»؛ «مریم امیری»؛ «فاطمه نصرتی»؛ «كیوان عبیدی‌آشتیانی»؛ «فرناز اخوان‌طباطبایی»؛ «رحیم اصلانی»؛ «کرم شکرزاده»؛ «رستو عوض‌زاده»؛ «سبا هاشمی‌نسب»؛ «مهشید مجتهدزاده»؛ «سحر پوریایی»؛ «هانیه چوپانی»؛ و ...؛

داستان را «جین آستین» در سن بیست و یک سالگی، و در سال 1796میلادی بنوشته است، و برای نخستین بار در سال 1813میلادی چاپ شده؛ و در ایران به سال 1336هجری خورشیدی، با ترجمه ی بانو «شمس الملوک وزیری»، به زیور طبع آراسته گشته است؛ آقا و خانم «بنت» پنج دختر دارند «جین»، «الیزابت»، «لیدیا»، «مری»، و «کیتیا».؛ «جین» و «الیزابت»، بزرگتر و زیباتر از سه خواهر دیگر خویش هستند؛ مردی سرشناس و ثروتمند، به نام «چارلز بینگلی»، در باغ خویش، و در همسایگی آنها زندگی میکند؛ او بسیار مهربان و خوش چهره است؛ خانم «بنت» کوشش میکند، مرد جوان یکی از دخترانش را، به همسری خویش برگزیند؛ و ... ادامه داستان؛

نقل از برگردان جناب رضا رضایی: («الیزابت» که دلیلی نمی‌دید این حالت بلاتکلیفی را ادامه بدهد، به محض رفتن «کیتی»، با جسارت تمام باز هم با آقای «دارسی» راه رفت؛ حالا وقتش شده بود که تصمیمش را عملی کند؛ به خودش جرئت داد و گفت: آقای «دارسی»، من آدم کاملا خودخواهی هستم؛ برای آرامش دادن به احساسات خودم هیچ فکر نمی‌کنم که شاید احساسات شما جریحه دار بشود؛ نمی‌توانم جلو خودم را بگیرم و بابت محبت فوق العاده‍ ای که در حق خواهر بیچاره‌ ام کرده‌ اید از شما تشکر نکنم

از وقتیکه به این مطلب پی برده‌ ام، مدام دلم می‌خواسته به شما بگویم که چه احساس امتنانی دارم؛ اگر بقیۀ افراد خانواده نیز می‌دانستند، الان صرفاً من نبودم که تشکر خود را به زبان می‌آوردم؛ «دارسی» هیجان‌زده و متعجب جواب داد: متأسفم، خیلی متأسفم که شما از موضوعی باخبر شده‌ اید که اگر درست به شما انتقال نداده باشند، احتمالا باعث رنجش می‌شود؛ هیچ فکر نمی‌کردم که خانم «گاردینر» اینقدر غیرقابل اعتماد باشند؛ - زن دایی‌ ام تقصیری ندارد؛ حواس پرتی «لیدیا» باعث شد من بفهمم شما در قضیه دخیل بوده‌ اید؛ خب، من هم تا جزئیات برایم روشن نمی‌شد، آرامش پیدا نمی‌کردم؛ اجازه بدهید بارها از شما تشکر کنم؛ از طرف همۀ اعضای خانواده‌ ام تشکر می‌کنم، به خاطر بلندنظری و محبتی که محرک شما در اینکار پر زحمت بوده و این همه دردسر را تحمل کرده بودید، تا آنها را پیدا کنید)؛ پایان نقل

تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 25/05/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ 05/05/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی

Society, with all its restrictive constructs, is one nasty piece of work.

It comes with so many silly rules, so many silly expectations. Those of social station and wealth must be seen to marry someone of the same “worth” regardless of the feelings involved; they must be seen to marry someone on their level of class structure. But what of love? What of passion? Should it be quenched because of these all-encompassing silly constructs?

Austen doesn’t think so.

Enter Darcy, a man who is royally pissed off; he has fallen in love with someone considered far beneath him, to declare his love for her is to step outside the realms of his supposed pedigree: it is a form of social death. So he is a man torn in two. At the route of things, he is a product of his society; consequently, he is affected by its values. Although he hates it all the same; thus, the long sullen silences, the seemingly moody and arrogant exchanges with Elizabeth. But it’s all the expression of a man struggling to deal with the raging tempest of emotions that have taken hold of his mind: his being.

“In vain have I 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.”



Indeed, Austen slowly reveals the dangers of false perception as she gradually peels away the mask of this stoic pillar of aristocracy, and underneath blossoms a misunderstood and sensitive soul. So the romance plot is born. Elizabeth eventually loses her prejudice and sees through Darcy’s false pride. Darcy loses his integrated construct of prejudice and ignores the pride of his relatives. As ever with Austen, the title of the work is suggestive of the main motifs; she’s never subtle as its all ways clear which way her razor sharp sarcasm is pointed.

So love conquers all. Austen was a strong advocate of social mobility, and often it’s based upon love in her works. But she only believes in real love. She’s not interested in fleeting moments of heat and sexual lust; she portrays true and lasting romantic attachments, relationships that are strong and real. For her, such things transcend class boundaries, wealth and intelligence. Love is love. It doesn’t matter who it is with as long as it is real; hence, Austen becomes a critique of society and its customs that prevent these relationships from being realised. She knows how stupid it is, and she loves to poke fun of her caricatures of the old stilted class of her era: the ones that resist her ideas.

Is this the best Austen?

I did really enjoy this book, and I have given it five stars, but it’s not as good as her other works. For me it lacks the moral growth of Northanger Abbey and Emma.It lacks the conciseness of Persuasion. The emphasis on the injustice of romance has made it popular, though I do strongly believe that the love in Persuasion is stronger than it is here. That endures rejection, separation, war and decades; yet, it still lingers. I love Austen, and I have loved each one of her books I’ve read so far in different ways. I hope to continue to do so. This is the fourth Austen I’ve given five stars, I can easily celebrate her as one of my favourite writers.

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elizabeth and darcy invented enemies to lovers. they literally went from this

n  n    “There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil, a natural defect, which not even the best education can overcome."
"And your defect is a propensity to hate everybody."
"And yours," he replied with a smile, "is wilfully to misunderstand them.”n  n

to this

n  n    "You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."n  n

the shift from all that tension, banter and retorts in the first quote to the absolute raw emotion in the second one. 210 years have passed and no one’s managed to top their enemies-to-lovers game.

akjshdjksddsnklasdmlaksn i have severe lizzy-darcy brainrot.

~ 5 stars ~

(Re-read 2021)


This is my second read of this book, and I am still shocked about how little I appreciated it the first time around. I mean, this book is a masterpiece in itself. Not all classics deserve that status, but this one surely does.

The drama? Top notch. The characters? To die for. The setting? *chefs kiss*

Jane Austen is a genius. Her writing is witty and charming. I know her writing style is not for everyone, but I personally really liked it. The way she is able to put all these characters together and produce such an atmospheric and immersive story is phenomenal. It isn't the strongest plot or high action by any means, but it is a fun time.

I adore Elizabeth Bennet. She is smart, strong, and so easy to love and root for. Plus she's definitely a feminist. I was invested in her and all the other Bennet family member's lives. Seeing Lizzie's and Mr. Darcy's character development and their journey to finding love was definitely an experience. Mr. Darcy is also just as iconic as Lizzy.

The lavish lifestyle of this story, while that is not something most people can say they relate too, made the book. Rich people drama is great. I honestly love the aesthetic of period dramas. I am due for a rewatch of the adaptation. I haven't watched the BBC version, but the 2005 version is one of my all time favorite movies.

There is not much about this book that hasn't already been said so many times, so there isn't much I feel the need to point out, but ultimately, to end this off, I want to recommend Pride and Prejudice to all that have not read it.