FYI, we have reconsidered the book per month idea. From now on the general guideline will be two months per book. So, those with full time jobs, young mothers, and students, who are already swamped but still want to read with us, take whatever time you need. We will continue to watch for your comments on the blog and they will be shared with Grandma Mary.
Pride and Prejudice is a novel by Jane Austen. First published in 1813, as her second novel, in Steventon, Hampshire, where she lived with her parents and siblings in the town rectory. The novel revolves around the Bennet family who live in the fictional town of Meryton in Hertfordshire, not far from London. The five marriageable daughters and mother will be without a home and income once Mr. Bennet dies, because being women, they will not inherit Longbourn (the estate where they live). The mother worries about this predicament, and wishes to find husbands for them quickly. The father doesn’t seem to be worried at all. The story follows the main character Elizabeth, the second eldest, as she deals with issues of manners, upbringing, moral rightness, education and marriage in her aristocratic society of early 19th century England.
A major theme in much of Austen’s work is the importance of environment and upbringing on the development of young people’s character and morality. Social standing and wealth are not necessarily advantages in her world.
GRANDMA MARY WRITES: I've loved to read Jane Austen since I was a teenager. I feel like I am living in a small English village 200 years ago, observing and enjoying the people. I see English Society as it was thru her eyes and wonder – was it really like that? In Pride and Prejudice I laugh over the antics of Mr. Collins. I admire Elizabeth as she accepts some things she can't change. She has wit and vivaciousness.
Grandma and I both hope you enjoy this next read!
FYI: One of the plays featured at this year's Shakespearean Festival in Cedar City is Pride and Prejudice. It runs through July and August. If you want more info on that check out their website: http://www.bard.org Let me know if you're interested in going as a group, and what dates would be good for you.
Love, Aunt Louise
PS If you have a hard time keeping all the characters straight you might appreciate the character map at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pride_and_Prejudice_Character_Map.png
I read Pride and Prejudice about 6 months ago and of course, loved it! I think Grandma would enjoy the BBC version on DVD. It is almost identical to the book and you fall in love with the characters all over again. I have a few favorite quotes that I'll have to post, when I get the chance. Great book!!
ReplyDeleteBecca
I'm staring at a house full of boxes---if I don't take the time to comment now I'm not going to get another chance:)
ReplyDeleteI found Pride and Prejudice difficult to read, but not as bad as my reading comprehension class and certainly much more fun than Paul's Air Force strategy manuals (each page of those is half full of acronyms). It is a time and society that is foreign to me--the idea that young ladies were only good for needlework, reading, conversation, dancing or playing an instrument really irks me!
Here's something from sparknotes that I appreciated:
"5. Elizabeth was much too embarrassed to say a word. After a short pause, her companion added, “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 forever.” Elizabeth feeling all the more than common awkwardness and anxiety of his situation, now forced herself to speak; and immediately, though not very fluently, gave him to understand, that her sentiments had undergone so material a change, since the period to which he alluded, as to make her receive with gratitude and pleasure, his present assurances.
The clunky language with which the narrator summarizes Elizabeth’s acceptance serves a specific purpose, as it captures the one moment of joyful incoherence for this supremely well-spoken character. She accepts Darcy’s proposal “immediately,” the narrator relates, but “not very fluently.” As Elizabeth allows herself to admit that her love has supplanted her long-standing prejudice, her control of language breaks down. The reader is left to imagine, with some delight, the ever-clever Elizabeth fumbling for words to express her irrepressible happiness."
I liked how Jane Austen made her characters overcome so many obstacles in order to fall in love. Elizabeth and Darcy struggled with their families (Elizabeth's at times ridiculous mother and Darcy's overbearing aunt), with the Wickham problem, and their ideas of proper social connections. I think it's great that they had to both become worthy of each other by overcoming these problems.
So maybe the library in Charlottesville will have this on DVD--if so I wouldn't mind checking it out. It would be fun to see all these characters playing out on the screen.
--Julie
Julie!
ReplyDeleteI was SO EXCITED TO SEE YOUR COMMENTS! I'm so glad that you are still reading with us! And once again I am wowed by your insights! By the way....Rachel and Tori too made some excellent observations on my most recent post. You will want to read them for sure! We are glad that you are getting settled! Amazed that you were able to read during the move! Wish you all the best in your new home!