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Many people (most of them men) tend to refer to Jane Austen’s books (and
their movie adaptations) as being “girl territory.” Women often stand
behind this stereotype as well—for instance, when I relayed to a friend
that the guy at Blockbuster told me he enjoyed Jane Austen movies (I was renting
one) she told me I was most likely being hit on. It’s possible, of course.
But I resent the idea that Jane Austen (or any book or movie with relational
depth) is immediately categorized as “girls only.”
I’ll be the first to admit that I take true female enjoyment of Jane Austen’s
works, and have since high school. I admit that she writes a great romance story—I
can’t tell you the number of times I’ve read Pride and Prejudice
(my favorite of Austen’s novels) just to see whether Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth
Bennett will end up happily ever after (I’m never quite sure). Part of
the attraction for me as a woman is the love story, I admit. I’m a
sucker for that sort of thing, especially when it’s as well written as
this one is.
But there’s much more to Pride and Prejudice than romance. This
novel is as much about society, expectations, and unexpected reactions to people
than anything else. Like all good literature, it’s about human nature.
Jane Austen writes about her culture with a perceptive eye and a satirical pen,
capturing both the noble and weak parts of her characters. The title characteristics
(Mr. Darcy’s strong pride and Miss Bennett’s intense prejudice) are
only examples of the well-drawn emotions and faults of the characters in this
classic novel.
So yes, it’s a great novel. A novel, I think, for everyone. If, however,
you happen to be looking for the same concepts expressed in a bit more modern
way, you may want to try Bridget Jones’s Diary(read my review). I’ve heard Helen
Fielding admit in an interview that she borrowed a bit from Pride and Prejudice….
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