So now I am reading this novel set in Victorian era, with all the flowery language and varied pursuits people entertained themselves with at that time, with all the class, finesse, demeanor, conduct and fine gallantry and distinctions of class and country people; that were believed in with so much pomp and pompous. With all its construed designs to attain the means such as marriage, which being the only objective of women in general, as seems from reading these novels.. I am amused, engaged and entertained by the dialogues, by the exchanges and by watching it unfold before by eyes, by looking at what was absolutely revolutionary at that time, and was so futuristic in its intellect that today to appreciate it won't need a reformer. Yes I am speaking of the characters Jane and Elizabeth. At 1st glance Jane is the darling of the masses, though I hate comparisons b/w characters in reel or in real, but this text asks for it or portrays it to a great extent, so going with it.
Elizabeth, the pretty much average, not meant to be heroine, yet the central character of the novel; embodies what all modern day women have tried to become. She has her opinions, her intellect, her judgement and respect, while Jane is by all standards, the ideal heroine, blessed with beauty, intellect and affirming and pleasing nature, yet its Elizabeth who becomes a favorite, even while you reach a few pages into the novel.
Her struggles, her indifference seems to be so real, in a setting which seems so artificial- to have ever existed, but which infact did exist and infact is exact nature of the society from which our's evolved. Not that I don't like the countryside, the horses, the letter writing, the piano playing and ballroom dance depictions or grandiose of home's and the conversations of characters for that matter, ofcourse I love them, yet it seems a world far apart from your experiences. Within that setting here is a girl, whom you would relate to, most infact would vouch for, against the text and the writer-if need be, live and experience the novel in her shoes and get amazed at how can others not see it. And also at writer at how could she see it :)
Also like the kind of conversations and insight people are shown to have in these novels.
Enjoying it so far..lets see what it has in store..
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Finished it some 3 days back..thought will add the final thoughts..well the novel started out fairly well, when I wrote the above part..but in the end it was like a fairy tale ending..nothing out of the ordinary.a great tragedy and the "damsel in distress" and here comes the hero (except the white horse- too bad, it would have been lively then) and makes everything fall in place. Even the potential great villain is made to toe the line or rather is projected in a good light.
Well since its a classic nothing much should be expected, but somehow I felt a disconnect with the length of the story telling with the events happening. Too much of what Elizabeth thought and how Jane reacted and how hysterical/senseless Mrs Bennet was, and Mr Darcy finally did away with pride and Elizabeth repented endlessly on her previous conduct based on prejudices.
The moral? - Well Pride and prejudice should be done away with. Ok, but it takes time to do that right. Isn't it what happened here? But never mind.. its a story with a ending like a Victorian story. Let modernist weave unfinished gloomy stories which do not fall in place and not everything is helped and taken care of in the end. But this one got its closure, a happy happy ending for all. AN ending at last!!
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