Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Pride and Prejudice Question #7
In 1814 Mary Russell Mitford wrote: "It is impossible not to feel in every line of Pride and Prejudice. . . the entire want of taste which could produce so pert, so worldly a heroine as the beloved of such a man as Darcy. . . Darcy should have married Jane." Would you have liked the book as well if Jane were its heroine?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
14 comments:
Although I am a fan of Jane, no, I don't think i would have liked the book as well if Jane had married Darcy. Jane is a sweet, innocent girl who thinks well of everybody. For the most part, she is depicted as perfect in countenance and disposition. However, I think that Darcy's preference for women is that of a more opinionated woman, not just a sweetheart. Elizabeth says to Darcy, "The fact is, you were sick of civiilty, of deference, and of officious attention...I roused, and interested you because I was so unlike them [other women]" (359). I cannot picture sweet Jane with Darcy, even though Darcy alters into a very honorable man in the end. Elizabeth's cruel words after his proposal are what changed his mind and focused in him a new lifestyle, without all the pride. I don't think that Jane would have been able to tell Darcy all the blunt things that Elizabeth did. Darcy tells Elizabeth, "You taught me a lesson, hard indeed at first, but most advantageous...You shewd me how insufficient were all my pretensions to please a woman worthy of being pleased"(349). I think that Darcy needed a woman like Elizabeth to change him, and I don't think Jane could have done it like Elizabeth did.
No, I definitely don't think I would have enjoyed the novel as much if Jane were to be the heroine and marry Darcy. Jane, though very nice, is just too plain for me. She's a beautiful young woman with very polite manners, but the fact is that Jane is just too much of a plain-Jane to read about. The novel would have lost a lot of its spunk if Jane Bennet were to marry Darcy. Elizabeth just puts a lot more spice into the whole novel, especially in the whole marriage controversy. If it were Jane that had to face Lady Bracknell I honestly don't think she would have had as much confidence in standing up for herself as Elizabeth did. Elizabeth followed her heart and refused to give up on her feelings even though Lady Bracknell and Darcy's Aunt had his marriage and wedding to Miss De Bourgh almost entirely planned out. If it had been Jane in this situation, again, I don't think she would have spoken up. Instead, being the polite girl she is, she probably would have just let Miss De Bourgh marry Darcy. Even when confronted with the statement that she and Darcy couldn't be married because of social status, Elizabeth had her confident remark of, "In marrying your nephew, I should not consider myself as quitting that sphere. He is a gentleman; I am a gentleman's daughter; so far we are equal." If the novel were to lose this spark that Elizabeth added, and instead have plain-Jane marry Darcy...it definitely would not be as good.
I think Pride and Prejudice would be a very different book if Jane were the heroine and it would be far less interesting. Jane is a good balance to Elizabeth's realistic views on life but if she were the protagnist, the book would be very boring. She never struck me as a character who could have stood up to Darcy like Elizabeth did.
Elizabeth is a stubborn and opinionated young woman. She was very different from the other girls of her time. It is because of these traits that the book doesn't get boring or stale, even when the action slows down.
Also, seeing how Darcy thinks and acts, Jane would not strike his fancy, because as Elizabeth says, "I roused, and interested you because I was so unlike them" (sorry to reuse to a quote, I couldn't think of anything that got to the point quite like this one). She catches his attention because she is not afraid to say what is on her mind.
In my mind, Jane is like the boring best friend in a movie who is only their as a contrast to the main character or a shoulder to cry on. She and Bingley were made for each other because they are both so perfectly bland.
Not only do I totally agree with Emily, I think that's the only thing written about this book...ever...that has made me laugh.
I think Jane would have been an absolute bore to read about. Something about that name...(Jane Eyre anyone?) She didn't seem to have the spunk that we see in Elizabeth that would have kept the novel progressing. I think that a lot of the time we see reactions to actions taken by Elizabeth toward Darcy, or things Elizabeth says to Darcy and those are the things that keep the book interesting. Take for instance Elizabeth turning down Darcy's first proposal. Jane probably would have accepted because he was 1.from a noble background and 2. loaded (just about all the qualifications she and Mrs. Bennet needed). But by Elizabeth turning down the proposal we see some life and a girl who really knows herself, not just some boring plain Jane (ha!)
Jane is cute and beautiful and everything, but we girls are tired of hearing about a fairy tale where the girl is beautiful and doesn't, perhaps, as much depth. Not to say that all beautiful heroine's are boring but most of them just wait to be saved. I think Elizabeth is more believeable and more readable as a character because she actually has a mind and she follows her heart. And although Jane's beauty would have caught Darcy's attention, I doubt it would have kept it. Elizabeth and Darcy are better together because they aren't perfect and they're interesting, you want to read about them. So, nahh I wouldn't of liked the book if Jane was heroine.
I do not agree with the quote that Mary Russell Mitford wrote. I believe that I enjoyed reading the novel mostly because of Elizabeth's compassion and way of life. To me, she seems much more deep.. it's as though she posesses a quality that the other members of her family do not have. Also, I believe that she is the kind of person that would go great lengths for those that she loves--"In Meryton they parted; the two youngest repaired to the lodgings of one of the officers' wives, and Elizabeth continued her walk alone, crossing field after field at a quick pace, jumping over stiles and springing over puddles wiht impatient acvity, and finding herself at last within view of the house, with weary ankles, dirty stockings, and a face glowing with the warmth of exercise." (23)
This type of character is the type that I like to see succeed--the type that is willing to go the extra mile to please others. These kinds of characters deserve great rewards, such as everlasting love.
I do not feel that Jane has as much depth and capability of greatness and success because of love. Don't get me wrong--I have NO problem with Jane as a person.. it is just my opinion that Elizabeth deserves the love of Darcy more.
Let me just say, no offence to Jane Austen, but this book would be twice as boring as it already is if Jane was the main heroine.
Jane is a beautiful, intelligent girl, but she is not half as interesting as Elizabeth. She is not a very "rounded" character, but instead sort of flat. Everything is just rainbows and butterflies for her, and her biggest worries involve boys she likes.
Jane is not opinionated, spontanious, and boisterious enough to put up with Darcy. If Jane was the one paired with Darcy there would not be half as many intense scenes with passionate arguments. Actually, Jane probably would never have even made it to the end with Darcy because she wouldn’t have been able to turn down previous engagement offers like Elizabeth does. Elizabeth is the only women is this novel strong enough to stand up to a man and refuse his hand in marriage by saying to him “my feelings in every respect forbid it. Can I speak plainer? Do not consider me now as an elegant female, intending to plague you, but as a rational creature, speaking the truth from her heart" (Ch. 19).
To get to the point, I love Elizabeth's complex, irrational, passionate character, and I would not want to see Darcy with any other woman in the book, especially her one dimensional, balanced, perfect, composed sister Jane.
I agree with what everyone has said. The novel would not be so riveting if Jane were to marry Darcy. Jane would have let things go and made things less complicated. Darcy would have never married Jane anyways because he needed an accomplished woman who had “thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and all modern languages” (29). I like that Elizabeth is an independent woman. She isn’t like most women of the day only looking to be married. Elizabeth rather challenges Darcy and is willing to go against Lady Catherine. She is opinionated and not afraid to speak her mind. Elizabeth keeps things interesting in the novel for me.
I agree with whatever everyone else has said in that the book would probably be boring if Jane was the main character. Jane does not have an attitude like Elizabeth does and she never does anything against anyone. Even when Elizabeth tells her of what she saw pass between Darcy and Wickham it states that "but though Jane would have defended either or both, had they appeared to be in the wrong" (chptr. 15). This is just one example of why Jane would be a boring character. Also Elizabeth's life is way more exciting than Jane's. Elizabeth goes through many ups and downs throughout the book, including falling in and out of love with Wickham and Darcy. Throughout Jane's side of the story though she is in love with Mr. Bingley.
Also I forgot to put in my last post that it would be even more boring if Jane would have married Darcy. It seems as though Jane would settle for anyone and so it would be too easy for her to get Darcy. At least with Mr. Bingley it was a little more exciting because there was somewhat of a chase on Jane's part. When Mr. Bingley left for London Jane sat at home heartbroken instead of going on with her life. If she would have married Darcy they would have already been married by that time because Darcy thought Jane was "the most beautiful creature he has ever beheld" (chptr. 3). On the other hand the relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth was much more exciting. Between Elizabeth falling in love with Wickham and Darcy it made the story much more interesting.
Jane marry Darcy? Oh puhleasseeee. You might as well just shoot me now, because not only would it have been boring, i probably would have fallen asleep trying to read it...
Yes, Jane is a very well-mannered girl, and very polite, but she's not what Darcy needs. Darcy needed someone to put him in his place, and Elizabeth is the best character for this, because with out her, Darcy wouldn't have changed and molded into the 'perfect' man. Elizabeth is what kept me from actually falling asleep while reading this. She's kind of like my idol. How brave of her to stand up for her own feelings and beliefs and put Darcy in his place. Her refusal of his first proposal was histerical to me, because honestly, what girl back then would actually turn down a man with a high status and loads of money. Her standing up for what she believed in is a true woman.
Basically I don’t have much left to say after reading what everyone has else written. I agree with everyone. I think the book would have been boring because like someone said, Jane lacks the spunk that Elizabeth brings to the book.
I don't think that I would like it as well if Jane were the heroine. She is too reserved. Darcy takes her shyness and politeness to be indifference. I think that the book would be a bit more boring if Jane was to be with Darcy, and it would be too much like Jane Eyre for my liking. I also think that Darcy wouldn't be as happy with his life if he were to marry Jane. Darcy needs someone that can step up to him and challenge his intellect. He needs someone like Elizabeth to keep him from getting to arrogant and to keep him happy.
BOOOOO. I seriously would've hated this book if Jane married Darcy. I knew from the beginning that Elizabeth was meant for Darcy. She is a strong, opinionated woman who doesn't let anyone tell her how to feel or what to do. I LOVE that about her, and she is the only character I believe could've put Mr. Darcy in his place. Let's be honest, Darcy is a complete JERK in the beginning of the novel. I think if Jane would've married him, he would've stayed the same and still been the same egotistical jerk he was at the beginning. Jane is far too nice a person to stand up for anything, which to me makes her a really boring character. However, Elizabeth stood her ground and taught Darcy a lesson that made him change his demeanor. I would've been VERY upset had Jane married Darcy.
The End.
Post a Comment