Jane Austen, Pride & Prejudice
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Jane Austen, Pride & Prejudice
Personal opinion: I think the narrative style of the book is very old-fashioned, but it is because of that I get the feeling of being in that particular time with the characters. The story is not very exciting to my opinion; because as soon as the most important characters meet each other at the first ball, it is very obvious they will be together at the end of the story. Several people told me the book was very boring and longwinded but I disagree. Although the storyline becomes clear at the beginning, you still keep wondering whether they will be together. The second reason why I can imagine the surroundings so well is that the book gives a very detailed description of the life in England in the 19th century. The book is actually written in that time too, I think the description is therefore quite accurate. I also liked the characters very much. Jane Austen makes them seem so real and alive that it is much easier to understand how they act and how they feel. I especially like Elizabeth Bennet, because she is the most independent and strong character of this book and it is a beautiful process in which she and Mr Darcy have to overcome their prides and prejudices to be together at last.
Summary: the news that a wealthy young gentleman named Charles Bingley has rented the manor of Netherfield Park causes a great stir in the nearby village of Longbourn. The Bennets have five unmarried daughters and Mrs Bennet is desperate to see them all married, the mother of the girls was to my opinion very annoying but in the combination with her husband Mr Bennet this is a rather hilarious couple. After Mr Bennet pays a social visit to Mr Bingley, the Bennets attend a ball at which Mr Bingley is present. He is taken with Jane and spends much of the evening dancing with her. His close friend, Mr Darcy, is less pleased with the evening and refuses to dance with Elizabeth, which makes everyone view him as arrogant and obnoxious. Also the first impression I get from this chapter in the book is negative, it soon becomes clear Mr Darcy and Eliza Bennet are the most important couple in this book. When Elizabeth and Jane return home from a visit to Netherfield, they find Mr Collins visiting their household. Mr Collins description is so accurate that I can very well imagine why Elizabeth Bennet turns him down as soon as he makes a proposal of marriage to her. At the beginning of winter, the Bingleys and Darcy leave Netherfield and return to London. This is much to Janes dismay. That spring, Elizabeth visits Charlotte, who now lives near the home of Mr Collinss patron, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, who is also Darcys aunt. Darcy encounters Elizabeth and one day, he makes a proposal of marriage, which is described very passionate and opens up Mr Darcys feelings to the reader. I do admit I was shocked by Elizabeths refuse and her reproaches