it should come as no surprise to you that i'm obsessed with Elizabeth Bennet
my take on the first 15 chapters of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice
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kicking off july’s book club
what i said previously is true: it should come as no surprise to you that i'm obsessed with Elizabeth Bennet.
but it should come to you as a surprise that i haven’t read any Jane Austen novels before. some might even say it’s a cardinal sin.
to be completely honest with you, i did start Pride and Prejudice back in December but only made it to Chapter 15 before i was distracted by work, life, and everything in between.
i’m super excited to continue reading it with you all this month.
my Elizabeth Bennet obsession has begun
i’m not typically a sucker for the classics when it comes to literature (although i’m hoping to change that, starting with Austen’s work), but i’m thoroughly enjoying my read-through of Pride and Prejudice, much due to Austen’s building of Elizabeth Bennet as a character.
from the moment we meet Elizabeth, she stands out as a character of great complexity and depth. her sharp wit, intelligence, and independence immediately set her apart from the other characters in the novel (thanks much to Austen’s dedication to using dialogue to build the reader’s perception of characters, which i love).
“…But these are not Jane’s feelings; she is not acting by design. As yet, she cannot even be certain of the degree of her own regard, nor of its reasonableness. She has known him only a fortnight.” —Elizabeth Bennet, p.20, ch.6
Elizabeth is not just the protagonist; she is the lens through which we view the intricate social dynamics and relationships that Austen so masterfully depicts.
she is literally everything that i love to see women represented as in media, let alone literature written in the early 1800s.
who wouldn’t be in love with a character who speaks her mind unafraid of what potential suitors would think? especially in a time when women were expected to be passive, submissive, and invaluable unless they were molded to society’s guidelines of “marriage material.”
“I am, I must say, no longer surprised at your knowing only six accomplished women. I rather wonder now at your knowing any.” —Elizabeth Bennet, p.38, ch.8
juxtaposition is Austen’s bread and butter
and i love it. i’m both an annotator and dog-earer of books (*gasp*—i know its formidable to many a book lover, but i will never change my ways), and almost all of my notes during the first 15 chapters are highlighting and detailing areas where she does this.
so far, i’ve thoroughly enjoyed the juxtaposition between Elizabeth and her sister Jane. i love how Austen uses the development of their relationship and differences to emphasize which qualities are deemed “marryable” and “unmarryable”.
“He is just what a young man ought to be…sensible, good-humored, lively; and I never saw such happy manners! — so much ease, with such perfect good breeding” — Jane Bennet, p.12, ch.4
“Of this she was perfectly unaware;—to her her was only the man who made himself agreeable nowhere, and who had not thought her handsome enough to dane with.” — Austen on Elizabeth’s perception of Darcy, p.22, ch.6
this contrast is crucial to the plot, as it highlights the different ways in which the two sisters navigate their social world. Jane’s reserved nature makes her vulnerable to misunderstandings and manipulation, particularly by characters like Caroline Bingley.
in contrast, Elizabeth’s outspokenness and refusal to conform to societal expectations give her a strength that is both admirable and relatable—especially in the midst of Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley.
mirrored personalities emphasize unjust standards
similarly, the relationship between Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy mirrors that of Jane and Elizabeth.
Mr. Bingley, with his affable and easygoing demeanor, complements Jane’s kindness. Mr. Darcy, on the other hand, with his initial aloofness and pride, presents a challenging counterpart to Elizabeth.
this dynamic is not just crucial to the romantic plot of the novel but also highlights the qualities of the characters involved.
a romance that mirrors key character arcs
Bingley and Jane’s mutual admiration is straightforward and uncomplicated, while Darcy and Elizabeth's relationship is fraught with misunderstandings and misjudgments. this complexity makes their eventual union all the more satisfying and significant.
i mean… come on. in less than 16 pages, he went from declaring Elizabeth “tolerable” but ugly enough not to tempt him to declaring that she was the one sparking such “inspiring reflections.”
that should tell you enough.
“She is tolerable; but not handsome enought to tempt me.” —Darcy, p.10, ch.3
“Miss Bingley immediately fixed her eyes on his face, and desired he would tell her what lady had the credit inspiring such reflections. Mr. Darcy replied with great intrepidity, “Miss Elizabeth Bennet.””—Austen on Darcy and Elizabeth, p.26, ch.6
a romance that reflects unjust regency-era expectations
furthermore, the juxtaposition between Bingley and Darcy’s relationship and that of Jane and Elizabeth underscores the differing societal expectations placed on men and women at the time.
while Bingley and Darcy navigate their social roles with relative freedom and fewer repercussions for their behavior, Jane and Elizabeth must constantly balance their personal desires with the rigid expectations of propriety and marriageability.
this contrast not only enhances the character development but also provides a critical commentary on the gender dynamics of the Regency era.
modernity meets regency through none other than Elizabeth Bennet
Elizabeth Bennet really is that girl. her character, although written hundreds of years ago, closely resembles many of the traits that are revered as pivotal traits in modern-day femininity: independence, intelligence, and a refusal to be subjugated by societal norms.
in a world where women’s choices were severely limited, Elizabeth’s insistence on personal integrity and happiness is both revolutionary and inspiring.
i’m incredibly excited to see where this goes (and very fearful of Mr. Collins’ introduction to the plot).
I'm so glad you're liking this book! I haven't read it in probably ten years but loved it back then. You've inspired me to reread!!
One of the biggest reasons why I’ve always loved P+P, is that it’s a timeless tale with time stamped packaging. Take away all the things that determine when or where, and we’re left with the very relatable “who”. Lizzie is really a character born not built or made, because her wants and needs are the wants and needs of every girl and woman-and arguably person-who has ever and will ever exist. Like you said “Elizabeth Bennet really is that girl. her character, although written hundreds of years ago, closely resembles many of the traits that are revered as pivotal traits in modern-day femininity: independence, intelligence, and a refusal to be subjugated by societal norms.”
I think those pivotal modern day traits are so revered because they’re old world, modern, and futuristic-they are timeless because time will always value strength through the authenticity of a fully lived, fully embodied existence.