"Pride and Prejudice" Jane Austen

I read Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice". It's a famous work, so I think many people have read the book or watched the movie. I watched the movie on Netflix for the first time two weeks ago and it was so interesting that I also read a book. It was a wonderful work, so I would like to simply introduce it.

Summary

Roughly speaking of summary, it is「A love story in which men and women who despise each other are gradually attracted, which was written about 200 years ago in England」（It may be overstated simply. For details, see Wiki.）

Wikipage:"Pride and Prejudice"

Movie

◎ Movie I watched

It seems that there are video works of 1940, 1980, 1995, 2005, but I watched the 2005 version.

◎ Good points of movie

• The music that plays during the work is calm and relaxing
• Beautiful scenery of nature, mansion, and garden (They borrowed 3 real mansions for shooting. You can check the making video below.)
• Details of costumes, works of art, balls, etc.
• Attractive actors
• An important part of the original is faithfully drawn

【Music played at the beginning of the movie】

Jean-Yves Thibaudet - Dawn

【Actual mansion and garden】

Making video Burghley House

Book

◎ Book I read

There are various Japanese translated books, but I read Kazuhiko Oshima, published in 2017. It was a wonderful translated book. I think translating a novel is many times more difficult than a business book. Moreover, the old English words are even more difficult. I am very grateful to his work for translating it into such easier to read and at the same time does not destroy the atmosphere of 200 years ago.

◎ Two points that were impressive in the book

First point：

The first point is a word about "pride and vanity" that often appears in this work.

The words of Elizabeth's sister Mary in a conversation discussing Mr. Darcy's rude and unfriendly behavior earlier in the book.

【Chapter 5】

“Pride,” observed Mary, who piqued herself upon the solidity of her reflections, “is a very common failing, I believe. By all that I have ever read, I am convinced that it is very common indeed; that human nature is particularly prone to it, and that there are very few of us who do not cherish a feeling of self-complacency on the score of some quality or other, real or imaginary. Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us.”

The young son of the Lucas family follows.

If I were as rich as Mr. Darcy,” cried a young Lucas, who came with his sisters, “I should not care how proud I was. I would keep a pack of foxhounds, and drink a bottle of wine a day.

I thought "I see vanity and pride." and "It's funny that the child followed to speak." (The contrast between Darcy, who is disliked because he has a strong sense of pride, and a child who behaves purely and freely.)

Second point：

The second point is the Elizabeth's positive mindset and the strength to speak out.

The following are sentences from the middle of the book where Elizabeth is suffering from the behavior of her family.

【Chapter 41】

When she tried to persuade her father to stop her sister Lydia from going to Brighton, but was refused.

With this answer Elizabeth was forced to be content; but her own opinion continued the same, and she left him disappointed and sorry. It was not in her nature, however, to increase her vexations by dwelling on them. She was confident of having performed her duty, and to fret over unavoidable evils, or augment them by anxiety, was no part of her disposition.

【Chapter 42】

She expected that the situation would change when the Union Corps left, but she didn't feel satisfied.

that an event to which she had been looking with impatient desire did not, in taking place, bring all the satisfaction she had promised herself. It was consequently necessary to name some other period for the commencement of actual felicity—to have some other point on which her wishes and hopes might be fixed, and by again enjoying the pleasure of anticipation, console herself for the present, and prepare for another disappointment.

When she's disappointed that her sister can't come with her on the trip.

“But it is fortunate,” thought she, “that I have something to wish for. Were the whole arrangement complete, my disappointment would be certain.

When the travel destination has changed suddenly.

But it was her business to be satisfied—and certainly her temper to be happy; and all was soon right again.

【Chapter 56】

When Lady Catherine threatens her about marriage of Mr. Darcy.

" And I certainly never shall give it. I am not to be intimidated into anything so wholly unreasonable. Your ladyship wants Mr. Darcy to marry your daughter; but would my giving you the wished-for promise make their marriage at all more probable? Supposing him to be attached to me, would my refusing to accept his hand make him wish to bestow it on his cousin? "

" I have said no such thing. I am only resolved to act in that manner, which will, in my own opinion, constitute my happiness, without reference to you, or to any person so wholly unconnected with me. "

" If the former were excited by his marrying me, it would not give me one moment’s concern—and the world in general would have too much sense to join in the scorn. "

I should learn Elizabeth's positive thinking and strength.

◎ Conclusion

Although this book is 200 years old, it is still popular and still being read.

I think it's because it is drawn the essence of humanity such as pride, prejudice, self-complacency, vanity, and love.

Although the times are different, I think that you feel that there are people like this even now.

The content is a love story, so it's not difficult, and it's interesting to read with a comedy touch that has irony and humor. This is a good book you should try and read.