Ahhh, Pride and Prejudice - that classic of 18th century literature. I just finished listening to it on my mp3 player. There's a great, and free, download of it at librivox.org that is really exceptional. The recording done by Karen Savage is a pleasure to listen to. Although I've read the book multiple times this is the first time I've listened to it in audio format, and I found that I was unable to speed through the last several chapters like I usually do. Gosh darn it, I get impatient for the final conclusion; that "happy marriage," destined to forever "teach the admiring multitude what connubial felicity really is." (in the words of Jane.)
But on the other hand I made the gratifying discovery of many new details in my reading that I had usually skipped over. In fact... now that I think of it, there were a lot of details, especially in the most delicious parts - the confrontation at the parsonage, the meeting at Pemberley, the last chapters - that I usually pass over.
Pride and Prejudice is by no means a great work of "literature" as such - it certainly gives me no new and piercing insights into the human condition and the meaning of our earthly existence, as say Hamlet or War and Peace - but Pride and Prejudice I think holds the crown for wit, engagement of reader interest, and most importantly, vividness and "realness" of the characters themselves. All of the characters are so perfectly concieved in Jane Austen's mind, so consistent in their mannerisms and speech and interactions, so much like real people, that I for once can think that people who lived 200 years removed from my own age were in fact real people and not just dreary abstractions of real people who we read about in history books or other ancient works of fiction, such as Dickens. (What universe are his characters from?)
Here are three categories of insights I gained on the writing style of Jane Austen in this reading of Pride and Prejudice.
Plot Development: Pride and Prejudice is almost like two books in this aspect. The conflict starts immediately with the arrival of two suitable and eligible bachelors to Longbourne, the tension grows, Jane and Mr. Bingley fall in love, a suitable nemesis is found in the character of Miss Bingley, Lizzy meets Wickham, and everything seems to be heading towards some sort of climax which will require a resolution, and then.... nothing happens. Bingley leaves. Wickham amounts to nothing. The first climax that the reader has been expecting turns out to be no climax at all. Especially the first time through the reader doesn't know quite what to make of the sudden interlude of quiet nothing. There are no promising leads, no clear direction as to where the plot is supposed to go after Jane's disappointment. The reader may not even be aware of the conflict building between Darcy and Elizabeth until the very moment of their confrontation. Lizzy certainly is oblivious to everything. After the confrontation however, the plot immediately kicks into high gear. Darcy's letter turns all old assumptions on their heads, and the reader is left in awful suspense that doesn't end until the very last chapters. The second climax is of course Lydia's elopement with Wickham, and after the pair is suitably married away, and Elizabeth alerted of Darcy's intervention, the reader secretly knows that all the real conflict has ended. The final chapters are pure enjoyment. Just savor them.
I think Jane Austen's brilliant plot structure goes a long way towards accounting for the almost addictive absorption I usually experience in the second half of the book.
The Characters: First of all, all of the characters are caricatures of one sort or another. Mr. Bingley is the supremely pleasant extrovert, anxious to please everyone. Jane is the quiet, introverted ideal of extreme charity, patience, and judgement. Elizabeth is the self confident, good naturedly happy, ironical wit. Mrs. Bennet is just senseless ridiculousness. It's a credit to Jane Austen's genius that although her characters are caricatures, adjectives like these can never do them justice. They have to be read to be known. I think caricatures can be the only ever truly convincing characters.
The first thing Jane Austen does in introducing a character is to put the character in a scene which is sure to expose the most characteristic aspect of their personality. Thus in the very first scene we are introduced to the unusual family dynamics of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet in the form of a straight, non-explanatory dialogue. I remember that I wasn't quite sure what to make of either of them in my first reading. Making no explanation, she lets us discover the characters on our own terms. Second, after introducing us to the character, several pages later she gives us a brief summary of the character, their personality, and their situation in life. This usually confirms the image we have already formed in our own minds.
Jane Austen's Wit and Elegance of Style: Nine tenths of the enjoyment from reading Pride and Prejudice comes from the hilarious incongruities scattered throughout it. Jane Austen is simply brilliant in this respect. Since the novel faithfully tracks only Elizabeth, on almost every page we can smile to ourselves in quiet appreciation of Lizzy's ironic insights. Jane Austen, as narrator, commonly also inserts her own ironical juxtapositions.
Pride and Prejudice - what a great book... sigh. I'm sad its over. But the great thing about a really good book though, is that you can be sure each time you read it - no matter how many times previous you've read it - you're sure to discover something new.
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