The Perfection of Pride and Prejudice

Nora Geoghegan

Staff Writer

Recently, I watched the 2005 version of ‘Pride and Prejudice,’ and as a fan of the novel, I can’t stop raving about it!

For those unfamiliar, ‘Pride and Prejudice’ is a romantic novel written by English author Jane Austen that was published in 1813. The novel follows the Bennett family, particularly the developing relationship of Elizabeth Bennett, an upper middle-class woman, and Mr. Darcy, an aristocratic landowner. Through this relationship, Austen uncovers the societal expectations women of her time were faced with, as well as the role of social class in romantic relationships. Both Elizabeth and Darcy defy these standards through Elizabeth’s convictions of marrying for love and happiness as opposed to class and status, and Darcy being able to overcome his narrow-mindedness, through his ability to eventually see Elizabeth as an intellectual equal, and a suitable partner.

The movie follows the plot of the book, but with some adaptations. The movie follows the Bennet family, specifically Mr. And Mrs. Bennet’s (Donald Sutherland and Brenda Blethyn) daughters, Kitty (Carey Mulligan), Lydia (Jena Malone), Mary (Talulah Riley), Jane (Rosamund Pike), and the protagonist Elizabeth (Keira Knightley). The girls are faced with the prospect of finding a husband, particularly of high social and financial status. Notably, Elizabeth is against marriage that is based on social and financial status, which guides her initial dislike of Darcy. This rift builds throughout the film, until Darcy learns to look beyond his arrogance and stubbornness, or should I say, pride and prejudice.

The movie does a fantastic job of portraying the complex dynamic between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. Both Knightley and Macfadyen masterfully portray the class tension that initially divides the two at the beginning of the film through the delivery of their dialogue and body language. The snarky delivery of, “She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me,” cleverly sets up the conflict Darcy and Elizabeth face.

The score and cinematography also help develop the subtle nuances the characters and the plot express, which helps solidify the movie as a favorite for me and many others.

Consequently, ‘Pride and Prejudice’ has given us many iconic moments such as Mr. Darcy’s hand flex, as well as the quotes “I love you most ardently” and “You have bewitched me body and soul, and I love you.” These lines gave me a great deal of satisfaction, as finally the tension has broken, and the characters have addressed their and others’ shortcomings. Knightley and Macfadyen’s performances also helped bring these lines to life and create the emotional gravity I and others felt during the film.

I highly recommend you give this movie a watch, you will love it most ardently!