Find something for women

——Book review for “Pride and Prejudice”
“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.”
Jane Austen chose a special background, the late 1700’s in England country of Hertfordshire which is nearly 50 miles outside of London, for the story “Pride and Prejudice”. The story illustrates the difficulty for women of that time, with little control over their own fortunes or fate. As eighteenth century English society placed a great deal of importance on social status and one’s own manners and accomplishments, women went to great lengths to attract husbands of good fortune. A good marriage almost means everything of a woman’s life.
Mr. Bennet and his wife with their five daughters: Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty and Lydia, live in Langbourn. This is a foolish family except Jane and Elizabeth. Jane is an amiable, beautiful young lady, while her sister Elizabeth, good-looking, but not as beautiful as her sister, is intelligent and proud of herself on observing others. Though Mr. Bennet has read many books and has a good knowledge, he is lack of respectability and thinks little about the family affairs. What’s more, he does not care about his young girls’ unguarded and imprudent manner at all. When it comes to Mrs. Bennet, she is no better than her husband. She is a foolish, chattering woman whose primary interest in life is finding wealthy husbands for her daughters. The three younger girls are rather foolish and dull like their mother, though Mary lacks the talent and beauty of the others.
One day, a handsome young man of good fortune, Mr. Charles Bingley, moves to Netherfield Park becoming the new neighbor of the Bennets. “Nothing could be more beautiful”! In the party, everyone likes Mr. Bingley, for he is quite young, wonderfully handsome and extremely agreeable. While Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, Mr. Bingley’s best friend, is not as popular as his friend after everyone finds him to be proud, to be above his company, and above being pleased, especially Elizabeth. Jane is such a shy girl that she does not show her love as Mr. Bingley does. It makes Mr. Darcy misunderstand that Jane does not love Charles and he tries his best to detach Mr. Bingley from Jane. Of course, Jane’s shyness is not the only reason. Little fortune and the family members’ unrespectable behavior almost make the marriage impossible. Well, no matter what happens, true love will finally beat everything. Jane becomes Mrs. Bingley in the end.
The love between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy is more difficult. Mr. Darcy is, at first, nothing but arrogant and disagreeable to Elizabeth, and she has very little respect for him. What is more, George Wickham, the son of the late Mr. Darcy’s property manager, says many things which are not true and brings Mr. Darcy a bad reputation. It makes Elizabeth treat Mr. Darcy as a cruel person. When they meet again in Pemburley, Mr. Darcy proves himself to be perfectly well behaved, polite and unassuming through his behavior and attitude towards Elizabeth’s uncle and aunt. Like many other stories, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth live happily ever after.
This story also has many things we have to face to. English law during that time declared that only male relatives would inherit property, so to find a good husband is the only choice for almost every girl. There is no doubt that Charlotte Lucas is the best represent. What she wants is just a husband and a comfortable life after marriage. There is such a sentence in the book “Charlotte’s kindness was only to secure a proposal of marriage for herself, as she looked to marriage as financial security, rather than a union of love.” When you get it, you will find it is not surprising that she marries Mr. Kolings. Certainly, she gets what she wants, but will her life be happy? It remains to be seen.
Find something for women! Today is a different day. Women should have their own powers. Every man can choose his life, so can the female, but there is still unfairness in many respects such as job-hunting, social reputation and so on. Everyone should do something to bring all the female a better life.