For Christmas I got a book, a book which I now hold as dearly to my heart as it's precursors did and still do. The book is The Private Diary of Mr. Darcy, by Maya Slater, written as Mr. Darcy's diary during the whole Love Scheme between him and Miss Elizabeth Bennet. For those who are unfamiliar with Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, read it. Even manly men. Read it .... NOW. O.K. at least watch the movie. There are few books that could do this to me, I started reading this morning when I got the book, I finished it by this evening, hardly putting it down.
Let me give you a little run through of the Pride and Prejudice plot. (Feel free to skip if you know the story, if not, feel free to skip the following paragraphs if you feel fit.... if you promise to read the book ;] )
The story centers around the Bennet family, particularly their second daughter, Elizabeth. The family consists of a comic, and at times frustratingly silly (at other times, tragic), mix of personalities. The patriarchs, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, have a clashing marriage. Mrs. Bennet was very lovely in her youth, and as the story hints at, flirtatious. She caught the attentions of Mr. Bennet and they were married. Afterwards, they came to realize their differences. Mrs. B preferred the town life and social excursions while Mr. B was content with solitary study and at times intellectual conversation.
The eldest Miss Bennet, Jane, is a beautiful girl. She has "classical" beauty, fair skin and hair with a quiet, charming demeanor. She is always willing to think the best of others. She in involved in the story by being her sister, Elizabeth's, main confidence, and by her being enamored with a friend of Darcy's, Bingley, and he with her. Their love goes astray with rumors and suspicion that she is after his money and they are torn apart.
Elizabeth is the second eldest. She is the intellect along side her father. Her hair is dark, her eyes also are dark and shine. A captivating aspect of her appearance. She loves the outdoors and is often scrutinized but "socially accepted and privileged" women for her unkempt and muddy appearance. Others are drawn to her natural beauty and her tanned skin. Eliza Bennet is witty, charming and well read; hardly modest and will be heard, yet she is hardly pushy. The story primarily focuses on her and Darcy's sparring and then eventually, love story. While at the same time, both her and Darcy, trying to look after Jane and Bingley.
I would love to be as spirited as Elizabeth, her strength what makes her beautiful.
Mary is hardly mentioned in Pride and Prejudice, and only once or twice and not by name in Darcy. She is viewed as unsociable and expected to be the "old maid." She loves the pianoforte and insists on it being known, as well as her slightly out of tune voice. Unfortunately, this results in her being mocked. Mary grows into a stunning young women though, in the spin off I believe entitled, The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet. I enjoyed this book as well, but it did not hold stay to the romance of Darcy. (Note: Due to the fact that both spin offs were published a considerable time after Ms. Austen's death [only a few hundred years!], we cannot know if this is what was intended for the characters) What I disliked about Miss Mary was the fact {SPOILER ALERT!} that the author does not have the Darcy's completely living in a happy marriage, Jane is sick with Bingley hardly around and Lydia is quite frankly, a whore and a drunkard. What I DO like however is how Mary finally has a happy ending and is strong in character. (With all I've written of Mary, one would think she played a larger role in Darcy!)
Kitty and Lydia can be grouped as a pair. Both completely ridiculously and probably very similar to their mother. Lydia is the youngest (16 years) with Kitty being a year or two older. Nevertheless, Lydia is the "mastermind" between the flirtations which both her and Kitty participate in. They are flirts, ecstatic whenever the soldiers visit town and can come to a ball. {SPOILER ALERT} Lydia then scandalizes the family by eloping with the devilish Mr. Wickham who was at first flirting with Elizabeth.
STOP SKIPPING AT THIS POINT IN TIME!
The story is frankly, the love story by Darcy's point of view. It elaborates on his love and at times his hurtful hate of Elizabeth caused by her, at time, Prejudice against his Pride. I find it enchanting to hear of his slowly changing description of her, the quiet writings of a far off dream. Then when she rejects his feelings, it is quite humorous to see how it affects his pride. It results in a multitude of entries exclaiming things on the line of "HOW COULD SHE THINK ME UNGENTLEMANLY!" The story also shows of his love of his younger sister and his joy in his friendship of Bingley. It is thoroughly enlightening to read about this romantic "tall, dark and handsome" man. To see his love grow and knowing, from reading Pride and Prejudice, how slowly.... Elizabeth begins to think the same thing of Darcy. They are so alike in many ways. and so different. They make the perfect pair. In my heart, I ever so much wish that they did exist, even if in a far off land, and that their relationship was as perfect as I imagine it.
Wow, that's a lot of typing, I'll go over it once again tomorrow to check for errors. If you read it before then... please pay them no mind! Merry Christmas!
No comments:
Post a Comment