Meeting the Bennets

What I read......
The beautiful book I have been reading in this past weeks is called Pride and Prejudice. It is the story of a family in England, called the Bennets in the late 19th century which consisted of five daughters: Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty and Lydia. Mrs. Bennet, their mother, is a traditional woman of those times and her biggest wish and goal in life is to see her daughters married well.  Mr. Bennet, in contrast, is a very correct, wise and independent soul  that doesn't usually follow traditions and has his own way of thinking. When Mrs. Bennett hears news of a wealthy man taking over Netherfield Park, she told her husband as soon as he could with the intention of convincing him to introduce their daughters to him one day. The day of a ball came and everyone was really excited to meet this man whom everyone talked about. His name was Mr. Bingley, his descriptions showed he was handsome, educated and civil. They also met Mr. Darcy, a man who even if he was wealthy, people didn't like him for his pride. At the ball, just as Mrs. Bennet wanted, Mr. Bingley liked one of her daughters, Jane who was the eldest of all. He asked her for two dances and started to feel attracted towards her. The ball was the main subject of conversation on the following days. Jane went once to visit Mr. Bingley and his friends and family at Netherfield but when she got there she became ill and couldn't go back home until she recovered. When Elizabeth heard the news of her sister being sick she went to Netherfield to see her and stayed with her for some time. While Elizabeth was there, she met Miss Bingley, Mr. Bingley's sister, who was very conceited. She also had a few conversations with Mr. Darcy and learned a little more of his personality. When Jane was finally feeling better, Elizabeth and her sister returned home but Mr. Darcy started to feel attracted towards Elizabeth.

Thinking this about.......

“If I can but see one of my daughters happily settled at Netherfield,” said Mrs. Bennet to her husband, “and all the others equally well married, I shall have nothing to wish for” (10)

Personally if I was a mother this wouldn't be my major worry or wish. My major wish and priority would be to make sure that my daughters are living a happy life. Leading a happy life is healthy and good.  The people around you, the people taking place in your life are also influential. That is why these girls have to have the freedom to choose who they want to marry, not by their social status but by realizing if they make them happy or not. Love is not about being rich or poor, it is the special relationship between two people by sharing characteristics and feelings. I don't judge Mrs. Bennet for her way of thinking either, since I understand that those were difficult and different times  which she lived in, specially for women. But I also think that one can make their his or her own decisions.

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."(1)

This quote is used by the author to emphasize the two main themes or most important themes of the story. These two themes are: social classes and marriage. Jane Austen is talking about social class or status were she says a "a single man in possession of good fortune" and talking about  marriage in the part that says: "must be in want of a wife". This choice she made in words, descriptions and statements gives us a major hint in what the story is going to be about and that the characters and situations are going to be greatly influenced by it.

To conclude.....

So far I am liking a lot this book by Jane Austen. What I like most is the way the author writes and describes characters and situations that makes the story alive and appealing. My prediction for the next chapters is that Mr. Darcy will continue liking Elizabeth and his affection will start growing. I also think that Mr. Bingley is going to become closer to Jane and that probably they will get married some day. I am also realizing that conversations and discussions about pride and prejudice are mentioned throughout the book between characters expressing their opinions about both. They are also found in Mr. Darcy's personality, for example, since his pride affects the way other people think about him. To conclude, I really really recommend others to start reading this book or to continue doing it because its messages, themes and characters tell us a lot about how both pride and prejudice were present in those times and also today, though now women have more opportunities and freedom than before, people still show pride wealth and judge others for social status.