This latest incarnation of Pride and Prejudice prompts the question: why do we need another version of Jane Austens

classic tale? Weve seen this particular bit of storytelling done well so many times that unless a filmmaker is positive theyre going to be making the definitive version of the film, theres really no need to tell the same old story yet once again. And unfortunately, despite some terrific performances by the veterans in his cast, director Joe Wright didnt bring anything new to the table with this version of Pride and Prejudice. The story follows the Bennet sisters, a group of fine young women who, with the assistance of an overbearing mother, are in search of appropriate men to marry. Only the father seems immune to the high drama going on in the household as Mother Bennet strategizes over how to get her brood married off. Elizabeth (Keira Knightley) is the defiant one of the bunch, struggling against class restrictions and only wanting to marry for love. She meets up with the taciturn Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen) and is both repulsed and attracted to the wealthy gentleman. As the two are forced together in various social situations, Darcy soon wises up to the fact hes smitten with the fair Elizabeth. Meanwhile Elizabeth rejects a foppish suitor, becomes enamored with Darcys enemy, and watches her sisters fall in and out of love before ultimately giving into the fact she and Darcy are meant for one another. The cinematography is outstanding and youd have a hard time naming a film released in 2005 with better costume and set designs. But in this case the old saying beauty is only skin deep definitely applies as theres simply nothing appealing below the films skillfully designed surface. Positive marks do go to the filmmaker for casting actors closer in age to the characters in the book than usually found in adaptations of Jane Austens classic novel. A handsome and talented group, the cast of Pride and Prejudice do justice to the piece in parts, but the film fails to connect with its audience. Theres an emotional pull to the story thats completely missing from Wrights film. Its all too cold and distant, as if the entire production was taking its cue from the brooding character of Darcy. The most engaging performances of the cast were turned in by the films older generation of actors: Donald Sutherland, Dame Judi Dench and Brenda Blethyn. The younger group headlined by Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen never came close to achieving the same caliber of performances as their more senior co-stars. I never felt drawn in by Knightleys Elizabeth and Macfadyen as Darcy left me cold. Darcys supposed to be standoffish thats how Austen wrote the character yet Macfadyen plays him so completely dour that hes rendered uninteresting. Hes so unengaged in whats going on that Elizabeths attraction to the man is unexplainable. The actresses cast as Elizabeths sisters, including the lovely Rosamund Pike and Jena Malone, just simply arent convincing as siblings. None of the women cast as sisters look anything alike and their interactions never sell the bond of sisterhood. As strange as it may sound, I actually preferred the Bollywood/Hollywood mix of Bride and Prejudice more than this slick yet stale adaptation of Austens book. At least writer/director Gurinder Chadhas colorful and engaging take on the novel was something completely different from the same old rehashed, warmed-over story. This Pride and Prejudice is a flat, tired regurgitation thats been done better many, many times before.

Review Jane. Austen. Two words which when taken together strike fear and apprehension into the hearts of men everywhere. Possibly the most inaccessible author to the male species, conversely Austens work is celebrated and revered to an almost religious degree by ladies the world over. What exactly this epic tale of unlikely romance in the face of Georgian class-issues does for a womans psyche is still beyond me, and no amount of curiosity makes most men brave enough to go near any of her work something even other movies, for example Youve Got Mail, have acknowledged in the past. So when I was given the task of reviewing the latest movie version of what is possibly Austens most famous novel, I walked into the theatre ready to loathe every long bodice-filled minute of it. To my surprise however, while I cant claim to share the same frighteningly passionate (for want of a more appropriate phrase) reaction two of my female viewing companions seemed to experience from watching it, Joe Wrights interpretation of Pride & Prejudice wasnt the pretentious bore I was expecting. As Ive mentioned, doubtless most women who read this review will know the story backwards and will email me to point out all my errors, but for the benefit of you men folk out there I will try my best to give you the lo down. The Bennets are a moderately well-off, if slightly uncouth family living in late 18th century England. Mr. Bennet (Sutherland) is getting on in years and if he dies his estate will go entirely to a distant cousin, the weasly Mr. Collins (Tom Hollander). The only way to prevent this is if at least one of his daughters marries well, a goal which Mrs. Bennet (Blethyn) is determined to achieve at any cost. So, when the aristocratic Mr. Bingley (Simon Woods) arrives in the area with his equally well-bred friend Mr. Darcy (MacFadyen), the women go into romance overdrive. While shy eldest sister Jane (Rosamund Pike) falls for the bumbling Bingley, the more independent and head-strong Elizabeth (Keira Knightley) clashes with the seemingly aloof and inaccessible Mr. Darcy. Could the verbal fencing between Elizabeth and Darcy be hiding their true feelings, and if it is, can it and the other sisters relationships survive the rigid and snobbish class structure of the time? This is director Joe Wrights first big screen outing, though youd never guess it. On the other hand, itd be hard to go far wrong on a novel adapted for stage and screen so many times before. Wright and scribe Deborah Moggach (with a little help from period movie expert Emma Thompson) have made a clever and funny film which once you swallow your apprehension, is far more engaging than youd expect and far more interesting than most other movies set in the same era. It helps that Wright and his cinematographer Roman Osin have created what could possibly be one of the best looking, CGI-free movies of the year. Wright makes full use of the stunning landscapes of the English countryside, while Osin helps bring the right mood to every shot. Whether its a warm, sunny, summer day or a cold, dewy, spring morning, Pride & Prejudice looks amazing. But all the nice scenery in the world cant save a movie so heavily entrenched in character study, so it is with a lot of apprehension that people have taken to the idea of Keira Knightley in the lead role of Elizabeth. Fortunately, Knightley copes well in the part, bringing life to the only interesting one of the Bennet siblings. While that wacky grin that she cant seem to keep from her face for much of the

movie occasionally gets a little grating, she centers what is going on around her, which could otherwise have teetered between too stuffy (the verbose talky scenes) or too silly (Whenever Mrs. Bennet is on-screen). Keira manages to convincingly convey the struggle between her attraction to Darcy and her contempt for his apparent unwavering, humorless snobbery. Matthew MacFadyen will only be familiar to those who have seen the BBC TV show MI-5 on A&E. MacFadyen had his work cut out for him here in the role of Mr. Darcy, following in the footsteps of both Sir Laurence Olivier and more infamously Colin Firth, whom women worldwide unilaterally swooned over during the airings of the BBC Pride & Prejudice mini-series. MacFayden takes admirably to the task, bringing both the authoritative stoic arrogance of Darcys outward appearance and the hapless awkwardness he suffers while trying to deal with his true feelings perfectly. But I am a man and cannot judge the power of the Darcy properly, so the votes are in and two out of two Pride & Prejudice loving women assure me that, rather controversially, he is a far better Darcy than Mr. Firth. It is veteran actor Donald Sutherland, who provides some of the movies best moments as the henpecked, world-weary Mr. Bennet. Bennet realizes the importance of his familys predicament, but at the same time only wants what is best for his daughters. Sutherland steals every scene he is in with his laconic dry wit and contrasts Brenda Blethyns hyperactive, one-track-minded Mrs. Bennet nicely. If there are any real problem to be found it is in the casting of films the more minor characters. The actor cast as Darcys ex-friend Wickham appears to have been won his role more because of his passing resemblance to Orlando Bloom rather than due to any acting prowess. The supposed relationship between Jane and Bingley is so underplayed and chemistry-free that I had trouble believing they were really in love, never mind the characters in the movie. Also, aside from Jane and Elizabeth, the Bennet sisters are quite bland and seem, one subplot aside, to exist in the movie solely to keep up the same running joke. There is also a small pacing issue at the end of the second act where the movie starts to drag and then suddenly rushes forward towards a conclusion as the pressure of trying to compress the rest of the novel into the remaining running time starts to catch up with the storys deliberate pace. While I appreciate that a lot of sacrifices have to be made in translating such a large novel into a 2 hour movie, there are some places where you wonder if maybe the reason the mini-series was so successful is that it didnt have to rush. Pride & Prejudice still isnt a movie for everyone. Ruffled shirts and bodices fill the screen at every opportunity. People talk in that protracted, grating, Olde English rambling, where 15 words and 30 syllables are used when half that would do. Romance and love are the order of the day, and like a long-distance runner it jogs along for much of the course then suddenly makes a mad dash at the end. Despite these flaws there is an enjoyable and occasionally very funny movie to be had here. Women will love it more than men, that goes without saying, but the many many men who will no doubt get dragged along to see it may, like me, come out surprised. Hey, Im not racing to the library and picking up the novel, nor am I about to lose my mind and rent Sense and Sensibility, but I didnt come away feeling like Id lost part of my masculinity. Thats good enough for me.

Analysis of major character

Analysis of Major Characters

Elizabeth Bennet The second daughter in the Bennet family, and the most intelligent and quick-witted, Elizabeth is the protagonist of Pride and Prejudice and one of the most well-known female characters in English literature. Her admirable qualities are numerousshe is lovely, clever, and, in a novel defined by dialogue, she converses as brilliantly as anyone. Her honesty, virtue, and lively wit enable her to rise above the nonsense and bad behavior that pervade her class-bound and often spiteful society. Nevertheless, her sharp tongue and tendency to make hasty judgments often lead her astray; Pride and Prejudice is essentially the story of how she (and her true love, Darcy) overcome all obstaclesincluding their own personal failingsto find romantic happiness. Elizabeth must not only cope with a hopeless mother, a distant father, two badly behaved younger siblings, and several snobbish, antagonizing females, she must also overcome her own mistaken impressions of Darcy, which initially lead her to reject his proposals of marriage. Her charms are sufficient to keep him interested, fortunately, while she navigates familial and social turmoil. As she gradually comes to recognize the nobility of Darcys character, she realizes the error of her initial prejudice against him. Fitzwilliam Darcy

The son of a wealthy, well-established family and the master of the great estate of Pemberley, Darcy is Elizabeths male counterpart. The narrator relates Elizabeths point of view of events more often than Darcys, so Elizabeth often seems a more sympathetic figure. The reader eventually realizes, however, that Darcy is her ideal match. Intelligent and forthright, he too has a tendency to judge too hastily and harshly, and his high birth and wealth make him overly proud and overly conscious of his social status. Indeed, his haughtiness makes him initially bungle his courtship. When he proposes to her, for instance, he dwells more on how unsuitable a match she is than on her charms, beauty, or anything else complimentary. Her rejection of his advances builds a kind of humility in him. Darcy demonstrates his continued devotion to Elizabeth, in spite of his distaste for her low connections, when he rescues Lydia and the entire Bennet family from disgrace, and when he goes against the wishes of his haughty aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, by continuing to pursue Elizabeth. Darcy proves himself worthy of Elizabeth, and she ends up repenting her earlier, overly harsh judgment of him. Jane Bennet and Charles Bingley Elizabeths beautiful elder sister and Darcys wealthy best friend, Jane and Bingley engage in a courtship that occupies a central place in the novel. They first meet at the ball in Meryton and enjoy an immediate mutual attraction. They are spoken of as a potential couple throughout the book, long before anyone imagines that Darcy and Elizabeth might marry. Despite their centrality to the narrative, they are vague characters, sketched by Austen rather than carefully drawn. Indeed, they are so similar in nature and behavior that they can be described together: both are cheerful, friendly, and good-natured, always ready to think the best of others; they lack entirely the prickly egotism of Elizabeth and Darcy. Janes gentle

spirit serves as a foil for her sisters fiery, contentious nature, while Bingleys eager friendliness contrasts with Darcys stiff pride. Their principal characteristics are goodwill and compatibility, and the contrast of their romance with that of Darcy and Elizabeth is remarkable. Jane and Bingley exhibit to the reader true love unhampered by either pride or prejudice, though in their simple goodness, they also demonstrate that such a love is mildly dull. Mr. Bennet Mr. Bennet is the patriarch of the Bennet householdthe husband of Mrs. Bennet and the father of Jane, Elizabeth, Lydia, Kitty, and Mary. He is a man driven to exasperation by his ridiculous wife and difficult daughters. He reacts by withdrawing from his family and assuming a detached attitude punctuated by bursts of sarcastic humor. He is closest to Elizabeth because they are the two most intelligent Bennets. Initially, his dry wit and selfpossession in the face of his wifes hysteria make him a sympathetic figure, but, though he remains likable throughout, the reader gradually loses respect for him as it becomes clear that the price of his detachment is considerable. Detached from his family, he is a weak father and, at critical moments, fails his family. In particular, his foolish indulgence of Lydias immature behavior nearly leads to general disgrace when she elopes with Wickham. Further, upon her disappearance, he proves largely ineffective. It is left to Mr. Gardiner and Darcy to track Lydia down and rectify the situation. Ultimately, Mr. Bennet would rather withdraw from the world than cope with it. Mrs. Bennet Mrs. Bennet is a miraculously tiresome character. Noisy and foolish, she is a woman consumed by the desire to see her daughters married and seems to care for nothing else in the world. Ironically, her single-minded pursuit of this goal tends to backfire, as her lack of social graces alienates the very people (Darcy and Bingley) whom she tries desperately to attract. Austen uses her continually to highlight the necessity of marriage for young women. Mrs. Bennet also serves as a middle-class counterpoint to such upper-class snobs as Lady Catherine and Miss Bingley, demonstrating that foolishness can be found at every level of society. In the end, however, Mrs. Bennet proves such an unattractive figure, lacking redeeming characteristics of any kind, that some readers have accused Austen of unfairness in portraying heras if Austen, like Mr. Bennet, took perverse pleasure in poking fun at a woman already scorned as a result of her ill breeding.

Key Facts
full title Pride and Prejudice author Jane Austen type of work Novel genre Comedy of manners language English time and place written England, between 1796 and 1813

date of first publication 1813 publisher Thomas Egerton of London narrator Third-person omniscient climax Mr. Darcys proposal to Elizabeth (Volume 3, Chapter 16) protagonist Elizabeth Bennet antagonist Snobbish class-consciousness (epitomized by Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Miss Bingley) setting (time) Some point during the Napoleonic Wars (17971815) setting (place) Longbourn, in rural England point of view The novel is primarily told from Elizabeth Bennets point of view. falling action The two chapters of the novel after Darcys proposal tense Past tense foreshadowing The only notable example of foreshadowing occurs when Elizabeth visits Pemberley, Darcys estate, in Volume 3, Chapter 1. Her appreciation of the estate foreshadows her eventual realization of her love for its owner. tone Comicor, in Jane Austens own words, light and bright, and sparkling themes Love; Reputation; Class motifs Courtship; Journeys symbols The novel is light on symbolism, except on the visit to Pemberley, which is described as being neither formal, nor falsely adorned, and is clearly meant to symbolize the character of Mr. Darcy.
Biography:

Keira Knightley's Birth Date:

March 26, 1985

Place of Birth:
Teddington, Middlesex, England

Role That Got Her Noticed:

Playing Elizabeth Swann, pretty much the only female character in the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise, really catapulted Keira Knightley into the spotlight.

Born to Act:
Keira's father is actor Will Knightley. Her brother, Caleb, is a composer.

Notable Movie Credits:

Innocent Lies (1995) Star Wars: Episode I - The Phanton Menace (1999) After the Hole (2001) Bend It Like Beckham (2002) Pure (2002) Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

Plot Summary for

Pride & Prejudice (2005) More at IMDbPro
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The story is based on Jane Austen's novel about five sisters - Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty and Lydia Bennet - in Georgian England. Their lives are turned upside down when a wealthy young man (Mr. Bingley) and his best friend (Mr. Darcy) arrive in their neighborhood. Written by Marcy Gomez Pride and Prejudice is a humorous story of love and life among English gentility during the Georgian era. Mr Bennet is an English gentleman living in Hartfordshire with his overbearing wife. The Bennets 5 daughters; the beautiful Jane, the clever Elizabeth, the bookish Mary, the immature Kitty and the wild Lydia. Unfortunately for the Bennets, if Mr Bennet dies their house will be inherited by a distant cousin whom they have never met, so the family's future happiness and security is dependent on the daughters making good marriages. Life is uneventful until the arrival in the neighbourhood of the rich gentleman Mr Bingley, who rents a large house so he can spend the summer in the country. Mr Bingley brings with him his sister and the dashing (and richer) but proud Mr Darcy. Love is soon in the air for one of the Bennet sisters, while another may have jumped to a hasty prejudgment. For the Bennet sisters many trials and tribulations stand between them and their happiness, including class, gossip and scandal. Written by Dom This tale of love and values unfolds in the class-conscious England of the late 18th century. The five Bennet sisters - including strong-willed Elizabeth and young Lydia - have been raised by their mother with one purpose in life: finding a husband. When a wealthy bachelor takes up residence in a nearby mansion, the Bennets are abuzz. Amongst the man's sophisticated circle of friends, surely there will be no shortage of suitors for the Bennet sisters. But when Elizabeth meets up with the handsome and - it would seem - snobbish Mr. Darcy, the battle of the sexes is joined. Written by focus features

In Georgian England, Mrs. Bennet raises her five daughters - Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty and Lydia with the purpose of getting married with a rich husband that can support the family. They are not from the upper class, and their house in Hertfordshire will be inherited by a distant cousin if Mr. Bennet dies. When the wealthy bachelor Mr. Bingley and his best friend Mr. Darcy arrive in town to spend the summer in a mansion nearby their property, the shy and beautiful Jane falls in love for Mr. Bingley, and Lizzie finds Mr. Darcy a snobbish and proud man, and she swears to loathe him forever. This is the beginning of their wonderful love story. Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Fitzwilliam Darcy, Basic Character Information

Fitzwilliam Darcy is Pride and Prejudice's snobbish but good principled leading man. Basic Information: Age: 28 (probably), he mentions his age at the end of the novel (most likely in the month of October). However since he is referring to a change that began back in April, he could have already turned 29 (unlikely in my opinion) or he could have more recently turned 28. Spouse: Elizabeth Darcy nee Bennet (end of novel) Income: 10,000 per year, this is one of the first things we learn about him. However, in chapter 16, Wickham, the son of a former Pemberley steward, describes his income as a clear 10,000, meaning the 10,000 would be after estate expenses were paid. Primary Residence: Pemberley Estate, in Derbyshire, where his housekeeper estimates he spends half his time, it is speculated that he will spend more time there after he marries. He also keeps a house in London. Physical Characteristics: Tall, with handsome features and a noble mein. Personality Characteristics: Our dear Darcy is a bit of a snob, but as I said above he does have good principles (which in the end triumph over his snobbery). Almost immediately after his introduction, his manners disgust the people of Meryton as they show he is proud, inconsiderate and uninterested in them. The narrator describes him as being clever but that he was also "haughty, reserved, and fastidious, and his manners, though well bred, were not inviting[,]" making it perhaps not surprising that he "was continually giving offense." In spite of all of this he does have some good qualities beyond well bred but uninviting manners, he is a conscientuous landlord who takes care of his tenants and does good among the poor, takes care of his sister and is helpful towards his friends, as well as the ability to forgive those he cares about. What to call him:

Darcy - This is what the narrator calls him, as well as his friends Bingley and Colonel Fitzwilliam. Mr. Darcy - Following his father's death, people who are not entitled or privileged to call him Darcy or by some other name. Before his father's death he might have been Mr. Darcy in circumstances where his father was not present or where it was obvious that his father was not being referred to, he might also have been called young Mr. Darcy. Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy - Before Darcy's father died, this would have been the primary way for people who weren't friends or family to address Darcy as he was not the most important Mr. Darcy around. Following his father's death, not so much though still if you wanted to distinguish him from another past Mr. Darcy it might be used. Master Fitzwilliam / Master Darcy - It is likely that Darcy was called this by servants and other people who were not close enough or did not hold enough social clout to use his first name when he was a young child. It is possible that some might still use it. The master/your master/my master - this is in reference to his position as the owner of Pemberley Estate or as his position as a servant's employer.

Posted by Melissa at 9:33 PM Labels: Character Info, Darcy Family, Fitzwilliam Darcy, Pride and Prejudice

4 comments:
Sylwia said...

Oh, I like the way you're collecting the details. Just to add to your observations... Lady Catherine too calls Darcy "Darcy", while his father is "Mr. Darcy" to her. Mrs. Gardiner called Darcy "Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy" referring to the times when his father was still alive. I don't think that anyone would still call Darcy "Master Fitzwilliam". It'd be patronising in reference to an adult man and a master of Pemberley. I also think that as the eldest son he was always called "Master Darcy" by servants or school teachers. At school "Master" tended to be dropped when one was about 15.
March 10, 2009 7:45 PM Melissa Renee said...

Thank you for the added information I think you are right that "Master Darcy" would be the most common usage, but I do think that when he was a very young child "Master Fitzwilliam" would have been possible, particularly when he was very young. As far as someone still using the title "master" with his name, I was thinking along the lines of a very elderly servant (someone who has been around even longer than Mrs. Reynolds) who acted as his nurse. It does appear that I need to do some more digging on the proper use of that title.
March 10, 2009 8:28 PM

austenette said...

I know what you mean, but I'm not sure people sought this kind of familiarity. I think that, like many things in Austen's times, it was in transition. I.e. we never see the older generations addressing each other per Christian names, but we assume that the younger will, so Darcy will call Lizzy "Elizabeth", and not "Mrs. Darcy", while her own father calls her mother "Mrs. Bennet" in a strictly family setting - only the two of them and their kids. People were slowly becoming less formal, but within the older generation of the upper class it's very likely that Darcy was never "Fitzwilliam" to anyone, not even his own mother. He is "Darcy" to his aunt, and likely it's true that she's his nearly closest relation. Georgiana might call him "Brother" instead of "Fitzwilliam". I.e. Fanny often thinks of Edmund as "Edmund" but addresses him as "Cousin". Additionally, the problem with Fitzwilliam is that it's not very personal a name. Actually it's stiff and official, since it's given after his mother's grand family. Perhaps he had some second name women would use instead, but I think that if he did he'd use it in his letter to Elizabeth. The fact that he used his first name at all makes the letter more personal. People like him usually signed with their last name only. On the other hand, the Fitzwilliam in him symbolizes what's grand and proud, linking him to the Earl and Lady Catherine, while the Darcy part in him is less formal and kinder, linking him to his father. Hmm... just musing aloud. See? Thats what happens when peoples thoughtful posts make me think of the novel! :)
March 10, 2009 9:12 PM Melissa Renee said...

Thank you! I try to be thoughtful in my posts. You do have some good points. I'm not going to make any changes as yet, but I do wish the novel included Georgiana or (post-engagement) Elizabeth addressing him by name so we could know what they would call him, maybe Jane Austen herself wasn't certain. I agree that if he had some other name that the women in his life used, he would have most likely used it in The Letter. I had never considered your final point that it is the Darcy part of him that is actually less formal, though it would make sense since everyone is always referring to his father's goodness and compassion etc. while his mother's family does include Lady Catherine. ;)