Pride and Prejudice discussion

Just wondering... what would you change about this book and why?

Absolutely nothing.

that her father didn't love their mother.

Nothing.

Michaela wrote: "that her father didn't love their mother."

Well they did once.Sort of. The thing you have to consider about the books relationship ís that they are all set up to to contrast with the relationship Elizabeth and Mr Darcy has with each other.

Elizabeth rejects Mr Darcy because she dont just want to marry for money or because its convienent..like some other couples in the novel...

Mr & Mrs Bennet (he married her for her beauty and she him for his money,they both got what they wanted yet they have no true love,more like a companionship)

Jane & Mr Bingley (they do seem to love each other,but he is very weak willed (Jane is more docile and sweet)and if not for Mr Darcy setting things right they would probably not gotten married.)

Lydia and Mr Wickham (because he was forced and she went along with it)

Charlotte Lucas & Mr Collins (because she wanted a home of her own and babies and he because Lady Catherine wanted it :P)

There is also the other Bingley sister (forgot her name) who is married to a man who just sleeps all the time.

I would delete Lydia and all her problems.

id have someone punch Wickham in that face. cuz he earned it.

Menna wrote: I would delete Lydia and all her problems."

lol

Lydia, the poor, stupid girl. I couldn't stand her as a character just cause she's so arrogant, conceited, and she screws everything up for everyone around her and has absolutely no self-awareness. None. And I could not stand how her parents were with her. It infuriated the life out of me.

But, I would not change this because Jane Austen tells it like it is, and how many people have I come across in this day and age that are the same way. For better or worse JA doesn't hide from pointing out our flaws. Even though I wanted to delete her too!

I wouldn't change anything. Even though Lydia is completely out of control, it was through her disaster that we see Darcy's true nature.

Shawn wrote: "I wouldn't change anything. Even though Lydia is completely out of control, it was through her disaster that we see Darcy's true nature."

never thought of that!!!!!

Shawn wrote: "I wouldn't change anything. Even though Lydia is completely out of control, it was through her disaster that we see Darcy's true nature."

I agree, not having Lydia would completely change the story, even if she's a little git :)

I would give Kitty an ending, I always hoped that she would get married too.

I'd have the characters actually talk to each other honestly about what the are thinking and feeling rather than listening to the idle gossip of others and forming false conclusions.

I agree - if you changed anything it simply would not be the story which we all love. It would be nice though, if all the girls could have gotten a happy ending - I did always feel that Mary got rather shortchanged.

Carina wrote: "I agree - if you changed anything it simply would not be the story which we all love. It would be nice though, if all the girls could have gotten a happy ending - I did always feel that Mary got ra..."

yea, i always feel bad for Mary...I love that she's so awkward

Emmy wrote: "Carina wrote: "I agree - if you changed anything it simply would not be the story which we all love. It would be nice though, if all the girls could have gotten a happy ending - I did always feel t..."

I agree -- it would have been nice if we learned in the end that some good-hearted nerd came along and thought Mary was just wonderful and she in turn was besotted with him.

Not a single word. No make that comma.

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!

Nothing at all. Absolutely nothing!!

Carina wrote: "I did always feel that Mary got rather shortchanged."

I kind of think Mary shortchanges herself. There's the line where Mr. Bennett says that he has 2 or 3 very silly daughters. Mary is definitely one of them. I'm not sure that I felt bad for Mary ever and the reason is that even though she's a super nerd she is very silly in how she approaches life. She never puts herself out there and so has no real basis, other than books, from which she forms her opinions. To me it's the same as people without children trying to tell you how should raise yours. It's just not sound and definitely not respected. I always imagined that Mary never figured this out and died a spinster. Idk why. And Kitty did her growing up and made a nice match. I have good hopes for Kitty. ;)

Laura wrote: "Carina wrote: "I did always feel that Mary got rather shortchanged."

I kind of think Mary shortchanges herself. There's the line where Mr. Bennett says that he has 2 or 3 very silly daughters. Mar..."

She's 16! Weren't we all silly at 16?

DudeWhatever wrote: "id have someone punch Wickham in that face. cuz he earned it."In the Bollywood version, Bride and Prejudice, the Lydia character did exactly that! ;-)

Emmy wrote: "She's 16! Weren't we all silly at 16?"

Absolutely. And I know I did some really dumb things that experience has taught me to never do again :) I'm not trying to say Mary is a worthless character, but explain why I think Mary is silly, supporting her own father's description of her, despite her age.

It's just like that line that Elizabeth says to Darcy: "But then I have always supposed it to be my own fault -- because I would not take the trouble of practising." And Darcy responds: "You are perfectly right. You have employed your time much better." Mary practices reading, playing and singing, but you never really see her practicing social skills.

I can look back on my behavior at 16 and admit my lack that led to my silliness, but I've also supposed that to be my own fault because I would not take the trouble to learn otherwise, or listen to my elders. Why should this not also apply to Mary? At what point do we become responsible for our own behavior? If the answer is 18 then we've lost 18 good years of practicing better, responsible behavior. Some of this falls to Mary's parents and their lack of discipline with their children, but Mary should be an active participant in her own life as well. :)

In a way I agree but I also think that Mary was in a rather hard position. By all accounts she is 'plain' especially when shown next to Lizzy and Jane. I can imagine growing up she often did not get much attention compared to them, so she turned to more 'intellectual' pursuits in order to get praise. Then her younger sisters were born, again both of which are prettier than her. Her mother obviously prefers the younger two and her father the elder - Mary doesn't fit in.

What should she do? Act like her younger sisters to try and gain her mothers approval? To me that is deplorable behaviour trying to act as something you are not.

It is very hard to try and put yourself out there in such situations - I can fully understand why she chooses to be a bookworm instead.

First of all,I really didn't like Mrs.Bennet. She is a crazy lady,i mean the only aim of her life is to marry her daughters,that's a bit too much,isn't it? And second point which I didn't like was Wickham marrying Lydia.
Apart from these points the book is a worth read.:)

Carina wrote: "It is very hard to try and put yourself out there in such situations - I can fully understand why she chooses to be a bookworm instead"

I like the point you make! (I wish there was a way to "like" comments here on GR...)

Laura wrote: "Carina wrote: "It is very hard to try and put yourself out there in such situations - I can fully understand why she chooses to be a bookworm instead"

I like the point you make! (I wish there was ..."

me too!

Thanks :)

I would like to change that ONE line of Elizabeth Bennet that marred her from being a perfect heroine! That one scene when she visits Pemberley and is so overwhelmed that she says :"``And of this place,'' thought she, ``I might have been mistress! "

After this line till date I am unsure if she loved Darcy for Darcy himself or for Pemberley ;-)

Sohini wrote: "I would like to change that ONE line of Elizabeth Bennet that marred her from being a perfect heroine! That one scene when she visits Pemberley and is so overwhelmed that she says :"``And of this ..."

That is what makes her human. Not a perfect herione.

Exactly Emmy... if the rest of the novel is written with the idea of making Liz Bennet a perfection, this is one instance that lessens her...

Would u be able to identify another place in the novel, where she is depicted as anything less than the best ???

And if u read carefully, I said that her statement makes me doubt her affections for Mr Darcy... not doubt her!

gertt wrote: "And wouldn't it be boring if you liked all the characters in a story or if the heroine was flawless..."
Ugh, yes!

Sue wrote: "DudeWhatever wrote: "id have someone punch Wickham in that face. cuz he earned it."In the Bollywood version, Bride and Prejudice, the Lydia character did exactly that! ;-)"

And i think, in Bridget Jones's Diary, Mark Darcy lands one one Cleaver...clearly that's what Helen Fielding felt was lack from pride and prejudice too... lol

nothing

I also wouldn't change a thing, but for those of you watching "The Lizzie Bennet Diaries," I think this Lydia will have a happier ending.

Have Mr. Collins marry Mary Bennet, and Charlotte Lucas marry Colonel Fitzwilliam.

And somebody needs to tell Caroline Bingley to be quiet.

I'd give Mr. Bennet one or two sons, so
1. his estate could be inherited by his own sons instead of Mr. Collins.
2. he would be more involved in his children's education.
3. the sons would stop their mother and younger sisters from being stupid.
4. the sons would have communication with Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy.
5. the sons could marry Miss Darcy. :)

Not one thing.

Lalani wrote: "Have Mr. Collins marry Mary Bennet, and Charlotte Lucas marry Colonel Fitzwilliam.

And somebody needs to tell Caroline Bingley to be quiet."
And Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Mrs. Bennet, and Mr. Collins while they're at it. :P

Menna wrote: "I would delete Lydia and all her problems."

If you deleted Lydia, then Mr. Darcy would got nothing to do for Elizabeth. :p

If there was no Lydia, would there still be a Whickham?