Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

First published in 1813

Language : English

Published in Indonesia : Februari 2011 by Qanita Publishing

“Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us.”

Excerpt From: Austen, Jane. “Pride and Prejudice.” . 

Before I write this, I should make a confession to admit that I never watched the movie of Pride and Prejudice, and I have been waiting for almost 2 years to really read this book.

Why? Because as for me, 19th century language is just too hard to read. So I decided to read the Indonesian version of Pride and Prejudice, and then at the middle, I read the english version just because I found that the old-fashioned language isn't no longer old fashioned, just remarkable beautiful.

Really, I'm not a person who had a willingness to review about romance novel, but just for this book, I will make an exception.

Pride and Perjudice is a story about Bennet Family whom have 5 daughters, an ignorant but caring father and a gold-digger also funny mother. The main story will be focused on the second daughter, Miss Elizabeth Bennet or Lizzy.

The setting is of course 19th century at some places in England like London, Kent, Newcastle, etc. Bennet family live in their big house namely loungbourn. Mr. Bennet is a noble family, but his disability to have a male children, made his 5 daughters won't ever have loungborn as heritage from their beloved father. The house will be herited to Mr.Bennet's cousin, Mr. Collins.

Those concern, made Mrs. Bennet so eager to found a wealthy son in law. The coming of Mr. Bingley to Netherfield, the big house next to them, made Mrs. Bennet ask his husband to visit Mr. Bingley intentionally. Mr. Bingley is come from noble family with remarkable income per year. 

Mr. Bingley rent Netherfield is just for awhile, but he is also considering to live permanently in Netherfield. Bingley come with his sister, Miss Bingley and her friend, and Mr. Darcy- Mr Bingley's bestfriend.

The villagers are so excited with the coming of a wealthy boy whom seemly looking for a wife. They held a party and invited almost all of the citizens to welcomed them.

But the girl whom  Mr. Bingley been attracted is Jane Bennet, first daughter of Bennet family whom calm, grace, beautiful and patient. Shortly, Mr. Bingley falling in love with Jane, and hoping that his feeling will be mutual.

Mr. Darcy, whom came from a very noble family, had a 'royalty blood' in his vein, is not very attached to those community. He didn't attracted to any girls, and refuse to associate with local people.

In short time, the community assume that Mr. Darcy is a person with a very high of pride. 

Elizabeth, who also sees that way, very dejected with Mr. Darcy, she even refuse when Mr. darcy ask her to dance. Mr. Darcy also seen Elizabeth the same way, Lizzy isn't beauty enough to make him attracted.

The hatred of Elizabeth is come at the top when she meet a soldier namely Wickham. Wickham seems having bad history with Mr. Darcy. They hate each other. Wickham told Lizzy that Darcy is ill-manerred people who took his inheritance away from him. Wickham supposedly receiving inheritance from Mr. Darcy's father's death  but Mr. Darcy refused to giving him any money.

Hearing that, Elizabeth hate Mr. Darcy all of the top. She always try her best to avoid Mr. Darcy and annoy him very much.

Miss Bingley, Mr. Bingley's sister suspect that Mr. Darcy is put too much attention to Lizzy and she tried so hard to devaluate Lizzy in Mr. Darcy eyes. Miss Bingley is expecting that she will become Mr. Darcy's wife someday. That's why She hate Lizzy very much and always try to provoke Mr. Darcy infront of Lizzy.

Suddenly, Mr. Bingley is leaving Netherfield with his sister and Mr. Darcy to go to London. The rumors spread that they won't be back any soon, or may be leave for good. Thus make Jane who previously so in love with Mr. Bingley, heart broken. Jane also go to London, to go to her aunt to find any happiness from her brokenheart, and also seeking for a chance to meet Mr. Bingley accidentally in London. But Miss Bingley, who previosly become so close with Jane, suddenly chased Jane away, She never give Jane a chance to meet mr. Bingley.

In Loungborn, the bennet family had  a surprisingly guest, Mr. Collins. Mr. Collins coming to offer a truce for Bennet family. He intended to marry one of Bennet's girls that famously beautiful. Mr. Collins falling in love with Elizabeth. But Elizabeth refused him. And the day after proposing Lizzy, Mr. Collins proposed Charlotte, Lizzy's best friend. so in the short time they got married.

Mr. Collins, serving Lady Catherine- a very noble family that happened to be Mr. Darcy's aunt.  Because of the position of his husband, Charlotte following his husband living near at Lady Catherine's castile. Lizzy get invited to Rossings, the place where Charlotte living with Mr. Collins.

Unable to refuse, Lizzy visit Charlotte at Rossing. She meet lady Catherine in there, and from their story, Lizzy know that Lady Catherine is trying to made his sick daughter to get married with Mr. Darcy.

Accidentaly, Lizzie meet Mr. Darcy in there, as so much she hate it, everytime Lizzy meet mr. Darcy, she tried to insult him. But this time, Mr.Darcy is bit different with at the time he in Netherfield. He seems looking for a chance to talk with Lizzy.

Well, the plot is able to be guessed then. Mr.Darcy is simply falling in love with Lizzy but Lizzy see Mr. darcy is soulless and mean human so she tried so hard to refuse him.

Just like the tittle, Pride and Prejudice is telling about how high Mr. Darcy's pride contra with how bad Lizzy's prejudice on Mr. Darcy. The Pride of Mr.Darcy made him looks like a coldblood man but in contrary finally Lizzy found out that Mr.Darcy do anything for her. Simply Lizzy is unable to resist him.

What make this novel is never out of date, from my honest opinion, This novel is somehow romantics and not cheesy at all. The heroic moment of Mr. Darcy told beautifully by Jane Austin without exagggerating it and press the main plot on that topic. In contrary how heroic Mr Darcy is told by a letter that sent. Every important point of this story isn't told per scene, and descriptive, but told simply, meaningfull in letter. Even when finally Lizzy learned the truth about Darcy and Wickham which its turning point of Lizzy's Prejudice.

I don't know how I put it, this novel is complete. I won't Lie that at first I'm bit boring, the plot is so slow, and Jane told the detail of every scene of Bennet family, but then start at chapter 10 above, I finally understand what Jane true desire. She just want the reader Knows every character's personality and mind.

Well, no wonder its masterpiece. Jane able to told honestly, and beautifully. The character of Lizzy and Darcy is so opposite that able to bought each person's desire of ideal couple. As a girl, I Dream about Mr. Darcy - handsome, rich, noble, educated, and 'lofty'

“I certainly have not the talent which some people possess," said Darcy, "of conversing easily with those I have never seen before. I cannot catch their tone of conversation, or appear interested in their concerns, as I often see done.”-Darcy describe himself to Elizabeth the reason why he always acted proudly. 

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6. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
7. The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

note : Buku Pride and Prejudice yang diterbitkan dalam bahasa Indonesia oleh Qanita publishing juga sangat direkomendasikan karena tata bahasa dan diksi nya cukup nyaman dan tidak jauh berbeda dengan versi bahasa inggrisnya!