Pride and Prejudice, Peel the Layers

"Our thoughts are unseen hands shaping theso on the eldest two.
people we meet. Whatever we truly think themMr. Darcy is well-born, extremely wealthy and
to be, that's what they'll become for us." ~Richardwell-educated. When he enters the middle class
CowperBennet society, he behaves in an outrageously
Who hasn't heard about Pride & Prejudice?haughty and insufferably proud manner. Elizabeth
Jane Austen's popular and much loved novel anddevelops an instant dislike towards Darcy
the famous protagonists (or maybe we should callattributing her dislike to his abominable pride and
them antagonists) Elizabeth Bennet and Mr.Darcy! Icondescending bearing towards others. As the
first read the abridged version when I was in mydrama unfolds and life throws up opportunities and
early teens and soon enough got myself anchallenges, they get to know one another better.
unabridged version. I have lost count on theOne learns to overcome her "prejudice" and the
number of times I have read this book since.other his "pride" as they get past their initial
There was a time when I knew the book almostantagonism, differences and limited perceptions.
by heart and had memorized every single line ofNot only do they recognize the true worth and
dialogue between the protagonists! Mr.Darcy soonappreciate the strengths in the other person, they
became popular in my friends circle. Actually,learn to love another.
popular is an understatement. "Hearthrob" would"We are each burdened with prejudice; against
be the more appropriate word. A televisedthe poor or the rich, the smart or the slow, the
version of the novel was adapted locally aroundgaunt or the obese. It is natural to develop
the same time and we would be hooked on to itprejudices. It is noble to rise above them."
for the 13 weeks it ran and another 13 weeks~Author Unknown
when it reran a year later and ...! Talk of giddyPride and prejudice is a timeless and ageless
teens and their first brush with romance!masterpiece and the wisdom in this novel applies
"No one ever choked to death swallowing histo all societies and people all over the world.
pride"~UnknownThere is an Elizabeth and a Darcy in each one of
I must confess that even though I have grownus. Pride and prejudice - are as old as humanity
out my teens, I remain a faithful and incurableand like Elizabeth and Darcy did, it is natural to
romantic.form pride and prejudices.
I have watched all possible versions of P&P,Everyone has pride - we are proud of our
the BBC adaptations, the Hollywood versions, thenations, cultures, religions, families, ourselves. So,
A&E versions ... everything that has everwhat's wrong about it? Nothing's wrong with pride
been created so far for television or cinema. Even- pride in one's own worth - as long as that pride
today, I never miss an opportunity to watch ordoesn't become reason to become vain and
read anything to do with P&P or Jane Austenarrogant and look down upon or abuse other
or drool over Mr.Darcy and his avatars innations, cultures, religions, families, people, beliefs,
numerous versions. Laurence Oliver and Colin Firthfaiths, opinions etc.
being my favorites. Call it the Austen magic orWe are equally burdened with prejudices - we
the Darcy madness! It runs deep and far. In fact,have a natural tendency to judge everyone and
my husband who hasn't read a word of the bookeverything around us as good or bad, right or
or hardly knew anything about P&P orwrong, rich or poor, intelligent or dumb, fair or
Austen (before we got married) pretty muchdark and so on.
knows the entire story and can identify the"O Lord, help me not to despise or oppose what I
important characters - esp. the eccentric Mr.do not understand." ~William Penn
Collins!Like a frog living in a well, we tend to believe that
"Temper gets you into trouble. Pride keeps youour own well is the whole universe, that we know
there."~ Unknownand understand is the whole truth. This breeds
Pride & Prejudice is a family and social dramaseparative consciousness making us forget that
set in early 19th century England society, a worldwe are just one tiny part of a whole and what
when men apprently held the advantage overwe know and understand is a tiny part of the
women in many respects. When it came towhole truth.
marrying to one's liking, respectability, socialAs we peel through the outer layers of pride and
status, family fortune and advantage wereprejudice that we have created in ourselves and
essential factors to be considered.clothed others in, we realize that they are just
Elizabeth comes from a middle-class family and islayers (non-essentials that keep us distracted)
endowed with a razor-sharp wit, intelligence and acreated by our mind and thoughts and that at the
great sense of humor. She is second in a family(essential) core, we are all the same with the
of five daughters and their family's estate issame basic needs and wants - love, appreciation,
entailed to a distant relative upon their father'srecognition, security etc. Not only are we the
(Mr. Bennet) death. Their mother is eversame, we are collectively ONE macrocosm - like
enterprising to get her daughters married off andtrillions of cells performing different functions for
she lives as if her only mission in life is to see herone body - no one cell is less or more important.
daughters married off - find advantageousSimilarly, we are all ONE Spirit - no one is less or
matches they must and the pressure even moremore important - we are all equal.