Please write 300 words (minimum) on any of the following. Make specific references to the book and at least one of the films we have discussed. In addition to the 1940 and 2005 versions, you may also reference the 1995 BBC miniseries, even though it was not required viewing. (For the BBC option, you will need to familiarize yourself with the scene(s) you discuss enough that you can make specific observations.) Feel free to also take into consideration the many other appearances of Pride and Prejudice in pop culture, such as The Lizzie Bennet Diaries.
Issues to consider:
*money, class, wealth (and lack thereof)
*marriage
*being "accomplished"
*Lydia Bennet: she is the wild card in the story and in the Bennet family. What, exactly, is her flaw? Do you think she serves as a warning of some sort? What would that be? Is it fair to see her as such? What, really, distinguishes her from Elizabeth? How do the movies treat her? How do the values associated with her differ or parallel our societal norms today?
*Jane Bennet: she is considered the "good" one, the "pretty" one. What distinguishes her from the other sisters? What is her obligation to the story and to the family?
*Mrs. Bennet: what does she represent? Darcy considers her a liability, a source of shame. Agree? Why, why not? What damage (if any) has she inflicted on her own family? Can you sympathize with her in some way?
*sex and sexuality
* Some consider Austen's portrayal of women, money, and marriage to be progressive, with a feminist slant. Others argue that, though she is absolutely criticizing her world and the burdens placed on women, she does not necessarily argue to change the system. What do you think? Would you argue she is an early feminist or not? How do the movies handle this issue?
Biography of Jane Austen
Jane Austen's Portrait sells for $270,000 in 2013.
Camden, Jen. "Sex and the Scullery: The New Pride and Prejudice." (2007).
The Lizzie Bennet Diaries Home Page
(for a list of every 3ish-minute episode, click on 'story - video diaries'.)
Buzzfeed has it way with Darcy: Jerk or Dream?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Lydia's biggest flaw is one that she cannot control, that being how young she is. She is young and nieve but I also do agree that perhaps Jane Austen is perhaps including her in the story as a semi warning. Or at least something that the reader can resonate with, and maybe even to show her flaws and mistakes to Elizabeth Bennett. I mean throughout out the books and the movies if I had already not known the story I would perhaps guess that Elizabeth might be being completely hit on by Mr. Wickham. Regardless I think that in the book where it talks about her being almost an embarassment to the family, as well as in the 2011 film and the Father practically accuses her of being a huge flirt and almost disgraceful to the family. This says a lot instantly about Lydia's character, she is completely infatuated with Mr. Wickham. I almost feel like the movies de-value her which, I suppose really is not too far off. I feel like she is almost even annoying in the films I am just thinking to myself that she is dumb throughout the entire thing, but then I counteract that thought with she is awfully young. And perhaps, Mrs. Bennett and Mr. Bennett are to blame for letting her be "out" so soon. For Lady Catherine de Bourgh's reaction was almost identical even down to the wording in all of the films and even the novel about how appalled she was that Elizabeth's mother would allow them to all be "out" at once, before the older one's were married. Perhaps she just wasn't ready and with her being so young and there being so many of them certianly there was less time to focus and better each girl indiviually. On that topic Mrs. Bennett was sure to possibly blame for Lydia's being how she was, because she so desperately wanted all or even one of her daughters to be married off. Mostly encouraged by her fear of Mr. Bennett dying and Mr. Collins inherieting everything and the Bennett women being homeless. I feel that maybe if their estate and well being was not completely at stake then I think or would at least like to think that the approach would have been a little different from all angles.
ReplyDelete