2018 Beyond the Classics discussion

Love stories are timeless, we never run out of them. They are always there whether it be in a movie, book, history, or around you. It is one of those things that will always reoccur no matter what century we are in.

Two people, one with pride and riches, the other with prejudice and wit. Elizabeth Bennet, one of five, her father's favorite, and an independent young women. Elizabeth lives in society where young women are meant to be married off to a worthy and rich man to help benefit the family name. Not once is Elizabeth influenced by this, she will only be married to someone she loves and will not marry someone just for the name. When Jane, her older and closest sister meets Mr.Bingley, a nice, caring, and comfortable match she instantly falls in love with him. Mr. Bingley has a friend, Mr.Darcy, who has that reputation of having too much pride making people immediately not like him. When Elizabeth and Mr.Darcy meet, Elizabeth does not like him at all. As time goes on, Elizabeth likes him less and less especially when Mr.Wickham tells her about their past. After Mr.Darcy claims his love for Elizabeth, she rejects him, but this only makes Darcy try more. Time continues and Elizabeth finds out the truth of what really happened between Mr.Darcy and Mr.Wickham, changing her feelings on Mr.Darcy completely. Just like anything else, the more time two people spend together, the more they get to know about each other, and that is exactly what happened between the two. Joined by Elizabeth's aunt and uncle, the two finally learn to properly love one another and are soon after married.

Although “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen was more of a difficult read for me, it did tell a classic tale of two opposite, but very alike people falling in love. In the beginning, I really found it difficult to get into this book, I would say probably because of the writing style. Since this book was published in 1813, the style and language of the writing was a little different than what it is today. I found that it took me more time trying to find out what was being said than enjoying the story itself. As I continued to read more of the story, I grew more comfortable in reading and understanding it, allowing me to start enjoying the book for what it is known for, a good love story. I would say that the audience of this book needs to be mid teenage years and up, because of the difference in the writing to modern day literature. Even though I had some challenges in the beginning of the story, I grew to like it and its characters. I especially liked seeing the growth of Elizabeth and the fact she wasn't afraid to stand up for herself. Mr. Darcy also grew on me because I do believe he was the right choice for Elizabeth and that he never was that arrogant man that everyone in the book believed him to be. I am very glad I read this book, not only for the name it has for itself, but because I learned a lot about the 1800 writing style. “Pride and Prejudice” written by Jane Austen gives you that pure story of love with two people who once disliked one another, eventually realizing they are meant for each other.