Friday, May 28, 2010
DISCUSSION QUESTION #6
In 1814 Mary Russell Mitford wrote: "It is impossible not to feel in every line of Pride and Prejudice. . . the entire want of taste which could produce so pert, so worldly a heroine as the beloved of such a man as Darcy. . . Darcy should have married Jane." Would you have liked the book as well if Jane were its heroine? Have you ever seen a movie version in which the woman playing Jane was, as Austen imagined her, truly more beautiful than the woman playing Elizabeth? Who doesn't love Elizabeth Bennet?!!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
• I would have hated the book if Jane was the Heroine because Jane is a optimist who thinks that best in people and there would be no Pride and Prejudice, if Jane the heroine felt no pride or prejudice. If any movies had a character such as Jane and they were the friend something bad would have happened to them because of their naïve nature. I’d say that Collins doesn’t love Liz that he is in love with the idea of having a wife. Secondly Wickham didn’t love her, he just fancied her for a short time.
ReplyDeleteYour answer seems to jump around a bit and fails to have the necessary support of citations.
ReplyDeleteSamantha,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate you going first.
Many students are afraid to go first for fear of harsh comments.
Most students learn a great deal from the first poster.
Therefore, you will receive bonus points for daring to go first.
See you soon :)
If Jane would have been the heroine in Austen's novel, I believe that it would have taken away from it. Jane is a very beautiful woman but she isn't enough. Unlike Jane, Elizabeth is not only beautiful but has a powerful sense to her character which makes her more beautiful than Jane. Elizabeth is more aware of what is going on around her and is less likely to settle for less which makes her the star of the show. Jane is to naive to what is going on around her and fails to see the truth in situations much like when Caroline Bingley was trying to sabotage Jane and her brother. Elizabeth sometimes seems heroic because of how she fights for what is right. If Jane would have played the role of Elizabeth in the novel I don't believe that the idea of mutual dislike turning to love would have appeared. Elizabeth is what makes this novel so interesting and without her Austen wouldnt have had a book.
ReplyDeleteI would not have liked the book as well if Jane were the main heroine. Jane is known by her sister Elizabeth to find the good in everybody. Jane rarely dislikes a person and is generally friendly to just about everybody. If Jane were the heroine in the book, she would have given Mr. Darcy a chance from the very beginning. It wouldn’t be nearly as exciting and suspenseful. Elizabeth’s and Mr. Darcy’s mutual dislike of one another in the beginning is what makes the book so interesting. Elizabeth’s bravery in expressing her opinion to just about everybody and her snide remarks toward Mr. Darcy make me love her even more! I have seen a movie version in which “Jane” was slightly more beautiful than “Elizabeth.” That didn’t make a difference to me though. Elizabeth stood out more than Jane because of her unique personality and the obvious connection with Darcy, not her beauty.
ReplyDeleteThis book probably would never be read if Jane was the main character because it would be boring. Elizabeth has a diverse enough personality in which she was prejudice of others. Jane accepted everyone and was friendly and kind thus there wouldn't be enough prejudice or pride following her. Not to mention Darcey wouldn't love her like he did Elizabeth which takes away from the storyline. I have seen a movie in which the woman playing Jane was more beautiful than Elizabeth, but by the end I still enjoyed the character Elizabeth more because of her personality and the fact that she wasn't perfect in acceptance and beauty. This book would never have been written if Jane was the main character because it lacks diversity.
ReplyDeleteIf jane was the heroine in the novel rather than Elizabeth, I would not have wanted to read it. Jane is a very important character and she does have a lot of great qualities, but she falls short compared to Elizabeth. Elizabeth embodies the independence and power that many woman of the time period lacked. Elizabeth said many things that most women would have never said. The gradual love story of Elizabeth and Darcy was so amusing partly because of the harsh comments Elizabeth made to Darcy and the way she wasn't afraid to speak her mind. Also, Elizabeth handled Lady Catherine's visit much better than Jane would have. Jane would have been more likely to be persuaded by Lady Catherine and to have given up on her feelings because of Lady Catherine's social superiority. Elizabeth, however, didn't care. She stood up for herself and what she knew she wanted. This power and stubbornness is what keeps the reader so engaged with Elizabeth and keeps the story interesting. I have never seen any of the movie versions of Pride and Prejudice, but I am sure that no matter how beautiful Jane appeared, Elizabeth's personality would have better captured my attention.
ReplyDeleteIf Jane would have the been the novel's heroine, the story would not have been as exciting. Elizabeth is strong willed and confident in herself, enough so to turn Darcy's proposal down the first time is was given. Jane would have been too kind of a character to be Darcy's partner. He needs someone to disagree with him, to have deep conversations with, and be his complete opposite so they can balance one another. Jane and Bingley go way better togeher; they are both very kind and see the best in everyone. Elizabeth's personality and spunk captures the reader's attention much more than Jane's would have.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't like Jane Austen's book Pride and Prejudice if Jane was made to be the heroine. Jane was the most beautiful sister, and also the most reserved. She was easy going and it seemed like things came easy to her, just like her relationship with Bingley. If she was made the heroine, she would loose her easy going side and there would be no innocence in the Bennet family. Everyone loved Elizabeth throughout the story because of her independence and strong willed sense. Elizabeth was the heroine in the story and quite frankly, the reader enjoys this paradoxical sense that Jane and Elizabeth form.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Elizabeth was the better Heroine. Even in the story Jane talks to Elizabeth about her problem with Mr. Bingley. Elizabeth is a character looked up to and has a more interesting character. She is very acute on her opinion of Darcy and fights him off for a while. Jane is someone looking for love and even though Bingley went an almost married another or was told so she still was after him. Jane would have easily looked past Darcy's arrogance and took him up once he proposed and it would have taken out a bit of the plot. I liked the book better with Elizabeth because it set up an interesting relationship that was working between Elizabeth and Darcy.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIf Jane would’ve been the heroine of Pride and Prejudice, I would not have liked the book at all. Jane is a very predictable, simple character and wouldn’t create any sort of excitement or action in the novel. Elizabeth’s vivacious and bold personality is the foundation of the novel’s plot line. Her character makes the novel a classic. Jane is too perfect- her beauty and presence- to make an interesting character. She lacks a uniqueness that only Elizabeth displays. While Jane is depicted as, and often appears in movies to be, more beautiful than Elizabeth, her personality doesn’t even compare to Elizabeth’s. Jane almost seems hollow at times and lacks the life and spirit that spills out of Elizabeth in every scene. Because of this, I don’t think that Darcy would’ve ever married Jane.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I would like the book as much if Jane was the heroine. I think the novel would have been a little boring because Jane is a simple character. Elizabeth has a bold personality that makes the novel exciting. Jane appears in movies to be more attractive than Elizabeth, but Elizabeth's personality is much better. Jane was still after Bingley even after she was told he almost married another woman. Elizabeth was able to say no to Darcy's first proposal, which I think Jane wouldn't have done.
ReplyDeleteThis book would not be as popular or great if jane was the heroine. Yes, the book would not be the same without Jane, but without Elizabeth as the maun character Pride and Prejudice would have failed. Elizabeth knew what she wanted and fought for it,she wasnt afraid of the outcome of her actions. Jane is too nice, Darcy would have walked all over her and gotten bored. She is much better with her match Mr.Bingley, they were one in the same. Elizabeth, will argue, debate, and always go down with a fight, and exact person that Mr.Darcy can fall madley inlove with.
ReplyDeleteI would not have liked the book as well if Jane were its heroine. In all the movies I have seen Elizabeth is truly more beautiful than Jane. Jane maybe more physically attractive, but Elizabeth has a natural air and intelligence that sets her above the others. She is not naïve, and does not assume that all people are inherently good. Elizabeth’s eyes could symbolize her unique perception of life and people. The personalities of Elizabeth and Darcy are so contradicting that Austin is able to envelope the readers with the tensions and emotions that are spoken and unspoken between the characters.
ReplyDeleteThe novel, well as the book of Pride and Prejudice wouldnt have seemingly be the same considering Elithebeth and Jane having there character switched. I honestly think that Eithabeth need to be her and Jane the same because after all Darcy loved Elithabeth because she was more outgoing and she has a good come back to all her challanges. Jane wouldnt fit in Elithabeths shoes simply becvause Jane always has kept to herself and she isnt as outgoing as Elithabeth and Darcy wouldnt have married her because of her non-outgoing additude.
ReplyDeleteI would not have enjoyed the book if Jane had been the heroine. Jane is a happy, nice, quiet woman who trys to see the good in everyone. If her character had been in place of Elizabeth's the entire meaning of the story would be different. I believe the reader enjoys the smolder of hatred between Elizabeth and Darcy that over time turns into a firy, hot love in the end. If Jane was the heroine, she would have enjoyed Darcy from the beginning and there wouldn't have been as much o a story.
ReplyDelete