Debunking Negative Opinions of Pride and Prejudice

By Grace A. Johnson

I was probably eight years old when I picked up my first Austen novel...believe it or not, I didn’t even make it past the first page of Sense and Sensibility before it was returned to the library. Six or so years later, I waded through Persuasion with no small amount of disappointment over what readers claimed was Austen’s most well-written work.

So when Pride and Prejudice came along, my expectations weren’t exceedingly great. But I soon fell head over heels for this beloved classic, discovering a literary treasure I’d thought I had missed.

Despite my love for Pride and Prejudice (and Mr. Darcy in particular), I held some of the same negative thoughts and opinions towards Austen’s work as many of her critics do. Perhaps you’re one such critic, who has tried and subsequently failed to be captivated by her writings, and you muse to yourself even now, “If this girl thinks she can convince me to read boring, mushy, old Jane Austen, she’s got another think coming.”

You may be right. I may not be able to convince you to read Austen, let alone enjoy her books; however, I’d like to take a look at a few of the most common reasons why readers are turned off to Jane Austen. Some of them are in fact quite unfounded, or at the very least misinterpreted! (Keep in mind that these are only the usual, universal reasons...many critics have voiced more radical reasons pertaining to the content, Austen’s personal views, the time period, and more. That, however, would be diving into a much larger ocean of opinions and pet peeves. We’re just sticking with the basics this go-round, eh?)

The Prose is Dry and Archaic

Ah, I love this one! Probably because I once thought the very thing myself, but I soon realized that I was making a fool of myself in thinking that Jane Austen’s writing is archaic. First of all, archaic English belongs to the 1600s and prior (think Shakespeare, would you?), while Austen’s English is very much like our own and her era is far more modern (the Romantic era, in case you were wondering) than the Renaissance.

As for dry...let’s face it. Many of the classical authors—whether as ancient as Homer or as modern as Tolkien—enjoyed rambling.

Tolkien took three pages to describe a tree...Austen took three pages to describe familial relations and matters of estate. Whether you find such things interesting or not, they were quite important in Austen’s time and made a great deal of impact not only on the story but also on people’s everyday lives in reality.

 However, when you look past the droning and pointless ramblings, you’ll find deep character development, gorgeous prose, and humorous remarks! I personally found Austen’s balance of the omniscient perspective (which was basically the only perspective of the time) exemplary!

 I’ve read a great deal of books that head-hop or never delve into the characters enough for me to connect with them, but Austen managed to make the transitions from character to character smooth, and narrated the story broadly while also developing the characters enough to make them into the iconic Lizzie Bennet, Mr. Darcy, and Jane and Bingley we all know today!

And let me tell you...Pride and Prejudice is FULL of wit and sarcasm and dark British humor! Every line of dialogue glows with facetiousness and sauciness! I cannot tell you how many times I laughed whilst reading this novel!

More than that, Austen is so profound. Believe it or not, every work of hers is actually satire, and it shows not by her blunt comments but by her understanding of human nature, her nuggets of wisdom woven throughout, and her realistic portrayals. (More on this later, of course!)

Some of my absolute favorite passages from Pride and Prejudice perfectly highlight these qualities, if you ask me!

Mrs. Bennet: “You have no compassion for my poor nerves.” Mr. Bennet, in response: “You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration these last twenty years at least.”

Mr. Bennet (of course to Mrs. Bennet): “If he wants our society, let him seek it. He knows where we live. I will not spend my hours in running after my neighbours every time they go away and come back again.”

Mr. Bennet (again to his lovely wife):“If your daughter should have a dangerous fit of illness—if she should die, it would be a comfort to know that it was all in pursuit of Mr. Bingley, and under your orders.”

Mr. Bennet to Bingley and Jane: “You are each of you so complying, that nothing will ever be resolved on; so easy, that every servant will cheat you; and so generous, that you will always exceed your income.”

Charlotte Lucas: “Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance. If the dispositions of the parties are ever so well known to each other or ever so similar beforehand, it does not advance their felicity in the least. They always continue to grow sufficiently unlike afterwards to have their share of vexation; and it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life.”

Mary Bennet: “Pride is a very common failing, I believe. By all that I have ever read, I am convinced that it is very common indeed, that human nature is particularly prone to it, and that there are very few of us who do not cherish a feeling of self-complacency on the score of some quality or other, real or imaginary.”

Mary Bennet: “The more I see of the world, the more am I dissatisfied with it; and every day confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters, and of the little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of merit or sense.”

Mr. Darcy (last but certainly not least) to Elizabeth: “In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”

It’s Just a Bunch of People Going to Each Other’s Houses and Talking

Y’all...before I start explaining why house calls and talking is so important, allow me to pick the plot apart for ya. Yes, there are house calls and conversations, but there are also balls, long walks, Sunday services, trips to town, road trips, guided house tours, fishing, dinners, piano recitals, and more. And each event is valued not for its amount of explosions or zombie battles (if that’s your thing, allow me to direct you to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies), but for its development of the characters, its enhancement of the themes, and its pertinence in real life.

Believe it or not, that was what people’s lives looked like back then. They visited each other. They made friends—and enemies—and cultivated relationships. They read books and debated them. They made connections and used them. They traveled the countryside. They danced and dined. They played instruments and croquet, and learned needlepoint, and gardened. They talked to each other with their mouths.

They lived the dream life, if you ask me. And rather than writing an epic adventure through the dark forests or across the high seas or over the tall mountains...rather than writing a thrilling suspense with murder and espionage and deceit rather than writing a dramatic romance with ill-fated love affairs, y’all know what Austen chose to write?

She wrote life. She literally wrote a Regency-era slice-of-life novel, and that’s one of the biggest reasons why Pride and Prejudice is so beloved. It displays a bygone era in all its glory and its grime, in the simplest and most authentic of ways.

There will always be stories like Anna Karenina, The Three Musketeers, Dracula, Frankenstein, Gone with the Wind, Dr. Zhivago, The Phantom of the Opera, Lis Miserables, Oliver Twist, Gulliver’s Travels, Robinson Crusoe...but there will never be more stories like Pride and Prejudice, for it is borne of Austen’s own lifestyle and experiences, her own sights and sounds, her own world. It was a glimpse of her life and the lives of so many others during that era, and that’s what makes it unique—not its intriguing plot or unconventional characters. Its dullness, its simplicity, and its genuineness is what sets it apart from any other book!

And, like I said, there is plenty of drama and humor! Even in one’s boring old existence, there are glimmers of new and different things. There’s new people in town, old people moving off, marriages and blossoming relationships, discrimination and injustice, underdogs and fighters...the list goes on!

All They Care About is Money and Marriage

Well, in a way, this one has a bit of truth to it. Indeed, money and marriage—rather, financial security and provision, and the course of one’s future—was of the utmost import of the time. Think of it like today’s college and high-paying job, and you’ll begin to understand.

In Elizabeth Bennet’s case, her cousin Mr. Collins was set to inherit all that belonged to her father—his home, his land, his money—which would leave her, her mother, and her sisters without anything. If a woman chose to work, which few did, their choices were along the lines of governess/nanny, maid/cook, seamstress, or prostitute.

Of course, those careers all took time to cultivate, and many women preferred to live a life of leisure rather than put time and effort into creating a profitable career. Not to mention that women who made their own living were often looked down upon by society–mainly for not having a wealthy husband or family to support them.

Therefore, they looked to marriage. Marriage was far more stable and easily obtained, and it fit every class. Elizabeth and her sisters were just above servitude, and no doubt they didn’t fancy being reduced to a lower class, so they and their mother were focused on making advantageous matches so that they’d be set for life and could spend their days however they pleased (within reason, of course).

As Austen wrote,

“Without thinking highly either of men or matrimony, marriage had always been her object; it was the only provision for well-educated young women of small fortune, and however uncertain of giving happiness, must be their pleasantest preservative from want.”

Some, like Charlotte, were quick to marry the first man that proposed for fear of never getting another opportunity (or at least one as good), while others such as Elizabeth wanted to marry for security and mutual respect and affection. This desire begins the journey to (1) meeting men of high caliber, (2) establishing firm connections with said men, (3) gaining the affections of at least one, and (4) receiving and accepting his proposal. In such a journey, there are so many other facets and elements that play a vital role, so it’s not just money and marriage. It’s reputation, friendship, honesty, family loyalty, and more.

And I wouldn’t say there’s anything inherently wrong with any of those things, now would you?

It’s all about where you focus is and how you go about this journey, which is something Austen actually highlights in Pride and Prejudice through Elizabeth, Charlotte, Jane, and Lydia. They each choose different men and a different type of life, as their focuses are on different things. Charlotte just wants to be wed to whomever is financially stable enough to support her. Lydia desires fun, rebellion, fleeting pleasure, and her own way. Jane looks for happiness and companionship.

As for Elizabeth...well, she looks for reputation, if the man is worthy of praise and admiration, if his heart is gold or pyrite, if he will devote his life to her and be honest about his feelings for her. Naturally, these are pretty high standards, which result in a lot of misdirection, but I think these are also very relatable goals.

When you begin to see these aspects of the story for what they really are—desires and decisions we all have—you’ll realize Pride and Prejudice is about more than money and marriage, pride and prejudice, or first impressions. It’s about life, love, future, family, values, hope, satisfaction, contentment, peace, joy. It’s about these central things we all covet and seek...and it’s about how we seek them and how our decisions affect the course of our lives and the lives of those around us.

It’s Unrealistic Romance With No Substance

If that’s what you think...well, then it’s quite obvious you’ve never actually read Pride and Prejudice. For one, Austen did not write romances. Not in the conventional sense. Austen didn’t fill her pages with dramatic pining, gushing declarations of love, or heated kiss scenes; rather, her stories portray societal issues, human nature, familial relationships, and more. (In fact, she seems to make more of a mockery of our usual view of romance with Bingley and Jane, who allow their deep, abiding feelings for each other to make a mess of everything and cause a boatload of drama.)

So if you expect Pride and Prejudice to be saturated with flirtation and midnight rendezvouses, you’re dreadfully mistaken. Sure, you might be bored...or you might find yourself dwelling a little bit longer on how insecurities give the illusion of arrogance and how judgments can be conceived with little to no basis.

I personally find Pride and Prejudice quite deep and thoughtful—and I’ve already mentioned the developed character arcs, the slice-of-life plot, and the relatable themes. In this subtle romance that’s perhaps not a romance at all, there is another thick layer to the story that begs consideration instead of dismissal over being weak, cheesy, or unrealistic.

There is indeed much substance to Pride and Prejudice, and more realism to the flawed, difficult love story. After all, few things in this story flow smoothly or turn out as expected—much like reality, wouldn’t you say?

I will say this: don’t force yourself to read something you know you won’t enjoy. If you want explosions and action and adventure, read something else. If you want cheesy by-the-book (pun not intended) romance, read something else. If you want thrillers and mysteries and suspense, or YA fantasy, or contemporary dramas...read something else! It’s as simple as that!

But, if you dare to enjoy a simple slice-of-life Regency not-quite-a-romance, then give Pride and Prejudice a shot! 

When you see it for what it is and appreciate all of the elements as readers of the time would, you’ll be able to overlook the lack of hobbits and talking lions and find something just as special in this beloved classic! All it takes is a mere change in perspective!