Reading log 1 - Pride and Prejudice

Reading log 1

Pride and Prejudice

”It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful property of some one or other their daughters.”

These are the first three lines of the book. As I had heard of the book before I had a slightly idea of what it was about. But as I went along with my reading, the first three sentences became more understandable. Reading these lines you understand that the book will revolve around marriage, family and the importance of choosing the “right” one to marry, at that time. Also what was expected during the 1800 century by the people. You immediately get introduced to Mr and Mrs Bennet, a fortuned married couple that lives in the south of England. Their five daughters are also introduced in the first pages. The interesting subject that they are talking about revolves around the Netherfield Park and the Netherfield’s new owner: Mr Bingley. Mr Bingley is a wealthy man who is going to stay at the Netherfield Park for a few months ahead. Mrs Bennet, a lady to whom her social status is very important. Additionally, also a very free-spoken person I think. Her number one priority is to marry of her five daughters to handsome, wealthy and nice men. So, when the news came about Mr Bingley moving in Mrs Bennet’s first task was to introduce her daughters to Mr Bingley.

The Bennets and Mr Bingley meet for the first time at a ball where Mr Bingley was accompanied by his two sisters, his brother-in-law and his good friend Mr Darcy. While Mr Bingley made a good impression on everyone by being enjoyable and humorous, Mr Darcy was very disagreeable and picky which left a bad first impression. Jane Bennet, who was the oldest sister of the five, and Mr Bingley enjoyed each other’s company and very quickly took interest in each other. Due to this the whole family began hoping for a wedding to take place. I first assumed that the rest of the book would revolve around Jane and Mr Bingley, but that was not the case. We also get introduced to Mr Collins who is Mr Bennet’s cousin, and in the case of Mr Bennets death inherits all of Mr Bennets fortune. Mr Collins pays the Bennets a visit and his intentions with this visit are to marry one of the five sister. He proposes to Elizabeth who kindly declines. After a couple of pages I understood that the protagonist of the book is Elizabeth and ahead we get to follow the story through Elizabeth’s eyes.

Elizabeth Bennet

Elizabeth is lively, intelligent, and often sarcastic also enjoys making a joke or two. She is her father’s favourite but her mother does not share that same thought. She loves her family and is closest to her father and her older sister Jane whom she feels is too kind and maybe a little bit naive. Additionally she seems to differ with the society she is living in.