If you know me, you know that one of my favourite movies is Joe Wright’s Pride and Prejudice (2005). Not only does the movie feature one of my favourite actresses, Keira Knightley, it also began my appreciation for Matthew MacFadyen’s Mr. Darcy. I have watched P&P countless times and it never gets old for me even though I cannot relate to anything in the story. I am not white, I have never been to England, and guess what? I’ve never lived in the late 18th century. I’m pretty sure if I did, I’d probably be a slave. But even with all of those odds stacked against me, it’s still a movie that I put on when I’m feeling down or if I just want to escape for awhile.
Starting this blog has made me question why I love this movie so much when it’s not relatable; and I think it’s because it romanticises what we view as a simpler time. Why wouldn’t we be interested in a live that revolved around fancy balls, feasts, reading, and playing the piano? A life where women could start deciding who they wanted to marry and when they wanted to leave their familial home. Elizabeth Bennet and her four sisters are constantly encouraged by their mother to find a husband but they are never quite forced to do so. When Mrs. Bennet tries to *make* Lizzie marry Mr. Collins, Lizzie exclaims that she will not do it, and, her father backs her up. In an earlier time than this, I don’t think that this would have been possible.
And did I mention the balls hosted by rich men? I don’t care who you are, the thought of getting dressed and attending a mansion for a dance is a marvellous one. While watching P&P, you are constantly rooting for Lizzie and Mr. Darcy to get over their pride and realise they love each other… You want Jane and Mr. Bingley to get married and live a wonderful life together. You’re practically screaming at the TV for the characters to get over themselves even though you know that they eventually will in the end.
Because at the heart of it, Pride and Prejudice is a love story. And who doesn’t love a good love story? Especially one set in a time that we will never experience and with a main character who feels very modern. Lizzie is a modern woman in that she speaks her mind and is single in her mid 20s (the horror). It’s easy to watch this movie and see yourself in her because she is who women have always been throughout history – trailblazers.
As I said earlier, Pride and Prejudice is romantic and makes everything seem beautiful and flowery, but it’s almost too good at its job. Like every single movie set in this time, P&P makes you forget that the 18th century was disgusting. People rarely showered, there was no central plumbing, and basic hygiene was nonexistent. And in case you didn’t know, the average age of death was 41 years old.
So yes, even though Pride and Prejudice is a movie about love, family, and self discovery all wrapped in a pretty idealistic British package, it’s also important to remember that real life was nothing like that for majority of the world. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t enjoy the beauty in these movies.
One of my favourite past times is watching P&P with a big cup of tea and snuggling with my blankets. I’ll probably do that tonight because school has been really tough these last couple of weeks and I need some one on one time with Mr. Darcy.
The Film Tease 