Pride and Prejudice

This blog is as a thinking activity assigned by Megha Ma'am on Pride and Prejudice novel and movie screening.

Pride and Prejudice

1) Write an illustration of the society of Jane Austen's time.

During Jane Austen's lifetime (1775–1817), English society was a rigid hierarchy defined by social class, land ownership, and propriety. For the gentry and upper classes, daily life revolved around social engagements, while marriage was more of an economic necessity than a romantic ideal. This complex social code is at the heart of Austen's novels.

Social hierarchy and the gentry:

English society was strictly stratified, with the aristocracy at the top, the working class at the bottom, and the gentry positioned in between. The gentry were wealthy, landed individuals who did not have to work for a living, but their status could vary dramatically based on income, lineage, and the prestige of their estates.

The marriage market: 

For the gentry, the marriage market was a central social and financial institution. It was a means for women to secure their future and for men to consolidate or increase their wealth and property. A woman's marriage prospects, and therefore her family's security, depended on her dowry and her ability to attract a husband with a suitable income and estate.

The lives of women:

In this patriarchal society, women had very little power and were largely defined by the men in their lives.

Limited legal rights:

Upon marriage, a woman's legal identity was subsumed by her husband's. She lost control of any property or money she owned, which became her husband's.

The "accomplished" woman:

A woman was expected to cultivate "accomplishments" like singing, playing the piano, drawing, and embroidery. These were not pursued for intellectual fulfillment, but rather as a means to attract a husband.

The role of education: 

Formal education for women was limited and often conducted at home by a governess or parents. Unlike their brothers, who might attend university, girls from respectable families did not have access to higher education or independent careers.

Confined to the domestic sphere: 

Women's lives were generally restricted to the home, focused on managing the household, raising children, and socializing. While working-class women toiled in fields or as servants, gentlewomen were not expected to work and had few employment options besides becoming a governess or schoolmistress.

2) What if Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth never got together? What if Lydia's elopement had a different outcome?  Explore the consequences of these changes and write alternative endings to the novel.

Consequences if Darcy and Elizabeth never married

If Darcy and Elizabeth had never married, the key events surrounding Lydia's elopement would have unfolded differently, creating a domino effect of negative consequences.

Elizabeth's regret: During her second encounter with Darcy in Derbyshire, Elizabeth's feelings for him have already begun to change. When news of Lydia's scandal arrives, Elizabeth would still assume that Darcy would now be completely disgusted with her family, solidifying her belief that any chance of their union is impossible. However, the newfound understanding and regret she feels toward him would haunt her, leaving her with the sorrowful knowledge that she had misjudged a man who was worthy of her.

A tarnished reputation:

Without Darcy's intervention, the shame of Lydia’s elopement would permanently ruin the entire Bennet family. Mr. Collins's warning that "no one will connect themselves with such a family" would become a reality, and their social invitations would dwindle.

Elizabeth's single life:

After the disgrace, Elizabeth would almost certainly remain unmarried, as few respectable men would risk their own reputation by marrying into her family. While she would continue to value her independence, the loss of her sister's and her own marital prospects would weigh on her heavily, and she would likely be forced to live on the charity of her siblings or other relatives after her father’s death.

No inheritance for the Bennet daughters:

The Bennet estate is entailed to Mr. Collins, meaning that upon Mr. Bennet's death, the family would lose their home. With no eligible husband, Mrs. Bennet and her five daughters would be in a dire financial situation, forced to live in reduced circumstances.

Alternative ending: 

Lydia is permanently ruined

Instead of  a marriage arranged by Darcy, Wickham would follow his initial plan, which was never to marry Lydia.

An abandoned Lydia: Wickham would exhaust the funds he had acquired and abandon Lydia in London. Her only option would be to seek refuge with her aunt and uncle, the Gardiners, but her reputation would be destroyed. Society viewed a “fallen woman” as irretrievably ruined, and her family would be tainted by association.

The family in disgrace: The Bennets would suffer from social ostracism, just as Mr. Collins cruelly predicted. A daughter’s disgrace could cause a family to be completely shunned from polite society. The Bennet daughters would be unable to find suitable husbands, and Jane's kind nature would not be enough to overcome the shame

 A marriage of compromise:

In another version of the story, Darcy's intervention is not a secret. Elizabeth knows that he is saving her family.

A compromised engagement: Elizabeth, humbled and indebted to Darcy for saving her family, accepts his second proposal out of gratitude rather than love. While she has grown to respect and even admire him, the foundation of their marriage is not one of genuine passion, but of obligation. Darcy, for his part, marries a woman he loves, but one whose family has proven to be a continual source of embarrassment and potential scandal.

Strained relationships:

The Bennet family's financial situation is saved, but the marriage would be marked by an unequal dynamic. Elizabeth may find herself constantly apologizing for her family's behavior, while Darcy quietly endures the awkwardness of being related to the embarrassing Mrs. Bennet and the ridiculous Lydia and Wickham.

A quiet, joyless life: This marriage would still be far better than spinsterhood, but it lacks the spark and genuine affection that make their story so enduring. Elizabeth and Darcy might grow to have a comfortable, companionable life at Pemberley, but they would never experience the deep, equal love that Austen’s original ending gave them. Their marriage would become a symbol of social necessity, not emotional connection.

3)Compare the narrative strategy of the novel and the movie.

Here are some of the differences :

Aspect Novel Film (2005) : Matthew Macfadyen / Keira Knightley version

Length / Pacing Much more time for internal monologues, letters, detailed social interactions. Austen gives us more scenes at Longbourn, more back-and-forths. Compressed. Some subplots are shortened or made more visual. Scenes that in the book take several chapters are merged or skipped for pace.

Narrative Voice & Internal Thoughts:

A lot of the novel is from Elizabeth’s (and sometimes other characters’) internal perspective; we get Austen’s ironic voice and commentary. Elizabeth’s thoughts, Darcy’s feelings often expressed by narration or letters. Less internal voice. Emotions and character arcs must be shown through acting, dialogue, visuals. For example, Darcy’s transformation is shown visually rather than via long monologues.

Some Characters’ Depth or Minor Plotlines Characters like Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, Charlotte Lucas, Mr. Collins get more “screen time” in the novel; we also see more of everyday life in Hertfordshire, more indirect commentary on social norms. Some secondary characters are diminished. Charlotte Lucas and Lady Catherine, for example, have less screen time or less elaborated motives. Scenes exploring minor etiquette or society norms are trimmed.

Setting & Visuals:

The novel gives you Austen’s descriptions, but you imagine the settings — the homes, the landscape, the balls, etc. The movie makes strong use of cinematography: visuals of countryside, interiors, clothing, dance scenes, nature (rain, ponds, woods). These visual elements sometimes enhance mood, symbolisms (e.g. Darcy emerging from the woods more dramatic).

Tone Adjustments or Emphasis:

The book often uses irony, more social commentary. The tone is subtler, the humor quieter. The movie emphasizes romance and emotional reveals more strongly. Also uses music, lighting, costume to evoke mood. Some scenes are more dramatic (e.g., the proposal, Elizabeth at Pemberley) than how they “feel” in the novel.

Omissions & Changes:

Some scenes/letters are omitted or changed; some dialogue shortened. Additional social visits or discussions are cut for time. For instance, the novel spends more time on the Bennet sisters’ daily life, with more social visits, more characters’ conversations. The film omits or consolidates certain events. For example, Austen’s long conversations with the Gardiners, more details of Jane’s illness, more about Mrs. Bennet’s anxiety over Lydia, etc., are compressed. Also the film gives a more visually romanticized ending (with more sweeping views, musical cues) than the more understated conclusion in the novel.

Character Portrayal:

Characters are more nuanced by internal monologue; some flaws are more subtle; pride and prejudice are explored gradually. Some traits are made more explicit for cinematic clarity. For example, Darcy’s pride is perhaps more “visually” intimidating; Elizabeth’s intelligence and spiritedness are shown in sharp dialogue and posture. Also, some supporting characters are more stereotyped due to less screen time.

Emotional impact:

The movie tends to heighten emotional moments, for dramatic and romantic payoff. This makes some scenes more intense visually than one might “feel” them in the novel, which works more through suggestion and subtlety.

Simplified social commentary:

 Because the film must show rather than tell, some of Jane Austen’s satirical or critical observations about class, inheritance laws, gender, marriage are less foregrounded than in the novel.

Time compression:

 Some character growth (especially Darcy’s change in behavior) can feel more abrupt in the movie  because some of the gradual process in the book is compressed.

Visual symbolism: 

The film uses visuals (the landscape, costume, lighting, weather) to symbolize mood or inner states (e.g. Elizabeth walking alone, Darcy’s appearance in certain settings). The novel instead uses internal reflection, letters, and Austen’s narrator to achieve similar effects,.

Here is a video about reputation and social status in pride and prejudice:

Here are references:

• “Georgian society in Jane Austen’s novels.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 1 July 2025, Click Here
• Sheela, R. V. “Social Class and Wealth in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.” International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews Click Here
• “Historical Context of Pride and Prejudice.” Chicago Public Library, Click Here