212 years after its date of publication, “Pride and Prejudice” continues to inspire countless adaptations, winning the hearts of many.
“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 neighborhood, 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 of their daughters,” reads the famous first lines of Pride and Prejudice, marking the start of one of English literature’s greatest novels and love stories.
From the very start, readers already gets a taste of the tongue-in-cheek humor so prevalent in the works of its creator, English writer Jane Austen. The novel tells the story of the Bennet family—specifically their two eldest daughters, Jane and Elizabeth, who become entangled in the lives of affluent bachelors Charles Bingley and Fitzwilliam Darcy through a series of comedic and captivating events that comprise a romantic drama unlike any other.
As Valentine’s Day draws near—and in celebration of the book’s 212th anniversary on January 28, as well as Austen’s 250th birthday last December—it’s as good a time as any to revisit the classic and examine what makes it so relevant, even in this day and age.
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But First, Some Background
Before exploring the things that make Pride and Prejudice so beloved, it’s helpful to understand how it came to be. It was Austen’s second published novel, the first being Sense and Sensibility. Originally titled First Impressions, she later changed it to the title we know today.
While she started on the manuscript in 1796 and finished the first draft 10 months later, the book was published in 1813 when she was 37 years old. Its early draft was initially rejected by London publisher Cadell & Davies, before Austen made considerable edits and sent it to publisher Thomas Egerton, who purchased its copyright for £110 at the time.
During her lifetime, Austen never published her works under her real name, and remained anonymous. Sense and Sensibility was credited as having been made “By a Lady,” while Pride and Prejudice’s byline simply stated “By the author of Sense and Sensibility.”
Her works met widespread popularity even at their time of publication. As the Jane Austen Society of North America details, Pride and Prejudice was so well-received that Egerton printed a second edition in the same year of its publication, then a third in 1817. However, one of the most popular editions of the book was the 1894 one, with illustrations by Hugh Thomson. It was Thomson who introduced the iconic peacock imagery on the cover, meant to not only represent the opulence of the novel’s world, but also the protagonists’ prideful natures.
Some might wonder what inspired Austen—surely these tender romances were lifted from her own life experiences? I’m of the opinion that an author’s art isn’t necessarily a reflection of the life they lived, at least not in every aspect. However, some fans and scholars suspect that a young Irishman by the name of Thomas Lefroy had stolen Austen’s heart shortly before she began writing Pride and Prejudice (dramatized, and to a certain extent fictionalized, through the 2007 movie Becoming Jane).
Unlike the characters in her books, Austen didn’t get the guy of her dreams: she and Lefroy never entered a romantic relationship despite their time together. He would eventually pursue his law studies, then marry a woman named Mary Paul. Austen, on the other hand, remained single until the time of her passing, yet left behind a lasting legacy through her brilliant work.
A Love Story That Transcends Time
Austen is best known for stories that captured the zeitgeist of Regency Era England, where a person’s wealth and good manners took precedence. As Frances Koziar explains in “Manners, Mobility, Class, and Connection in Austen’s Emma and and Pride and Prejudice”: “In the late Romantic period, this notion of character and self-presentation was at the heart of social interactions and was key to issues of rank and breeding.”
At the center of Pride and Prejudice is the Benett family—who much like Austen herself, are a part of the era’s middle class or gentry. While they live in relative comfort, the patriarch and matriarch have no sons, which means the estate will eventually be passed down to the next male heir: Mr. Bennet’s awkward, sycophantic distant cousin William Collins. Mr. Bennet seems to be in no rush to marry off his daughters, but Mrs. Bennet makes it her mission to do so, encouraging Jane in particular to woo Mr. Bingley, their newest neighbor.
But matchmaking isn’t that simple: Jane is kind and beautiful, and while Bingley does fall for her, his sisters and close friend Darcy feel they’re ill-suited, their judgment clouded with pride and distasteful first impressions of the Benett family. The ménage makes a lot of noise: they bicker, tease, and live a vibrant life in the country without the formal rigidity of those in the upper echelons. That said, there’s something grounded, relatable, and endearingly comedic about the tight-knit clan in all their messy glory, which makes for an entertaining spectacle.
Then comes Mr. Darcy, the main love interest to second-eldest daughter Elizabeth. The pair represent the novel’s titular, central conceits; their shared pride and prejudice are the gears that move the story forward.
Darcy falls head over heels in love with the spirited and intelligent Elizabeth (or “Lizzy” as her loved ones call her), yet instances of her family’s embarrassing behaviour and their social class create a rift between the two as he struggles to come to terms with his feelings and hasty judgements. Likewise, Elizabeth deems Darcy to be pompous, distant, and cruel, especially when she misunderstands his strained relationship with the wily and charismatic militia officer George Wickham. As the story progresses, the two come to understand each other better, and must confront their misconceptions in order to realize they’re actually a well-suited pair. It’s a classic will-they-won’t they, the push and pull of their dynamic creating amazing chemistry and romantic tension.
Every Iteration Is A New Perspective
Austen’s stories are old, they’re not exactly outdated. When we strip Pride and Prejudice down to its bare essentials, it’s an incredibly adaptable piece, due in part to the universality of its character’s struggles and motivations. While it contains social mores that were specific to the period, its enthralling story and themes hold up incredibly well. Since its publication, it has inspired numerous film, television, and stage adaptations, the most beloved ones being the 1995 BBC miniseries and 2005 film directed by Joe Wright, both of which have met critical-acclaim.
Pride and Prejudice’s influence can be seen everywhere: it’s a tried-and-tested blueprint for many a romantic comedy, having popularized tropes like the aloof gentleman with a heart of gold, and the plucky female protagonist who carves her own path in life and love. In 2024 alone, three new adaptations were announced: a direct one by writer Dolly Alderton, another based on the novel Pride by Haitian-American writer Ibi Zoboi, and the third a BBC spin-off focusing on Elizabeth’s soft-spoken, bookish sister Mary.
Every adaptation of the novel, when done right, gives the 212-year-old text new meaning and relevance. Take the 2005 movie and 1995 BBC series: Keira Knightley and Jennifer Ehle both embody Elizabeth, but Knightley performs with a more fiery spirit, while Ehle exudes a quiet yet equally powerful wryness. Colin Firth and Matthew Macfadyen play Mr. Darcy impeccably, though viewers will always delight in spotting the subtle differences of their gestures, smoldering gazes, and line delivery.
A Nuanced Cast of Characters
The story’s varied cast of multi-faceted characters also lend the novel its depth and richness. Transpose them into today’s world, and they could be someone’s friends, sisters, mothers, fathers, brothers, exes, lovers, and weird uncles. Pride and Prejudice reminds people that there are emotions, ideas, social dynamics, and conflicts so inherent in the human experience that they stand the test of time.
There’s something timeless—one might even say modern—about Austen’s beautifully flawed yet relatable female protagonists who move within the pages like fully-realized people. The writer is fond of creating characters who make mistakes, speak their mind, and love fiercely—Elizabeth Bennet, the beating heart of Pride and Prejudice, is a prime example of this. She’s not afraid to turn down a seemingly advantageous marriage proposal (something she did, not once, but twice) if she dislikes a man; she cares for the happiness of her sisters, most especially Jane; she spits sharp, quippy remarks that stick the landing even by today’s standards; and she doesn’t bow to the whims of anyone, even a woman as powerful as antagonist Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
Supporting characters are also nuanced and relatable. Lydia, Elizabeth’s youngest sister, is herself a fascinating personality. She doesn’t submit to the norms of society: she’s fun but reckless, flirtatious and precocious. When she elopes with the much older Mr. Wickham, it’s easy to think that he dragged her into a den of temptation. However, she also had a choice in the matter and was well aware of her actions. Even after all the trouble she caused her family, she remained unapologetic and joyful when she eventually married Mr. Wickham, a man they deemed irresponsible (at best).
Charlotte Lucas, Elizabeth’s close friend, is 27 and fearful of becoming a spinster without financial support. This leads her to accept Mr. Collins as her husband, even if he’s not exactly a dashing man. Though Elizabeth and Jane want to marry for love, Charlotte is a reminder that some women at the time didn’t have the privilege of finding Mr. Right—she chooses the most pragmatic route, and while it’s not the ideal happily-ever-after, she does build a life she can be satisfied with.
Mr. and Mrs. Bennet are a hilarious pair; one wonders how they ever got together with such differing personalities. Bingley and Darcy’s friendship is just as amusing, the former being the optimistic and kind personality to the latter’s more cynical and abrasive disposition. Yet Mr.Darcy, for all his faults, is an upstanding man: he treats the people working under him with kindness, stays true to his word, and dotes on his younger sister Georgiana. Elizabeth eventually sees this, and comes to regret how harshly she judged him, especially after he strives to make amends (a.k.a. paying for Lydia’s wedding to the penniless Mr. Wickham, and in doing so, saving the Bennet family’s honor).
The Journey Of Growth And Redemption
One of the more apparent themes in Pride and Prejudice is inequality: how money and power govern relationships, changing the way people perceive and interact with each other. But to my mind, its most compelling theme is redemption, achieved through the growth of its characters.
Mr. Darcy doesn’t just gain Elizabeth’s love and respect because of his money. He puts in the work to fix his mistakes and help her family when they need it most, and that’s what really seals the deal between them. He fundamentally changes the way he acts, without necessarily expecting anything in return, which is why he’s pleasantly surprised when she changes her mind, allowing himself, in his words, “[…] to hope, as I had scarcely ever allowed myself to hope before.”
Elizabeth isn’t perfect either: she admits to misjudging him because of her own prejudices, and expresses regret at having done so. Theirs is a happy ending that’s well-earned, which is why people enjoy the journey that gets them there over and over again.
Is it saccharine? Some might say so, but that’s not a bad thing in the hands of a writer like Austen. It’s as Naoise Dolan expresses in an article for The Guardian: “What Austen understood is that you can be a serious writer who still knows how to have fun. You can mix high art with being conventionally engaging. And if you succeed, you’ll be loved for centuries.”
