Book review: Pride and Prejudice

by Hailey Huang (5E)

Pride and Prejudice is an 1813 romantic novel of manners written by Jane Austen. Though it is mostly called a romantic novel, it can also be considered a satirical book. The novel follows the character development of Elizabeth Bennet, the dynamic protagonist of the book who learns about the repercussions of hasty judgments and comes to appreciate the difference between superficial goodness and actual goodness. The satire lies in its honest depiction of manners, education, marriage, and money during the Regency era in England.

Mr. Bennet of Longbourn estate has five daughters, but his property is entailed and can only be passed to a male heir. His wife also lacks an inheritance, so his family will be destitute upon his death. Thus, it is imperative that at least one of the girls marry well to support the others, which is a motivation that drives the plot. The novel revolves around the importance of marrying for love rather than money or social prestige, despite the communal pressure to make a wealthy match.

I think the book is interesting and exciting. Jane is a good writer, she wrote with a lively and witty style about the daily lives of ordinary people, paying great attention to characters and feelings.

When I read this book, I also felt that I have really stepped into Longbourn estate. I like the part when Mr. Gardiner found Lydia Bennet and convinced Wicham to marry her to save the family’s reputation. I feel happy for Elisabeth because she will not be troubled. I recommend this book to people who prefer classics and love stories, it is a rather long book, so I recommend it to students from primary 5-6.