Pride and Prejudice
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With whom do you identify yourself best?
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I feel like I am some mix of Lizzie and Jane though I can't explain exactly how and why. I guess it's a good thing because I admire them both strongly.
Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite books for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that I identified strongly with Mr. Darcy. People who don't know me well have complained about my "aloofness", but, like Darcy, it's actually shyness that gets misinterpreted.
Once upon a time it was Lizzie.All those silly quizzes tag me as Lizzie, out of all of Jane Austen's characters.
But I no longer have any faith in true love triumphing, true mates coming together in spite of all odds and interferences and happily ever after except in fantasy reading.
Probably Mary, if I were going to be honest with myself. I think others would probably identify me as Mary-like. :)
Not with the piano, though. I don't play, and I KNOW I can't sing.
At least there's that.
I'm totally like Mr Darcy. Misunderstood, secretive, acid and a bit too much proud than I probably should.
I do wish i had at least a ribb like Jane, as i like her quietness and self-assurance.
I identify both with Lizzie and Mary. I feel a connection to Lizzie because we are both snide, impulsive, and proud but I am very like Mary in nature as I am book smart, socially awkward, and offer quaint advice at random times. I think both characters are amazing!
Lizzie. But honestly none of the characters in P and P are like me. I am most like Marianne Dashwood from Sense and Sensibility.
I've always wanted to be like Jane. She's lovely, eternally patient and optimistic, always seeing the good in others, adored by everyone... But if I'm honest with myself I'd have to admit I'm more like Mary; overcompensating for perceived shortcomings and a bit condescending!
I do see a lot of me in Lizzie, but not entirely .. and I do have a thing or two from Jane ..
I'm a father of daughters, so...
I'm most like Darcy, apparently we even share a personality type. I don't necessarily think of this as a good thing, as far as outward appearances go.
Kirk wrote: "I'm a father of daughters, so..."Oh, then you need sense of humour, alright....
Once upon a time it was Lizzie. From outside it is Mr. Darcy now. With a sprinkle of Charlotte. Out oft all Jane's characters I identify most with Elinor.
It's tough, I'm loud like Lydia but not silly, I take pride in my book smarts (not always wisely) which makes me like Mary, and I strive to do the best thing, with or without notice like Darcy - but I'm forever trying to forgive which is more of a Jane trait. My inner heart beats to Lizzy's sharp tongue but I almost never display it. Oh and I avoid my problems like Mr. Bennett - always expecting them to work out in the end. I guess I'm Bingly, because he is simplistically likeable and just underdeveloped enough to pretend he's all those things too :D
If anything I'd say my actions have somewhat marked me as Emma though if literally anyone else in my life liked Austen enough to make such an observation.
(also, is anyone else not remotely surprised at the high percentage of Marys on a site like goodreads? hah)
Samantha The Escapist wrote: "(also, is anyone else not remotely surprised at the high percentage of Marys on a site like goodreads? hah)..."Makes total sense, to me....
A combination of Georgiana and Mary. Maybe a drop of Charlotte, too. I'd love to say Lizzy, but I know it's not true.
I try not to be Mr Bennett, but the thing is if I really wasnt then i wouldnt have to try right? At least I am not stuck with his missus
I never really thought about it before. I would like to say I'm an Elizabeth, but really I'm more of a Charlotte. I'm a tad too practical, maybe even to my own detriment.
Elinor was all reason with just the right amount of emotion attached to her - no, not a bad thing, indeed.
I'm probably most like Jane. Though I read a post somewhere (tumblr?) that said "my personality is either Mr Bingley or Mr Darcy- there is no in between" and I think this is hilarious and a little bit accurate!
I can't identify with any of the characters. I have believed that love, for our mothers, for our daughters, for all of our sons, and most of the time our spouses was an immutable truth from the dawn of civilization.But these English prove me wrong. There's none of that in P&P. You may want to pretend it's a love story but it isn't. You know it isn't. And you don't want to be like any of her characters without the money, property, and class advantage with which they've been so undeservedly anointed.
I don´t think that EB defines herself on money, property or class - she defines herself on inteligence, observation and judgment. I think that even if Mr. Darcy was as rich as she was ( which was not much) she would have loved him despite: the initial "hate" was because of his haughtiness.This books is not intented in beying a love story, just a picture od the society of the time. But i do see love in the book, in various forms.
These English. They send their children off to boarding schools, they twiddle their thumbs in gentlemanly entailed sloth while the futures of their children, save the eldest son,if there is one, swirl the drain, and they choose their mistresses with more care than they choose a spouse. Those English.None are the equal of Austen herself.
Elizabeth, most likely. She mistakes many things, and doesn't think before she speaks: but she learns from those! I can't find myself particularly connecting with many of the characters -- probably Georgiana Darcy, too, because she's not very fleshed-out, and you can always connect with those characters ;) -- but Lizzie has many common attributes. Slightly like Jo March ;).
It's not a joke. We view P&P through eyes blinded by current sensibilities. The books characters, excepting the servant class and the Wickhams, are layabout slugs living on the sweat of others. We don't want to be like them we just want their money.
Ravenal wrote: "It's not a joke. We view P&P through eyes blinded by current sensibilities. The books characters, excepting the servant class and the Wickhams, are layabout slugs living on the sweat of others. We ..."The Whickhams? I only ever saw one, say 2 when they mention the father, the late tenant of Mr. Darcy. And i am quite astonished: you like the trickster, the oone is will do just about anything to pay his debts, just so he can make new one´s, but all of the characters, that are beautifully crafted and depict a social reality of the times, deserve the term "slugs"? Oh boy! I was merely refering to personality terms, shy, outward, feisty, etc but i feel you are mistaking the matter - i would wish unintentionaly, but i fear it is not.
and how is it that we see P&P through "eyes blinded by current sensibilities"? Are you seying this from the Marxism POV? Servants against patrons? Because this is really not it.
I have to admit that the classism really gets under my skin when I get too far into an Austen binge. I've reflected a lot on this topic too, Ravenal, and I can admit without a doubt that Victorian high society is appealing to me for many reasons, (the aesthetic, the romantic manners, the low technology) and some of them are the strict rules by which everyone lives, meaning no pressure for most decisions and the perfect excuse to indulge in a lot of debatable evils. The easy way that people can be waited on hand and foot. To have a large and lavish home that you never have to dust yourself, to occupy your days with music and writing and nothing of consequence and be celebrated merely for being kind to your sevants. For not raising your voice to your servants.
Enjoying this material is one thing, to fantasize about living in such a world as so many of us do (myself included) is another entirely and should be done with a grain of salt.
Sorry to push us further off topic with that one but I can see both sides of this topic. I wouldn't go so far as to insult the Austen characters, I am of the mindset that classism is a forgiveable evil when you're born into it (though willful ignorance is a sin of its own). And I'd say the only way our eyes are blinded by modern sensibilities is in the way the serving class are almost censored out of most of this material (modern Austen knockoffs are more guilty of this) to avoid causing readers to feel guilty - it's all about further romanticising the setting and pretending the beds make themselves.
I'm not so sure we're that different today, at least not in the American south.So many women still choose mates for security, and men . . . men still marry because they're too stupid not to take the hook, with or without live bait, often because they're looking for someone to enhance themselves in some way.
I've already listed those things we think inherent in humanity that are missing in the Georgian elites.Darcy a slug? He owes everything to his inherited wealth with which he can hire those with the ability to preserve and administer it.
The one personal responsibility he's had in his life, the guardianship of his sister, he failed miserably. How he'll work out as a procurer we can only guess.
The Wickhams? The only red-blooded characters in the book. We can hope they'll move on to better things; perhaps a Master Of Ceremonies gig and an inn/pub in their future.
Maria wrote: "Ravenal wrote: "It's not a joke. We view P&P through eyes blinded by current sensibilities. The books characters, excepting the servant class and the Wickhams, are layabout slugs living on the swea..."
I would say that I'm a tiny bit like Mr Darcy in that I can appear a bit stuck-up but I'm just awkward. I think I'm mostly like Mary, even though I would love to say I was Lizzie, I even play the piano. Not well.
A bit quiet and misunderstood, like Mr. Darcy...
I hope I'm Lizzie, but sometimes I worry I'm Mary. My piano playing is horrid but I "insist on doing it" and I'm a show-off. Also I can be really awkward in crowds and loathe parties (Mary from the most recent film). But I'm also pretty mean and make fun of people behind their backs... so Lizzie.
I identify with Lizzie the most. I'm quite outspoken, have a temper and very protective of my family. I cant help but be sarcastic and have the same sense of humor.
Lizzie and Elinor...passionate and headstrong, but a little more subdued (for lack of a better word).
I'm a total Lizzie. Maybe a little bit of Mary mixed in.
Maybe Jane? As much as I enjoy P&P, I don't really identify strongly with the characters. I'm more the Elinor Dashwood or Anne Elliot type.
I am absolutely 100% Mrs Bennett. I used to hugely relate to Lizzie with her books and strolling around the countryside for hours on end but since I've had 3 girls of my own I run around most of the day going 'my nerves my nerves, have pity on my nerves girls...." heheheI want the absolute best for my girls and that might mean an excellent career these days but most often that will include a relationship and children too and I hope they find someone suitable who can look after them in their times of need and I think that's all Mrs Bennett wanted for her girls too...
Probably Lydia. ...at least, as it pertains to the running off with guys thing. I've done it. I had a happier ending than she did, though. :)
Mochaspresso - you were luckier than Lydia.Kirstin, that must be fun all around! 3 girls? There´s nothing more Bennett-ish than that! But you have raised an interesting question - can we be more than one of theses charaters (resembling) thoughout life? You have said that you were once a Lizzy and now, after 3 babies, you have more shredded nerves than Mrs Bennett.
Lydia wasn't unlucky. She was silly and a poor judge of character. I also felt bad for her and for all of the women of the that time because "a ruined reputation" is oh so terrible that you're forced into marrying someone like Wickham just to preserve it.
Oddly enough, I identify myself with Georgiana Darcy. Isn't that weird? She is not even a main character, but her shyness and self-consciousness of her own mistakes as well as her deficiencies, made me think of myself when I first read the book. On the other hand, my sisters say that if we had to take roles, I would be more like Jane, for I am always thinking of excuses for everybody's doings, even though some of them do not make sense...
Mochaspresso wrote: "Lydia wasn't unlucky. She was silly and a poor judge of character. I also felt bad for her and for all of the women of the that time because "a ruined reputation" is oh so terrible that you're..."
Even Lizzie was about to fall for Whickham´s charms, but Lydia was silly enough to completly go over board with the guy, just to spite her sisters and be the first one to marry - she turned in to a competition, with her crossing the finish line, with disastrous outcomings. She was in no way concerned if he could provide for her, care for her or respect her - all she saw was a uniform and a dashing young man and that was enough for her.
Rut - Georgiana was a sweet teenager, who almost fallen off the edge, if it were not for her caring brother. It´s not odd, at all.
mary defo i dont know whats going on around me but i am intelligent and i read books ALOT. i dont talk alot especially when i dont need to
Aamina wrote: "mary defo i dont know whats going on around me but i am intelligent and i read books ALOT. i dont talk alot especially when i dont need to"But Mary wanted to talk a lot - she wanted center stage for her inteligence and proficency. Just no one stood up to her rants for much too long.
Maria wrote: "Rut - Georgiana was a sweet teenager, who almost fallen off the edge, if it were not for her caring brother. It´s not odd, at all."I guess you are right Maria. I must admit there are other Austen's novels I like better than Pride and Prejudice, though something I do like it’s that it may be one of her stories with the happiest ending. At least in Lizzie’s case, I mean, she gets the love of the best man she has known and gets along with her sister-in law. She does not have to put up with difficult relatives, like Fanny in Mansfield Park or Elinor in Sense and Sensibility, nor to face the disagreement of her own family, like Anne in Persuasion...It would be nice to identify oneself with this kind of happy ending one day, don't you think?
Yes, it would be nice to get this kind of "happy ever after all around". I think that P&P is one of the most intricate stories of JA - we get Whickham trying and almost succedding in swindling the whole of Meryton, enchanting everyone with his sad boo-hoo story, in which Darcy is the bad guy; we get his elopment with Lydia, a glimpse of his almost elopment with Georgiana; then the rising of Lizzie´s feelings for Darcy; her sister Jane´s triffles with the oh-so-lovely Bingley sisters.
I have read nearly all of her books and all of them except maybe Northanger Abbey, have a much slower pace.
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I, for one, am much Lizzie, because i tend to have a sharp tongue (that sometimes brings me so much trouble!), trust my 1st impression about anything or anyone, very quick to draw conclusions on just about everything, sometimes de wrong one´s, but i tend to conclude very fast. I am also very close to my family, protective of them and nurturing.
And, what about you? Are you more Lizzie, Lydia, Mary, Mr. Bennet, etc?