I have a confession to make: I like Jane Austen. Yes, that British author of such books as Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, and Emma. Though only a novice Austen enthusiast, I love her work. Why do I admit this persuasion in the form of a confession? Certainly not for Jane’s sake, as I am proud to be counted as a literary fan. More because of the way society has come to see her work. Jane Austen is regarded by many as a writer of romance novels, of formulaic and shallow love stories. Not so. I consider Jane Austen a brilliant philosopher and observer of souls and their relationships.
Just recently, I began reading Pride and Prejudice (published in 1813) for the first time. This captivating story reflects well the deeper theme of many of Jane Austen’s works—the nature of true goodness and morality in a world of shallow and misguided social conventions. I have seen movie versions of Pride and Prejudice on several occasions, and have always loved the story. Set in early nineteenth century England, the novel follows one spunky young woman, Elizabeth Bennet on her fateful journey to find her home in the world; along the way, she discovers the nature of true goodness in the heart of another. Bennet is the second of five children, born to a country couple of modest means. In an age where land, wealth, and leisure are the sole measures of social standing, Bennet’s family is considered redneck, outside the privileges of the upper class. Her mother and sisters are desperate to break free from their social confines and they would do anything to blast through the glass ceiling into the privilege of the upper class. But Elizabeth is different.
Elizabeth Bennet is her own woman. She enjoys the simple pleasures of life frowned upon by the upper classes. A walk in the rain, even if it dampens her appearance; playing the piano, even when she is not very accomplished; reading a book, even if her interpretation is not like everyone else’s of standing. She refuses to conform for conformity’s sake. She will not be someone she is not simply for the purpose of marrying well.
But Elizabeth meets a man who would change her life course forever, as she would change his. Mr. Darcy is a wealthy man, admired by many for his riches and land. Mr. Darcy has everything that the Bennets would want—land, money, success and esteem—and that Elizabeth SHOULD want, according to convention. But, Mr. Darcy is lacking in one regrettable way—his manners. A brooding, sullen, and tactless man, he thoroughly alienates everyone around him, including Elizabeth. His rough exterior has Elizabeth assuming he is like all the rest of his class—condescending and snobbish. To a degree, he is. But Darcy too is having his own assumptions challenged about Elizabeth, despite her social standing.
As the plot unfolds, Austen deftly reveals Darcy’s true nature—that of a caring and compassionate soul willing to make great sacrifices for the good of others. Despite Darcy’s unmannerly nature, Elizabeth is beginning to allow that goodness and virtue are more than skin deep. Just as the goodness toward which she aspires cannot be contained within her limited social condition, so Darcy’s goodness cannot be defined by his shallow companions of wealth. Both Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet discover their own pride and prejudice about each other and and grow to love each other.
Like so many of her novels, Pride and Prejudice is really not fundamentally a romance. It is a commentary on the nature of true goodness. In an age where moral goodness was taken to be expressed in manners only, Austen awakens her readers to the deeper, soulful qualities of rightness and goodness that go far beyond social conventions. Indeed, being good is not simply being “nice.” Goodness of soul shows itself in purity of motive, others-centered priorities, and follow-through on commitments even in the face of inconvenience. One can be of any social class, and even rough around the edges and yet possess true goodness. Thank you, Jane Austen, for revealing this truth so cleverly…
