Review of the MGM 1940 Pride and Prejudice by Robert Darling

Pride and Prejudice, 1940, a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture. Directed by Robert Z. Leonard. Staring Greer Garson and Laurence Olivier. Rating: three out of four stars.

Though this adaptation of the novel may infuriate some of the more dedicated Austen fans it is nonetheless a brilliant adaptation. The film starts in the busy Meryton, in a cloth shop, with Jane and Elizabeth shopping for material with their beloved mother. It is here that they get their first glimpse of their rich new addition to their neighborhood, Bingley and Darcy. Like is wont to happen in such situations everyone is put into frenzy and off they dash to home--including a brilliant carriage race between Mrs. Bennet and Lady Lucas. Small things like this throughout make the movie what it is. Not to mention the memorable lines like Mr. Bennet’s, “Yes, what is to become of the wretched creatures? Perhaps we should have drowned some of them at birth.” And Lady Catherine’s, “Well, she may have refused to refuse to marry you!”

Review of the 1995 Pride and Prejudice by Casey Fowler

Review of Pride and Prejudice (1995 BBC Miniseries)

Pride and Prejudice. Dir. Simon Langton. Perf. Jennifer Ehle, Colin Firth. BBC One, 1995. Miniseries. (3.5 of 4 stars)

As fun as it is to read a novel and be absorbed into its world, entranced by its characters, and gripped by its plot, watching an adaptation of a book is an entirely different beast. Because until the characters in a book are enlivened and represented by real actors, all they are are words on a page and thoughts in your head. The Pride and Prejudice BBC miniseries is without a doubt a sincere adaptation of Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Every major plot point from the book is hit on, the characters are true to their book counterparts, and while the miniseries adds new scenes and dialogue, it never feels forced or out of place. Everything seems pretty much perfect. When I was watching the series I didn't think I would enjoy it as much as I did, but I quickly realized that even though it wasn't something I'd normally watch, it was still wholly satisfying and worth every minute of my time.

 

For Tuesday: More P & P On Film!

Remember, Paper #2 (see post below--2 posts down) is due on Tuesday by 5pm.  You don't have to bring it to class this time since we decided not to discuss it in class.  Instead, we're going to watch a few more scenes from the 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice.  We may also compare this to a scene or two from the 2005 version which came at the tail end of the 'Austen boom.' 

Please let me know if you have any questions about the paper.  See you next week!

Katha Pollitt's "Re-Reading Jane Austen" (a poem)

 Here's a very interesting link from the Guardian (a very literary British newspaper) from about a month ago relating to Jane Austen.  It's a poem by Katha Pollitt, a very well-known American poet, who published a poem entitled "Re-Reading Jane Austen."  Even though the poem is specifically discussing Emma (our next book!), you might still get a kick out of it.  We'll resurrect it when we start reading Emma to discuss what she's driving at in the poem.

 http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/sep/07/rereading-jane-austens-novels-katha-pollitt

Short Paper #2 (due Tuesday, Oct.9th)

  Short Paper #2: Elizabeth Bennet: Sensibility or Sacrifice? 

Who is Elizabeth Bennet?  Is she a sharp-witted critic who gradually sees her own intellectual vanity through Mr. Darcy’s love?  Is she a woman without a history, who simply longs to have a ‘room of her own’ in Pemberley?  Or is she a vain, ill-educated husband-hunter herself, who has more in common with her younger sister Lydia than her beloved Jane?  (and yes, there are other options!) Click on the line below to read the rest...

For Tuesday: 3 Critical Takes on P & P

For Tuesday's class, be sure to read the three articles in the back of your copy of Pride and Prejudice:

* Nina Auerbach, "Waiting Together: Pride and Prejudice" (326-338)
* Susan Morgan, "Perception and Pride and Prejudice" (338-347)
* Susan Fraiman, "The Humiliation of Elizabeth Bennet" (356-368)

Your Short Paper #2 (which I will post this weekend) will draw on ideas from these articles, and you will be expected to use one of them in your paper.  Also, if you haven't finished reading P & P, please do so by Tuesday! 

See you next week!

Pride and Prejudice, Second Questions

READINGS:

 T 25      Pride and Prejudice, Chs. IX-(Part III) Ch. III, pp.117-176

R 27      Pride and Prejudice, Chs.IV-Ch. XIX, pp.176-254

Answer ONE of the following by Friday at 5pm: