2008 Woodie Awards
Love conquers all
Jen Vazquez
Issue date: 12/16/05 Section: Tempo
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"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." By far one of the most cleverly written opening lines of any novel and one of the most played upon plots in movie history. Jane Austen only wrote five novels in her lifetime. She was sorely underappreciated while living, but her works have been canonized since her death. Pride and Prejudice is the most popular and studied all over the globe and the latest to hit theaters. All of her novels have been transcribed onto the silver screen (did you know Clueless is based on her novel Emma?).
There have been nine total adaptations of Pride and Prejudice.
This latest version stars Keirs Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet and Matthew MacFayden as Mr. Darcy. Pride and Prejudice is the story of the Bennet family set in 18th century. Cursed with five daughters, the hyperactive Mrs. Bennet spends all her days and nights attempting to marry off her daughters. The oldest, Jane, is considered the most beautiful in the small town in which the Bennets live near. Mrs. Bennet attempts to marry Jane off to Mr. Bingley, a wonderfully rich and handsome man who moves into the manor next to them. The process is complicated by Mr. Darcy, a dark, handsome and brooding man quick with wit and incredibly complicated. Elizabeth Bennet is immediately infatuated with him, but his rude rebuff sends her into an instant hatred for the man. She is the second oldest and the most individual of her sisters. She has her own ideas and refuses to marry for anything but real love, an idea uncommon in the time period. As the story progresses the audience watches Mr. Darcy fall deeply in love with Elizabeth as Elizabeth remains too proud to admit she made a mistake. The plot is also punctuated by scandal and, of course, many elegant balls.
Pride and Prejudice is the story of stubborn love. Revolutionary in her time, Austen wrote of a young lady who would rather face life as a spinster then marry without love. This seems to be an especially important message in this day and age. Over half of American marriages end in divorce, most in less than ten years. Marriage and divorce have become common place in our society, but in Austen's time divorce was unheard of. In each of her novels, she depicts a young woman prime for marriage who continually turns down offers waiting for true love. Director Joe Wright and screenplay writer Deborah Moggach really bring these values to the forefront. Though the script is ripe with banter and witticism, the message is clear, marriage is sacred. It is not something to be toyed with.
There have been nine total adaptations of Pride and Prejudice.
This latest version stars Keirs Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet and Matthew MacFayden as Mr. Darcy. Pride and Prejudice is the story of the Bennet family set in 18th century. Cursed with five daughters, the hyperactive Mrs. Bennet spends all her days and nights attempting to marry off her daughters. The oldest, Jane, is considered the most beautiful in the small town in which the Bennets live near. Mrs. Bennet attempts to marry Jane off to Mr. Bingley, a wonderfully rich and handsome man who moves into the manor next to them. The process is complicated by Mr. Darcy, a dark, handsome and brooding man quick with wit and incredibly complicated. Elizabeth Bennet is immediately infatuated with him, but his rude rebuff sends her into an instant hatred for the man. She is the second oldest and the most individual of her sisters. She has her own ideas and refuses to marry for anything but real love, an idea uncommon in the time period. As the story progresses the audience watches Mr. Darcy fall deeply in love with Elizabeth as Elizabeth remains too proud to admit she made a mistake. The plot is also punctuated by scandal and, of course, many elegant balls.
Pride and Prejudice is the story of stubborn love. Revolutionary in her time, Austen wrote of a young lady who would rather face life as a spinster then marry without love. This seems to be an especially important message in this day and age. Over half of American marriages end in divorce, most in less than ten years. Marriage and divorce have become common place in our society, but in Austen's time divorce was unheard of. In each of her novels, she depicts a young woman prime for marriage who continually turns down offers waiting for true love. Director Joe Wright and screenplay writer Deborah Moggach really bring these values to the forefront. Though the script is ripe with banter and witticism, the message is clear, marriage is sacred. It is not something to be toyed with.
