Pride and Prejudice: old English society

Book: "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a fortune must be in want of a wife". So begins Jane Austen´s most popular novel. And of course, so thinks Mrs. Bennet , mother of five daughters, who after knowing the arrival of a new wealthy neighbour, Mr. Bingley, to Herdfordshire, selects him for her oldest daughter, the beatiful, lovely and sweet-tempered Jane.

Though they like each other since the very first time they meet, there is one problem: Mr. Bingley has come with his snob sisters and with his friend Mr. Darcy, who will do their most to prevent such a disadvantgeous marriage. However, Mr. Darcy, a tall, handsome and very wealthy man himself is fascinated with Elizabeth, the beautiful, intelligent and stubborn second Bennet sister. After too much considering and in spite of his better judgement, he proposes to Lizzie who firmly rejects him.

But fate intervenes to bring Darcy and Lizzie in contact and she begins to realize there is another Darcy than the proud one she imagined. That he is a good man becomes apparent when he secretly intervenes to rescue the empty-headed Lydia, youngest of the Bennet sisters from a fate worse than death: being seduced but not married by a genuine scoundrel.

Gradually Lizzie realizes that her first impression of Darcy´s pride was "prejudice"... and Darcy realizes there are factors in male-female relationship that class and fortune cannot provide. (Silvia Rodríguez, 2º Bachillerato)

Film: I did not find the film as deep in features as the reading,... however the students enjoyed the romantic film as well as the mild, rich background depicted, remnants of old times , a very different society and universal feelings around.