Life is better if you live in a Jane Austen novel. Today I watched the film
The Jane Austen Book Club for the very first time. As a rather dedicated Austen fan, I am rather ashamed to admit that I have actually only finished reading two of her six novels.
Pride and Prejudice I read by choice when I was merely twelve years old, and I instantly fell in love. Not only with the storyline and the idea of Lizzy and Mr. Darcy falling in love, but with Lizzy and Mr. Darcy as characters. As a 12 year old, I developed a completely understandable infatuation with Darcy that continues until this day. The idea of a man who would go to all measures to protect the woman he loved, even if he wasn't sure if the attraction was mutual, is a very appealing quality. Mr. Darcy secretly did whatever he could to protect the reputation of Lizzy's family, not expecting anything in return. Chivalry really is not dead.
The other Austen novel that I've finished reading is
Northanger Abbey, and that was compulsory for English Extension 1 in year 12. It is safe to say that this novel sufficiently infuriated me. Catherine was pathetic and immature and I did not like her at all. Mr. Tilney wasn't a terribly redeeming hero either. In the end I was left feeling as if he had returned to Catherine just because he felt it was his duty. I felt no love, connection or passion. But the novel did have redeeming qualities, there were several quotes that I fell in love with and some of the supporting characters were so unlikeable that it became fun to verbally bash them. Bashing of the plot was also rife, even as we understood that it is meant as a satire.
So after viewing the aforementioned film, I am striving to finish reading the four remaining Austen novels;
Persuasion,
Sense and Sensibility,
Emma and
Mansfield Park. And I firmly believe that life would be better if I lived in a Jane Austen novel, because as mentioned in the film, Austen never shows life after the marriage. Lizzy and Mr. Darcy are never shown as 60 with grandchildren in a potentially unhappy relationship. But as a true Jane Austen fan, I refuse to believe that they are unhappy. I will happily live in a land where everything seems better, at least temporarily.
