i didn't like pride and prejudice

[hopeless rmntc]

I suppose, however, the book seesm to be a very male dominated story, and the only goal the women have is to marry a richguy...regardless of love.
To me it appears to be an almost anti-feminist book (the happy ending is that the main character marries rich)

Maybe it is because I am male that I cannot comprehend the suttle feminist undertones?

Nah, it's because it was written a good 130 years before the feminist movement began.

Still, I guess I'll have to stand as the lone female hater-of-Austen. I can sit through one of the movies, provided there's snacks and good company (my mother and her friend have made sure this happened more than once). But I've tried reading P&P, and I didn't get very far. Admittedly that's not a good standpoint from which to judge a book, but it still stands as the only book I've ever had to put down before I reached page 20. Otherwise, I might have taken a large knife to it.

I don't think the fundamental ideal of feminism was ever confined to a specific period of time. It's been a belief and principle that's been with women all throughout history regardless of time period, country or religion. The Bronte sisters were around during Austen's time... and their works have a very strong feministic stand point. I just think Austen wasn't really concentrating on this idea... and wasn't passionate about renegating when she wrote this book. Yeah I guess you can say she's witty and full of humor. But the fact that she RAMBLES on and on about the ridiculous and silly issues of marriage was frankly exhaustingly irritating to me. I guess for the people who do have an appreciation for literature(classic literature most definitely included), as am I, and still didn't enjoy reading the book... well we have better and more important things to read than totally useless stories. Seriously... I'm so disappointed in this book. After allll the raving opinions I heard from people... this is all that it was? ECH!!

HI everyone! I'm new to the forum... and I'm SOOOO thankful for this thread. I needed to vent somewhere of how much I HATE THIS BOOK!

[RobinHood3000]

The Brontës, or at least Charlotte Brontë, wasn't anywhere near as feminist as people seem to think. She was feminist for her time, true, but in her best-known novel Jane Eyre, the protagonist flees her would-be husband and finds a happy life elsewhere, only to return to him, marry him, and become a domestic once more. Admittedly, the somewhat tacked-on ending may have been an editorial rather than creative decision, but all the same, Jane Eyre was no raving example of feminism.

As for Jane Austen, she wasn't trying to be feminist so much as she was trying to be funny. And if you read all four pages of this thread, you'll find the true dominant opinion.

[hopeless rmntc]

The Brontës, or at least Charlotte Brontë, wasn't anywhere near as feminist as people seem to think. She was feminist for her time, true, but in her best-known novel Jane Eyre, the protagonist flees her would-be husband and finds a happy life elsewhere, only to return to him, marry him, and become a domestic once more. Admittedly, the somewhat tacked-on ending may have been an editorial rather than creative decision, but all the same, Jane Eyre was no raving example of feminism.

As for Jane Austen, she wasn't trying to be feminist so much as she was trying to be funny. And if you read all four pages of this thread, you'll find the true dominant opinion.

Ummm... maybe you don't comprehend the definition of feminism. Just because someone is a feminist doesn't mean they're against marriage. Being a domestic wife doesn't make someone any less of a feminist than a suffragette. So many women who fought for women's rights were mothers and wives themselves.

Jane Eyre shouted feminism. It relayed the message to readers that a woman, even without a single penny, does not need to depend on someone for survival. Though she may be at a second-class level compared to the male gender, it still doesn't limit her from truly being independant. The fact that Jane Eyre CHOSE to leave an already wed Mr. Rochester because staying with him would be going against her dignity and honor, and then again CHOOSING to return to him when her morality would allow her to is the exact mentality a feminist preaches.

Feminism isn't about hating men. It's about gaining true independence regardless of gender. Maybe you should flip a few pages (dictionary, encyclopedia... textbook even?) before copying and pasting stuff from here and there.

[sciencefan]

Ah, don't we just love flamers? If you don't like the book, then don't post here. There's no law forcing you to do so. If your idea of a good time entails irritating people who actually do have the mental faculties to read the book and enjoy it, then well, that's just terribly sad.

That's what I was thinking.
To go to a place where people love and appreciate a book just to dis it,
and even go so far as to blaspheme just does not make sense to me.
Apparently, Bob was never taught what Thumper was taught,
"If you can't say somethin' nice,
don't say nothin' at all."

[prankster]

i completely disagree with what you say about the book. its not that hopeless, you need to be a romantic person to understand and LIKE it.......

[ennison]

Reads the Daily Star? What be that?
Ah tis the porno press!
I think we see your problem.

[Billie_Bumble]

[QUOTE=hopeless rmntc;291884]It relayed the message to readers that a woman, even without a single penny, does not need to depend on someone for survival.

I can't agree with that. From what I remember, Jane Eyre fled from one end of the country to the other and ended up collapsing destitute on the doorstep of a sympathetic family who took her in. That the family later turned out to be her cousins was a great big cop out for me and ruined what, up until that point, had been a good book.

[Matrim Cuathon]

im offended that austen is considered a female author... i guess i could just be weird, but i really liked emma een when i readit when i was 10. ive read part of P&P but i lost it somewhere and i dont understand what is so detestable about it. the humor is funny, and so is the portrayol of the society. i brought emma to school while i was reading it (on purpose) and got exactly the ignorant comments that i expected about my being a sissy and being gay and such. it was quite amusing.
as for the part aboutit being boring. people dont seem to realize that a book can be good even if it isnt your kind of story. you have to appreciate the book for what it is and says and not whether its your favorite style.

[starbuck]

The Brontës, or at least Charlotte Brontë, wasn't anywhere near as feminist as people seem to think. She was feminist for her time, true, but in her best-known novel Jane Eyre, the protagonist flees her would-be husband and finds a happy life elsewhere, only to return to him, marry him, and become a domestic once more. Admittedly, the somewhat tacked-on ending may have been an editorial rather than creative decision, but all the same, Jane Eyre was no raving example of feminism.

As for Jane Austen, she wasn't trying to be feminist so much as she was trying to be funny. And if you read all four pages of this thread, you'll find the true dominant opinion.

Very much agree!

[00linfordh]

It doesn't matter how many people say Jane Austen is a literary genius. The fact is that most people die of boredom half way through reading this book. I can completely see where everyone thinks it's witty and brilliant but as entertainment...it's just rubbish!

[00linfordh]

Actually the original message for this forum was something about finding the book boring. if you wanna brown nose Austen...find a different forum.

[00linfordh]

I don't think the fundamental ideal of feminism was ever confined to a specific period of time. It's been a belief and principle that's been with women all throughout history regardless of time period, country or religion. The Bronte sisters were around during Austen's time... and their works have a very strong feministic stand point. I just think Austen wasn't really concentrating on this idea... and wasn't passionate about renegating when she wrote this book. Yeah I guess you can say she's witty and full of humor. But the fact that she RAMBLES on and on about the ridiculous and silly issues of marriage was frankly exhaustingly irritating to me. I guess for the people who do have an appreciation for literature(classic literature most definitely included), as am I, and still didn't enjoy reading the book... well we have better and more important things to read than totally useless stories. Seriously... I'm so disappointed in this book. After allll the raving opinions I heard from people... this is all that it was? ECH!!

HI everyone! I'm new to the forum... and I'm SOOOO thankful for this thread. I needed to vent somewhere of how much I HATE THIS BOOK!

You're not the only female who hates this novel. Trust me. My A level English class has 14 girls and the majority, including myself, are definitely NOT fans

[Dorian Gray]

I've read half so far but really liked it. The only book I ever read that I hated was If Beale Street Could Talk. Urgh. Unrealistic events, constant swearing, etc. Horrible. P&P is definitely a classic. Well-written, witty and the characters are interesting. It might be boring and uneventful compared to the action-packed novels that are out today, but the language is so much richer.

[JBI]

Alright, first things first. To start, I would like to say I am an 18 year old male, currently finishing highschool and going to attend University next year.

For everyone who says "People of intellect and class like this book, and everyone else is just immature and stupid," you are wrong. There are many books which are considered "literary" and "intellectual" which I despise, and many which I personally love.

On another note, I personally thoroughly enjoyed this book, I found it one of the better books I have read in my life (though I may not have read as many books as some people on these boards, I am no stranger to classic literature).

To say that the book only gained popularity after the release of the movie in 2002(I think that is correct, but my dates may be off) is a complete lie. First of all, the 1940 edition of the movie, when scaled to inflation, was the highest box office grossing movie of all time (even above all these modern ones). Second of all, a 2002 study in the U.K. put Pride and Prejudice as the United Kingdom's second most loved book, slightly behind the Lord of The Rings. To say that the book hasn't been loved until the movie's release is completely inaccurate.

I personally I enjoyed the book, to say that the book is "stupid", and that you can't believe people actually liked the book is just silly. As for the comment on finding more social comment in the Daily Star (I'm not even sure where that paper is by the way) I would have to say maybe you are right. I am not familiar with the paper therefore cannot access the intellectual level of its writing, but I can say that you must remember that Austen was writing her books in the early 19th century. To expect a book that old to be a huge statement on society today is just silly, and I am not surprised that you didn't find what you were looking for. That being said, there is no reason why that makes this book a "terrible book". It just makes some of its themes inapplicable today. That does not take away from the beautiful language of the book, or the comic touch that Austen puts into her writing.

On the topic of those who think all intellectual people must like this book, you are just as wrong as the others. You toss in subjective words like "good" and "bad" and think just because some intellectual people (I would say quite a few, specifically for this book) liked the novel, that everyone who is "smart" or "intellectual" adores this book. That is a terrible falacy, and is completely untrue. There will always be those who like things, and those who don't, regardless of their intellect (it could of course be due to a third party cause, such as having to read the book in school or something of the sort).

To sum it up, saying this book is stupid or boring is your opinion, there is no way to argue that statement, but saying the book appeals to all intellectual people is just as silly as the first statement. On the note of females liking Austen's work more than males, I would say that perhaps maybe true, but that does not mean there aren't many males who like, or even adore her work. Seeing as how you cannot argue over a comepletely subjective thing such as whether something is "good" or "bad", there is no real point in posting in this context. Instead, it would be more beneficial, and perhaps more civilized if you posted rather you enjoyed, or disliked the book, and of course instead of just saying "this book is terrible", state your reasons for disliking it.

~JBI

[Omniglot]

i REALLY hope there are not people out there who actually enjoy reading pride and prejudice. Because that is sad. I found more intelligent social comment in the Daily Star. For gods sake, this book makes me want to stab my self repeatedly with something rusty. It makes me wanna scratch out my eyes. Reading it gives me the slow numbing sensation of bleeding to death.

Thats a pity. I hope you had your tetanus injection prior to your sef harm episode! Or would that be defeating the object?

Anyway, I have just finished Pride and Prejudice and found it a wonderful novel. I would recommend it to everyone as a good read. Austen builds the story nicely and the resulting final chapters dont dissapoint.
I read Jane Eyre by Bronte prior to this and must say I enjoyed it slightly better, but both books seemed similarly written to me.