Pigs in the Garden

[Newcomer]

Chapter 28's - ""And is this all" cried Elizabeth. "I expected at least that the pigs were got into the garden, and here is nothing but Lady Catherine and her daughter." is Austen at her sharpest. However chapter 7's in my opinion is a better example of Austen's descriptive style - "Elizabeth continued her walk alone, crossing field after field at a quick pace, jumping over stiles and springing over puddless with impatient activity, and finding herself at last within view of the house, with eary ankles, dirty stockings and a face glowing with the warmth of exercise.
She was shown into the breakfast-parlour, where all but Jane were assembled, and where her appearence created a great deal of surprise."
In Wright's dramatization of P&P Elizabeth looks disheveled with her long hair flowing over her shoulders. Quite in contrast with the proper look of a lady. Dressed hair pilled on top of her head. She may look Byronic for the modern viewer but such an appearence would have been shocking for the 1800's since it crossed the division of the gentility and the rustics. Given the revolutionary history of England, the overthrow of the monarchy, the Cromwell era, and the Restoration, the high and the low aristocracy were very conservative. The social change brought about by the Industrial Revolution was a decade away as was the Rousseau view of the common man. The squires and the small estate landlords were living surrounded by the common folk whose entertainment was a drunkedness ending in a brawl. A good illustration is in the BBC's dramatization where the coachmen are awaiting the gentry dancing at Netherfield's ball.
Since there has been a question of the style of dress and hair in the Austen era, I thought it would be of interest to give some examples.
The following site have examples of costumes of the Regency period.
http://victoriana.com/lady/palmer.html
http://sensibility.com/vintageimages/1800s/
and the following of hair style.
http://intimelyfashion.com/hair/regency1.html
http://www.songsmyth.com/hairstyles.html
Hopefully these will generate some comments from the fairer sex - as Mr. Collins would remark. From the examples of the many Feminist in the Forum, they seem very reticent in opinion with the exception of the Chat. Or to pharphrase Mr. Benett - a very silly bunch.

[sciencefan]

Thank you for sharing with us the benefit of your study of the hair and clothing of the period.
I checked out all the links you provided.
It was very interesting.
I could see the very careful attention that the producers of the BBC version of P & P paid to the historical authenticity of clothing and hair.

[Newcomer]

Nice to hear from you, sciencefan, though the note was aimed to the fairer-sex. And it is nice to read a contrary opinion. I know of your view of Darcy's hand at Netherfield but what is it of the scene at Pemberly? Wright uses the same shot and it is hardly accidental!

[sciencefan]

Nice to hear from you, sciencefan, though the note was aimed to the fairer-sex. And it is nice to read a contrary opinion. I know of your view of Darcy's hand at Netherfield but what is it of the scene at Pemberly? Wright uses the same shot and it is hardly accidental!

Oh my. Time to add info to my profile! I am of the fairer sex!

Concerning the hand at Pemberley, I had no idea it was supposed to mean something until I read other people's opinions concerning it! After I realized it was supposed to mean something, I still didn't understand it. Obviously, for me the hand symbolism passed over my head. Now I understand that people take it to mean that she no longer makes him uncomfortable.

This is a function of my personality, I think.
I have difficulty understanding allegories whether in book or movie.
Symbolism frequently escapes me unless it is very basic and simple.

[Newcomer]

This is a function of my personality, I think.
I have difficulty understanding allegories whether in book or movie.
Symbolism frequently escapes me unless it is very basic and simple.[/QUOTE]

I would think that your emotional reaction is what is important and interesting. Truth is multifaceted and I am grateful for your insight and generousity in sharing it.