A Paradoxical Romance and the Phases of Time
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A Paradoxical Romance and the Phases of Time
  • Kim Minji, Shin Woohyun
  • 승인 2017.11.09 04:57
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PHOTO FROM THE ATLANTIC

On 14 September, New £10 note entered circulation.  It is the second currency in England to be printed on polymer plastic and it is the second to feature a woman on a bill of currency.  The lady on the note is Jane Austen, one of the most beloved authors of all times.  She died roughly 200 years ago, but her 6 novels are loved throughout the world.  The storylines center on social aspects of the 18th Century in Britain with full of explanation, criticism, commentary, and love.  Presented for you below are two representative Jane Austen works that demonstrate young love.

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Book

Sense and Sensibility

Famous Lines

“To love is to burn to be on fire.” – Marianne Dashwood, ‘Sense and Sensibility’

“It isn’t what we say or think that defines us, but what we do.” – Jane Austen, ‘Sense and Sensibility’

Synopsis

Mr. Henry Dashwood has 4 children: three daughters with his second wife, namely Elinor, Marianne, Magaret, and a son from his first wife, John.  Upon Henry’s death, all his belongings including his house and fortune pass directly to his son John according to the rules of inheritance.  However, John is not an ill-disposed young man, so he promises his dead father that he would do everything in his power to make the rest of his family comfort.  His greedy wife, Fanny, on the other hand, persuades him not to break his promise to his father, and together they kick Mrs. Dashwood and her three daughters out of the home.  In other words, they are thrown into a life of poverty.  Faced with nothing, the two eldest daughters attempt to resolve the situation in their own ways.  While one decides to think rationally, the other follows her feelings.

Recommendation

Sense and Sensibility was published in 1811, but was not well received at the time.  It was not until the death of Austen that the work reached great heights.  Like other works by Jane Austen, reading the book, people can vividly imagine the times’ fashion and the lifestyle of women during the period.  The novel ends on a happy note with all female characters, after facing various hardships, overcome their situation and find happiness.  Austen describes the process of love in such detail that readers undoubtedly feel the love that is felt between men and women when they meet, fall in love, face trials, overcome misunderstandings, and get married.  The main characters Elinor and Marianne, each of whom represent “sense” and “sensibility” are cast off into the same despair, but come out of it differently.  For example, during parting, Elinor hides her emotions and bears the pain, but Marianne expresses the pain of breakup just as much as she expresses the joy of love.  She falls into despair and neglects herself.  Like this, their ways to love and think are distinctly different, which is one of the captivating parts of the book.  Other characters also have unique personalities, so this reporter recommends reading the book to center on each character.

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Movie

Pride and Prejudice

Famous Lines

“Prejudice me from falling in love with others.  And pride shuns others away from me.”  - Jane Austen, ‘Pride and Prejudice’

“You have been bewitched my body and my soul... and I love and I love and I love you...”  - Darcy, ‘Pride and Prejudice’

“You may only call me 'Mrs. Darcy' when you are completely, perfectly, incandescently happy.”  -Elizabeth Bennett, ‘Pride and Prejudice’

Synopsis

An active woman ‘Elizabeth’ is the second of five sisters in the Bennett family who live in the English countryside.  One summer day, the member of a rich and famous family, ‘Bingley’, and his friend ‘Darcy’ move into a mansion in the countryside, and Elizabeth and Darcy meet when both are invited to a ball.  During their first encounter, Elizabeth prejudges Darcy based on his behavior, so despite mutual attraction, the two face constant bouts of misunderstanding and conflict.  One day, Elizabeth learns that Darcy opposes the marriage of his friend Bingley to her sister Jane because of Jane’s family background.  Elizabeth believes marriage needs only love for success, so she ignores Darcy’s proposal and the reader is led to believe this is the end of their love-hate relationship; however, the story unfolds that Elizabeth rethinks the situation and comes to see Darcy in a totally different light.

Recommendation

The film ‘Pride and Prejudice (2006)’ is based on Jane Austen's original novel published in 1813, considered a masterpiece by countless readers for over 200 years.  In a plutocratic modern society, films presenting the love story between a man full of ‘pride’ and a woman full of ‘prejudice’ could be considered hackneyed, but Jane Austen lets the story unravel in a unique direction.  In the midst of hierarchy, money, and networking, a character like Elizabeth's mother who struggles to find her daughters prospective husbands and ignores the possibility of nurturing her daughters into respected young ladies.  Wickcom, who approached to heiress to gain fortune through marriage, would look like a contemporary figure in the time frame, too.  But the relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy is special.  Elizabeth maintains her right to personal thought and speaks her mind regardless of the opinions of others.  Her partner Darcy, is as arrogant as his background, but when he meets Elizabeth, he learns what is real love and is transformed into a more desirable human being.  Though the film centers on romance and love as the two main characters go through a series of events, the film’s main premise is the process of self-improvement.


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