Within a few days of the re-release of the 2005 adaptation of Jane Austen’s 'Pride and Prejudice' in India, Netflix shared the first look of a new adaptation of the 1813 novel, instantly setting the internet abuzz.
Clearly, the intelligent, perceptive, and stubborn Elizabeth Bennet and the brooding, socially awkward, and emotionally stunted Mr Darcy can never go out of style, evident from the brazen popularity of the 2005 film starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen.
Who can forget Macfadyen’s hand-flexing Mr Darcy, or Knightley’s Elizabeth’s contained pride as she utters: “I could easily forgive his pride if he had not mortified mine.”
Who indeed, can forget Mr Darcy’s oh-so-popular honest, vulnerable—but awkward—confession to Elizabeth: “You have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love...I love...I love you,” set against a misty, visually-appealing countryside.
A deeper look at Austen's romances
While period romances with their frocks and frills, bustiers and bonnets, continue to turn heads, there’s more to Austen’s Elizabeth and Darcy that click and stay contemporary with newer adaptations every now and then, including our own 'Bride and Prejudice' (2004), starring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Martin Henderson.
As much as romance, a solid commentary on patriarchy, class hierarchy, and social pressure runs deep in the story, which remains contemporary and relevant. While the prospect of a rich bachelor would make Mrs Bennet crazy in the Regency era, women continue to be judged by their marital status even today.
Then there are the beautifully fleshed out characters of Elizabeth and Mr Darcy, who are flawed individuals with story arcs that showcase the space to grow despite one’s pre-conceived notions and societal conditioning.
There’s not a perfect love story, which in fact starts on a bad note, but gradually develops brick-by-brick after undergoing many trials.
What makes Jane Austen's works timeless?
While both characters have developed into tropes, their misunderstandings, self-correction, and romantic accountability stay relevant, modern, and even refreshing.
Despite having been written over 200 years ago, even the secondary characters bring much relatability, given the depth they carry: both in terms of their individual motivations and societal conditioning.
For example, one can easily understand Mrs Bennet’s obsession with getting her daughters married, or Mr Bennet’s contained care but indifference. Then there’s the sisterhood between Elizabeth and Jane that stands out.
Whether it’s Elizabeth’s quiet rebellion, refusing to just settle with Mr Collins for convenience—which can very much become a specimen of feminism today—or Darcy’s taking forever to just say “I love you...most ardently", while showing he understands consent, they remain as much contemporary as ever.
Austen’s women don’t hate men: her books don't see men or women as villains, but as flawed people, showcasing the impact of societal conditioning.
Here’s where Austen stands out: and not only with Pride and Prejudice, but also that she writes not just romance novels—they were a social commentary wrapped in swoon-worthy romance, which sends the message far and wide.
While the world continues to celebrate her genius, it’s a tragedy that she couldn’t see the success of her six complete novels, which include 'Sense & Sensibility' and 'Emma'.
What sets her work further apart is that everyone has their interpretation of Austen—for some it’s the romance, for others it’s the misty, countryside setting of Regency England, and then for some it’s the social commentary that stands out.
Despite having witnessed the same story told several times, the world, it seems, can’t get enough as Netflix will soon bring its new series on 'Pride and Prejudice', starring Emma Corrin as Elizabeth Bennet, Jack Lowden as Mr Darcy, and Olivia Colman as Mrs Bennet. The other cast members include Rufus Sewell as Mr Bennet, Freya Mavor as Jane, and Daryl McCormack as Mr Bingley.
