History Vs. Hollywood: Pride and Prejudice By: McKenzie LaValle and London Wolff

Pride and Prejudice We watched the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice on DVD. It was directed by Joe Wright, and produced by Universal Studios. The film is based off a very famous novel by the same name that was written by Jane Austen, who was ahead of her time. She wrote when women weren’t supposed to. She focused mainly on relationships in her writing, but her books were very historically accurate in language, social values, setting, and such, even though the people were fictional. It also helped historians get a glimpse into the goings on of the day to day lives of people because they were not well documented because it was seen as improper. This movie should be of interest to the average high school student because it’s a famous and interesting romantic story with lots of intriguing twists. It is also referenced often in books, movies, and television

The Plot This movie is based on the lives of the Bennets. The five Bennet sisters Lydia, Kitty, Elizabeth, Jane, and Mary have been raised by their mother to find a husband. 1 st - a wealthy bachelor, Mr. Bingley, rents a nearby mansion and the Bennets are excited. He brings with him his sister and his good friend Mr. Darcy. 2 nd – Mr. Bingley hosts a ball, where Elizabeth first meets Mr. Darcy and she immediately judges him. 3 rd - Jane and Mr. Bingley start to fall in love. 4 th - The Bennets’ cousin that is to inherit everything if the girls do not find husbands, comes to visit. He has come to pick a wife from the girls. 5 th - He asks Mrs. Bennet if he can marry Jane, but she says that Jane will hopefully soon be engaged to Mr. Bingley. 6 th - He soon proposes marriage to Elizabeth, who refuses him, much to her mother's distress. Mr. Bingley The girls in order Mr. Darcy

7 th - Collins quickly recovers and proposes to Elizabeth's close friend, Charlotte Lucas, who immediately accepts him. 8 th - Elizabeth meets Mr. Wickham, who is in the in military and who she immediately likes. He tells her that Mr. Darcy has wronged him, which makes Elizabeth dislike Darcy even more. 9 th - Mr. Bingley, his sister and Mr. Darcy leave suddenly without saying why. 10 th - Charlotte asks Elizabeth to come for an extended visit. 11 th - Charlotte’s new house is adjacent to Rosings Park, the grand manor of Mr. Darcy's aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, where Elizabeth is invited. 12 th - While calling on Lady Catherine, Elizabeth encounters Mr. Darcy. On this visit he proposes to her and she says no. 13 th - He than writes her a letter that explains everything and Elizabeth starts to realize how stupid she has been. Mr. Collins Mr. Wickham Charlotte Lucas

14 th - Months later she goes with her aunt and uncle on a trip where they go to loojk at Mr. Darcy’s house, although Elizabeth thought that he wasn’t home. 15 th - She then runs into Mr. Darcy and meets his younger sister. He is so nice that Elizabeth starts to fall in love with him. 16 th - When Lydia runs off with Mr. Wickham, whom Elizabeth now knows only wants her money, Elizabeth has to go home. Mr. Darcy fixes it without Elizabeth’s knowledge 17 th - Then he comes back to her home town with Mr. Bingley so that Bingley can propose to Jane. 18 th - The morning after Bingley proposes to Jane, Elizabeth goes for a walk at sunrise, she comes upon Mr. Darcy and they talk. He proposes again and she accepts. Darcy’s little sister Georgiana

Character Accuracy In Pride and Prejudice the characters were based off of the books so they were not historically accurate. This being said if you base the characters accuracy on the book than it was very accurate. There were no made up characters and they included almost every character. The only characters that were left out that are wroth mentioning are a married couple in Mr. Bingley’s party. They didn’t do much but have normal conversations of little note.

Chronology The order of events in Pride and Prejudice is accurate compared to the book. But, there are some events that were left out. Jane went to London in the book and after going to visit Charlotte Elizabeth and Jane spent some time together in London. There are a few other little things but not any other main differences. No events were invented.

Language and Social values In the movie no man is ever shown playing the pianoforte. There are only three women that play in the movie. In the eighteenth century, most people downplayed music education, except as a subtle way for the ladies to show sophistication. In the eighteenth century, music was considered too trivial a pursuit for boys and young men to engage and to be educated in. For women, however, music such as singing and playing the pianoforte is permissible, even expected. Women in high society were expected to have numerous talents, and a musical education was considered a lady-like gift in society as long as it was not taken too seriously.

In this movie there are distinctions between different levels of eighteenth century society as well as between genders which is accurate of the period. In Pride and Prejudice. Mr. Darcy initially separates Mr. Bingley from Jane Bennet because of her lack of money and connections. Mr. Darcy does not consider Jane Bennet high enough in society to warrant Bingley's affections. Again when Darcy initially confesses his love to Elizabeth Bennet, clearly he does not consider Elizabeth Bennet a plausible candidate for marriage due to her want of connection and money; thus his condescending proposal of marriage angers Elizabeth. During the eighteenth century, most marriages were marriages of convenience or profit that benefited one or both parties. Marriages between families were often arranged at birth, such as that between Darcy and Lady de Bourgh's daughter in Pride and Prejudice. 18 th century wedding outfits

Conclusion Overall, people can learn some accurate history from this film. The clothing, setting, music, gender and class distinctions are accurate. Although they won’t learn anything about certain people that lived in the eighteenth century they will learn what people wore, how they lived, and what music they listened to.