PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

Thinking Activity

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

This blog is a Thinking activity task given by yesha ma'am. In this blog I am going to deal with some questions and try to justify all questions.

Here is a task given by yesha ma'am.

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Introduction-

Pride and prejudice is a 2005 romantic drama film directed by joe wright.

This movie is based on Jane Austen's novel "Pride and Prejudice" which was published in 1813. This film featured five sisters from an English family, and they portrayed that they deal with issues of marriage, morality, and misconceptions, Keira Knightley was in lead  role of Elizabeth Bennet, and Matthew Macfadyen plays her romantic interest mr. Darcy.

Screenwriter was Deborah Moggach, he attempted to make her a script as faithful to the novel as possible. This film was released on 16 september 2005. In the United Kingdom and on 11 November in the United states.

1) Which version of the novel is more appealing ? Novel or film (adaptation)? Why?

Novels and movie adaptations are totally different things, in this modern time movies are one of most popular aspects of entertainment, and movies are less time consuming than novels. When novel reading takes 8 or 10 days,  movies take 2,3 hours and also many novels are too bulky to read. Other side movies help a modern audience better connect with characters of novels, and easy to understand characters.

According to me, the movie version of this novel is more appealing, because the movie can have a deeper effect than the novel. To read novel experiencing its story and visualizing scenes in our mind is great experience, but it takes much time, on other hand movie shows scenes, and the story of novel in just 2, 3 horse and it's beautiful nature scenes, amazing songs, music is pleasant to eyes and ears and its different experience. In this modern time most people want to see movies rather than read novels.

2) character of Elizabeth-

Elizabeth Bennet was a second daughter in the Bennet family, and she was the most intelligent woman. 

She was a headstrong woman, a woman with pride. Judgementle, mature, she had strong opinions and she was very honest.

Elizabeth is the protagonist of "Pride and Prejudice" and she is one of the most well known female characters in English literature. She has many qualities like she is lovely, clever and in a novel defined by dialogue, she converses as brilliantly as anyone.

Pride and Prejudice is the story of how she overcomes all obstacles to find romantic happiness. She overcomes her own mistaken impressions of Darcy, which initially lead her to reject his proposals of marriage, but at the end she comes to recognize the nobility of Darcy's character, and she realizes the mistake of her intiak prejudice against him.

This quote also by Elizabeth-

“There are few people whom I really love, and still fewer of whom I think well of. The more I see of the world, the more I am dissatisfied with it; and every day confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters, and of the little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of merit or sense.”

Elizabeth's  opinion here is strongly influenced by her friend Charlotte Lucas’s. She recently make announcement that she will going to marry with mr.collins because she don't want to burdensome on their parents, if she get married with mr.collins she get financially independent.

“He is a gentleman, and I am a gentleman’s daughter. So far we are equal.”

 

When Elizabeth met lady Catherine, she quoted this sentence that she is equal to Mr, Darcy. Lady Catherine was upset by the decision of mr. Darcy to marry Elizabeth.

“There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me.”

This quote shows Elizabeth Bennet proud declaration to Mr. Darcy. Clearly this shows Elizabeth’s famed self-confidence.

3) Character of mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy-

Mr. Darcy was a man with pride, reserved, an introverted man, an observer, a silent lover, and also a true lover of Elizabeth Bennet.

Mr.Darcy is son of a wealthy, well established family and the master of the great estate of pemberley. Here the narrator related Elizabeth's point of view of events more often than Darcy's so that Elizabeth often seems a more sympathetic figure. Mr. Darcy Singh's birth and wealth make him overly proud and lovely, conscious of his social status.

When Elizabeth reject mr. Darcy was an advance to build a kind of humanity in Darcy. He rescues Lydia and Bennet's family from disgrace, and he also goes against the wishes of his aunt, and he proves himself worthy for Elizabeth. At the end Elizabeth falls in love with mr.Darcy, and she agrees to marry him.

“You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged; but one word from you will silence me on this subject forever.”

This is quoted by mr.Darcy, second time proposed by Elizabeth. Here Mr. Darcy’s language  is quite different from his haughty proposal  which he did before.

4) Give illustration of the society of that time-

 " Pride and Prejudice " was written in the Georgian era. This book demonstrates the society and cultural views of the time she was living. Novels main themes are marriage, social class, prejudice, pride and how the characters of this book are portrayed through their point of view. In this era there were many things presented here.

There were main three aspects-

• Social aspect 

• Cultural aspect

• Religion

Social aspect-

The Industrial Revolution influenced social class in England.  There was main three classes in that time society 1) Upper Class 2) middle class

3) loverclass

Jane Austen in Pride and Prejudice describes two class people: 1) upper class people 2) middle class people.

Cultural aspect-

In cultural aspects Jane Austen introduces the major theme which is marriage. In this novel characters have different views about marriage.

First line of novel is based on marriage-

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”

Religion aspect-

In this novel Jane Austen presents mr. Collins is the distant cousin of mr. Bennet, and a clergyman. He had the honor of preaching to her. He also has pathroness lady catherine.

5) If you were a director or screenplay writer what sort of difference would you make in the making of a movie?

If I was a director or screenplay writer, I would not make any difference in the making of a movie, because in this movie everything is perfect. In this movie there were pleasant scenery scenes and songs. Everything goes the right way.

6) Who would be your choice of actors to play the role of characters?

Here is list of characters of my choice-

• Elizabeth - Dipika padukon 

• Mr.Darcy - Ranvir singh

• Mr.Bingley - Amirkhan

• Jane - pariniti chopra

• Mr. Collins - Ajay Devgan

• Wickham - Shahid Kapoor

7) write a note on a scene you like the most.

I personally like the last scene of this movie. Where Elizabeth tells her father that she loves mr. Darcy wanted to marry him. Mr. Bennet gives Elizabeth his consent to marry him. In the whole novel or movie adaptation. They suffered a lot. They face so many troubles and overcome it,  and at the end they understand each other's feelings. They purely love each other.

8)Compare the narrative strategy of novel and movie-

The movie and novel are having the same story line, but the narrative strategy of both are different. Movie starts with Elizabeth , Elizabeth enters with a reading book, and the book starts with a quote narrated by Jane Austen.

The novel ends with the marriage of Darcy and Elizabeth, and the movie ends with an intimate scene of Elizabeth and mr.Darcy.

Conclusion-

To conclude that "Pride and Prejudice " is one of best novel of Jane Austen. Jane Asten written many romantic novels but this novel is best of all. At the end of this novel Elizabeth and Mr.Darcy understand each others feelings, and they fell in love each other and Elizabeth get parmision to marry Mr.Darcy. They started live happily together.

Thank you for visiting....

Absolom and Achitophel by John Drayden

Thinking Activity

Absolom and Achitophel by John Dryden

 This blog is a thinking activity task assigned by dr.Barad sir, English Department, mkbu. In this blog i'm going to point out some important things which are described in this task.

Introduction-

Absalom and achitophel is a poem written by John Drayden, and published in 1681. This poem is written in heroic couplets.

Dryden himself is considered a father of the modern essay.

His essay " A discourse concerning the origin and progress of satire, where he writes a history of satire.

This satire written in heroic couplet and Heroic couplet is a couplet rhyming iambic pentameters as well as metrical unit. Drayden based his work on a biblical incident recorded in 2 Samuel 13-19. This story is related to the king's David's most favourite son Absolom and  his false friend Achitophel, and in this story Achitophel persuades Absolom to revolt against his father, here Drayden assigns each finger in the biblical name.

And when we see the second part of this novel is largely composed of nahum tales.

Here first of all we have to understand "what is satire" and what is "political satire" ?

According to cambridge dictionary-

" A way of criticizing people or ideas in a humorous way, especially in order to make a political point, or a piece of writing that uses this style.

Political satire is -

"Political satire is satire that specializes in gaining entertainment from politics; it has also been used with subversive intent where political speech and dissent are forbidden by a regime, as a method of advancing political arguments where such arguments are expressly forbidden."

Here we can say that political satire aims at behaviour, manners of politicians, and vices of political systems. Almost all of the two definitions are the same . The first is "what is satire ?" and "what is political satire ?"are the same. Each definition connects with political points.

Here is a chart of allegorical characters and on other side there is real political figures which are allegorised by dryden

What sort of general impression of this sort of literature (i.e. political satire) do you get when you read it.

When I read "Absalom and Achitophel" I receive many aspects of political satire. This poem is acknowledged as the finest political satire in the English language. Absalom and Achitophel have inspired a great deal of discussion regarding satire.

Absalom was the favorite son of king david. His character contains certain flaws, and Absolom distinguished himself in royal service, but then he was corrupted by ambitions. Achitophel tricked Absolom that  he should seize power of the king, at first Absolol denied, but after that he agreed to seize his fathers power.

There were many ways to understand Dryden's poem "Absalom and Achitophel ".  First of all there were "The connections between fatherhood and kingship " and also another way of reading this satire is through a "mother plot". In this poem the relationship of fatherhood and kingship is united.

On the other hand, Susan Greenfield is an important part of this poem. In this poem the blame is transferred to females, by saying that only the female power of life threatens the political order, and it is female desires and her ability to create life that the whole mess is created.

"Absalom and Achitophel" as political satire-

Basically Satire is a form of literature, the main purpose of satire  is to reform human weaknesses or vices through laughter or disgust. 

The aim of satire is generally constructive, and need not arise from cynicism or misanthropy. The satirist applies the test of certain ethical, intellectual and social standards to men and women. Satire naturally has a wide range; it can involve an attack on the vices of an age, or the defects of an individual or the follies common to the very species of mankind.

                                                 

Absalom and Achitophel is a landmark political satire by John Dryden. Dryden marks his satire with a concentrated and convincing poetic style. His satiric verse is majestic, what

Pope calls: 

“The long majestic march and energy divine”. 

 Critics have unanimously remarked on Dryden’s capacity to transform the trivial into the poetical; personal envy into the fury of imaginative creation. The obscure and the complicated is made clear and simple. All this transforming power is to be seen at the very beginning of Absalom and Achitophel.

The state of ‘Israel’ is easy to understand and yet Dryden shows himself a master both of the Horatian and the Juvenalian styles of Satire.

Absalom and Achitophel is basically a Political Satire:

                                                               

 Basically Dryden called Absalom and Achitophel ‘a poem’ and not a satire, to add  that it had elements other than purely satirical. One cannot, for instance, ignore the obvious epic or heroic touches in it. All the same, the poem originated in the political situation of England at the time and one cannot fail to note that several political personalities are satirized in it. 

This satire was Published in  November 1681, the theme was suggested by the king to Dryden. At this time, the question of succession to King Charles had assumed great importance. The Earl of Shaftesbury had been thrown into prison to face a charge of high treason. There were two contenders for the succession. Firstly, Charles’ brother James, Duke of York, a known Roman Catholic; the second contender was Charles’ illegitimate son, the Protestant Duke of Monmouth. The Whigs supported Monmouth while the Tories supported the cause of James in order to ensure stability in the country. There was great public unrest on account of the uncertainty of succession. King Charles II saw to it that the Exclusion bill brought before Parliament, to exclude the succession of his brother James, could not be pushed through. The earl of Shaftesbury, a highly ambitious man, sought to capitalize on this unrest. 

 

The aim of Dryden in  Absalom and Achitophel-

                                                                        The aim of Dryden was to support the King and to expose his enemies. Of course, Charles had his own weaknesses; he was extremely fond of women. But Dryden puts a charitable mantel over his sexual sins. He is mild in dealing with his real vices. The king himself did not think unfavourably of his love affairs. Sexual licence was the order of the age and as such, it did not deserve condemnation. Dryden has nothing but praise for the king’s moderation in political matters and his leniency towards rebels. Dryden’s lash falls on the King’s enemies, particularly the Earl of Shaftesbury. 

 

How Political Satire Cast in Biblical Mould ?

    

                                                            

Dryden chose the well known Biblical story of Absalom revolting against his father David, at the wicked instigation of Achitophel, in order to satirise the contemporary political situation. The choice of a Biblical allegory is not original on dryden’s part, but his general treatment of the subject is beyond comparison, as Courthope points out. But all the while Dryden takes care to see that the political satire in not lost in the confusion of a too intricate Biblical parallelism. The advantage of setting the story in pre-Christian times is obvious as it gave Dryden had at once to praise the King and satirise the King’s opponents. To discredit the opponents he had to emphasize on Monmouth’s illegitimacy, but at the same time he had to see that Charles (who was Monmouth’s father) was not adversely affected by his criticism. He could not openly condone Charles’ loose morals; at the same time, he could not openly criticise it either. With a masterly touch he sets the poem :

 

                         

“In pious times are priestcraft did begin

 Before polygamy was made a sin;

When man on multiplied his kin

 Here one to one was cursedly confined ....”

 

Here Drayden begins his poem mentioning pious times, that  it was a pious time when men have multiple choices of wivies, and they have many children by their wives. Dryden is obviously laughing up his sleeve at Charles himself. He indirectly makes a satire on David's character.

In indian literature there were also many political satire written, for examples like-

• The courtesn's keeper by kshemendra
• munnu- A boy from kashmir by malik sajad
• The ugli kashmiri by Arvind Gigoo
• shashi tharoor's "The Great indian novel" 

"The courtesan's keeper" is One of Kshemendra's finest satires, this book shows life the vibrant society of Kashmir Valley a thousand years ago through a host of characters, each drawn in vivid detail.  

Conclusion:

               

Dryden is regarded as the most vigorous and polished of English satirists combining refinement with fervor. Dryden triumphed over the peculiar difficulties of his chosen theme. He had to give, not abuse or politics, but the poetry of abuse and politics. He had to criticise a son whom the father still liked; he had to make Shaftesbury denounce the King but he had to see to it that the King’s susceptibilities were not wounded. He had to praise without sounding servile and he had to criticize artistically. 

Dryden achieves all this cleverly and skilfully. The poem is certainly a political satire, but it is a blend of dignity with incisive and effective satire.

  Here i ambeded videos of "Absolom and Achitophel " poem stydy.

                                                                     

Thank you.