Breaking Through Pride, Defying Prejudice

(image by Focus Entertainment)

Pride and Prejudice, a 2005 film based on the 1813 classic novel of the same name, is celebrating its 20th anniversary, as well as an upcoming Netflix Series adaptation.
by DaNija Thomas

DaNija: In celebration of the film’s 20th anniversary, Focus Features is hosting a ball in Pasadena, California, alongside other fan-hosted events. Watching this movie in class was really great. I think you gain a lot from it to not just show too much pride, but that it’s also okay to let your guard down some. Believe it or not, I really learned a lot from watching this. Seeing that back in this time period, no matter who you were, women were looking to get married for wealth and protection. Men were looking to get married to own other property. Looking back on it, people were selfish with a lot of things back then, and it’s sad because you had to meet a standard or you weren’t going to get married. 

Mrs. Schneider: She really enjoyed the movie for its faithfulness to the source material, stating, “I feel like it does a good job of staying true to the novel while also speeding up the pace.” Having been unaware of Netflix’s upcoming series adaptation, Mrs Schneider expresses optimism and interest in the project. “I think recreating classic novels into modern shows is a great way to make older literature feel more manageable to those who are required to or just want to read it but struggle to understand the language.” Finally, she comments on the character’s dynamics and the plot itself. “I like that they found their way to each other, but have to struggle to get there. I appreciate that Elizabeth didn’t lower her standards and remained true to her independence and intelligence, but that she was also dynamic enough to admit when she wrongly misjudged Mr. Darcy. The fact that she gets married helps the novel stay true to the romance game, which I also appreciate.”

DaNija: My favorite cast member would have to be Elizabeth. She’s pretty, funny, and she knows what she wants in a man rather than just having him for his money. In a time period like this, when it was better to marry a man for his wealth, I feel as if the self-respect kicked in for Elizabeth, and that’s something her father, Mr. Bennet, loved about her. I was so happy at the end when Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy finally tied the knot to get married. Mr. Darcy had a lot of pride, but I think after being around Elizabeth and seeing that it was okay, he was willing to lose some of that, and that’s what made him grow on Elizabeth. I just didn’t like the way it went off, and I actually wanted to watch them get married. The funny part about this movie was when Mr. Collins proposed to Elizabeth, and she kindly declined, even though he was pushing himself onto her, trying to force her to marry him; she still stuck to her word and said no.

There has been a rumor that there will be a Netflix Series about the movie Pride and Prejudice. I love the idea of bringing out something that happened early 2000s to now. It’s a big step to show and promote the movie even more. In my opinion, I don’t think it will be as great as the actual movie, but I can’t wait to watch it. I just don’t think anyone can play Mr. Darcy and Lady Catherine as well as Matthew Macfadyen and Judi Dench. It’s like they fit the characters’ roles really nicely.

​Ultimately, Jane Austen (author) shows that love and happiness come not from pride and prejudice, but from growth, honesty, and understanding. Lessons that remain timeless today.