I have a general theory that is it
in the make-up of most women to be a fan of Jane Austen. Flirting with the
redcoats and sipping tea all afternoon isn’t everyone’s idea of fun, but most
of us love a good love story, and that is exactly what Jane Austen delivers in Pride and Prejudice. I had the pleasure
to study this for A-Level and subsequently read a few of the other novels, but
I feel Pride and Prejudice was her
crowning work.
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| image sourced from newrepublic.com |
It’s
amazing that it’s been such a popular novel, one that has gained popularity
over the last two hundred years. There are many reasons for this; from its
universal themes of irrational love and a good scandal such as an eloping
sister. There have been many adaptions over the years, from films, radio plays
to novels taking place before and after. I first heard about Longbourn on BBC Radio 4 where the
author was talking about her reasons for writing a novel about the servants,
the hidden people of Pride and Prejudice.
So being a bit sleepless the other night I decided to download it onto my
kindle and have a read.
This novel resonated with me,
because at this particular place in my life, I feel I am serving in subservient
roles, and no matter how much I educate myself, there is the barrier of
dependency between living and money. After I fell asleep I had this intense
feeling of being trapped in that servant role, and when I woke I was distinctly
glad I was living in a society where people weren’t ruled by their social
sphere. It isn’t very often that a novel or story makes me feel glad that I
live in the current world.
The author isn’t shy of
highlighting the daily grind and grievances of servant life, the constant
chilblains, the long hours, falling over in pig poo. She writes with a touch of
Jane Austen’s style, it a nod to the period and this author has embodied part
of Jane Austen’s world, but added themes such as homosexuality, seducing the
young and innocent and children born out of wedlock. Sympathy for otherwise
unlikable characters is created and likeable characters are given a subtle
dressing down. Overall, all of the characters are reminded that they are human
and not above bodily functions when we see Colonel Fitzwilliam relieving
himself in some bushes. The author could choose to emphasis this, she could
attack the beloved Elizabeth Bennet by saying that she does of course fart like
the rest of us, but I’m glad she doesn’t.
I do however feel that the
characters are sometimes stereotypes and not always their own true person and
there is more historical context placed, the character James is used to show
what was happening in Europe and place a less favourable light on the glory of
the English Militia. This helped to define his character and give us insight
that Sarah lacks. One aspect I love however is how Mr Wickham is suggested to
like younger woman and girls a little too much, it keeps in with his character
so superbly and I was feeling on edge when he had cornered the young Polly. It
was even better when James dealt Wickham a much needed blow.
One thing that strikes me in the
novel is that the gentry and upper classes are never truly alone, indeed it is
the same for the servants, you are constantly surrounded by those you choose to
ignore, the servants try to become invisible, but at the end of the day there
is still a human being breathing in the room. The main character Sarah managed
to have some time alone, and that must be a breath of air to her. This little
breaks for freedom are quickly met with some sort of negative outcome, she
falls ill on the way back from an errand, after seeing a man flogged, she is
cuffed harshly around the ears by a housekeeper in Kent. However in the she
does finally make her break into freedom.
There is a sense of filling a
certain role, Sarah fills the role of servant because she came from the
poorhouse. Once Elizabeth is married to Mr Darcy, she must fulfil the role of
mistress of Pemerberly, a role she is not yet accustomed to, especially noted
when giving out the staff wages. Sarah goes from a busy, demanding role as skivvy
to lady’s maid who is reduced to mending delicate underwear, Elizabeth goes
from a lady doing little, to a lady managing a full household. There is a sense
of balance and need within the novel, the upper classes rely on the servant for
their day to day living, and the servant class must rely on the gentry for
their wage and living.
I had always quite liked the
character of Elizabeth, she is witty, lovely and does have her own faults, yet
in Longbourn the author succeeds
inducing this gentle sense of nothingness to their lives. I felt at times that
Jane and Elizabeth were merely breathes of air inside a dress that floated
about, and gave off the odd opinion. I don’t know whether to applaud or tell
the author off for giving this view of the girls; I feel there is an undertone
of feminist disapproval. Jane and Elizabeth can’t help their upbringing and
station in life because of their gender and class, so of course they may appear
slightly empty, but that doesn’t meant their life is without justification and
meaning. In the modern age we have the luxury of applying our social ideas and
politics to historical literature; we will look for meaning and new insights
with each new generation.
Sarah breaks the mould of servant
life by perusing the man she loves, risking the best working position of her
life for the unknown dangers of the world. Going by scraps of information and a
general direction of north, Sarah leaves to find James who has chosen to
vanish. The end of the novel is nicely drawn together, Mrs Hill is able to have
Mr Bennet to herself again, it is not a sense of love however, almost reversed
ownership, his intelligence and eyesight fading, he relies on her for company.
The infamous Mr Bennet has come down a few pegs, and Mrs Hill can throw off the
label of housekeeper and be his companion in the evenings. I liked the
character of Mrs Hill, she is brisk and efficient, but she loves and protects
Sarah and Polly, like her own daughters. She however isn’t a jolly, fat
housekeeper, I was glad the author avoided that cliché.
Overall, it was a good novel, and
I feel the author has managed to give us a glimpse into another world around
Pride and Prejudice, it is a modern novel with a touch of the Austen feeling.
However in the recent spurge of the modernised Austen franchise (Death Comes to
Pemerberly etc) I feel we are soon reaching the limit of what we can adapt and
do with Pride and Prejudice. Jo Baker has however managed to get her novel done
before the market has become too saturated, and managed to create a piece that
is hugely memorable.
