Elizabeth softened towards Darcy after speaking to a servant who had known Darcy all his life and praised him greatly. The video suggested the change of heart came from viewing his estate.
not only that. firstly, she softened a bit towards him due to his letter explaining why he broke up bingley and jane and why he treated wickham like that. those were the biggest arguments she had against him (other than that, her problem with him was mostly due to her hurt pride and her consequently prejudiced first impression of him). then, there is the housekeeper's praise, just like you said. but also, there is darcy's treatment of her uncle and aunt to back it up and his closeness with his sister. then, darcy helped her family with the wickham and lydia affair and that he wanted to keep his involvement a secret. and last but not least, he also played a part in bringing bingley back to jane. so, all the problems she has with darcy were "solved". due to jane austen's realistic view of what lead people to marriages, i understand how one could imply lizzy's change of heart was due to darcy's estate or even because of their "debt" towards him (because he paid wickham to marry lydia and all that) but that would go against what we know of lizzy and what she stood up for.
Mary isn't horrible! Sure, she's not as cool as Jane or Elizabeth, but she is hugely mistreated! Everyone else in their family "succeeds" through things they were born with (chiefly beauty) but Mary wasn't born with her sisters looks, so she made efforts to better herself (granted overdone efforts) through the only means she had available to her. Making a snap judgement that she as a character is horrible based on the little we see of her in the book in fact rings against one of the main themes of the book!
I feel like this is the right place to comment on everything that is perfect about Pride and Prejudice. And so I shall. - Elizabeth Bennet can snark like it's nobody's business, and it's hilarious. - Jane. Just, Jane. Everything about her screams sweetness. Lizzie's comment about her seeing the world through rose-colored glasses stuck with me, and now when I draw her, she's always wearing something light pink. - Both of Mr. Darcy's marriage proposals, the first because it emphasizes his pride, and the second because it's both of them letting go of their prejudices. See what I did there? - The title. It leaves you wondering: who's who? And it turns out, they're both both! - Darcy and Georgiana's relationship. It's so sweet, and he's an awesome older brother. - Lizzie's roast of Lady Catherine towards the end of the book. There's nothing more satisfying, seriously. - How Mr. And Mrs. Bennet's marriage is both comical and foreboding at the same time. - The character development. There's so much of it, and it happens to even the most minor of characters, like Kitty. - The witty narration overall. - Lizzie being introspective. - Darcy being introspective. - Both of them fixing their mistakes. - Jane and Bingley, and Lizzie and Darcy. When both of them finally do get together for real, I wanted to ring out the bells and fling out my arms and to sing out the news (catch that reference)! Jane and Bingley, you can tell they have that fairytale romance nailed down, and Lizzie and Darcy, we get put through so much heartbreak and tension, that when they finally tie the knot, nobody in their right mind is not screaming with delight! They are some of the cutest couples in history. - Charlotte Lucas and how she was able to rig the system to see her less-than-stellar husband as little as possible. - Catherine Bingley's terrible attempts to get Darcy to give her the time of day. - The magic of the English countryside. Really, the magic of Jane Austen's English countryside. You get this feeling that it's just so above everywhere else, and so peaceful, despite all the running off with dishonorable blokes going on within. - The fact that Jane Austen wrote it. - The 2005 film. Really, it's a work of art. - This book smacks you with its themes in the literal title, but you have to actually read it to understand. Not to mention you pick up on the follies of eighteenth century society and the importance of class and reputation, and also a woman's position at that time, it's wonderful. - The ending, which addresses everyone's ever after, basically saying that everyone learned to be a better person. The Bennet parents hearted how to parent, Kitty and Mary learned to be more acceptable members of society, Jane and Lizize got to live in big fancy houses with loves of their lives, the Gardiners are basically the parents they both wanted but never got, Georgiana now has an older sister, and even Lady Catherine swallows her pride and makes peace. Actually, the only people who don't get a happy ending are Lydia and Wickham, who are stuck freeloading and in a loveless marriage, and the Bingley sisters, who everyone forgets about by the end of the book anyways. Wow. This got really long. In my defense, it is my favorite book of all time, and like, the only classic I've read where nobody is actively dying. It's got vibes of silly aristocratic squabbles, while also discussing a serious issue plaguing women for centuries, both warns of how a bad marriage situation is bad for everyone, but also showcases some of the sweetest love in history, and okay, I'm starting again. I should really stop, but I can't. There's just too much to love about this book. It's on the lighter and softer side of novels, and is essentially a love story, but the deep themes combos with the satire perfectly, making it the best thing since sighing deeply.
I absolutely adore Pride and Prejudice, I've read it more than ten times at the least. And altough Mary is indeed not very charming, I wouldn't call her horrible. She is boring and not as pretty as her sisters and just tries too hard to be interesting and accomplished, but doesn't really have any talents. But terrible is a bit harsh.
Obviously, these videos need to condense the story quite a bit and I just don't think she was a big enough character to get more than a cursory description. Even Lydia, who is WAYYY more important to the plot, didn't get much more of a description than "lively". Those who've read the book or seen the adaptations know what she is like and those who haven't probably don't need to know much about her to learn the gist of the story. There's always a lot of depth and richness to characters that you can only get by reading the book or watching the media yourself :)
I started reading all of Jane's novels IN ORDER last year (about to start Emma), starting with her Juvenilia, and her writing style is clearly consistently tongue-in-cheek.
This was the first classic I read, because you have to start somewhere, and I got the general plot of it, but I reread it again to catch all the little things my young mind missed, and it was magic. There are those books that never get old, no matter how many times you read them. And I do. Many times.
I picked up this book a year ago and have been having trouble getting through it, I read more science then fiction. This video has given me a new view of the book and now I look forward to unpacking it and finishing the novel. Thank you.
The most recent (maybe) versions of P&P (Knightly) and S&S (Morahan) are more accessible than the novels. I'm not sure they will help you with reading the actual books, though they might.
The thing is there was a tax on hair powder created in 1795 that quickly decreased the use of hair powder; the gov't thought it could capitalize on fashion to get some more money, but if there's one thing people like to do-it's avoid paying more taxes. Since the book was written (first draft 1796) and published (1813) after that point, I'm not sure Darcy would have used hair powder. :-)
This is a book have read and re-read (16 times) over forty years. I am looking forward to dementia, so I can have the experience reading it again for the first time. The first reading was wasted on a 17 year old... John's analysis is excellent.
What I also love about PandP is that it is a story about two clearly flawed individuals who, through their relationship with each other, learn to acknowledge and work on those flaws and encourage them be better. They both genuinely learn to be less prideful and prejudiced! It is my favorite trope - as with Beatrice and Benedic from Much Ado About Nothing or Beauty and the Beast - often it is our own worst selves that are the enemies of our happiness. Circumstances decide the parameters, but you can decide how to navigate within that.
I love reading, and anyone who knows me can testify for me. However, I spent many hours reading Pride and Prejudice, mostly rereading the same paragraph repeatedly. I learned more about the book from the first 2 minutes of this video than from reading the book. Thanks John Green, maybe I’ll revisit Jane Austen later in life when my attention span has grown from 8 seconds to 10.
Thank you so much for this! Jane Austen is one of my fav authors. It is sad that people consider her writings to be too romanticized and unreal,when her books are so satirical and really make us known the situation of the middle class societies of the regency era and not only that but also give us a better understanding of the human nature because no one can say that Austen does not excel in that area! This was Awesome! So they are not that difficult to read and are interesting, doesn't all books should be, even classics?
I first read Pride and Prejudice for an AP Literature class in high school and I thought, and still do, that the language Austen used was just so wordy to the extent of being almost superfluous. It wasn't until I saw the 2005 movie adaptation that I really started to appreciate the story and it's become one of my favorites. This is the first time though that I've heard anyone describe Mary as "horrible." In what way exactly? I understand how Collins and Wickham are, but to use the word for Mary might be a bit harsh.
I'm so glad you did this video when you did because my school is doing Pride and Prejudice this week. I help with sound tech and this is gonna help me explain the play to my somewhat confused friends.
Thank you. I've tried to read this multiple times, I know I will have this as a required reading soon for college and I wanted to 'understand' whatever the heck I'm supposed to get from Jane Austen. All your information is more than perfect. Saving this for reference!!!
such perfect timing omg, i've been looking for a crash course since january and now it's finally here -- during my midterm week! i have my midterm tomorrow and i can't focus while studying so these videos really help me as a visual and auditory learner.
YAY! Not only did you finally do an episode on P&P, but you mention Mary Wollstencraft in the first few minutes. It was quite a while ago, but I wrote a short college paper based on the idea that Jane Austen was directly influenced by The Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Wollstencraft. I argued that the public shaming following the memoir written after Mary's death by her husband could have likely caused Jane Austen to hide her novels and then publish them anonymously more than a decade later. She knew her stories were radical--even in a subtle way--and matched in tone the criticisms laid out in Vindication. The risk of being associated with Mary Wollstencraft was a real social pressure; people were literally burning her books at the turn of the century. I laugh when people call Jane Austen novels just love stories. There is so much depth to it in reality.
This is why I think Lydia is not given the credit she deserves. Everyone dismisses her as being silly and causing problems for her better sisters, but it would have been so easy for Austen to have shown her as a victim who eventually realized the error of her ways, and yet she never does. Lydia is completely content with the decisions she has made. She's a much more modern character than Elizabeth or Jane. And Austen slipped this in without calling any attention to it.
Mary Bennet isn't so horrible, it is just that she is not suited for the role that she has chosen for herself. Jane is the pretty one, Lizzie is the clever one, so Mary decides that she will be the talented one. She works hard at musical and intellectual pursuits, but she doesn't have the talent to perform her accomplishments credibly. Kitty is the follower and Lydia is the lively one. Lydia buys the ugly bonnet to give herself something to do while waiting with the Bennet carriage for the coach to come from London bringing home Lizzy, Jane and Maria Lucas. She cannot resist spending money, in spite of already ordering lunch for all of them at the inn, and needs to borrow money from Jane and Lizzie to pay the bill. This is going to be her pattern for the rest of her life. She spends on impulse buys then has to go to Jane and Lizzie for money for necessities like food and rent. Her plan for the ugly bonnet is to tear it apart and use the pieces and what she has at home to make it up into a much nicer one.
Thank you for writing this!! Mary isn't so horrible, she's a teenager who's decided on a path that doesn't fit her in an attempt to stick out from her sisters and have her own identity. I do wish that Austen could have given her a better ending (marrying a clerk from her uncles law practice, really??), however there's surprising amount of derivative books that focus on Mary and give her the attention she deserves.
A good analysis, but why did describe poor Marry as "horrible"? She is pedantic and boring, but not "horrible"! Also, I always understood Jane Austen comment on "Pride and Prejudice" ("bright, light, and sparkly") as being ironic, that is, laughing at some of the criticism she received about the book.
Agreed. She wants to show off but doesn't succeed, is somewhat lonesome, and doesn't find the best way of expressing herself (or the right time) but horrible... no. Also, John said that she's supposedly still horrible, but as far as I remember, at the end of the book Jane Austen said that she improved from being the oldest daughter still living at home.
Yes, I think that Austen was trying to say that she was feeling inferior because she was not as pretty as her sisters, but once her sisters got married she gained more attention which helped her become less awkward.
Mary loves moralising, but at the end of the book is mentioned that she starts going out more (presumably with her mother) while Kitty spends time with Jane and Lizzy
I love crash course, it helped me to pass economics last year 😂. Jane Austen was just incredible. Her view of emotions and people are somewhat like mine. I would be a great privilege to read her letters and see more of her character. It would be selfish of me to not share this video with my fellow Austen admirers
I adore everything Jane Austen has written, and Pride & Prejudice has a special place on my heart. I really enjoyed hearing your thoughts, and appreciated for your defense of JA and the romance genre from literary snobs. :)
I couldn't agree more with all the points mentioned in the video! I fell in love with 'Pride and Prejudice' and this summed up everything I adore about it :)
I loved this video, but I would also like to hear John's take on Sense and Sensibility. That was one of the most enrapturing reads I've ever experienced, both intensely frustrating and yet very realistic in it's portrayal of romance.
I've always loved that seeing the grandeur of Darcy's estate (and the social position she stood to gain as Mrs. Darcy) is what causes Lizzie to question what she's been told about him. It isn't love that conquers all in Pride and Prejudice, it's ambition.
I think that's only partially true. The Bennet family was second only to Sir Lucas' in their small world. I think she truly had no idea how great the difference in status was between Darcy and herself, thus softening the hurt of his initial disdain while highlighting how strong his feelings must have been to lead him to propose. I think she also didn't realize how great the responsibilities were in maintaining such a large estate. She muses about how many people are dependent on him to make sound financial decisions, which certainly included marriage. She sees him at his best just as her own family's defects produce the worst possible outcome.
"We find these truths to be self-evident.." THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL AND WHEN I MEET THOMAS JEFFERSON (uh) IMMA COMPEL HIM TO INCLUDE WOMEN IN THE SEQUEL Just me? Okay.
I tried to read Pride & Prejudice in high school, but it wasn't until I read it as an adult that I was able to appreciate it, and it became one of my all-time favorite books. It is so deliciously funny. While I am sure there are younger people who are able to appreciate Austen sooner than I did, I would encourage rereading it at different ages. It is one of those books that stands up to time and reveals new and different nuances as your experience changes your perspective. Thank you for a most enjoyable episode.
I didn't know people DIDN'T know how funny this book was. Mr. Bennett is always hilarious, and Liz usually is as well. Also, Mrs. Bennett, Lady Catherine, and especially Mr. Collins are so stupid that it's usually a treat to read their dialogue.
I've been watching Vlog Brothers videos for years, but this was my first time watching a Crash Course video and I really liked it. It had a lot of good information, but was still very easy to understand and made me feel more knowledgable by the end. Plus I am a book nerd and I have been wanting to get into Jane Austen's books, so this was a fun video to start with. I am now officially subscribed! Good job Crash Course! 👍
YESSSSSSSS oh man i was so excited to watch this, rly looking forward to part 2!! I loved the discussion of happiness vs. security + historical context !
John I just want to say I love you & your work is amazing but I got a mad bone to pick with you about "The Day After" of Looking for Alaska and the hole you put in my heart
Mr. Green, it is with great relish that I greet each new installment of this series. Few channels deliver the kind of thoughtful insights that one can enjoy in each episode of CC Literature. With each viewing my list of must-read books grows ever more formidable. I would like to request you please discuss James Joyce's Ulysses. I have recently undertaken to read (though not necessarily comprehend fully) this book, which has the reputation of being not only a masterpiece, but the premier work of fiction in the English language. Also, I have finally read you. I must tell you Turtles All The Way Down was marvelous! Before watching this series I, a 35 year-old man, may never have considered reading your books as they tend to be classified as "young adult" fiction and previous of your works did not particularly appeal to me personally. Your insights and engaging way of expressing yourself in these videos made me second guess that appraisal. Then, when I learned that you suffered with OCD and that one of your goals was to portray what OCD was like I knew I had to read it. I have multiple friends who likewise must live with the disorder, and more again who struggle with other mental illnesses. The book was enlightening, and I'm grateful you for writing so plainly and unflinchingly about it. Especially, I will never forget the unspoken tyranny of loved ones' expectations of improvement. I thank you for that, and other insights, that will help me be more supportive and understanding of my own loved ones. All any of us want is to be understood by others; I am convinced that your book brings us a step in the right direction to understanding and connections with those who suffer with mental illness. And finally: Ulysses, please!
On living another’s life through reading: Looking for Alaska caused me to mourn a person I had never met and who did not even exist. When one of my close friends ended up dying young, it helped me work through my grief and anger. This is a bit unrelated, but what you said in the video reminded me of that. I’ve never read much of Austen’s works. I read Emma on vacation in Italy, as there were few books in English in the villa we were renting. It was enjoyable, but I couldn’t tell you a damn thing about the book now, as I’ve completely forgotten it. I think I’ll pick up Pride and Prejudice next, though, since the way you explained it made it seem interesting
When he was talking about the financial risks of Elizabeth's rejections I couldn't help but think of Sense and Sensibility and Mansfield Park, where the characters suffer those consequences much more acutely. And on the other side of the coin, you have Persuasion wherein Anne rejects a man she loves on the advice of her family and comes to view it as a great mistake.
Jane Austen is the friend you don't realize is low-key sarcastic and witty until it is too late.
lol
I love how this comment has 2K likes but no replies because it's so true and sums it up perfectly.
Elizabeth softened towards Darcy after speaking to a servant who had known Darcy all his life and praised him greatly. The video suggested the change of heart came from viewing his estate.
well, that's the generous, romantic interpretation..
not only that. firstly, she softened a bit towards him due to his letter explaining why he broke up bingley and jane and why he treated wickham like that. those were the biggest arguments she had against him (other than that, her problem with him was mostly due to her hurt pride and her consequently prejudiced first impression of him). then, there is the housekeeper's praise, just like you said. but also, there is darcy's treatment of her uncle and aunt to back it up and his closeness with his sister. then, darcy helped her family with the wickham and lydia affair and that he wanted to keep his involvement a secret. and last but not least, he also played a part in bringing bingley back to jane. so, all the problems she has with darcy were "solved".
due to jane austen's realistic view of what lead people to marriages, i understand how one could imply lizzy's change of heart was due to darcy's estate or even because of their "debt" towards him (because he paid wickham to marry lydia and all that) but that would go against what we know of lizzy and what she stood up for.
Yes John, it was a tolerable episode, but not enough to tempt.
Sam Nygard you'll change your tune: it has such fine eyes.
😂
What a shame for I would have dearly loved to laugh.
Oh my god you're addressing Austen's satirical style thank you so much!! More people need to know how subversive she was.
And the genius of her minor characters. The romantic couples are just window dressing.
Mary isn't horrible! Sure, she's not as cool as Jane or Elizabeth, but she is hugely mistreated! Everyone else in their family "succeeds" through things they were born with (chiefly beauty) but Mary wasn't born with her sisters looks, so she made efforts to better herself (granted overdone efforts) through the only means she had available to her. Making a snap judgement that she as a character is horrible based on the little we see of her in the book in fact rings against one of the main themes of the book!
I was hoping someone would defend Mary! You wrote exactly what I was thinking.
Exactly! Probably the entire
purpose of the novel
I'm a lot like Mary, always wondering and questioning, serious....
I agree. The horrible one is Lydia.
I'm currently playing Mary in a Pride and Prejudice play and I 100% agree with this!
I feel like this is the right place to comment on everything that is perfect about Pride and Prejudice. And so I shall.
- Elizabeth Bennet can snark like it's nobody's business, and it's hilarious.
- Jane. Just, Jane. Everything about her screams sweetness. Lizzie's comment about her seeing the world through rose-colored glasses stuck with me, and now when I draw her, she's always wearing something light pink.
- Both of Mr. Darcy's marriage proposals, the first because it emphasizes his pride, and the second because it's both of them letting go of their prejudices. See what I did there?
- The title. It leaves you wondering: who's who? And it turns out, they're both both!
- Darcy and Georgiana's relationship. It's so sweet, and he's an awesome older brother.
- Lizzie's roast of Lady Catherine towards the end of the book. There's nothing more satisfying, seriously.
- How Mr. And Mrs. Bennet's marriage is both comical and foreboding at the same time.
- The character development. There's so much of it, and it happens to even the most minor of characters, like Kitty.
- The witty narration overall.
- Lizzie being introspective.
- Darcy being introspective.
- Both of them fixing their mistakes.
- Jane and Bingley, and Lizzie and Darcy. When both of them finally do get together for real, I wanted to ring out the bells and fling out my arms and to sing out the news (catch that reference)! Jane and Bingley, you can tell they have that fairytale romance nailed down, and Lizzie and Darcy, we get put through so much heartbreak and tension, that when they finally tie the knot, nobody in their right mind is not screaming with delight! They are some of the cutest couples in history.
- Charlotte Lucas and how she was able to rig the system to see her less-than-stellar husband as little as possible.
- Catherine Bingley's terrible attempts to get Darcy to give her the time of day.
- The magic of the English countryside. Really, the magic of Jane Austen's English countryside. You get this feeling that it's just so above everywhere else, and so peaceful, despite all the running off with dishonorable blokes going on within.
- The fact that Jane Austen wrote it.
- The 2005 film. Really, it's a work of art.
- This book smacks you with its themes in the literal title, but you have to actually read it to understand. Not to mention you pick up on the follies of eighteenth century society and the importance of class and reputation, and also a woman's position at that time, it's wonderful.
- The ending, which addresses everyone's ever after, basically saying that everyone learned to be a better person. The Bennet parents hearted how to parent, Kitty and Mary learned to be more acceptable members of society, Jane and Lizize got to live in big fancy houses with loves of their lives, the Gardiners are basically the parents they both wanted but never got, Georgiana now has an older sister, and even Lady Catherine swallows her pride and makes peace. Actually, the only people who don't get a happy ending are Lydia and Wickham, who are stuck freeloading and in a loveless marriage, and the Bingley sisters, who everyone forgets about by the end of the book anyways.
Wow. This got really long. In my defense, it is my favorite book of all time, and like, the only classic I've read where nobody is actively dying. It's got vibes of silly aristocratic squabbles, while also discussing a serious issue plaguing women for centuries, both warns of how a bad marriage situation is bad for everyone, but also showcases some of the sweetest love in history, and okay, I'm starting again. I should really stop, but I can't. There's just too much to love about this book. It's on the lighter and softer side of novels, and is essentially a love story, but the deep themes combos with the satire perfectly, making it the best thing since sighing deeply.
ugh I love this so much
It is so nice to read someone writing so much and so passionately about what they love in a book
YES!
You put it into words!!! Thank you
Thank you so much for this!!! I just finished the book and I’m still not over it 😭😭
I absolutely adore Pride and Prejudice, I've read it more than ten times at the least. And altough Mary is indeed not very charming, I wouldn't call her horrible. She is boring and not as pretty as her sisters and just tries too hard to be interesting and accomplished, but doesn't really have any talents. But terrible is a bit harsh.
Obviously, these videos need to condense the story quite a bit and I just don't think she was a big enough character to get more than a cursory description. Even Lydia, who is WAYYY more important to the plot, didn't get much more of a description than "lively". Those who've read the book or seen the adaptations know what she is like and those who haven't probably don't need to know much about her to learn the gist of the story. There's always a lot of depth and richness to characters that you can only get by reading the book or watching the media yourself :)
This is also just Part 1! I'm sure they'll explore the characters a little more deeply in the next part.
True true
We are all Mary.
Why is Mary horrible?
MY ALL TIME FAVORITE NOVEL!!!!!
I think it's sad that many who read it don't realize how hilarious it is!
I started reading all of Jane's novels IN ORDER last year (about to start Emma), starting with her Juvenilia, and her writing style is clearly consistently tongue-in-cheek.
Agreed! I started rereading it last night and laughed out loud multiple times in the first chapter! Mr. Bennett is particularly hysterical.
This was the first classic I read, because you have to start somewhere, and I got the general plot of it, but I reread it again to catch all the little things my young mind missed, and it was magic. There are those books that never get old, no matter how many times you read them. And I do. Many times.
Emma and Northanger are the funniest i think. Persuasion is the deepest, also my favourite.
Ikr I was laughing and smiling a lot reading through the book, it reminded me a lot of me own family. 😂😂
The sass is classic novels is top notch. Austen's wittines is what makes her novels enjoyable. Thank you for crash course!
I picked up this book a year ago and have been having trouble getting through it, I read more science then fiction. This video has given me a new view of the book and now I look forward to unpacking it and finishing the novel. Thank you.
The most recent (maybe) versions of P&P (Knightly) and S&S (Morahan) are more accessible than the novels. I'm not sure they will help you with reading the actual books, though they might.
Why does thought bubble think Darcy is George Washington?
lol
Jaelynn Cassidy +
The thing is there was a tax on hair powder created in 1795 that quickly decreased the use of hair powder; the gov't thought it could capitalize on fashion to get some more money, but if there's one thing people like to do-it's avoid paying more taxes. Since the book was written (first draft 1796) and published (1813) after that point, I'm not sure Darcy would have used hair powder. :-)
@@fairelvenlady Mate, Darcy be balling, taxes be sneezed at
This is a book have read and re-read (16 times) over forty years. I am looking forward to dementia, so I can have the experience reading it again for the first time. The first reading was wasted on a 17 year old... John's analysis is excellent.
AHH!!!! Thank you guys SOO much for making these! Jane Austen is one of my favorite authors (along with John Green 😉)
Oh, yes, and that Turtles All the Way Down reference?
IDrawHorseChamp I absolutely LOOOVED that book!!! 😄
Yessssss finally! That was very good and there's a second part, I'm so glad.
He was that John Green?! I didn't know. He's even more awesome than I thought.
i love it when an author teaches you about literature...
What I also love about PandP is that it is a story about two clearly flawed individuals who, through their relationship with each other, learn to acknowledge and work on those flaws and encourage them be better. They both genuinely learn to be less prideful and prejudiced! It is my favorite trope - as with Beatrice and Benedic from Much Ado About Nothing or Beauty and the Beast - often it is our own worst selves that are the enemies of our happiness. Circumstances decide the parameters, but you can decide how to navigate within that.
I cannot begin to count how much days must we waited until we finally get to Jane Austen. 😆
I love reading, and anyone who knows me can testify for me. However, I spent many hours reading Pride and Prejudice, mostly rereading the same paragraph repeatedly. I learned more about the book from the first 2 minutes of this video than from reading the book. Thanks John Green, maybe I’ll revisit Jane Austen later in life when my attention span has grown from 8 seconds to 10.
Thank you so much for this! Jane Austen is one of my fav authors. It is sad that people consider her writings to be too romanticized and unreal,when her books are so satirical and really make us known the situation of the middle class societies of the regency era and not only that but also give us a better understanding of the human nature because no one can say that Austen does not excel in that area! This was Awesome! So they are not that difficult to read and are interesting, doesn't all books should be, even classics?
I first read Pride and Prejudice for an AP Literature class in high school and I thought, and still do, that the language Austen used was just so wordy to the extent of being almost superfluous. It wasn't until I saw the 2005 movie adaptation that I really started to appreciate the story and it's become one of my favorites.
This is the first time though that I've heard anyone describe Mary as "horrible." In what way exactly? I understand how Collins and Wickham are, but to use the word for Mary might be a bit harsh.
I'm so glad you did this video when you did because my school is doing Pride and Prejudice this week. I help with sound tech and this is gonna help me explain the play to my somewhat confused friends.
Thank you. I've tried to read this multiple times, I know I will have this as a required reading soon for college and I wanted to 'understand' whatever the heck I'm supposed to get from Jane Austen. All your information is more than perfect. Saving this for reference!!!
such perfect timing omg, i've been looking for a crash course since january and now it's finally here -- during my midterm week! i have my midterm tomorrow and i can't focus while studying so these videos really help me as a visual and auditory learner.
YAY! Not only did you finally do an episode on P&P, but you mention Mary Wollstencraft in the first few minutes. It was quite a while ago, but I wrote a short college paper based on the idea that Jane Austen was directly influenced by The Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Wollstencraft. I argued that the public shaming following the memoir written after Mary's death by her husband could have likely caused Jane Austen to hide her novels and then publish them anonymously more than a decade later. She knew her stories were radical--even in a subtle way--and matched in tone the criticisms laid out in Vindication. The risk of being associated with Mary Wollstencraft was a real social pressure; people were literally burning her books at the turn of the century. I laugh when people call Jane Austen novels just love stories. There is so much depth to it in reality.
This is why I think Lydia is not given the credit she deserves. Everyone dismisses her as being silly and causing problems for her better sisters, but it would have been so easy for Austen to have shown her as a victim who eventually realized the error of her ways, and yet she never does. Lydia is completely content with the decisions she has made. She's a much more modern character than Elizabeth or Jane. And Austen slipped this in without calling any attention to it.
I've always loved this social commentary of class, gender and expectations! Thanks for covering it.
my new favorite thing is john green defending romance novels
Aw Mary isn’t horrible, she’s just a little weird.
I was thinking the same thing! 😂
If anyone was horrible it was Lydia
Ahhh, I was so incredibly excited for a P&P episode, it was awesome!
Gabriella B.R. Me too!!!! 😄😄😄😄
“Reading should be be fun sometimes, we already read to the lighthouse!” Game set match.
FINALLY SOME AUSTEN👏
I live for Jane Austen analysis! thank you for making me see new things to love about my favorite
Mary Bennet isn't so horrible, it is just that she is not suited for the role that she has chosen for herself. Jane is the pretty one, Lizzie is the clever one, so Mary decides that she will be the talented one. She works hard at musical and intellectual pursuits, but she doesn't have the talent to perform her accomplishments credibly. Kitty is the follower and Lydia is the lively one. Lydia buys the ugly bonnet to give herself something to do while waiting with the Bennet carriage for the coach to come from London bringing home Lizzy, Jane and Maria Lucas. She cannot resist spending money, in spite of already ordering lunch for all of them at the inn, and needs to borrow money from Jane and Lizzie to pay the bill. This is going to be her pattern for the rest of her life. She spends on impulse buys then has to go to Jane and Lizzie for money for necessities like food and rent. Her plan for the ugly bonnet is to tear it apart and use the pieces and what she has at home to make it up into a much nicer one.
Thank you for writing this!! Mary isn't so horrible, she's a teenager who's decided on a path that doesn't fit her in an attempt to stick out from her sisters and have her own identity. I do wish that Austen could have given her a better ending (marrying a clerk from her uncles law practice, really??), however there's surprising amount of derivative books that focus on Mary and give her the attention she deserves.
i have been waiting for this for SO LONG oh my god this is my favorite book and I’m so glad you’re covering it!!
I've been waiting for a Jane Austen episodes for ages - thank you so much!
In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently admire and love this episode!
This series needs to continue!! More please!
I literally started rereading this book for the umpteenth time last night! Good timing. 😍☕️
What is one less than umpteenth?
Thank you so much for this John! Ahh I loved it!! Y'all are so brilliant, it made me understand so much more about the novel!
If you wanna do a Crash Course on Bronte or Wuthering Heights that'd be awesome :))))
Maddison Dillon WUTHERING HEIGHTS
I agree! Wuthering Heights...crazy novel!!
YES YES YES PLS DO AN Emily Bronte EPISODE
A good analysis, but why did describe poor Marry as "horrible"? She is pedantic and boring, but not "horrible"! Also, I always understood Jane Austen comment on "Pride and Prejudice" ("bright, light, and sparkly") as being ironic, that is, laughing at some of the criticism she received about the book.
I wouldn't necessarily describe her as horrible, but she *is* an awkward show-off.
Agreed. She wants to show off but doesn't succeed, is somewhat lonesome, and doesn't find the best way of expressing herself (or the right time) but horrible... no.
Also, John said that she's supposedly still horrible, but as far as I remember, at the end of the book Jane Austen said that she improved from being the oldest daughter still living at home.
Yes, I think that Austen was trying to say that she was feeling inferior because she was not as pretty as her sisters, but once her sisters got married she gained more attention which helped her become less awkward.
Mary loves moralising, but at the end of the book is mentioned that she starts going out more (presumably with her mother) while Kitty spends time with Jane and Lizzy
Thank you!!! This is my favorite novel, and you’ve explained why so well. Can’t wait for the next installment!
OH MY GOSH!!! I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS FROM CRASH COURSE!!!! HOW DID I NOT NOTICE IT SOONER?!?!?!
Pride and prejudice is my favorite book ❤️ so glad you guys are going over it
I love crash course, it helped me to pass economics last year 😂.
Jane Austen was just incredible. Her view of emotions and people are somewhat like mine. I would be a great privilege to read her letters and see more of her character.
It would be selfish of me to not share this video with my fellow Austen admirers
Thanks John Green. Love Jane. Don’t forget to be Austen.
I universally love the use of the opening sentence.
I've been waiting so long for this. P&P is my favourite novel. I've already read it twice this year so I was very excited to see this pop up :D
I just googled John Green and DAMN!!!! I was living under a rock............
HE IS THE AUTHOR OF FAULT IN OUR STARS!!!!
Harsha pandey now Google vlogbrothers 😉
Sasa im Wunderland I did and watched a couple of videos. It's awesome. I WAS INDEED LIVING UNDER A ROCK!!!!!!😅😅
I just realized...where is John from the past?
We're so lucky to have P&P, and Austen's talent recognized! Thanks for this wonderful CCL vid
Yes, my favorite classical novel! Thank you!
When you said “we already read” I was honestly waiting for you to say one of your books
John Greene takes it personally that Mary said "What are men compared to rocks and mountains?"
I’ve been looking forward to this for so long!! I’m so happy!! THANKS JOHN💛
I wondered if John was going to mention the lizzie bennett diaries. It did not take long for the mention and it made me smile :)
I adore everything Jane Austen has written, and Pride & Prejudice has a special place on my heart. I really enjoyed hearing your thoughts, and appreciated for your defense of JA and the romance genre from literary snobs. :)
I really enjoyed your insights into what I consider a true literary masterpiece. Thank you for this video!! 😀
Thank you so much for this video! Just found out the channel and it's amazing :)
What?! I was looking for this video when I was writing a paper about it! The impertinence!
I couldn't agree more with all the points mentioned in the video! I fell in love with 'Pride and Prejudice' and this summed up everything I adore about it :)
I loved this video, but I would also like to hear John's take on Sense and Sensibility. That was one of the most enrapturing reads I've ever experienced, both intensely frustrating and yet very realistic in it's portrayal of romance.
I was just rewatching the Lizzie Bennett Diaries when this popped up in my subs! Love you John!
I've always loved that seeing the grandeur of Darcy's estate (and the social position she stood to gain as Mrs. Darcy) is what causes Lizzie to question what she's been told about him. It isn't love that conquers all in Pride and Prejudice, it's ambition.
I think that's only partially true. The Bennet family was second only to Sir Lucas' in their small world. I think she truly had no idea how great the difference in status was between Darcy and herself, thus softening the hurt of his initial disdain while highlighting how strong his feelings must have been to lead him to propose. I think she also didn't realize how great the responsibilities were in maintaining such a large estate. She muses about how many people are dependent on him to make sound financial decisions, which certainly included marriage. She sees him at his best just as her own family's defects produce the worst possible outcome.
Ah this is my favorite novel! I'm so glad crash course is doing it!!
Brilliant Professor Green...absolutely brilliant! The last 5 minutes...very insightful. Thank you :)
"Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance."
My favorite book of all time! Thank you God!
My favorite book, movie, mini series and web series.
"We find these truths to be self-evident.." THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL AND WHEN I MEET THOMAS JEFFERSON (uh) IMMA COMPEL HIM TO INCLUDE WOMEN IN THE SEQUEL
Just me? Okay.
I just love it. I am a literature teacher among other things and this is really useful. Thanks
Is this book similar to Jane Eyre?
The zombie chasing darcy in the thought bubble into was a nice touch
I would love to see a video on sense and sensibility. Also can you do a series on architecture and design?
That is some top-rank timing. I'm studying Pride and Prejudice at Uni.
I tried to read Pride & Prejudice in high school, but it wasn't until I read it as an adult that I was able to appreciate it, and it became one of my all-time favorite books. It is so deliciously funny. While I am sure there are younger people who are able to appreciate Austen sooner than I did, I would encourage rereading it at different ages. It is one of those books that stands up to time and reveals new and different nuances as your experience changes your perspective. Thank you for a most enjoyable episode.
I do feel you missed a moment here to say "Don't forget to be Austen". Looking forward to part 2!
I pretty much died of laughter at Darcy laying in front of the fountain in a "come-hither"-esque manner.
I didn't know people DIDN'T know how funny this book was. Mr. Bennett is always hilarious, and Liz usually is as well. Also, Mrs. Bennett, Lady Catherine, and especially Mr. Collins are so stupid that it's usually a treat to read their dialogue.
John Green talking about Jane Austen! I'm in! 😊👍
Oh wow I JUST finished this book on Sunday! Super excited for part 2!
Loved the video! Keep it up you guys. This is the best channel on youtube.
ooooh, so that's why i love diana wynne jones' "house moving castle" so much! i need to read austen like right now
I've been watching Vlog Brothers videos for years, but this was my first time watching a Crash Course video and I really liked it. It had a lot of good information, but was still very easy to understand and made me feel more knowledgable by the end. Plus I am a book nerd and I have been wanting to get into Jane Austen's books, so this was a fun video to start with.
I am now officially subscribed! Good job Crash Course! 👍
I have waited long for this. It did not dissappoint me at all.
Wow !! Fascinating way of expressing the fact . 👍
YES!! FINALLY! Also, thank whatever god there is for a youtube series about literature!
Loved this video! It really is a masterfully styled book.
YES I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU TO MAKE A CRASH COURSE OF JANE! 😍
"Bonnets All The Way Down"
Thank you.
YESSSSSSSS oh man i was so excited to watch this, rly looking forward to part 2!! I loved the discussion of happiness vs. security + historical context !
John I just want to say I love you & your work is amazing but I got a mad bone to pick with you about "The Day After" of Looking for Alaska and the hole you put in my heart
Mr. Green, it is with great relish that I greet each new installment of this series. Few channels deliver the kind of thoughtful insights that one can enjoy in each episode of CC Literature. With each viewing my list of must-read books grows ever more formidable.
I would like to request you please discuss James Joyce's Ulysses. I have recently undertaken to read (though not necessarily comprehend fully) this book, which has the reputation of being not only a masterpiece, but the premier work of fiction in the English language.
Also, I have finally read you. I must tell you Turtles All The Way Down was marvelous! Before watching this series I, a 35 year-old man, may never have considered reading your books as they tend to be classified as "young adult" fiction and previous of your works did not particularly appeal to me personally. Your insights and engaging way of expressing yourself in these videos made me second guess that appraisal. Then, when I learned that you suffered with OCD and that one of your goals was to portray what OCD was like I knew I had to read it.
I have multiple friends who likewise must live with the disorder, and more again who struggle with other mental illnesses. The book was enlightening, and I'm grateful you for writing so plainly and unflinchingly about it. Especially, I will never forget the unspoken tyranny of loved ones' expectations of improvement. I thank you for that, and other insights, that will help me be more supportive and understanding of my own loved ones.
All any of us want is to be understood by others; I am convinced that your book brings us a step in the right direction to understanding and connections with those who suffer with mental illness.
And finally: Ulysses, please!
This actually completely changes how I view Sense and Sensibility
On living another’s life through reading: Looking for Alaska caused me to mourn a person I had never met and who did not even exist. When one of my close friends ended up dying young, it helped me work through my grief and anger. This is a bit unrelated, but what you said in the video reminded me of that.
I’ve never read much of Austen’s works. I read Emma on vacation in Italy, as there were few books in English in the villa we were renting. It was enjoyable, but I couldn’t tell you a damn thing about the book now, as I’ve completely forgotten it. I think I’ll pick up Pride and Prejudice next, though, since the way you explained it made it seem interesting
I don't really like the book and the movies but i'm learning about this in online class, so it's good.
My favorite book. I should read more of janes books
*Glass Shatters* Bah God...it's STONE COLD JANE AUSTIN!!!
Quinzark that made me laugh
That was a lot more than tolerable! Wish it was longer. Great job! :)
You know what.. you've gotten me out of reading a bunch of different books.. You deserve a subscriber.
When he was talking about the financial risks of Elizabeth's rejections I couldn't help but think of Sense and Sensibility and Mansfield Park, where the characters suffer those consequences much more acutely.
And on the other side of the coin, you have Persuasion wherein Anne rejects a man she loves on the advice of her family and comes to view it as a great mistake.
John. Thank you. Again.
Thanks to this video I got a 20/20 in english litterature
thankyou!!!!!