Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

 “I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! -- When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.”

Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is known as one of the most well-loved works of fiction ever written. Besides the original text, there have been various literary and film adaptions. Austen’s classic characters have provided the foundation for many new ones who share the same names
and/or characteristics. The novel was written using the narrative technique of free indirect speech. The reader witnesses the events of the story from the female protagonist, Elizabeth Bennet’s, point of view. Privy to her thoughts and misconceptions regarding the people around her, readers find themselves sharing Elizabeth’s prejudices, and are blind to her moments of pride. In contrast, the reader is unable to see past the male protagonist, Mr. Darcy’s, seemingly constant cavalier pride and prejudice against Elizabeth’s social standing. The complexity of the plot created by Austen’s use of characters’ pride and prejudices is what makes this particular love story so unique. Pride and Prejudice clearly illustrates the concept that love is independent of social forces. The protagonists not only must overcome their own misgivings, but are forced to deal with the deception, haughtiness, and even idiocy of the other characters. Despite the challenges presented by the hierarchical society in which the story is set, the only true opposition to their love is Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy themselves. Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is perhaps one of the most relatable novels, consisting of a realistic plot that illustrates the humor, wit, infuriating circumstances, and most importantly the love that can be found in any ordinary life.

The best love story of all-time? I would have to say Moulin Rouge. The second best love story of all-time? Definitely Pride and Prejudice. A lot of people would put works such as Romeo and Juliet above both of those choices; however, while it is one of the most epic love stories ever written, it ultimately reminds me in a very dramatic way how miscommunication is terrible in a relationship. It also makes me sad; I don’t like being sad. In my opinion Pride and Prejudice is a refreshing love story, despite being published in 1813. It is not about cheesy love, gooey love, mushy love, or blinding love. It is very simply human. It is about people with flaws who find ways to accept and admire each other. I think Austen provided a fantastic model for young girls. After all, it is way easier to find a Mr. Darcy than an unreasonably attractive vampire (or something along those lines). I also think that the novel provided a lot of influential insight on subjects other than love. In a lot of ways Pride and Prejudice is a very empowering story for women. Elizabeth Bennet is a very strong character who believes in her own worth. She ends up happily in love, but she is never desperate for it, and never lets the success or failure of romantic endeavors define her. I’m not entirely sure if Austen has lowered or raised my romantic standards, but I do know that I’m very glad she has had an influence on them.

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

“If he has a conscience he will suffer for his mistake. That will be his punishment – as well as the prison.”

Crime-fighting is glorified by modern society. There is a fascination with the psychology of criminals, as well as the lives of the people who catch them. Cultures all around the word have religious, idyllic, and fictional figures who are revered for their hero-like qualities.  Justice is served when criminals are captured, imprisoned, or otherwise punished by such figures. Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment presents the opposing idea that criminals do not experience the ultimate punishment when they are caught, but when they are trying to evade the authorities. The novel follows the main character, Raskolnikov, after he commits a murder. His guilt torments him as he experiences deliria, self-doubt, and paranoia. Furthermore, isolates himself from those who offer him assistance. Dostoevsky conveys the inevitability of capture to his readers as a natural result of having a conscience. The novel proposes that the essence of the human psyche will

cause a criminal to either confess or be driven to the point of insanity by guilt. Crime and Punishment also deals with the concept of the “extraordinary” man. The theory is that there are “ordinary” people who must abide by the laws of society; their purpose being to increase the population. However, there are also “extraordinary” people who are above the morals of society. Due to their superiority, they have the privilege of disregarding the law. Their purpose is to advance society, the theory being that laws prevent them from doing that. Therefore, they have the right to go above the law in order to impact the world. Dostoevsky calls the events of history into question. Was crime necessary to reach the modern society in which we live? Will it be necessary in order to advance further? In a shared world, is it possible for any one group of people to thrive without others suffering as a result?  

Originally published in Russia in 1886, Crime and Punishment preceded massacres, assassinations, both world wars, various European revolutions, the American civil war, and the Great Depression. Dostoevsky’s discussion of human nature throughout the novel had a significant impact on me. It was almost as if he predicted the immense hardship and violence that the world would have to experience in order for people to eventually thrive. The postulation of “extraordinary” beings in the novel became a reality through history’s politicians, war criminals, world leaders, and revolutionists. Until I read Crime and Punishment, I did not actively question history. I accepted the events as a fixed occurrence in the past. However, after reading Dostoevsky’s novel I realized that what I perceived as history was in actuality a trend. A trend that was still relevant, still taking place. Crime has been the driving force behind the development of society. Almost every historical event has been a crime against humanity, or the result of a crime. Not only do readers of Crime and Punishment experience an immersive plot, and the sophisticated writing techniques of 19^th century Russia, but they are witness to philosophical arguments that challenge the foundations of society. 

Lexicon by Max Barry

It could be argued that language is the most important development in the history of mankind. It is the worldwide basis for communication and expression. However, it also provides a foundation for manipulation. Coercion was born through language, therefore making words the most powerful interpersonal weapon in the world. Max Barry’s Lexicon, exposes the art of persuasion for what it truly is: a deadly science.

“The brain had defenses, filters evolved over millions of years to protect against manipulation. The first was perception, the process of funneling an ocean of sensory input down to a few key data packages worthy of study by the cerebral cortex. When data got by the perception filter, it received attention. And she saw now that it must be like that all the way down: There must be words to attack each filter. Attention words and then maybe desire words and logic words and urgency words and command words. This was what they were teaching her. How to craft a string of words that would disable the filters one by one, unlocking each mental tumbler until the mind's last door swung open.” 

The book’s premise is that anyone’s mind can be infiltrated with the correct sequence of syllables. The people with the skills to put these sequences together are referred to as Poets, and learn their trade at an exclusive school where psycho- graphic markers hold the key to mind manipulation. Poets learn how to identify personality types, and craft sentences that will allow them to access the control center of the brain. They can make people feel, think, or do anything they want. The main conflict of the story surrounds the consequences of a word that should never have been created; a word that can kill. Barry’s novel is a weave of dystopian sci-fi and neuroscience. Lexicon not only upgrades words to weapons, but deploys them to spellbind its readers.

I think that Lexicon is an important book for anyone who is, or wants to become, an avid reader. There is quite a lot of neuroscience jargon throughout the novel, so at times it is not the easiest book to read, but in my opinion it’s worth it. The novel centers on the power of words, and while the particular words used in Lexicon don’t exist in the English language, I think the message can be applied to the words that we do have. While we may not be able to use words to invade someone’s mind, we can use them to inspire. The word inspire is defined as “filling (someone) with the urge or ability to do or feel something, especially to do something creative”. Books inspire us. They are a collection of words that “infiltrate” our minds with fantasy worlds, stories of love and loss, and ideas to enrich our lives. The perspective on language that Barry presents in his novel could be interpreted as a commentary on reading. I think that every book a person reads influences them, at least I know that is the case for me. Every sentence that an author crafts tells a story, but each sentence also changes the person reading it. Occurring in both big and small ways, books reframe our view of the world every time we read them.