The Accomplished Woman [Blog #1 - Pride and Prejudice]

Elizabeth Bennet & Mr. Darcy

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is debatably one the most profound romance novels ever written. While Jane Austen did not set to write out a romantic narrative, the original title to this novel being First Impressions, her method of carving out the well-structured characters of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy is strikingly romantic. The romance shared between these two characters continues to permeate many adaptations that spawn from the original novel. The handling of their romance differs from adaptation to adaption; I have the ability to attest to one adaption, in particular, that highlights the immense fortitude of love that Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy share. Be prepared and ready for an apocalyptic, survival, and zombie universe that only complements the love story behind Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy.

Figure 1: A promotional poster for the film Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.
https://fox28spokane.com/10-reasons-to-love-pride-prejudice-zombies/.

Released on February 5th, 2016, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, as shown in Figure 1, is a zombie-ridden parody of the original 1813 novel that does not disrupt the romantic narrative of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. Colonel Darcy (who is Mr. Darcy, but in this adaptation he is a colonel) is a well-skilled and well-trained zombie-killer. He is someone who is quickly shown to the audience as seriously deadpan and, really, only ever-seeking to end the lives of the undead; he does not want to toil himself with any romance, whatsoever.

Mimicking the original novel, the beginnings of Elizabeth's and Darcy's relationship begins with Darcy hurting Elizabeth's pride at the ball. Darcy talks about her to Mr. Bingley, "Well she's tolerable...Yes, tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me" (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies). As their story progresses throughout the film, Elizabeth and Darcy maintain a steady relationship of disliking each other. It is not hidden that they are not fans of one another, nor is it hidden that they do not think the same. In a scene where Elizabeth is finding a book to read, while she cares for her sick sister Jane, Darcy attempts to show off his knowledge to Elizabeth by being able to read and translate the title of L'Art de le guerre, which means The Art of War. Unbothered, Elizabeth asks if Darcy had read the book in its original Wu dialect, to which he has not. Immediately, Elizabeth yells "then you've never read The Art of War!" Clearly, Elizabeth and Darcy are not seeing eye-to-eye; they are not on the same wavelength; that is, until Darcy confesses his ardent admiration for Elizabeth, right to Elizabeth.

The scene where Darcy tells Elizabeth that he loves her is nothing outrageously out of the ordinary. The scenery is simple, the clothing is simple, the lighting is simple, even the actual telling of his love to her is simple. It is the reaction that Elizabeth has, and what spawns after Darcy tells her about his love, is what shockingly alters what the original novel does: Elizabeth gets overtly violent against Darcy. There is a legitimate brawl between these two.

Figure 2: Elizabeth and Darcy fighting. Fighting because of what Darcy did
to Elizabeth's sister, and fighting through their sexual tension.
https://gfycat.com/fr/silkynarrowarmedcrab.

As a penultimate moment in their treacherous relationship, the film's adaptation of the reaction of Elizabeth, as Darcy tells her that he does not regret separating Mr. Bingley from Jane, is absolutely superb. This scene is drenched in sexual tension. As Elizabeth physically fights Darcy, throws books at him, and attempts to harm him with a chimney poker, she eventually, purposefully, cuts off the buttons of his dress shirt with a letter opener; she, for lack of better terms, undresses him, willingly, as she is furious at him for ruining the potential marriage of Jane and Mr. Bingley. To return the favor, Colonel Darcy grabs the same chimney poker and, willingly, cuts off the button that is right up against her breasts, undressing her. The sexual tension only escalates as there are moments where Darcy is on top of Elizabeth, attempting to stop her attacks, as shown in Figure 2.

It is only until after the proposal by Parson Collins does Elizabeth begin to fathom an ardent admiration for Colonel Darcy, as well. As the end of the film nears, Elizabeth and Darcy are riding on the same horse, trying to escape the massive tumor of zombies that approach Hingham Bridge, the only bridge that allows entry into London from The In-Between. The bridge is set to explode because of the incoming influx of zombies; the bridge explodes with Elizabeth and Darcy on it. When Elizabeth comes to, noticing her surroundings, she sees Darcy lying lifeless. She crawls to him, and discovers him (what she believes) to be dead. Seeing as this is the final moment where Elizabeth may ever speak to Darcy again, Elizabeth confesses her love for Darcy.

Figure 3: The joint wedding of Elizabeth and Darcy, and Jane and Mr. Bingley.
https://123wtf.me/2016/04/15/wtf-pride-and-prejudice-and-zombies-2016/.

Before the film finishes, the story of Elizabeth and Darcy does not end. It is revealed that Darcy is not dead, he was simply in a coma-like state. Having awoken from his unconscious state, and everyone in the throne-room of Lady Catherine de Bourgh's home going to see Lydia after accepting her proposal to Mr. Bingley, Darcy proposes to Elizabeth one more time. Elizabeth accepts the proposal, and they are happily married; sharing the same wedding with Jane and Mr. Bingley, as shown in Figure 3.

Treatment of Gender

Figure 4: The Bennet sisters cleaning their firearms.
https://towatchpile.com/2016/06/26/pride-and-prejudice-and-zombies-2016-review/.

While the 2016 movie revamps and recharges the romance between Elizabeth and Colonel Darcy, the discussion of gender is very crucial to the structure of the narrative of the film. Instead of taking up their time accomplishing the simple and expected tasks of the household, all five of the Bennet sisters are first shown in the film cleaning their firearms, as shown in Figure 4, while being supported by their father, Mr. Bennet. Never once dose he find fault in wanting to train his daughters, and make sure they are well-versed in this universe they are living in. Mr. Bennet even goes on to say to Parson Collins, "my daughters were trained for battle, sir. Not the kitchen" (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies). Mr. Bennet supports this social disruption for his daughters.

As the film progresses, the five Bennet sisters are also shown testing each other in physical combat practice. These women are not bothered by the idea of being overtly strong and powerful. Elizabeth and her sisters know that the universe they are living in requires them to kill in order to survive. Elizabeth even says to Colonel Darcy, as they are conversing their beliefs on what makes on accomplished woman, "a woman is highly trained or highly refined, one cannot afford the luxury of both in such times" (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies). This image holds true to the entirety of the film. None of the married women in the film are warrior-fighters: Mrs. Bennet and Charlotte Lucas. Contrastingly, none of the women warrior-fighters are married: Lady Catherine de Bourgh and the five Bennet sisters (except for Elizabeth and Jane at the very end of the film).

Elizabeth, distinctly, sees herself as not having both facets of being that accomplished woman. As she is exiting the first ball in the beginning of the film, she knocks over a glass bottle onto the floor. Immediately, she is met with a comment from another woman attending the ball, "what a lack of grace" (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies). This does not bother Elizabeth, however, she knows that she will not attain both images. Does the audience know this?

Figure 5: The Bennet sisters, as they get dressed for the ball,
hide their weapons within their clothing.
https://123wtf.me/2016/04/15/wtf-pride-and-prejudice-and-zombies-2016/.

The people surrounding her, regardless of the zombie-infested universe they are existing in, are still pushing for the visage of women being refined, graceful, coquettish, and, basically, anything that detaches them from the reality of having to fight, and fight, and kill, to live. As shown in Figure 5, the Bennet sisters disguise their weaponry within their clothing; they are always prepared for battle, no matter the setting. They will not let society's viewpoint diminish their ability to take the battle head-on. Interestingly enough, the camerawork that shows the audience the sequence of events as the Bennet sisters are dressing is highly-erotic. The zooming in and focusing on the lacy garters of the Bennet sisters suggest a moment in the film where women are endlessly being viewed as sexual objects. Easily, this may be understood as the infamous male gaze continuing to seep into any message of female empowerment; there is no denying that the sexualization of the Bennet sister is present in the film. It is the fact that these women, the very powerful Bennet sisters, do not allow themselves to be molded and reformed to fit the male gaze; to fit society's gaze.

Figure 6: The five Bennet sisters in battle against the zombies.
https://www.theverge.com/2016/2/5/10920490/pride-prejudice-zombies-movie-review-jane-austen.

As shown in Figure 6 (as blood smears the camera), the five Bennet sisters are the very first ones to step into the ball that has become adulterated with zombies. Mr. Bingley and Colonel Darcy just stand back and watch them do them kill with their swords, and hand-to-hand combat. These women are exceedingly martially-skilled, thus, they are ripping themselves away from the commonality of women having refinement and grace.

Elizabeth does not submit to becoming a forced-fed image of how a woman should behave and act; Elizabeth is willing to let love die off and away from her. As she is conversing with Charlotte Lucas at the very same ball, prior to her knocking over the glass bottle, the conversation that is shared between these women is a critical pillar of understanding how romance impacts Elizabeth:

Charlotte Lucas: Zombies or no zombies, all women must think of marriage, Lizzie.

Elizabeth Bennet: I shall never relinquish my sword for a ring.

Charlotte Lucas: For the right man you would.

Elizabeth Bennet: The right man wouldn't ask me too. (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies)

There have been multiple attempts to stifle the agency that Elizabeth's character has, i.e. asking her to relinquish her sword, even Charlotte goes as far as to attempt to stifle Elizabeth for the sake of maintaining the necessity of marriage. Parson Collins, when he proposes to her, asks her to "retire your warrior skills as part of the martial submission" (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies). Additionally, when Collins and the five Bennet sisters are walking to Meryton, Collins says to Elizabeth "we can buy some pots and pans to take the place of your swords and daggers" (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies). The universe surrounding the Bennet sisters, the societal universe and the zombie universe, is forever attempting to suffocate them. The men (specifically: Parson Collins, and even Colonel Darcy in the early stages of the film) are endlessly advocating for the image that a woman must be bound to their homes, submissive to their husbands, and have the ability to compose themselves in a refined manner.

Mrs. Bennet, Elizabeth's mother, is also in the same boat of attempting to suffocate her daughter. She is trying to wed off her daughters because (regardless of this universe) her daughters will never inherit the estate they are living in, once Mr. Bennet passes. When Elizabeth denies Parson Collins's hand in marriage, her mother berates her by saying "you shall become a poor and pathetic spinster" (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies), like before, this does not perturb Elizabeth.

Figure 7: Elizabeth Bennet is such an awesome woman.
Just look at her! So badass!
https://www.spotern.com/en/spot/movie/
pride-and-prejudice-and-zombies/58190/
lauthentique-epee-d-elizabeth-bennet-
lily-james-dans-orgueil-et-prejuges-et-zombies.

As shown in Figure 7, Elizabeth tackles the societal norms sword-first. Elizabeth Bennet tackles the treatment of her gender with no remorse or apprehensions.

The effect that this creation of women is disrupting their social normality is very striking to the audience; it is just as striking, or even more exceedingly striking to me! Elizabeth, quite literally, is shaking the foundations that her society stands on, and it is a lovely sight to behold.

Elizabeth Bennet does not see herself as a highly trained and highly refined woman, she never has. Lady Catherine de Bourgh even says to Elizabeth, "I do not know which I admire more, Elizabeth Bennet. Your skill as a warrior, or your resolve as a woman" (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies). This understanding of having both worlds, the refinement and the warrior-skills, is not at the forefront of Elizabeth's mind. She has both identities, subconsciously, within her; she is, unknowingly, the accomplished woman.

Elizabeth Bennet is, naturally, an exquisite blending of being highly trained and highly refined, whether she knows it or not.

Elizabeth Bennet, gladly, infiltrates society's understanding to fracture and shatter how her gender is being treated, has been treated.


Sources:
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Directed by Burr Steers, Lionsgate, 2016.

Steers, Burr. "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016) - Elizabeth Fights Darcy Scene (4/10) |  Movieclips." YouTube, uploaded by Movieclips, 25 August 2017, https://youtu.be/xs8jGY2dnCg.

---. "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016) - Irrevocably Caught Scene (9/10) |  Movieclips." YouTube, uploaded by Movieclips, 25 August 2017, https://youtu.be/uFTd09NNJzo.

---. "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016) - The Love of My Life Scene (10/10) |  Movieclips." YouTube, uploaded by Movieclips, 25 August 2017, https://youtu.be/ZCTqZhZRYl0.

---. "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016) - Zombie Killers Scene (1/10) |  Movieclips." YouTube, uploaded by Movieclips, 25 August 2017, https://youtu.be/BSQeVY2fdL8.