Jor J.- UIW Engl/Educ Major

Hi guys, Pride and Prejudice is my first Austen experience... BUT it was awesome. Before this semester, I had mostly just heard about it rather than experienced it. I knew it was one of those famous classics that people either loved or pretended to have read, and I’d seen plenty of memes and clips online. When I finally watched the 2005 film for class, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I ended up liking it more than I thought… not in an overly emotional way, but I could really appreciate what it was doing.

What stood out most to me was the film’s visual atmosphere. The cinematography, the muted color palette, and the way nature and architecture framed the characters’ emotions. The rolling fields, the stately homes, the foggy mornings, all of it contributed to a sense of restraint and detail, almost as if the setting itself was a character. I also really enjoyed the soundtrack; the piano pieces in particular added so much to the film’s mood. The music seemed to echo the emotional undercurrents, gentle, restrained, but full of feeling, and it made certain scenes linger in my mind.

I also found myself paying attention to how the characters communicated… or didn’t. So much of the tension between Elizabeth and Darcy comes from what THEY DON’T SAY, or how they MISUNDERSTAND each other. Those pauses, glances, and hesitations felt meaningful in a way I hadn’t anticipated. It made me think about how small gestures or tone can mean just as much as actual dialogue.

Overall, my experience with Pride and Prejudice was pretty neutral at first, but it grew on me. I didn’t "fall in love" with it instantly, but I ended up appreciating its quietness and aesthetic. I can now see why it’s lasted so long; it’s more about observation and subtlety than “grand” romance.

-jor