Pride, Prejudice and New Year’s Resolutions

Happy New Year, dear readers!  Many of us enjoy Pride and Prejudice as an insight into the Georgian culture; a romance with refinement; a testament to the sharp wit of a female writer. However, did we ever consider it to be a compass for New Year’s resolutions? Have you begun writing yours?

Jane Austen gave us a multitude of advice to follow, from striving to be an accomplished woman to heeding the wisdom of our elders.

(After all we cannot become truly accomplished unless we practice, can we?)

I have found eight solid resolutions entwined in the fabric of the novel to consider when striving to be a better person this year. They are:

1. Forgive
2. Refrain from Judgment
3. Exercise
4. Work on your Talents
5. Refrain from Gossip
6. Laugh
7. Admit when You are Wrong
8. Y.O.L.O.

As insightful as these are, I’ve discovered over my lifetime that it is better to narrow down the list of expectations in order to accomplish them. So, here are the top four resolutions I’ve gleaned from this beloved classic and the morals one will learn/experience from following this sage advice.

1.   Forgive:       One of the key components of this novel is misunderstandings; misunderstandings stemming from (wait for it) Pride. How would the novel have changed if Elizabeth hadn’t held onto Darcy’s statement from the Meryton assembly? “I could easily have forgiven his pride had he not mortified mine.” Forgiveness is instrumental in our own happiness as well. If we release our resentment, we can make decisions based on logic and understanding, and not emotions.

Moral:   When we forgive, there will be better outcome when trapped at Netherfield with a handsome man worth 10,000 pounds a year!

2.  Refrain from Gossip:      Sometimes there’s nothing like a juicy tidbit of gossip to make your eyes widen and your heart race! But, do you remember the game ‘telephone?’ The story changes depending on who’s telling the information. Another lesson we can learn from P&P is to not blather away about things we don’t know. Yes, it’s fun sometimes, but who does it really benefit? It often hurts others more than it should because those we listen to aren’t always reliable.

“‘What sort of girl is Miss Darcy?’ [Mr. Wickham] shook his head. ‘I wish I could call her amiable…but she is too much like her brother—very, very proud.’”

And then, when Elizabeth actually meets Georgiana…

“With astonishment did Elizabeth see that her new acquaintance was at least as much embarrassed as herself. Since her being at Lambton, she had heard that Miss Darcy was exceedingly proud; but the observation of a very few minutes convinced her that she was only exceedingly shy.”

Moral:   Don’t believe everything you hear, especially if your opinion is based on spite (see resolution #1). If you do, you run the risk of alienating a man that makes 10,000 pounds a year for a man with gaming debts and debaucheries galore!

3.  Exercise:      This is probably the hardest resolution, but the most important. When we exercise, we are able to not only feel good about ourselves, but others can see the positive results in our daily life. We often also inspire others to become active as well, allowing them to attempt to achieve their own goals. When Elizabeth ‘scampers across the countryside’ and is derided by Miss Bingley for her ‘conceited independence,’ it is noted by Mr. Darcy that her eyes were ‘brightened by the exercise.’

This stark contrast to the opinion of the day causes Miss Bingley to see the benefit to walking. It is not long before she herself encourages Elizabeth to ‘take a turn about the room…[as it is] very refreshing…’

Moral:   Not only will exercise contribute to our own health, we can inspire others who will see the benefit of a healthy lifestyle. NOT to mention, catching the eye of a handsome man worth 10,000 pounds a year!

4.  Y.O.L.O.:      You Only Live Once! Be impulsive (sometimes). Take life by the horns (almost always). Opportunities are wasted on the youth (or something like that). Often we think too much and talk ourselves out of happiness. However, there is a fine line between opportunity and recklessness, as we learn from some of the characters in Pride and Prejudice. For example:

Darcy proposing to Lizzy at Hunsford = Opportunity

Darcy giving Lizzy the letter at Hunsford= Toss up (reckless if she was caught accepting a letter, but opportunity to explain his sentiments)

Lydia running away with Wickham= Reckless

Elizabeth rejecting Darcy at Hunsford= Toss up (reckless for her future, but opportunity to stick it to the man)

Darcy saying, “You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on this subject forever.” = Opportunity.

(Sorry, I know that one is long, but it makes me all gooey inside!)

Moral:   You never know when an opportunity is going to present itself, so be prepared to Carpe Diem! However, you want to make sure you are all that is lovely and honorable otherwise your only option will be running off with a poor militia officer in the middle of the night from Brighton, and not receiving proposal #2 from a besotted man with 10,000 pounds a year!

• What are some of your New Year’s resolutions?
• Are you at all inspired by Jane Austen or this tongue in cheek interpretation?
• Let me know in the comments and have a safe and healthy New Year!

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