Pride and Prejudice BBC TV Mini-Series 1995
LET'S SAY YOU'VE just sat down to read your latest romance book. You've heard great things about this novel, from its glorious descriptions and beautiful prose, to its badass heroine. And you may have even read its glowing five-star reviews on Amazon.
You want to love every minute reading about this smart romance heroine, except for one small thing:
She is either too strong, too boring, or a complete killjoy.
So what makes a great romance heroine?
Is it someone who is a 'strong' female character? Is she supposed to be helpless, like the traditional damsel in distress? Or should the ideal romance heroine be a lot more like Jane Austen’s Elizabeth Bennet? Well, here are my top three reasons as to why Lizzie B. makes for a truly engaging romantic heroine.
If you take any poll of romance literature, Elizabeth Bennet always features in the top ten romance heroines. Why? Because not only does Pride and Prejudice feature a main character who is smart, but is at times strong and vulnerable as well.
Eliza is Smart, Witty and Insightful
The romance heroine who is a bit of a dingbat, swears a little and isn't so good at her job tends to crop up regularly in romantic fiction, but overall we seem to prefer a romantic heroine who has a little bit more going for her.
How come? No-one wants to spend several hours with a character who is not smart enough to stand up for herself. Pride and Prejudice, recently voted favourite book in the 2018 Society of Chief Librarians' LovetoRead book poll in the UK, actually features a heroine who is quick to read between the lines.
For example she is skilled in quickly correcting any passive-aggressive slights against herself without offending her potential in-law Miss Bingley, instead of maintaining a demure silence behind a quivering lip:
“Miss Eliza Bennet,” said Miss Bingley, “despises cards. She is a great reader, and has no pleasure in anything else.”
“I deserve neither such praise nor such censure,” cried Elizabeth; “I am not a great reader, and I have pleasure in many things.”
Excerpt from Pride and Prejudice: BBC Studios
As Katherine Newey writes in What Think you of Books?' Reading in Pride and Prejudice:
"…Jane Austen would not say that we are wise about other people simply because we read books, but she would subscribe to the view that someone whose reading of books is sufficiently developed, is also capable of shrewd character reading."
And Elizabeth Bennet does have sound judgement when it comes to reading people. But she also fails on some occasions, particularly when pride gets in the way of assessing the characters of both Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham. But these rare failings only remind us that although our heroine is clever, she is still flawed, which makes her seem more human and helps us to like her even more.
Elizabeth's human flaws are also tempered by a sparkling and humorous wit which is also shown when she verbally spars with the book’s hero Mr. Darcy, e.g. in an attempt to make him feel as uncomfortable as possible during the Netherfield ball.
"...One must speak a little, you know. It would look odd to be entirely silent for half an hour together; and yet, for the advantage of some, conversation ought to be so arranged as that they may have the trouble of saying as little as possible."
Pride and Prejudice: Elizabeth and Darcy dance.
Finally Elizabeth not only demonstrates her intelligence when teasing Mr. Darcy, but through countless observations you will find scattered throughout Pride and Prejudice. For example her keen observations on poetry as a wooing method:
“I have been used to consider poetry as "the food of love" said Darcy.
"Of a fine, stout, healthy love it may. Everything nourishes what is strong already.
But if it be only a slight, thin sort of inclination, I am convinced that one good sonnet will starve it entirely away.”
But Elizabeth also shows insight into her own nature (self-knowledge being the greatest form of wisdom) when she is forced to reassess her discernment, after realising that she has badly misjudged both Darcy’s and Wickham's characters. When her sister Jane’s letters reveal that Mr. Wickham has eloped with Lydia, Elizabeth reflects:
"How despicably have I acted!" she cried; "I, who have prided myself on my discernment!
I, who have valued myself on my abilities! who have often disdained the generous candour of my sister, and gratified my vanity in useless or blameable distrust.
How humiliating is this discovery! ...Had I been in love, I could not have been more wretchedly blind.
Not only does this show Elizabeth’s understanding of her own nature, but reveals that she has grown as a character through the events of the book. And it’s this acknowledgement of her failings that demonstrates the character’s wisdom and maturity.
But why do we prefer our heroines to be clever like Elizabeth? Well, in order for her to get her happily ever after, she must be able to surpass all obstacles by her own efforts. Not just through luck or divine intervention, otherwise we as readers feel cheated.
If there are obstacles in the way such as another rival, the suitor himself, or even society, we feel that she earns her prize, cheer all the more when she succeeds and are devastated when she fails.
Eliza Is Strong
Nothing kills a romantic novel stone dead, then having a heroine who is boring, bland or seems to have no purpose. Many make the argument that a heroine needs to be likeable - but although Emma from Austen's eponymous novel is arguably the least likeable of her heroines, this doesn’t stop her second novel from being well-regarded.
Thackeray's Becky Sharpe was not always likeable, but this does not deter readers from rooting for her either. So why do we cheer for characters like Defoe’s Moll Flanders, mistress, thief and con-artist for instance? Because in each case the author makes sure to inject them not just with personality, but with humour and a determination to get what they want.
We prefer to see a character at her best, even if this is at her most wicked, so that we can identify with her and want to see her succeed. A romantic heroine who is too negative, too downtrodden or too passive are characteristics which are death for any romance story.
But as the ability to use your fists is no sign of strength, a female character who can command whole armies can still be weak on the page. So how is Elizabeth a 'strong' female heroine without wielding a sword or a gun?
Firstly she stands her ground, for example, by heading to see Jane at Netherfield despite her family making light of her older sister’s illness. And even though her only means of getting there is on foot.
"How can you be so silly," cried her mother, "as to think of such a thing, in all this dirt! You will not be fit to be seen when you get there."
"I shall be very fit to see Jane -- which is all I want."
Elizabeth defies her family to go help care for Jane and is thus proved right when she arrives at Netherfield to find her sister in a feverish state.
Another time we see Elizabeth's strong personality come to the fore is in the scene of Darcy's proposal. She has already rather radically turned down a proposal from her pompous cousin Mr. Collins, even though such a union would have prevented her family losing their estate of Longbourn when Mr. Bennet dies. Yet she shows great strength of character once again, by also turning down Mr. Darcy’s insulting attempt.
"From the first moment, I may almost say -- of my acquaintance with you, your manners, impressing me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, your conceit, and your selfish disdain of the feelings of others, were such as to form that groundwork of disapprobation on which succeeding events have built so immoveable a dislike; and I had not known you a month before I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry."
Lastly, we see Elizabeth standing up for herself once more, when confronted by the imperious Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Darcy's aunt orders Elizabeth to stay away from the eligible gentleman, to prevent her nephew from marrying beneath him.
Lady Catherine de Bourgh confronts Elizabeth Bennet at Longbourn.
But even though Elizabeth often falls foul of the societal rules and ideals that Lady Catherine believes in, rather than being intimidated by the indignant woman's higher status Elizabeth is defiant. Even though Lady Catherine has far greater power and influence and is unaware that she and Darcy are not engaged.
"You have widely mistaken my character, if you think I can be worked on by such persuasions as these. How far your nephew might approve of your interference in his affairs, I cannot tell; but you have certainly no right to concern yourself in mine. I must beg, therefore, to be importuned no farther on the subject."
Eliza is also Vulnerable
But not only is Elizabeth strong in the face of great opposition, she is also at times sensitive and vulnerable.
There is a temptation with modern romance books to make a female character always strong, argumentative or defiant, partly as a backlash against the passive damsel in distress who often has the reader yelling at her to do something, anything to help save herself.
But her constantly belligerent counterpart isn’t the answer either and can still come across as one note and boring. There is strength in vulnerability as fans of Mansfield Park’s Fanny Price will tell you, and bravery can be either be a drawn sword as much as a whispered 'No.'
So how does our feisty heroine Elizabeth show vulnerability, when not laughing at the ridiculous or flouting the rules of society?
For example we see much of Elizabeth's tender side through her devotion to Jane. This is shown in the way Elizabeth goes to tend to her when sick and is first to pick up on her older sister’s behaviour when all is not well.
"...Jane recollected herself soon, and putting the letter away, tried to join with her usual cheerfulness in the general conversation; but Elizabeth felt an anxiety on the subject, which drew off her attention even from Wickham; and no sooner had he and his companion taken leave, than a glance from Jane invited her to follow her up-stairs."
Another time we see Elizabeth’s softer side is after she refuses Darcy's first proposal at the Collinses' home. But although we get to view the more vulnerable side of Elizabeth, he does not get to see this side of her, yet.
"The tumult of her mind was now painfully great. She knew not how to support herself, and from actual weakness sat down and cried for half an hour. Her astonishment, as she reflected on what had passed, was increased by every review of it. That she should receive an offer of marriage from Mr. Darcy! that he should have been in love with her for so many months!"
Finally, we also see this vulnerable side once again when she receives two letters from her sister Jane, revealing the news of Lydia’s elopement with Wickham. Not only do we again witness a much softer side to Lizzie's sardonic personality, through sheer shock she lets down her guard for the first time in front of the hero:
"There is nothing the matter with me. I am quite well; I am only distressed by some dreadful news which I have just received from Longbourn."
She burst into tears as she alluded to it, and for a few minutes could not speak another word. Darcy, in wretched suspense, could only say something indistinctly of his concern, and observe her in compassionate silence."
So instead of having a heroine who is always unbelievably strong and drawn towards danger, showing Elizabeth's vulnerable side helps us to identify with her even more.
So why is Elizabeth Bennet the best romantic heroine of all time?
Because Austen neither makes her most famous heroine either too precious or too strong. Instead, Elizabeth is a skillfully written balance between the two, with a character that combines both strong and vulnerable traits in equal measure.
This is coupled with a wit and intelligence that helps her stick to her principles and secure her family’s future, in spite of almost impossible odds. And yet she still has the humility to admit when she is wrong.
Good heroines always tend to be in the middle of extremes and it is this fine balance that makes her rise above her other romantic counterparts-- who may be all action, all tears or all ditziness.
Writing a good romantic lead isn’t just a matter of updating our heroines. It's about creating a heroine with complexity. And it's that artful combination of strength, brains and softness that not only keeps Mr. Darcy on his toes, but helps us to fall in love with Lizzie Bennet too.
Now who is your favourite female romantic heroine and why? Please drop me a note and let me know, as I enjoy hearing from my readers.
Kate
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