The Other Jane

Geraldine Ang

Staff Writer

Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice has long been regarded as one of the best romance novels in all of history. Intuitive, extroverted Elizabeth Bennet and aloof, socially-awkward Fitzwilliam Darcy are one of the earliest examples in literary history of the endearing “opposites attract” romance trope, and in my personal opinion, one of the most well written.

However, that is an article for another time. In this piece, I instead highlight another character who remains sorrowfully underappreciated. Despite her secondary romance sparking Elizabeth and Darcy’s attraction in the first place. Despite her shared name with the distinguished author herself.

Eldest Daughter Jane Bennet serves as the gentle, good-natured foil to her bold, contentious younger sister. As does her relationship with Charles Bingley—a gentle love between two extremely similar people, as opposed to the complicated tension between bickering Elizabeth and Darcy. Compared to her sister’s more vivid character development and storyline, Jane tends to fade into the background. I admit she’s a rather static character. But that doesn’t mean she’s a bad one.

To me, Jane has strength equal to Elizabeth’s, just a very different sort. She doesn’t glamorously confront the socioeconomic biases of the late 18th century like her sister, but instead subtly but firmly clings onto her individual established morals throughout the entire novel—to be kind, and always attempt to see the best in others.

These principles can easily be mistaken for naivety, but Jane Bennet is most certainly not naive. In his letter to Elizabeth, Darcy explains what urges him to separate his best friend and her sister, writing about his perception at the Netherfield dance:

“Your sister I also watched. Her look and manners were open, cheerful, and engaging as ever, but without any symptom of peculiar regard … the serenity of your sister's countenance and air was such as might have given the most acute observer a conviction that, however amiable her temper, her heart was not likely to be easily touched.” (ch. 35, pg. 3)

Although Jane’s behavior truly makes it difficult to discern her specific affections for Bingley, she is behaving exactly as a woman of her standing in this time period should. In 18th century high England society, marriage did not often equate to passionate love. Jane’s duty as the eldest daughter of a financially precarious family is to attain the most affluent, reputable husband as possible to support this situation. Not to shamelessly flirt with whoever she found the most attractive. Jane’s happily ever after with her endearing Bingley is wonderful, but remained a wistful fantasy for many real 18th century women.

Yet after Darcy and Bingley break ties with the Bennet family and Jane travels to London in hopes of recovering connection to Bingley, she calls upon his residence. When she’s only rewarded with a disinterested visit from Caroline Bingley weeks later, she doesn’t allow herself to be treated like a doormat. She accepts that there may no longer be a future for her and Bingley with dignity. She is the epitome of what it means to balance taking care of others, and taking care of yourself as well.

But even after all this arrogant mistreatment, Jane decisively retains her ideology to look for the best in people. In a conceited, cutthroat society that has taken advantage of her rare integrity over and over again, she still does not budge on who she chooses to be, no matter how difficult things are becoming.

Jane Bennet is someone who is genuinely good at heart, who steadily encourages her family and readers alike to make the most of the world around them.