Ethnographic Research: Pride and Prejudice Movie - Essay Example

Ethnographic Study- Pride and Prejudice (Movie) The scene starts on the part wherein Elizabeth Bennet was walking in the meadow just before dawn, as she was unable to sleep and she suddenly sees Mr. Darcy walking from a distance towards her. Both were shy towards each other as Mr. Darcy breaks the stillness and apologizes for his aunts' behaviour the previous night. Lizzie declines, saying that it is she who must apologize as he was the one who helped her sister, Jane, as well as Lydia. Darcy tells Lizzie that as she has spoken with his aunt the night before, it has taught him to hope, as he had never been before. He asks Lizzie if her feelings were still the same as of last April; just tell him so at once, his feelings and affection has never changed. But one word from her will silence him forever, and he will never bother her again. If, however, her feelings have changed, he has to tell her that she has bewitched him body and soul and he loves her. Lizzie comes forward, just as the sun was rising, and catches Darcy's hand in hers. She kisses it and tells him, your hands are cold. And they slowly bent their heads forward, touching each other's mind. The next part is Jane pacing the front of the door of her father's study. It opens and Darcy went outside, Lizzie rushes forward, without looking at Darcy. Then, as she was asked by her father to close the door, she turns back, gives Darcy a smile full of love, her heart on her eyes, as she slowly took her time to do her father's wish. Inside the study, Mr. Bennet asks Lizzie if she has lost her mind, as he thought Lizzie to despise the man. Lizzie denies the allegation. Mr. Bennet states that Lizzie will have more fine carriages than Jane, and if by being rich will make her happy Lizzie asks him if he has no objections than her indifference with Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bennet says none at all. He then added that Darcy is a proud unpleasant sort or fellow but that it would be nothing if she liked him. Lizzie states that she does. Her father nodded. Until she added that she loves him. Her father was surprised and Lizzie states that of all of them, she was the one who has mistaken him; who has judged him, that he is not a proud fellow. She also added that Mr. Bennet doesn't know him, doesn't know what he's done. Mr. Bennet then asked Lizzie what Mr. Darcy has done, and the scene cuts off to show Mr. Darcy pacing the courtyard, as Mrs. Bennet and Jane was looking out the window to him, telling each other the impossibilities of the situation as they thought that Lizzie disliked the man immensely. Then Jane stated that they must be wrong about Lizzie's true feelings, and Mrs. Bennet states that it isn't the first time, and Jane laughingly said, "No, it isn't. And it certainly isn't the last." While in the study, Mr. Bennet takes the full blow of Lizzie's confession about Darcy. He realizes the grave debt that he has now owed to the man. He wanted to pay Darcy, but Lizzie declined, stating that nobody must know, and that Darcy wouldn't like it. Lizzie then says that they have misjudged him in every way; that they are so much alike, both of them are fools as well as stubborn. And with this admission, Mr. Bennet burst out laughing, saying that Lizzie does love the man. So he heartily gave his consent. Lizzie hugs her father, saying thank you. The first cultural aspect shown in the scene was the apology for the behaviour of Darcy's aunt the previous night. This was to ensure that Lizzie knows that Darcy was against his aunts' actions and that he is sorry for the hurt it may have caused her. In this part, common courtesy was present, even in the early 19th century, where this movie was set, courtesy and respect are two most important factors for the titled and important people; even for the lower ones. Even up to now, common courtesy is still practiced as it is known to be the upbringing of a person's life since childhood. It is a brand and a name and it places people into a bracket of identity. Common courtesy also calls that Lizzie declines the apology, as she knows that Darcy has given her family so much help and that a simple show of gratitude will not be enough. When Darcy stated that he was hoping, based on Lizzie's response to his aunt the previous night and that he gave Lizzie a choice; a choice whether to accept or to ignore him. By accepting, Lizzie will be connecting her life to Darcy for always, in the form of marriage, and if not, she will be condemning Darcy to a life of loneliness. The choice was hers, as was not the culture in the 19th century. Women then were not given a chance to speak up, but in this portrayal in the movie, it shows the transcending way the culture has evolved. From being closed to the females, into slowly accepting them as to what they are and what their capabilities are. Also, love, a universal emotion running throughout the world, touching every life and turning them at one point, is present in this situation. This is not a marriage of convenience, as what was wont to happen in these times. Rather, this was a marriage based on something tangible and solid; something that the older people then didn't understand because they were bound by the promise of an easy life run by money and power, not by love and peace. The next cultural aspect is the aspect of respect for parents as well as affection. In the next scene, where Lizzie was shown to be pacing the floor, she was able to portray a woman in love but uncertain-uncertain whether her father will accept Darcy as a fit man for her. There was a factor of male dominancy-something that is still present in our society until now. In these times, the decision if a woman should marry or not is based on her father. In Elizabeth's case, she was able to stand up for her conviction as she knows that her father would not loath her for it. She knows that her father respects her mind and well as her ability to decide certain things regarding her life. This shows how different the events that happened then and what are happening now. It can be seen how different the ideals and standards of morality has become and how easy it is to bend the rules for one's benefits. Also, in the culture than as well as now, money speaks louder than actions. It is known that if you marry a wealthy man, you are secured for life. It doesn't matter if the life you lead is bleak and unhappy, as long as money is involved, many are willing to sell their souls. As what Mr. Bennet asked from Lizzie, if she will be happy by Darcy's wealth, regardless of the fact that she dislikes him Elizabeth Bennet is not like any women found typical in the early 19th century. She was an epitome of goodness and wit; something women then did not posses. She knows her mind, and is definitely not set against on using it. By knowing her mind, she was able to stand up for Darcy and to defend him to her father, who knows nothing of the great deeds Darcy has done for their family. As the scene nearing its end, it is shown how the two head females of the family, namely Mrs. Bennet and Jane, were able to accept Darcy as a partner for their Lizzie. It is shown how they were able to grasp the situation and to cope with it knowing that everything has its own reason, and that they know Lizzie has her own mind. It shows how family sticks together. Even though they did not like Darcy very much, when they saw how agitated he looked when Lizzie was talking to her father, they knew that Darcy felt love for Lizzie or he wouldn't be as worried as he was. And lastly, the blessing of the head of the family; this is so important for the people in this century because the patriarch, is the head of all, the decider, the judge of everything. And it is important that the judge is also unbiased and thinks clearly for the whole family, not just for himself. Life, as a matter of choice, can be good or bad. It is not based on the society on how to live and act. It is based on one's self and nature. Society can dictate, but it can no more than control a life of a person. Transcending way of life is clearly shown in any history that one can think of. And history has shaped what people have now. It is no longer whether to live or die but to live to be happy and live as how life should be lived. Society helps, but it can also detain a person from feeling what life is about. Society tries to shield its community form pain, loneliness and abhorrence, but it sometimes tightens its hold so much; so hard that the people it was trying to shield are the ones hurt by the fierce protectiveness the society offers. Society can be healthy, but sometimes, it is also lethal. REFERENCES: Basso, Keith H. (1979). Portraits of "The Whiteman": Linguistic Play and Cultural Symbols among the Western Apache. New York: Cambridge University Press. Hymes, Dell. (1974). Foundations in sociolinguistics: An ethnographic approach. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. Methods: How to Do Ethnographic Research: A Simplified Guide. http://www.sas.upenn.edu/anthro/CPIA/methods.html Read More