My favorite book of 2020 by Frankee

My favorite book of 2020 by Frankee - October 2020 Scholarship Essay

I have read many different forms of literature inside and outside of school in 2020, but to date the novel that has had the most profound effect on my life has been Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austin. Pride and Prejudice is a novel in which the main character, Elizabeth Bennet, is introduced to Mr. Darcy when he comes into town with his good friend, Mr. Bingley. Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy do not get along, as she finds him to be rude and cruel upon their first meeting. The story describes Elizabeth’s life, and how she navigates to eventually find love and deal with many dilemmas and drama. This story is the foundation for “Enemies to Lovers” books everywhere and has an impact on every female who reads it. I learned so many lessons from this novel such as marrying for love and not money, understanding that people are not always how you perceive them to be, and the importance of being independent.
Elizabeth, unlike her family, thinks of marriage as a union with someone you love. The rest of her family, especially her mother, is extremely passionate about how much money a potential suitor may have. They would much rather be in an unhappy marriage with money to spend. Elizabeth is proposed to by a very wealthy suitor; however, she says no to him because she knows they will both be unhappy, and she does not love him. At one point in the story, Elizabeth fancies Mr. Wickham even though he is not rich. However, she looks past money and tries to see if she has a true connection to the person underneath. It is purely coincidental that the person who she falls in love with is extraordinarily rich. She would have married Mr. Darcy if he were the poorest man on Earth because she genuinely loved him.
This novel also taught me the importance of not judging people and taking the time to understand someone to get to know them. Elizabeth heard rumors about Mr. Darcy and his unemotional manner, which turned her away from him. She began to hate him for what she was hearing, and until he addressed all his wrongs, she did not want to hear from him ever again. Upon the clarification from him, she became openminded and learned that Mr. Darcy is a compassionate and kind person. She then begins to fall in love for who he truly is and begins to stick up for him against others’ accusations.
One of the most impactful lessons I learned from the novel is the value of Elizabeth’s independence. She is content with who she is and is unwilling to sacrifice her happiness for anyone. She puts herself first, and although it would be nice, she realizes she does not need a love interest to be happy. She is compassionate and cares for others, but she is not afraid to say no. She is such a strong female role model for young girls everywhere. She taught me to be content with myself and understand that true happiness comes from within. That is why Pride and Prejudice was the best book I read in 2020.