Most of us have been brainwashed by the idealistic agendas of Disney and other princess-promoting films. Just look at any self-respecting woman's Pinterest dream boards. While I have been influenced (in most every facet of my life) by the beloved Disney films from my childhood...and adulthood, my love of classic literature has also played a role in shaping my ideals of love and happiness. The most influential contributor? Jane Austen.
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It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife."Jane Austen gave us Mr. Darcy. The brooding, imperfect vision of perfection. From the moment our “true love” obsessed, teenage selves first picked up a copy of “Pride & Prejudice,” we were hooked. Lured into the idea of a love that supersedes all reason, prejudice, and social norms, we planned our futures, chapter by chapter. From that moment, we inwardly swore to never be satisfied with anything less than our very own Mr. Darcy.
Lest you, reader, forget (or for those who do not know me personally), I myself share many similarities with Austen’s "Pride & Prejudice" heroine, Elizabeth Bennet: headstrong, loyal, a devoted bookworm, slightly judgmental… Despite the imperfections in Elizabeth’s character and storyline, most lovers of Austen (myself included) are proud to identify with her. We follow her adventures as a roadmap of sorts, anticipating the day we receive her happy ending (and the keys to Pemberley).
As much as I would love to overwhelmingly embody the characteristics of Elizabeth Bennet, there is another Austen heroine with whom I guiltily identify. After quite a bit of soul searching, I have found myself sharing many similarities with the flawed Emma Woodhouse; for too many for my own good. A matchmaker, idealist, and certified smarty-pants, Emma and I share the same downfalls…and prove to handle situations with less than the appropriate grace.
"The real evils indeed of Emma's situation were the power of having rather too much her own way, and a disposition to think a little too well of herself."
For those of us who identify with Austen’s heroines (both positively and negatively), we find ourselves almost entitled to their dashing heroes and happily ever afters. We go about our everyday lives, fully expecting a smartly dressed gentleman to come riding into our lives…through the fog of morning, as the first rays of daylight flicker across the sky, taking us by the hand while gazing into our eyes, declaring their love for us, most ardently.
When I put it that way, it sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? Still, that swoon-worthy Austen moment is what we spend our years waiting for. After an adolescence and early adulthood of waiting for our Mr. Darcy (or, in my case, Mr. Knightly), we find ourselves completely unimpressed with the “real world” and the men in it. We find our views of perfection have been created, produced, by the fictionalized accounts of love that we have been idolizing, quite possibly, our entire lives. In my own story, my perception of perfection had become what I thought I deserved, rather than what God’s plan was for me. In reality, the two are not the same.
God’s plan does not line up with the fictional plots written by Austen or produced by Disney. While we hold these stories in such high esteem, we must enjoy them for what they are: stories. Jane Austen’s characters have influenced my adolescence and will continue to be my companions throughout my adulthood. Darcy and Knightly (along with Austen’s other protagonists) are characters to be enjoyed! Enjoy them! But be mindful. God’s design for our future, ourselves, our spouse, our “ever after,” is not based on our false ideals. It is based on His overwhelming wisdom and love for us. We must trust in His authorship. Not Austen’s.
