The Lone Wanderer ☆

Elizabeth Bennet isn't the narrator of Pride and Prejudice. She's not the only viewpoint character of Pride and Prejudice either. The book is narrated in third person by an omniscient narrator. And while of course there's some blurring of the lines, it's generally clear whether a scene is being described strictly from a character's point of view or whether the narrator is describing it objectively.

From the posts I've read on this subject before, I've learned that the Austen fandom has long had the habit of either trying to paint Darcy as better than he is (e.g. "He was never really proud, just shy") or as worse than he is (e.g. "He probably really did deny Wickham a living out of jealousy"), with the excuse that we only see him from Elizabeth's point of view. But that's not true.

Now I've been seeing the same thing, again and again, when people defend The Other Bennet Sister from complaints that it distorts the characterizations from Pride and Prejudice. They claim "Pride and Prejudice is from Elizabeth's point of view. The Other Bennet Sister gives us Mary's point of view, which is different but just as valid."

But consider:

This side-by-side was built by the Rockford Desk and Furniture Co., which only existed from 1891-1895. I've found one singular other example of this cabinet, which was auctioned over a decade ago, and was stained a dark cherry color. I personally like the color of the quartersawn oak as it is, so I'm not planning a full restoration.

THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991)

"Doctor Lecter told me he thought Starling might have too much nerve for her own good, an 'excess of zeal,' he called it. He thought she might work too close to the edge if she thought her assignment required it."

THUNDERBOLTS* (2025)