Cosmopolitanism in Pride and Prejudice

COSMOPOLITAN MAGAZINE vs. PRIDE and PREJUDICE

The essence of the writings of Richard Simon in the book, "Trash Culture" is the fact that history does in fact repeat itself through literature. Simon discusses how modern magazines such as Cosmopolitan can shed new light on the novels of such authors as Jane Austen, Gustave Flaubert and Edith Wharton. This paper will specifically discuss the comparison between Austen's novel, Pride and Prejudice and the popular magazine Cosmopolitan, specifically the February 2002 edition featuring pop culture celebrity Britney Spears.

The mere fact that Britney Spears is the highlighted celebrity in this issue illustrates Simons comparison between modern culture and the characters in the coming of age novels such as Pride and Prejudice. She is the example of the modern woman in pop culture just as the women portrayed in Pride and Prejudice were women of their culture.

It is the essence of not only woman that is portrayed in both venues, it is the strength of women that is portrayed. Cosmopolitan magazine prides itself on dealing with women's issues in a way that empowers women. The whole essence of Austen's Pride and Prejudice is the internal struggle and strength of strong women. The characters in Pride and Prejudice focus on the comraderie of strong women as does Cosmopolitan. The magazine draws its readers from a pool of a particular type of woman as does Pride and Prejudice. Women can identify with the articles in the magazine and the story of Pride and Prejudice. It becomes personal to them in many respects.

The cover of the magazine highlights Simon's example of how mass media, "trash culture" today focuses on such similar issues and problems as were apparent many years ago. The magazine focuses on courtship, self-image, fashion, health concerns and also gives an example of the "perfect woman." This image is one that women have been trying to compete with for centuries. Granted the outward appearance of this perfect woman and her figure, style of clothing and makeup choices may have changed throughout the years but the premise remains the same. Women strive for perfection in whatever form it is socially accepted.

Simon's grasp of the comparison between the novel and the magazine should not be confused with the overall differences between the two.

Cosmopolitan according Simon is representative of the culture as a whole. It is geared to the women of the culture and their interaction with the men. Cosmopolitan focuses on advertising as a way to get its message across to its readers. Cosmopolitan uses flashy advertisements, photographs and catch phrases to illustrate its point. Cosmopolitan focuses on the here and the now, not past history. The view of Cosmopolitan is peripheral and its focus is to grab the attention of its readers. Its articles are geared to catch the attention of the reader as the magazine sits amidst many others in a magazine stand. The real essence of the Cosmo woman is one that is portrayed as a product of our trash culture society. The mold of the woman is formed over time by many readers of the magazine. Therefore, the work of the magazine is one of a work in progress in many respects and continually changes to adapt the changing society over time.

Pride and Prejudice is as much a part of our culture as Cosmopolitan magazine. However, there are inherent differences between the two.

Pride and Prejudice is a classical work of literature. The content of the novel has not changed over the course of time. What has changed about the novel is readers perceptions of the novel based on the views of a changing society. Pride and Prejudice does not rely on glitz and glamour to get the attention of its readers. Pride and Prejudice and all of Austen's novels for that matter illustrate the views of that time period in history. The society during that time is pictured through the words in the novel and the reader is able to grasp a feel of a culture and a time in society that is very different from our own. Pride and Prejudice relies on its content to hold the interest of the reader.

It relies on one author's words rather than many writers found in Cosmopolitan magazine. Pride and Prejudice deals with the premise of strong women as does Cosmpolitan but the presentations very greatly. It is in the mere presentation of the work that the simplicity and complexity of the novel come together.

Simon illustrates in Chapter 10 of Trash Culture deals with the issues of social convention. Cosmopolitan magazine does not really deal with the issues of convention in society to the extent that Pride and Prejudice does.

The underlying theme in the novel is one of social acceptance. The search for proper mates for the three sisters is a glaring representation of the views of the society at that time. Cosmopolitan magazine illustrates a very different set of conventions.