Cover photography by Mike Habermann; Cover design by Jennifer Parker

 “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” Thus begins Jane Austen’s novel, Pride and Prejudice. This first line is central to a major theme of the book (marriage) and to the literary device (satire) Austen uses “as the lens through which society and human nature are viewed” (Kalil, 19). Through her characters’ dialogue and daily activities, the reader is allowed a microcosmic view of the society in which Austen lived. She wrote about what she knew and she definitely knew how the societal dictums of her day affected women in provincial England in the late 18^th Century because she lived it herself.

It can also be said that Austen was influenced by the writers of her day. Although “Romanticism reached its zenith of acceptance and influence” during her lifetime (Kalil, 8), Austen’s personal views were still strongly neoclassical. Even so, her work of Pride and Prejudice bridges the gap between the end of the Neoclassical Period and the beginning of the Romantic Period. Her characters reflect this. Some are satiric, universal types (Mr. Collins, Mrs. Bennet), while others are individual characters that grow and change throughout the course of the book. Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy both develop as characters throughout the novel while several of the others are viewed more as character sketches and universal types and are not fully fleshed out. In addition, she masterly uses a light, witty Horatian tone in her characters’ dialogue, while occasionally switching to a more Juvelanian tone in some of the narrator’s descriptive passages.

Austen uses Mr. and Mrs. Bennet’s marriage as well as that of Mr. Collins and Charlotte Lucas to depict the realistic view of marriage of her day. Women were more likely to marry for convenience and security, not love. In the book, one marriage works. One doesn’t. Mrs. Bennet is the height of foolishness in all she says and does. Mr. Bennett is withdrawn and emotionally unavailable. His failure to financially provide for the future of his wife and daughters leads to Mrs. Bennet’s overriding obsession of finding rich husbands for her daughters. They are a perfect foil for each other. A perfect example of this is when Mr. Collins proposes to Elizabeth out of duty and pride and not love. The fallout from Elizabeth’s refusal of his proposal is comical, but also proves a point. Her mother is trying to make her marry Mr. Collins by entreating Mr. Bennet to convince her of such. However, Mr. Bennet has his own agenda. He says, “An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth. From this day you must be a stranger to one of your parents. Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again if you do.” (Austen, 111-112) Although, Mr. Bennet has a refreshing wit, neither he nor his wife grows throughout the course of the story. Both stay stagnant, representative of neoclassical types in stories of fallen man and unchanging human nature.

On the other hand, Charlotte, though marrying Mr. Collins for security and convenience and not love, learns to find a certain satisfaction and contentment in her management of him and her household. Her character stays pretty consistent throughout the story. She has been practical and pragmatic from the beginning often the only voice of reason to Elizabeth’s quick judgments of others (Austen, 26). Charlotte most clearly shows the realistic view of marriage Austen’s readers had come to expect for their own lives. She also shows an understanding of the class structure of her day and clearly allows for Mr. Darcy’s pride owing to his vast money and property. Elizabeth agrees except in the case where her pride is wounded by his when he refuses to ask her to dance and she overhears him calling her tolerable.

Mr. Collins is such a comical character in Austen’s story. His dialogue and his actions depict him as a shallow, foolish man. This is most notable when seen in the light of two things: his method of reading and his method of proposing marriage. Both are done in a self-important, self-delusional manner. The ironic thing is that although meant to raise him up in the eyes of others, both only serve to prove him a fool. When Mr. Collins reads, he chooses to do so out loud and from a volume of Fordyce’s Sermons on the outdated beliefs that “placed women’s manners and looks above the need for their learning…or thinking” (Austen, 72). This does not go over well in a family of five girls that prize education and the reading of classics as part of their lives, at least for the three oldest sisters. In addition, when Mr. Collins proposes to Elizabeth he refuses to believe that she is speaking truth when she says she has no desire to wed him. He stubbornly believes that she is like others of her sex and is playing a courting game. His self delusion of importance is so great; he cannot comprehend any woman turning down his proposal, especially one with limited resources that would not be likely to receive more.

Mr. Wickham and Lydia Bennet run away together. Their passion for life causes them to live spontaneously and not think of the consequences to themselves or others; to let passion guide them. Lydia’s actions, if left unchecked, would have destroyed not just her own reputation but her sisters’ and family’s reputations as well. None of her sisters would have been considered marriageable and her family would have been shamed if not for Darcy coercing Wickham to marry her. The latter two represent the romantic view of spontaneity: doing their own thing. Their values are tied to their emotions and feelings and have no basis in reality or responsibility. Both have been this way from the beginning of the novel although Elizabeth was blinded by her prejudice to see such foolishness in Wickham at first.

Lydia’s foolish nature is seen throughout the book both in how she speaks and by what she does. For example, when she and Kitty meet Elizabeth, Jane and Maria in Hertfordshire with Mr. Bennet’s carriage, she exclaims after presenting a table laid out with delicacies, “And we mean to treat you all,” added Lydia, “but you must lend us the money, for we have just spent ours at the shop out there.” (Austen, 207) Her complete lack of social decorum is romantic in nature as she is always highly spontaneous and doing her own thing with little regard for others.

Mr. Wickham is the same, although he is better at covering up his character flaws with good looks and charm. Elizabeth, who is generally a good judge of character, misses his flaws at first and Mr. Darcy’s attributes because she allows her first impressions of each man and how each either attracted or repelled her pride to grow into false beliefs of both that have no bearings in the facts. For instance, Wickham tells Elizabeth that the rest of the world cannot see Darcy’s failings because they are “blinded by his fortune and consequence, or frightened by his high and imposing manners, and sees him only as he chooses to be seen” (Austen, 81). This may be true of many in their society but it is not true of Elizabeth. She has always acted in a manner that is equal to those of greater fortune and consequence such as with Lady Catherine De Bourgh. She is, however, blinded by her pride because when first they met, Darcy snubbed her. Since Wickham appealed to her pride by choosing to sit next to her in a room full of eligible young ladies at Mrs. Phillips’ home, Elizabeth was blinded to the red flags Wickham presented in his consequent speeches to her. Two examples of this are when Darcy says, “If he wishes to avoid seeing me, he must go…I have no reason for avoiding him but what I might proclaim before all the world…” and when discussing Darcy’s deserved public disgrace, he says “…but it shall not be by me…I can never defy or expose him.” The double standard here is that Wickham is exposing Darcy to Elizabeth, a virtual stranger, which could lead to public disgrace. In addition, Wickham voluntarily avoids the ball at Netherfield Park because Darcy will be in attendance right after he tells Elizabeth that Darcy would have to go if he wanted to avoid seeing him.

And even though Elizabeth does pick up on a couple of red flags in Darcy’s story, due her prejudice she is too ready to make excuses for him when he smoothly explains them away. For instance, Elizabeth thinks it strange that considering Darcy’s pride he would have been more likely to follow through on a familial commitment if “from no better motive, that he should not have been too proud to be dishonest” (Austen, 84). She also thinks it odd that Mr. Bingley “who seems good humour itself,” would have such a close friendship with Mr. Darcy if he had really done what Wickham said he did. She wonders, “How can they suit each other?” (Austen, 85). In this respect, her response is neoclassical because she demonstrates her fallen nature in readily believing Wickham’s lies.

Mr. Bingley and Jane Bennet marry for love. Their marriage is one of perfect harmony. Both have even-keeled emotions regardless of the circumstances. Both are friendly and sweet-tempered, willing to see the best in others. Their personalities do not really change throughout the book. They stay static. Therefore, Mr. Bingley’s and Jane’s characters, although closely tied with Darcy’s and Elizabeth’s, become more like sketches than that of living, breathing human beings. In this respect, they represent a neoclassic point of view of decorum and propriety without extreme emotions.

On the other hand, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet are an opposite contrast to the other characters in the novel because the former are fully developed persons throughout the book. Even though their first impressions of each other are misleading and they allow themselves to falsely grow those original opinions, both are willing to change their thinking and their actions when confronted with the true character, life and situation of the other. This is especially seen in Darcy’s ungentlemanly proposal, Elizabeth’s refusal to wed him and accusations of his character, and Darcy’s subsequent mixed letter to her. Although it starts in anger, Darcy explains himself to Elizabeth, his role in keeping Mr. Bingley from her sister, Jane, and his role in Mr. Wickham’s fortunes.

To both their credit, each uses that confrontation to reevaluate the truth of the matter and reexamine it against that which they had each previously believed. Elizabeth expresses this eloquently when she comes to the self-realization of how poorly she has acted. She says, “Pleased with the preference of one, and offended by the neglect of the other, on the very beginning of our acquaintance, I have courted prepossession and ignorance, and driven reason away, where either were concerned. Till this moment I never knew myself.” (Austen, 197-198) And when she later apologizes to Darcy for her rudeness, he says, “What did you say of me, that I did not deserve? For, though your accusations were ill-founded, formed on mistaken premises, my behaviour to you at the time had merited the severest reproof. It was unpardonable. I cannot think of it without abhorrence.” (Austen, 338) This shows a maturity of character development on both their parts that is lacking in Austen’s other characters throughout the book. Whether good people or foolish people, they all stay constant. Only Elizabeth and Darcy grow and change and become better people with love, honesty and integrity of character as their motivators.

Their marriage is one of realism, because it involves knowing themselves and each other which enables them to love the whole person. Elizabeth’s and Darcy’s marriage would have been idealistic during Austen’s time and not very likely to happen for most women. Most would have to settle for marriages of convenience like that represented by Charlotte and Mr. Collins. Even so, Austen’s readers may have dreamt of having such a match, as Austen herself may have. Perhaps that is why she created Mr. Darcy and signed in name as Jane Fitzwilliam to a fake marriage certificate in her father’s parish when she was young. Although the majority of the characters in Austen’s book fit the neoclassical structure of universal truths and human nature in types, not all do.

Works Cited

Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. Insight Edition. Bethany House Publishers, 2007.

Kalil, Marie, M.A. CliffsNotes: On Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Wiley Publishing, Inc., 2000.

Moser, Nancy. Just Jane. Bethany House Publishers, 2007.

“Pride and Prejudice.” Movie. Focus Features Spotlight Series, 2005.

Stock, Robert. Spring 2010, English 464/864 Packet. “Neoclassical Literature: Some Terms,

Characteristics, Contrasts.”

Watch this video of outtakes from the shoot to see behind-the-scenes fun.

Click here to view the embedded video.

So much goes into making a shoot successful. Everything from hiring models to renting costumes and props and finding the perfect location. Thanks to the following people who helped make this shoot rock.

Photographer: Lois Olson, www.loisolson.com
Hair/Makeup: Lindsay Longchaya, Studio 413
Stylists & Costumes: Jessica Misegadis, Second Chance Antiques & Collectibles; Fringe & Tassel
Plane prop: Stan Waller

Photographer: Lois Olson, www.loisolson.com
Hair & Makeup: Lindsay Longchaya, Studio 413
Stylist: Jessica Misegadis, Second Chance Antiques & Collectibles

Dick & Suzanne 50th wedding anniversary

What I originally thought was not my best work turned out to be my most important work thus far. Last summer, I attended my husband’s parents’ 50^th wedding anniversary party in the small town of Clarks, Nebraska. While there, I shot this image of his parents. Little did I know at the time that this particular image would make it into the funeral bulletin for them both.

We never know how our work or how we will touch the lives of others.

The Sparrow Stand is more than a business for me—an exchange of product for money.  Photography goes beyond a commodity when it touches the lives of others; when I enter into relationships/friendships with those who started out as my clients but ended up as lifelong friends.

Stories do matter. It’s in the stories we tell—of our lives and of those who have touched us—that we leave a legacy behind.

I’ve been reflecting a lot since Dave’s mom was diagnosed with cancer in November and she died a month later.  Then Dave’s dad died less than a week later, the morning of his mom’s viewing.

What was to be one viewing and funeral became two.

I don’t know if it’s the magic of small town communities or if it’s a testament to the lives of Suzanne and Richard Olson, but the stories that were told that weekend showed the legacy that was left behind by these two very special people. Dave’s mom didn’t just touch my life, but the lives of a whole community. It’s true. It’s in the little things, the everyday occurrences where our stories are told and hers told by the many lives that were touched by her was amazing. I shall miss her.

This is the story of a woman, whom I truly admired and loved. Her name was Martha Suzanne, but she went by Suzanne. She was my mother-in-law. Sometimes the best way to tell a story and learn about a person is by observing little moments in her life. Here are some of Suzanne’s as told by those who loved her most:

I first met Suzanne at summer CEF camp when I was 12 years old long before she became my mother-in-law. She was my camp counselor. I particularly remember the night I woke her up from a sound sleep when I played my clarinet for a fellow camper who asked to hear it. Talk about being situationally unaware. I don’t know what I was thinking. But even then, she was so gracious. I think I knew from the beginning that she loved me and that only grew when I became her daughter-in-law 10 years later.

I remember when Jae was little; we went to visit Suzanne as she taught 1^st Grade at Grand Island Christian School. Dave and I did a stock photography shoot that day in her classroom and I remember observing how amazing she was with her students, very much like a mom, loving and firm at the same time.

No matter how old she became, Suzanne was always a young girl at heart. I remember for her 50^th wedding anniversary, she wore white patent leather shoes with white ankle lace socks and paired with a flower-patterned dress. So cute. And so her.

One of my last memories of her was the day Dave and I visited Clarks to see his mom and dad during Clarks’ famous Bean Day. I had never before witnessed cow patty bingo. What a hoot that was. But more special was the time I had to chat with Suzanne as we walked about the town and she told me the history of their time there and how the town had grown and changed over the years. Little did I know that that would be my last time with her. At that time, we didn’t know she had cancer and that by the time she found out, she would already be at Stage 4.

Even though I’ve known her for 35 years, there was much about her that I was still to learn over the days that followed.

Her sister, Rosalie, shared that Suzanne used to be in a chorus line in college. I had no idea, but it delights me to know that. I love that about her.

At the viewing and funeral, I met her college roommate whose story attributes that she wouldn’t be a Christian today if it wasn’t for Suzanne dragging her to all those Bible studies while in college.

My husband, Dave, tells his 4-year-old salvation story. It was during the summer of ’68, a normal day in which he was spanked by Suzanne for doing something naughty and received a time out. While there, he had time to think. He wanted to tell Jesus he was sorry. Afterward, he rode his rocking horse and sang, “I have Jesus in my heart” while riding his pony for an hour with contentment.

Her son, Dan, tells the story of chicken pandemonium. One day, he and Dave were playing and decided to climb on the chicken house roof belonging to their neighbors. From that vantage point, they could see the chickens well and decided to stir up the action by throwing berries into the pen and watching the chickens chase each other for the treats. Little did they know that Suzanne was onto them. She caught them in the act and marched them over to the neighbor’s house to apologize. Dan says that was the kind of mother that she was and it had a profound influence on their lives. She loved them enough to teach them personal accountability.

Dan also talked about how the little house he grew up in at Clarks didn’t feel like home without her in it. He could hear her voice still and he kept expecting her to come in from the back porch or root cellar.

Rosalie, her daughter, talked about how she could hear her mother’s voice in the house when Suzanne was in the hospital in Grand Island, but now that Suzanne was in the arms of Jesus in Heaven, she could no longer hear her voice.

At the funeral, her pastor shared that Suzanne hesitated to ride alone with him in his car to Lincoln to visit her husband, who was deathly ill, in the hospital. He did not know why at first until she shared that she had never ridden in a car alone with any man but her husband. That speaks to her character.

Her husband, Richard (otherwise known as Dick), was a really popular man in town and the surrounding communities. He was a hard worker, one of the last steeplejacks to repair church steeples, and a highly accomplished chess player.

She was a supportive wife. As her pastor said, while Dick was always up for a party, she was always in the wings supporting him.

Suzanne could have been overshadowed by her gregarious husband, but she wasn’t. Not for me. She shone so brightly and from her face, I could see hope, love, and peace. Her gentle, kind spirit was felt by me as well as the neighbors across the street.

Her legacy continues today because the fruits of her labor were multiplied:

1 son is now a pastor leading men to salvation;

1 son is now a military officer leading men in combat;

1 son is now an amazing, gifted artist;

1 daughter is now a homemaker raising and teaching four precious children; and

1 daughter is a Down syndrome grownup child who loves her work in light manufacturing building pieces/widgets.

Maybe the best way to show how much Suzanne’s story resonates beyond her life and the legacy she left behind is to share with you her last words, ones she wrote in her own hand the day before she died:

“I put my trust in Jesus knowing He died on that cross for my sins. If anyone needs a miracle it’s me and God can do it, but He has me covered no matter what happens here or there. There is a big thing in my heart. When I am on the other side in Heaven, I want to see you there, too, when it’s your time, not before. I say this because I love you and God does, too—wonders He has prepared for us in Heaven. I am not in despair. Wishing you peace, joy and love this season and forever. I’m rejoicing in Jesus.”

My friends, that is a legacy worth leaving behind and one I very much want to emulate. You see, our stories really do matter.

“Life isn’t a matter of milestones but of moments.”

—Rose F. Kennedy

Click here to view the embedded video.

Have you ever wanted to dress like the characters in TV shows like Mad Men or Pan Am? Well, now you can. You can star in your very own photo shoot in retro style. Watch the video to find out how. Email Lois Olson at lois.olson.photo@gmail.com to reserve your spot today.

Retro Housewife with Chocolate Chip Cookies

Your very own 30-minute Retro Mini Session includes professional retro hair and makeup, retro props, a hires digital file of your choice with print release, a digital Valentine of the same pose and a FB image of that pose plus any others you order. Additional poses and prints are available a la carte. Plus I’m donating 10% of each sale to World Vision to help women & teen girls in Third World Countries. Cost: $99. Send Lois an email at lois.olson.photo@gmail.com or fill out the contact form here to reserve your spot today.

Retro Housewife Taking a Call from Her Husband

Thanks so much to my promo photo shoot team:

Photographer: Lois Olson, The Sparrow Stand
Hair/Makeup: (on Allie) Lindsay Longchaya, Studio 413
Hair: (on Chloe) Rachael Kaminski, Capture Today Photography
Stylists: (on Allie) Jessica Misegadis, Second Chance Antiques & Collectibles and Fringe & Tassel; (on Chloe) Rachael Kaminski
Models: Allie Busch, Chloe K.
Valentines templates: Florabella Collections
Costumes: Fringe & Tassel, The Sparrow Stand, Marshalls, Target, Kohls

Rock your own look in these Retro Mini Sessions. You can customize your outfit with vintage pieces from Second Chance Antiques & Collectibles (ask for Jessica if you’re there on a Thursday or Friday), rent from The Rose Theater or Fringe & Tassel, or buy a vintage look with a modern twist at Forever 21.

Retro mom reading story to little girl

Gather your friends or your little ones and plan your Retro Mini Session today. Think of the memories you’ll create together.

Little girl talking on retro phone

Choose from 9 different Valentines card designs for your digital Valentine download.

Baking Cookies Together

Love Letters from Afar

Reserve your spot today for your very own Retro Mini Session. Available for a limited time only Feb. 9, 10, & 11, 2012 at the studio. Email me at lois.olson.photo@gmail.com to schedule your appointment or with any questions you might have. Can’t wait to hear from you.