An untold tale of celebrated British author Jane Austen, Becoming Jane is a tale of love, sacrifice and constancy. Jane Austen, the author of Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility – considered jewels of English Literature – was said
to be inspired by true happenings in her life to write her novels. However, the movie is fic
tional and happenings are purely assumed. Based on Jon Spence’s biography Becoming Jane Austen, this imaginative version of Jane Austen’s life captures the theory that the author may have once been in love with a young Irish lawyer named Thomas Lefroy. It is apparent from Austen’s letters to her sister Cassandra, that Austen and Lefroy spent considerable time together and that they may
have had strong feelings for each other.
Director Julian Jarrold effectively portrays the gentle era wonderfully by capturing the lush scenery
and the witty banter. American actress Anne Hathaway portrays Austen with a commendable English accent, and charming James McAvoy gi
ves life to Thomas Lefroy. James Cromwell and Julie Walters who play Mr. and Mrs. Austen mirror Mr. and Mrs. Bennett of Pride and Prejudice as Mr. Austen is portrayed as a very lenient father who always gave way to his daughter’s happiness w
hile Mrs. Austen was obsessed with the idea that her daughter should marry as rich as possible. Again, this similarity might have been purely fictional, but if true, this may have led Austen to create some of the most talked about characters of English Literature.
In a time when women were expected to marry for wealth and connections, Austen was a non-conformist who believed in passion and marrying for true affection, which she constantly portrays through her novels. The story is beautifully woven where initially Austen dislikes arrogant Lefroy who seems to be an “insolent, arrogant, impudent” young man. One can’t help but be reminded of the engaging battles of wits and witticisms between Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice while watching the movie. Gradually, their feelings for each other change, and the actors show the passion they feel for one another beautifully through their eye contact and body language.
No one will ever know just how much the happenings in her real life inspired Austen to write her novels, but one thing remains for certain – her knowledge of human nature and human foibles ring true even today. I for one enjoyed the movie and believe that the love between the unsuccessful lovers was depicted in a heartbreakingly real manner.
Austen never married in real life and if she had a relationship with Thomas Lefroy as assumed, she might have remained constant in her love and did not think of marriage even though Lefroy got married and went ahead to become the Lord Chief Justice of Ireland.
This reviewer believes that creating a story about one of the world’s much loved authors is a risk, as devoted fans would have many expectations and could possibly be outraged at historically inaccurate events that are assumed in the film. However, it’s a bittersweet tale of love and fans looking for a representation of how Austen’s real life might have had an impact in her writing will find the movie enjoyable.
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