The new BBC adaptation of Janice Hadlow's novel 'The Other Bennet Sister' has struck a chord with many viewers, particularly those who recall the awkwardness of being a clever, bookish teenage girl. The drama, which focuses on Mary Bennet, the intelligent and painfully shy sister of Pride and Prejudice's heroine Lizzy, vividly portrays the lack of confidence that can stem from being sidelined by peers or family.
Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett, writing in The Guardian, reflects on her own school days, where there seemed to be a division between being smart or pretty but not both. She notes that girls who were both often felt compelled to downplay their intelligence or spend excessive time on their appearance. The portrayal of Mary by Ella Bruccoleri resonated deeply with her, bringing back feelings of shyness and exclusion.
Cosslett highlights the rarity of a costume drama featuring an ordinary-looking heroine whose character arc is not purely romantic. Instead, the show focuses on Mary's journey to self-acceptance and independence. She argues that these messages are important for teenage girls and also resonate with adult women, many of whom have experienced body shaming from their own mothers, as Mary does from Mrs Bennet.
The economic pressures faced by the Bennet sisters in the 19th century also remain relevant today, Cosslett suggests. While modern women are not typically forced into marriage for survival, questions about marriage and economics persist. The drama's exploration of identity outside of these structures is described as 'quietly radical'.
Despite the prevalence of Austen adaptations, Cosslett finds value in this one for its fresh perspective and relevance to contemporary issues. She wonders whether the trend of 'clever is the new cool' has truly trickled down to comprehensive schools, implying that the struggles of bookish girls may not be as far removed from the past as we might think.
