The new BBC adaptation of Janice Hadlow's novel, The Other Bennet Sister, has struck a chord with many viewers, particularly those who were once bookish teenage girls. The drama focuses on Mary Bennet, the intelligent and shy sister from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, and her struggle for self-acceptance. For many, it evokes memories of feeling sidelined and invisible during adolescence.
Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett, writing in The Guardian, reflects on her own teenage years, where she felt a division between being smart or pretty. She notes that the portrayal of Mary, played by Ella Bruccoleri, powerfully captures the lack of confidence that comes from being overlooked. Cosslett praises the drama for featuring an ordinary-looking heroine, rather than a supermodel, and for focusing on Mary's personal growth rather than just romance.
The series also highlights the pressure on women to marry for economic security, a theme still relevant today. Cosslett points out that while modern women are not usually forced into marriage for survival, economic circumstances and the institution of marriage still influence women's lives. She notes that many women she knows have married well to secure property, echoing the Bennet sisters' predicament.
Cosslett argues that the enduring appeal of Austen's marriage plots lies in how little has changed. She describes The Other Bennet Sister as quietly radical for encouraging women to consider who they are outside of societal structures. While some may tire of endless Austen adaptations, Cosslett believes this one offers a fresh and important perspective for both teenage girls and adult women.
