Books versus Movies

I’m in the middle of re-reading Jane Austen’s classic, Pride and Prejudice, and I’m struck by how much insight we can gain through the written word.

For instance, did any viewers of the movie-length television series realise how much Elizabeth rebuked herself upon the discovery of the true character of Mister Wickham? Without question, readers of the original text are made very aware of her uneasiness as she perceived her own interpretation of the character of both Darcy and Wickham to be seriously flawed; that her own prejudices had caused her errors of judgement. However, viewers are, probably by necessity, far less aware of her internal turmoil on this issue.

Therein, a critical advantage of books is illustrated. Reading enables us to be vividly aware of the thoughts and motivations of characters, which  enriches our appreciation of  both the people and the plot. Surely, this scores  more than a point for books?

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