In The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon had to deal with the fact that his girlfriend had essentially ruined a favorite childhood story of his. As such, he tries to get back at her by attempting to ruin her favorite book, Pride and Prejudice. Unsurprisingly, this doesn't bode well for him. Because as he's stated, “He has too much pride. She has too much prejudice. It just works.” Of course, when he said this I couldn't help but laugh. Still, Pride and Prejudice is a rather recognizable romance; our two lovers meet, and they hate each other. With a fiery passion. But as time goes on, they later learn to love one another and appreciate the other’s differences.

The story starts with a man named Mr. Bennet and his wife, both of whom are trying to decide whether or not to meet a wealthy man named Mr. Bingley. Mr. Bennet’s daughters soon attend a party, where Mr. Darcy refuses to dance with Elizabeth Bennet because she isn't pretty enough. This attitude changes one day when she goes out into the cold to meet her sister, Jane. Mr. Darcy is impressed by her, and decides to get to know her more. Elizabeth soon meets Mr. Wickham, who told her that Mr. Darcy refused to give him money when he needed it the most and, because of that, he suffered immeasurably. Soon, the Bingleys have to depart, thus leaving Jane heartbroken. When Elizabeth finds out that Mr. Darcy had a hand in it, she turns him down when he proposes to her, leaving him heartbroken.

As the book continues on, it's revealed that Wickham had squandered the money that Mr. Darcy gave him, and when he tried asking for more, he was promptly refused. He eventually marries Lydia, one of Elizabeth’s sisters. Later on, Mr. Bingley proposes to Jane, which she gladly accepts. When Lady Catherine tries to pressure Elizabeth into not accepting Mr. Darcy’s proposal, she refuses. Mr. Darcy, of course, goes on to propose to Elizabeth, and she accepts, thus ensuring the two have an awkwardly happy marriage together.

Of course, the book has been revered by many romance fans, simply because of the immense amount of hurdles the couple in question has to get over just to be together. But more than that, Austen herself has incorporated the themes that just because someone’s wealthy and has a high social status doesn’t mean that their morality is guaranteed. The book also demonstrates the concepts of marriage and, though we tend to romanticize it, we fail to realize that it is still a social construct that has many different complications to it, whether that be financial or emotional.

Nevertheless, Pride and Prejudice is a popular work that is considered a staple of comedic romances. From Elizabeth’s fierce independence, to Mr. Darcy’s growing maturity, to even the characters surrounding the two, it’s a story that has impacted us in a variety of ways. It also reveals various crucial lessons in humanity, which, of course, are always welcome.