PARSHA & PROSE: CHAYA SARAH & 'PRIDE & PREJUDICE' WITH RABBI GEMARA (Audio)

In both the Torah portion Chayei Sarah and the novel Pride and Prejudice, themes of family, marriage, and the role of women in society are explored. In Chayei Sarah, the narrative focuses on the final years of Sarah’s life and the subsequent efforts of Abraham to secure a suitable marriage for his son Isaac. This story highlights the importance of family legacy and the divine guidance in choosing a spouse, as evidenced by the servant’s journey to find Rebecca. Similarly, in Pride and Prejudice, marriage is central to the plot, with Elizabeth Bennet’s relationship with Mr. Darcy being shaped by social expectations, personal values, and family pressures. Both works also reflect societal norms that dictate the roles of women, where Sarah’s legacy is carried through her son, and Elizabeth navigates societal expectations to make her own choices about love and marriage. In each story, the marriages that unfold are not just personal unions but are deeply connected to the wider social and familial structures of their time.