Category: Pride And Prejudice

THESIS: The author demonstrates that previous judgment and prejudice can be wrong and harsh; as the result of a long way of reflection, due to the various events in the lives of heroes, Darcy proves himself worthy of Elizabeth and she changes her attitude, realizing that her prejudice is unreasonable.

Pride and prejudice of Elizabeth

The central heroine of the novel, Elizabeth Bennet is a girl with a strong character, she is smart and attractive. Although she is young, she is exceptional and outstanding. For Elizabeth, marriage is not the main goal in life and she cannot imagine herself running after men. Such an unordinary position cannot guarantee her happy life without any troubles. It is a well-known fact that most of the problems are caused by a strong mind.

In the case of Elizabeth, this statement is true. This girl is proud and self-sufficient. On the other hand, Darcy, son of the rich parents, is described as an intelligent and forthright; he is proud of his social status. Darcy is the best match for Elizabeth, he is her male counterpart. However, after the first meeting, both, Elizabeth and Darcy, are full of prejudice towards each other. They need time to get used to each other and to overcome their prejudices. Their sympathy grows, but both of the heroes think rather rationally than emotionally. The relation between passion and reason in the novel consists of understanding that social status plays a significant role in the relationships.

Thus, even when Darcy wants to marry Elizabeth, he reminds her about the social distance between them. The author demonstrates that previous judgments and prejudices can be wrong and harsh; as the result of a long way of reflection, due to the various events in the lives of heroes, Darcy proves himself worthy of Elizabeth and she changes her attitude, realizing that her prejudice is unreasonable.

Pride and prejudice of Darcy

Elizabeths pride and prejudice conclude in her attitude toward men in general and Darcy particularly. Although she comes from an ordinary social background, her intellectual characteristics are outstanding. Despite many other girls, she does not want to be in a hurry with marriage, considering such a position as neglect of female personality. This girl is proud of who she is and wants to improve her personality. However, she is the second daughter in a family of five children.

Due to the difficult position of her family, she has to get married to help her relatives to improve economic security. She is convinced that love must be the cause of marriage and she wants to marry for love. Such a desire cannot be considered as pride or prejudice; it is the natural will of every person. However, Elizabeth is too proud to get married without love and only for economic purpose.

Therefore, when Mr. Collins offers to marry him, she refuses because she knows that he is boring and shallow, although his economical position is stable. In the end, Elizabeth gets married to Darcy, only after she gets known him well and makes sure that he is the right man. Elizabeths father is an example of the perfect man for her, he supports her, and, despite her mother, he does not want her to marry for money. Elizabeths conflict with mother demonstrates her ability to think independently and to decide what is better for her, despite the opinions of others, even the members of her family.

Elizabeth is an influential girl who can make her sisters dependent on her opinion. However, she does not treat them wrong and does not use her power to get some profit. Perhaps, she just wants to help her sisters to be prideful like she is. She does not afraid to tell what she thinks and, therefore, has conflicts with some characters. She cannot treat Darcy well, because he insults her pride. She needs a lot of time to forgive someone who offends her.

When Elizabeth meets Darcy, she considers him as a selfish and egoistic man. Her first impressions are negative; moreover, she keeps feeling in this way for a long time, making the biggest mistake in her life. There is an internal struggle inside Elizabeths mind. On one hand, she feels an attraction to Darcy; however, on the other hand, the initial prejudice does not allow her to see the truth. Although she has a lively, playful disposition, which delighted in anything ridiculous (Austen Ch. 3), her character is strong indeed. At the beginning of their acquaintance, Elizabeth will not get known Darcy, being offended by his underline of the social distance between them. If in the beginning, she could have good thoughts about Darcy, after such acts, she does not have any other solution and refuses him.

The first impression influences Elizabeths attitude toward Darcy. One can say that such a position is wrong and she should get to know him better before making the conclusions about his personality. However, Elizabeth was insulted by Darcy when he refused to dance with her, saying that she is not beautiful enough. Naturally, the girls eyes were blinded by this comment, and Elizabeth could not forgive Darcy. Her initial judgment and the social barriers separate Darcy from Elizabeth who does not have no very cordial feelings towards him (Austen Ch. 3).

Darcy also has his pride and prejudice towards people in general and Elizabeth particularly. Being a son of a well-established family, he treats Elizabeth as a girl from the lower class and even says that she is not attractive enough, so he would not dance with her. This act emphasizes his rudeness. Darcy is not a bad person. He is intelligent and forthright and similar to Elizabeth. The readers can notice that Darcy is an ideal match for Elizabeth.

However, as the result of his social status, his high birth and wealth, Darcy is overly proud. His haughtiness causes the rejection of his courtship by Elizabeth. When he proposes to her, he is driven rather by the rational approach, than about feelings. He understands that this girl is his perfect match. Although he is well-educated, he does not know how to treat women with respect. Thus, speaking about Elizabeth, Darcy says that she is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me (Austen Ch. 3).

Moreover, according to Darcy, no one among women in the dancing room is worth him. He says that there is not another woman in this room, whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand u with (Austen Ch. 3). His prejudice is caused by the natural feeling of superiority. On the other hand, this characteristic causes peoples negative attitude towards Darcy.

They consider him as a cruel and repulsive person. His prejudice is based on the social status of people. Thus, according to Darcy, people who have lower social status are not interesting and do not worth his attention. This self-absorbed aristocrat needs someone or something to change his life, his attitude to money, and marriage. Falling in love with Elizabeth, Darcy completely changes his character in a better way.

The relation between passion and reason in the novel

Both characters change their attitude to each other during the novel. However, if Darcy does it fast, Elizabeth needs much more time to see the good sides of Darcys personality. Disliking many things in the beginning, Elizabeth starts to reflect rather rational than emotional. She tries to find out the motives of peoples behavior and investigate things. This transformation demonstrates her ability to use her intelligent mind and think rationally.

As the novel progresses, the readers can notice that Elizabeth starts to accept Darcy who demonstrates confesses his feelings to her. If at the beginning of the novel Elizabeth seems more emotional than rational, later, she starts thinking less dependent on the emotions and, therefore, she can see the true attitude of Darcy. On the other hand, Darcy, who previously has rather rational than the emotional mind, confesses that he cannot resist the feelings: In vain have I struggled, it will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you (Austen Ch. 34).

The biggest obstacle Elizabeth has to overcome is the struggle between attraction and prejudice. However, Darcy successfully proves his real attitude to Elizabeth helping to end up her earlier judgment and to turn from complete detestation to passionate love. Nevertheless, the marriage of Darcy and Elizabeth is based on the rational approach. Although both of them are full of emotions, they are completely in love, but this feeling required a long time to grow.

Vice versa, the marriage of Lydia and Wickham is more passionate than the marriage of Darcy and Elizabeth. It is a good example of how passion can be over reason. Lydia as passionate about everything she does. Even in the case of the marriage, she does not want to wait and verify the feelings. Lydia and Wickham did not have enough time to get known to each other well. Becoming very passionate, they decide to get married fast do not think about consequences, and leaving Bennets to be embarrassed and confused.

The marriage between Elizabeth and Darcy seems more reasonable and logical. Two people who had to go through the different emotions, thoughts and to overcome their prejudice finally can be honest with each other and open their real feelings. From the beginning of the novel, Elizabeth demonstrates that no one can discourage and dominate her or to insult her pride. When Lady Catherine says that she does not permit Elizabeth to marry Darcy, this only encourages Elizabeth, making her more confident about this step.

At the same time, Darcy also demonstrates his ability to think independently and rationally and does not let different opinions to influence his decision. When Darcy writes a letter to Elizabeth, describing his emotions, he is driven not only by the emotions but rather a reason that prompts him that Elizabeth is worth his attention. This letter is a key moment that helps Elizabeth to realize her misjudgment and forget about prejudice.

The social world depicted in the novel

The social world depicted in the novel is a reality of the 19th century when social status was the main reason of prejudices. In that world, controversy arose over the ideas of the real purpose of marriage. Many families, and especially those with lower status, considered the marriage of their daughters as a chance to improve the social status and financial position. On the other hand, rich people were proud of their high birth and often inappropriately treat other people.

An example of such an attitude is described by Jane Austen. People in the novel consider marriage as a possibility to improve their social rank and for those who already have a high one, it is necessary to marry someone equal. Therefore, the characters of the novel are motivated by this idea. However, on the other hand, the author wanted to emphasize the importance of true feelings and their higher position about money. It is more important for a couple to be equal in their love despite the financial status.

Although the reality of the 19th century when the social status is the basement of everything and peoples attitude is dictated by their financial situation, love can cause significant changes in peoples character and lead to the transformation of the typical point of view. Pride and prejudice can be changed by the pressure of true feelings and all-triumphant love. Being driven by their prejudices, at the beginning of the novel, Elizabeth and Darcy do not like each other. However, when reason wins over emotions, they change their previous attitude and end up, falling in love with each other. A long way of reflection leads Elizabeth and Darcy to understand that their prejudice is unreasonable.

Works Cited

Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. 

Pride and Prejudice was first issued on 28 January 1813 (Bloom, 1987). This book is considered to be the most well-known of Jane Austens works. This novel is related to one of the first works in the genre of romantic comedy.

The author of the novel Jane Austen (16 December 1775  18 July 1817) belongs to the group of English novelists (Bloom, 1987). The list of her works consists of Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey, and Persuasion (Bloom, 1987). Jane Austin is widely known for her witty comments about society and its activities that together with the perfect usage of irony put her on the level with the best-known novelists of England.

The novel Pride and Prejudice is considered the most famous of the writer as it creates the world that is alive, even though was called by Dorothy Van Ghent time and space. Indeed the location of the story refers to a very limited area and the time described in the novel is very short. The fact that needs consideration refers to the events described by the author. Without doubts, the events that happened played a very significant role in the lives of the main characters (Gilman, 2000). Dorothy Van Ghent describes the novel as a part of the barbarian culture without any worries about God, death, sex, etc. Dorothy Van Ghent does not mention the inner world of the novel and does not cover the feelings of the main characters. The relations of the main characters and the essence of the meaning and plot of the story leave the reader in admiration of the authors magnificent talent of creating alive out of nothing. In her novel, Jane Austen sets a balance between individual requirements, social norms of behavior, and approaches, which makes the reader consider the novel as a certain separator in the formal approach to the society in the authors work. Society and relations of the main heroes are the main themes of the work by Jane Austin. Dorothy Van Ghent mentioned that the time period in the novel leaves no place for mystery. Of course, no mystery could be found within human relations which are indeed the real mystery. The author managed to represent the interrelation between social requirements and individual demands as mutually enriching that fact could be considered as a mystery. The time and space aspects play an auxiliary part and just keep the characters within a certain area in order to provide the activity of the heroes. The authors goal was to identify the formal terms which will show the interrelation between social and personal approaches while the difference between them remains unimpaired (Gilman, 2000). The main difference between the approach of Dorothy Van Ghent and other critics lies in the concept that the world of the novel and the inner world of Jane Austin should be referred to as two different things. The approach of Dorothy Van Ghent is carried out by applying social norms and standards paying practically no attention to the inner world of the characters and the author. The only stated explanation refers to the terms of the time when the heroes lived. Without paying any attention to the concept that the social norms and regulations are constantly changing. That means that what was considered normal at the time of Jane Austin could simply become inapplicable at the times of Dorothy Van Ghent (Gilman, 2000). Another point mentioned by the critic says that the social circumstances in the novel are restricted. This research will try to argue this statement.

The definition of the meaning of the word society must follow a certain approach that imaginable society represents both an aspect and a structure in literature. Throughout history, the term society was defined as a mimicking process of the real world. Different researchers put efforts to identify the number of possible kinds of society in the literature (Bloom, 1987). The conclusion was that that quantity depends on various types of social types that the author created or is able to inhabit but not on the certain needs of the literature.

Jane Austens novel is based on two formally new approaches which identify the society in her work. The first approach corresponds to the possibility of the author to create techniques that allowed her to concentrate at the same time on the requirements and problems of society and those of the characters. The second approach is grounded on the fact that despite the obvious tension between individuals private and social lives, Jane Austin showed the society in the novel as a certain tool that allowed her to represent the heroes in the full depth that they deserved (Bonaparte, 2005). These two approaches are interrelated. The first refers simply to the question of the formal approach of balance between two aspects of the novel; the second approach corresponds to the formal society formal place and also relates to value judgments (Bloom, 1987). Dorothy Van Ghent refers to the novel in the context of highlighting the problem of the developed person with certain feelings and the conditions of his or her social life (Langland, 1984). This question requires discussion. The terms of that time left little freedom to women both social and physical. This approach resulted that the only way out for a woman was left in the marriage act. Then she becomes dependant fully upon her husband and may not think about the future. The social aim is achieved. In return, the husband demands a full submission of his wife. Some people may find it disgusting, but one should not forget about the terms of that time. The only way to ensure the future life lies in the marriage act (Bonaparte, 2005). Another point should be also stated. The considerations for an unmarried woman in the eighteenth century were far from resembling treatment deserved by a woman in the modern world. However, still, the main aim of the majority of women of the modern world lies in the marriage act and future children (Langland, 1984). In the eighteenth century, early marriage acts were a common and widespread tradition. The life of a woman was represented by the above-mentioned actions and then followed by death (Bonaparte, 2005). Jane Austin simply represented the true situation of an eighteen-century woman. There was no time and space in her life but it is only to the terms of that time. Such a rational approach was the only way to survive and to occupy a certain social position when a woman was treated with certain respect (Langland, 1984). The whole life of a woman can be represented with several activities and without doubt marriage act and husband searching process occupies one of the most significant acts in her life. It did not take a lot of time for these activities in the eighteenth century. The result played a more important part in the process than time spend. In a conclusion, it could be said that in order to understand the novel one should understand the terms and conditions of the eighteenth century and try to realize the impact of social pressure on the representatives of that society.

Works Cited

Austen, Jane. 1962. Pride and Prejudice. New York: Scholastic Book Services.

Bloom, Harold, ed. 1987. Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice. New York: Chelsea House Publishers.

Bonaparte, Felicia. 2005. Conjecturing Possibilities: Reading and Misreading Texts in Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice. Studies in the Novel 37, no. 2: 141+.

Gilman, Priscilla. 2000. Disarming Reproof: Pride and Prejudice and the Power of Criticism. Persuasions: The Jane Austen Journal. Accessed 19 May 2007.

Langland, Elizabeth. 1984. Society in the Novel. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press.

In one of the final chapters of Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice, the narrative dwells on the reflections about Lizzy and Mr. Darcys upcoming marriage, relationship, and their stance on love and class. The chapter is devoted to both the new perspective of the relationship between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy and their view on families responses. Hence, to render the emotive component of the chapter, the overall atmosphere of the chapter is an intimate and calm setting, created with the help of interpersonal dialogues between Elizabeth and Darcy and their exclusive point of view on their plotline.

To begin with, throughout the novel, the story of Lizzy and Mr. Darcy, presented mostly from Elizabeths point of view, has been addressed through the lens of social gap and class disparities. Hence, the plotline, which stands for the course of events and features in the novel, left little space for the interaction between the genuine emotions of lovers. Contrary to the tension looming over the first proposal, this chapter demonstrates how letting go of pride and prejudice paves the way to harmony. As a result, the atmosphere of the chapter, which stands for the setting and the environment of the story, manifests intimacy and aspiration to build a future together despite each others flaws.

The intimacy of the setting is presented to the reader at the very beginning of the chapter, as Lizzy and Darcy finally discuss their relationship from the moment they saw each other to define when the feelings sparked in both of them. Although Mr. Darcy says that he cannot remember, as he was in the middle before I knew I had begun, the whole conversation still manifests their pure feelings for each other undefined by class and social burden (Austen, 2003, p. 558).

The calm and confident mood of the setting is also justified by the fact that both Lizzy and Darcy are no longer preoccupied with feelings other than the ones they cherish together, as they feel obligation rather than guilt when informing their relatives about the upcoming marriage. The storm of anger expressed by Lady Catherine was blown over without taking a toll on Mr. Darcy and his future spouse (Austen, 2003, p. 563). Indeed, they understood that by letting go of the frustrating weight of status, the concern for others opinions could turn into pity towards the ones obsessed with class. Hence, it can be concluded that seemingly discomforting comments about the upcoming union were rendered with ease and genuine intimacy between the couple.

While Chapter 60 delights the reader with the expected union of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, major attention should be paid to their separate behavioral patterns rather than their image as a whole. Thus, the final decision to marry each other is a distinct symbol of the characters inner change and growth throughout the story. When speaking of Lizzy in particular, the dynamic of her character is manifested through the reflection on her past behavior, immunity to comments on her social class, and acceptance of Darcys point of view.

While the character of a novel can be represented as flat, round, static, and dynamic, the image of Elizabeth Bennet in Chapter 60 is rendered by Jane Austen as round and dynamic. A round character is a three-dimensional persona who has a complex number of personal traits that resemble real-life individuals. Lizzy is a person who, despite living by moral principles and honesty, frequently perceives the world as black and white, not letting people enter a gray area full of obstacles and challenges. However, in Chapter 60, one may recognize how her perception changes as she accepts and resonates with Darcys point of view on their complex relationship and social status.

Such a change of personality traits justifies the dynamics of her persona. A dynamic character is someone who demonstrates personality change and knowledge, as the story elaborates. In the case of Lizzy, the reader can notice how during the conversation with Mr. Darcy, she manifests understanding and empathy for his feelings and prior concerns about their union. If previously, Elizabeth would be upset with Darcys fear of announcing their union, now, she gently asks Darcy whether he is emotionally ready to break the news to Lady Catherine: Shall you ever have the courage to announce to Lady Catherine what is to befall her? (Austen, 2003, p. 561).

At the end of the chapter, a reader can see how impulsive and idealistic Lizzy becomes a calm and hopeful woman who tolerates snobs for the sake of spending the rest of her life with the man she cherishes: and though the uncomfortable feelings arising from all this took from the season of courtship much of its pleasure, it added to the hope of the future (Austen, 2003, p. 564). This dynamic contributes immensely to the central idea of the novel, as the embodiment of pride and prejudice in Elizabeth and Darcy disappear in the face of genuine feelings. By joining Lizzy on her journey of self-discovery and reflection, readers are able to resonate with the realness of the character and her ability to leave pride and categoricalness in the past.

Reference

Austen, J. (2003). Pride and prejudice. Barnes & Nobles Classics.

Jane Austen authored the title Pride and Prejudice in 1797 for ten months. However, the novel was published in 1813. To help in her writing, Jane Austen used personal experiences of the happenings during that era as the story describes the middle-class life in England. Jane Austen hails from a family of eight, where she was the seventh child. She maintained a good relationship with all her siblings and her parents. To a greater extent, Jane Austens relationships with her parents and her siblings helped develop her novels as they all contributed to the repeating theme of love and social classes. In particular, her father supported and motivated all her siblings to get education. However, for Jane Austen, her motivation to develop the title Pride and Prejudice came mainly from her brother and her need to earn extra money. During the 1800s, Jane Austens life had drifted away from writing as numerous of her family members had gotten ill, and some had died. The situation forced her to move closer to her family, and in this manner, her passion for writing was reignited. As a result, Jane Austens history of a child growing up being surrounded by a supportive family during the late 18th century aided in shaping her writing style and interpretation of the world around her.

The predominant theme of marriage played a critical role in society. However, Jane Austen mocks this idea throughout the period of Pride and Prejudice where each character in the book presents their take on the subject of marriage through their own experiences as demonstrated from earlier on in the book where The irony of the novels opening sentence lies in its assurance in simplification and generalization& the opening hyperbole, for example, contains an element of eccentric delight in human exaggeration (Austen 105). The effect of the statement exposes both the values and perspectives of the character as Mortification, in Jane Austens language, no longer has a religious force& it can still carry a moral, renovative force (Austen 69). In addition, the use of irony has been significantly used to help the various personas in the novel &the irony which operates at three levels, Mrs. Bennets interpretation of other peoples remarks and the new situation created by the presence of an eligible young man, Mr. Bennets responses to his wife, and the ironic perspective established by the narrator& (Odmark 96).

Jane Austen uses marriage as both a central theme of the book and a symbol of the era. For instance, the values that are held by Darcy are revealed due to his outlook on marriage, which furthers his character. In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen makes the basic assumption that a persons outward manners mirror his moral character (Nardin 7). The theme of marriage is established via the symbolic use of letter writing clarified as The true art of letter writing is not simply a communicative technique. It is also a complex experience of feeling and insights, through which an individuals perception and human relationships are defined (Austen 134). As a consequence, marriage symbolizes and supports the primary theme of the novel that love and good intentions are the central premises of a successful marriage.

As the novel develops, the readers understand more of Austens symbolic pieces by witnessing numerous battles between characters due to different values and views. The most important thing to the majority of the characters during this era is marriage and what that image constitutes The one problem in the mind of the writer& is marriageableness. All that interests in any character introduced is still this one, has he or she money to marry with, and conditions conforming? (Austen 33). This drives wedges between the main characters as it unveils their personalities, as seen during the scene of Darcy and Elizabeth at the first ball where he then withdraws his own and coldly refuses to dance with her because she is not handsome enough to tempt me: Elizabeth could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine. (Austen 70). This goes to show how conflicts develop through the novel by permitting symbolic gestures to have the dramatic function of the letter hinges on the emotional interaction of writer and reader. (Brown 131).

The disagreements held between each individual help reveal their true characters while tying in the central theme of staying true to oneself. With Austens character Elizabeth, there is a self-versus society conflict present, as she must weigh the worth of her personal values and what society expects of her This is particularly evident in her thoughts about marriage, which are characterized by a concern with establishing a proper relationship between the demands of personal feeling and the need for financial security (Monaghan 60). On a broader scale, Austen incorporates conflict amongst the characters to unveil the follies of that era. Pride and Prejudice make it clear in small ways and in large that the responsibility of choice cannot be evaded (Barfoot 53).

As each character is unique, there are times when their personalities disagree with others, leading to personal and external conflicts. Jane Austens incorporation of clashing personas propels the plot by creating characters that seem desirable on the surface, but are antagonistic on the inside George Wickham is at once the most plausible and the most villainous of Jane Austens anti-heros: he is handsome, persuasive, personable, disingenuous, calculating& (Austen 81). Austen also uses this as a flaw in Elizabeths character, revealing how She all too readily believes the militia lieutenants defamation of Darcys character& in the second place, Miss Bingley plainly warns Elizabeth about Wickham& but Elizabeth does not believe either of them (Austen 82). This characteristic of arrogance is demonstrated as the Bennets seem to know what is in their best interest and can be viewed as satirical to society during this time Elizabeth has always been confident in knowing the truth, immediately and exactly (Austen 71).

As each individual presents a different view of their society and values, there are numerous themes seen throughout the novel, such as the belief that marriage should be done out of love and that one should hold on to their beliefs. The novel is an ironic gesture towards the value of marriage at that time, as they were solely viewed as a chance to improve social rank as the majority of the couples in the book were lacking affection. There is no personal attraction in any of these relationships, by the marriages are desired out of personal ambition or to enhance the wealth and status of the families (Austen 34). Through the use of the third person, the reader is able to understand multiple perspectives on the topic She sees that no overall view is possible to the single vision, but that an approximation to such a view is possible provided the individual is both retrospective and circumspect (Odmark 49) and appreciate both values presented: marrying for love or marrying for security By having each of the protagonists come to appreciate and to be motivated by the others point of view while maintaining a concern for his own, Austen seeks to do the fullest justice to both sets of values (Nardin 36). Austen also uses her personal experience and values to draw on the topic of the novel (Brown 130).

The scenes held in Pemberly helped create an appreciative and flirtatious atmosphere. While in the Pemberly gardens, Elizabeth realizes the beauties of the surrounding area and notes its extravagance First, she invokes the spacious beauties of Pemberly, both the internal and external& (Odmark 122) and then When Elizabeth has had her fill with all of these domestic and pastoral beauties, they walked across the lawn towards the river& (Austen 125).

The gardens at Pemberly also represented the social structure that was in place in England during the late 1700s. Simply being in the surrounding area of the gardens elevated the characters personalities His behavior at Pemberly to her socially inferior merchant relative, the Gardiners& was more than civil, it was really attentive, and there was no necessity for such attention according to the ordinary rules of propriety (Nardin 19). The significance of the gardens was also seen as playing a part in going against traditional gender roles held during the present time. The garden symbolized the utmost theoretical extension of a young unmarried womans province, where she could be alone outdoors with no loss of safety or propriety& (Austen 119). These chapters of the book help reveal Austens intentions and values in this era The Pemberly scenes, which have transfixed generations of critics, accomplish Austens aesthetic and ethical miracles, even though they previously skirt stereotypes, and they do so triumphantly (Austen 122). The Pemberly gardens also tie into the symbolic theme of the novel as they expose the beauty and luxuriousness of the upper class, but also have a negative stigma placed with them. It is true, as many critics have observed, that Pride and Prejudice evokes a vision of society as governed by the values of the marketplace. Human relations, and especially the marriage relation, are threatened by an excessive emphasis upon money and status (Monaghan 35).

The ironic tone incorporated throughout Pride and Prejudice symbolically demonstrates Austens personal view of the institute of marriage during that time through her characters. This can be viewed as Collins proposal to Elizabeth, and then to Charlotte, is done out of a desire for financial security rather than out of love In a more comic vein, but with his usual deadening air of self-congratulation that is here especially chilling, Mr. Collins announces that he and Charlotte seem to be designed for each other (Barfoot 59). Irony is also used when discussing Darcys ungentlemanlike character, which has an impactful effect on Darcy as he has always prided himself on being well-bred (Monaghan 40).

Irony embedded throughout Pride and Prejudice helps form each unique character by shaping their personalities and distinct traits, which in turn creates a playful atmosphere. Austen lightheartedly makes fun of society as quickly as the opening line of the book, where The opening claim of Pride and Prejudice is either an instance of unalloyed irony or comic hyperbole. Read ironically, and it means a great deal more than it says; read comically, it means a great deal less (Brown 103). One of the most satirical characters is Mr. Bennet, which contributes to the novel by ridiculing others Mr. Bennet, the father of Elizabeth, presents us with some novelty of character; a reserved, acute, and satirical, but indolent personage, who sees and laughs at the follies and indiscretions of his dependents, without making any exertions to correct them (Austen 30).

The main characters in the book bring different points of view, which allow the novel to be enriched with numerous lessons, and the audience gets to witness their true personalities unfold. Austen withholds Darcys true character from Elizabeth by restricting her from seeing his point of view until the revelation of his letter, which then allows her to understand his actions (Brown 129). Elizabeth chose to view Darcys remark as an act of rudeness, and until the revelation of his true character in the middle of the novel, she continues to interpret his least offensive behavior as incivility (Nardin 14).

Pride and Prejudice is a romantic novel. It rejects logic and focuses on the importance of emotion and feelings &Part of the underlying philosophy of Pride and Prejudice is a belief in the intimate bond between intelligence and morality, articulated so well in [critic] Richard Simpsons term intelligent love or [novelist Henry] Jamess emotional intelligence (Brown 107). Pride and Prejudice is her most successful piece. The novel sold over 20 million copies worldwide in the past 200 years. It was well-received by the public as soon as it was released, so much so that Austen stepped forward and took credit for the previously anonymous work. It spread across England and then eventually became frequently conversed about in that region. Pride and Prejudice was an immediate success, soon a popular topic of dinner-table conversation and the object of critics praise (Austen 28).

Her choice of narration and personal values elevate this book beyond her others. Her narrative voice allows her to draw on her personal beliefs and adds a constant throughout the novel In Austen, the story is made meaningful by narrative intrusion; and description or reflection is made meaningful by the story. Jane Austens narrative voice establishes stability in a world of fluctuating opinions and exaggerations& (Brown 106). She also accepts the other evasions and irrationalities of direct dialogue and the cool, clear cadence of the reason of the objective narrative (Brown 106), showing her acknowledgment of the counterargument that she is presenting.

The execution of her book was similar to her others but unique to her time. She drew from her experiences Determined to write only about what she knew, she observed behavior with a perceptive eye and portrayed human traits realistically (Austen 12) to highlight the current society in England Perhaps Austen used sarcasm as a defense and poked fun, so she did not despair over the evil and foolishness she saw in society& that imposed strict expectations and limitations on women (Austen 23).

References

Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. New York: Modern Library, 1995.

Monaghan, David. Pride and Prejudice: Structure and Social Vision. Modern Critical Interpretations of: Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1987. Print.

Barfoot, C.C. Fate and Choice in Pride and Prejudice. Readings on: Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice. Ed. Clarice Swisher. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Print.

Brown, Lloyd. Letters in Pride and Prejudice. Readings on: Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice. Ed. Clarice Swisher. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Print.

Nardin, Jane. Propriety as a Test of Character: Pride and Prejudice. Modern Critical Interpretations of: Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1987. Print.

Odmark, John. The Relationship Between Author and Reader. Readings on: Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice. Ed. Clarice Swisher. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Print.

Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice is an 18^th-century novel of manners set in rural England and portraying the relationships between the four daughters of the Bennet family and their neighbors. While accurately and vividly depicting the manners and social norms of that time, the novel also provides sharp observations on the themes of love, marriage, class, money, education, and social prestige. In this paper, the four main themes of Pride and Prejudice are analyzed. Marriage is the main topic around which the plot revolves. The author illustrates the conflict between marrying for money, which was the typical idea at the time, and marrying for love. In either case, the economic and social differences were obstacles which made it hard for young women from poor families to break out of their social circle. Each persons position in society was determined by their class, and the relations between families also centered around differences in wealth and status. The gender differences also played an important role, as women were considered inferior to men and were practically unable to choose partners. Austen both criticizes and examines the social life of 18^th-century England, advocating for marrying for love as one of the essential female rights.

References

Austen, J. (2016). Pride and prejudice (4^th ed.). W. W. Norton.

Diniz, G. (2020). Women and the discourse of marriage: A critical analysis of Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice. Open Science Journal, 5(4). Web.

Kiren, A., & Awan, A. G. (2017). Critical discourse analysis of Jane Austens novel Pride and Prejudice. Global Journal of Management, Social Sciences and Humanities, 3(3), 482-498.

Morelos-Herrera, A. (2019). Men with issues: Exploring Jane Austens treatment of equality in marriage in Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Persuasion [Masters thesis, California State University]. Web.

Putri, M. A., Bahri, S., & Suswati, R. (2017). Social class in British society in Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice. Journal of Linguistics of FBS UNIMED, 6(1). Web.

Pride and Prejudice: Reaction Paper Introduction

Jane Austen is one of the most classical female authors in the Western literary canon, most famously known for her famous novel Pride and Prejudice. Originally published in 1813, this novel defines classic Regency fiction and is attributed to being a novel of manners, or a piece of writing which provides social commentary and details about the culture and customs of the time, which in this case is 19th century England (Tiwari, 1, p. 75). Austen wrote the novel based on her experience as a rising middle class in England and a reflection of the complex social world for the gentry. Austens social status, familial and personal relationships, and perspectives on politics, religion, marriage, and feminist topics can be attributed as inspiration to Pride and Prejudice.

Reaction Paper about Pride and Prejudice: Summary of Ideas

Chapter 43 of Pride and Prejudice which will be examined for this paper demonstrates several themes that are inherently critical to the novel and represent its overall nature. The chapter begins with Elizabeth and her aunt and uncle arriving at Pemberley which is a manor with a large property. They are shown around the house by the housekeeper, as the design and furniture are described in detail regarding tastefulness and elegance, as well as the wealth of this house as Elizabeth dreams of living here. Austen writes, The rooms were lofty and handsome, and their furniture suitable to the fortune of its proprietor; but Elizabeth saw, with admiration of his taste, that it was neither gaudy nor uselessly fine; with less of splendour, and more real elegance, than the furniture of Rosings (Austen, 2).

Furthermore, the housekeeper describes the owner Mr. Darcy as a generous, responsible and kind man, which further stirs interest in Elizabeth. To her, this is a representation of her ideals, the tasteful house and a powerful upper-class man which also demonstrates compassion and commitment to family. Austen is highlighting the role that socioeconomic class and the manner that one portrayed oneself at this time played a vital role in finding a partner for marriage. It was a matter of pride for a gentleman to be perceived as well-mannered and elegant.

In the latter part of the chapter, Elizabeth and her family by chance encounter Mr. Darcy. They have all held a relatively negative opinion of him from a scuffled previous encounter and rumors. However, the way that the housekeeper described Mr. Darcy and his behavior at Pemberley made everyone see him completely differently. Elizabeth thought to herself His wish of introducing his sister to her was a compliment of the highest kind. They soon outstripped the others, and when they had reached the carriage (Austen, 1). These aspects are a demonstration of the theme of prejudice since Elizabeths family was inherently prejudiced towards Mr. Darcy before, but hearing such high praise as well as experiencing his social mannerisms change their perspective. Therefore, he is now established in their eyes as a suitable man and husband, leading to the discussion of marriage.

Austen is attempting to demonstrate the concept of courtship within the context of middle and upper-class England. While personal feelings do come into play for Elizabeth, her perceptions of marriage and her suitor are strongly dependent on his wealth, class, as well as social mannerisms. She is excited by his presentation, which can be described as both a representation of character, but also can be a façade for social purposes. Austen most likely attempts to highlight how predictable and role-played courtship was, and the ultimate pride and prejudice which served as key themes in selecting a partner and receiving the approval of the family. As a novel directed at the female target audience, Austen may potentially be both criticizing as well as highlighting the nuances of this social interaction.

Authors Strategy

Pride and Prejudice has withstood the test of time and has become a popular novel amongst the target audience and literary critics. First, Austen emphasizes the core of romance in the plot, using exquisite detail to describe the emotions felt by the protagonists. The romantic stories, scandals, and courtship rivalries define the social interactions and protocols of the time. Despite many of the social aspects not applying in current times, the human elements remain relatable, ranging from comedic to dramatic moments. Furthermore, the relatability of the characters as kind and good people, make the characters such as Elizabeth associable with the soft feminine nature. Austen appeals to the very human nature of young women, seeking romance and love. It remains an enduring classic about the instinct to pursue happiness and fight for such fate.

The belief that generous and affectionate people have a hope of obtaining their peace and happiness. In their courtship, Elizabeth and Darcey fundamentally reach some level of self-awareness and form a greater intimate relationship. Historically, the novel made a tremendous impact, significantly due to the style of Austens writing and relatability of the plot. It has become a cultural phenomenon and a social commentary on the strength of human nature (Walsh, 3).

My Pride and Prejudice Reflection

The reading was inherently interesting to analyze from the context of comparing social elements among times while examining the human psychology that Austen highlights in her writing. The reading had an impact on me by instigating the thoughts of why my romantic relationships existed and how they began. Despite a difference in times, many romantic partners often consider material wealth and social status as a criterion in marriage. While most people would not readily admit this, citing emotions and personal connection as the cause of attraction, wealth and power still has relevance. Therefore, it poses the question of whether it was better to be open about it as the novel describes 19th century England or be less direct about it as in modern times. In my relationships, that may be a topic I would want to discuss with my partner.

References

Rekha Tiwari. 2018. Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice: Class and Society, Marriage and Women. Journal of Rajasthan Association for Studies in English. vol. 14. p. 72-84. 

Jane Austen. 1813. Pride and Prejudice. Chapter 43. 

John Walsh. 2013. Austen power: 200 years of Pride and Prejudice. 

Introduction

Jane Austens work occupies one of the leading places in British literary history and remains relevant from the Victorian era to the present. The novel Pride and Prejudice describes the love story of a young lady Elizabeth Bennett and an aristocrat Mr. Darcy, developing in the complex context of the English society in the early 19th century. The reader sees the reflection of the mores and the morality that prevailed among Englands provincial nobility at that time in the characters of the novels heroes.

The fundamental opposition of gender consciousness in masculinity and femininity permeates the very concept of artistic creation. The turn of the 20-21 centuries can be considered significant in the mainstream of a conscious focus on the figurative and aesthetic perception of gender relations in society. It contributes to the most complete and detailed disclosure of the dichotomy feminine  masculine not only in the content essence of the images of literary heroes but also in the artistic poetics of a literary work. The purpose of this essay is to analyze gender stereotypes about women and their role in Pride and Prejudice. The main argument is that sexism of the Victorian era is revealed along with the social inequalities that existed at the time and represented through the authors specific personal vision.

Analysis

Authors of womens prose transfer a particular emphasis on heroines gender roles, which dictates the specifics of the poetics of their works, revealing the inner world of female characters. Critics traditionally argue that womens prose heroines tend to demonstrate the absence of high ideals and life goals, and their life is prone to routine (Anderson). However, with the help of this everyday life, the individuality and ambiguity of female characters inner world are revealed. The fluidity of days and nights alternating one after another contributes to building a unique narrative plan.

As a rule, many female authors works contain indications of the love experiences of the heroines or related to them by the emotional manifestation of experiences due to the lack of love. Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice looks at the problem of how to adapt love to the rules of marriage, which may seem to have little place in this feeling.

The novel defends the merits and dignity of these rules while at the same time assuming that love (a feeling very few people have in the novel) is what makes it possible for married people to play by the rules. The first line of the novel introduces the concept of marriage in terms of money: It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife (Austen 43).

The narrator continues that such a person however little known the feelings or views can be considered the rightful property of the neighbors daughters (Austen 43). The reader has to guess if this applies to Mrs. Bennett and others such as her, not burdening themselves with this feeling, since they are determined to decent marriages, or is it a universal rule. An analog of the universal rule  rich single young people want to have wives  is the following: a woman without a fortune needs a husband. Jane Austen supports this rule, Elizabeth Bennett, for example, will never marry for money, as does Mrs. Bennetts conviction.

Pride and Prejudice, however, shows Jane Austens awareness of the following question: the need for money is a problem for a failing woman. Mr. Collins rudely tells Elizabeth that Your portion is unhappily so small that it will in all likelihood undo the effects of your loveliness and amiable qualifications (Austen 139). Her mother warns her that if she does not accept Mr. Collins offer, I am sure I do not know who is to maintain you when your father is dead (Austen 143). Money and social status not only pose a problem for marriage but also for the feeling itself.

The differences between Elizabeth and Darcy are what lead to her prejudice and his pride. If she were as rich as he is, it would be much easier for him to propose to her, as well as for her to accept it. In this situation, he has to learn to understand and respect the prevailing circumstances before feeling that she can easily marry him. Elizabeth views love as something that complements the human essence, with aesthetic value. She is sure that she and Darcy can bring into each others characters what they lacked: She began now to comprehend that he was exactly the man, who, in disposition and talents, would most suit her.

His understanding and temper, though unlike her own, would have answered all her wishes. It was a union that must have been to the advantage of both (Austen 318). When at the end of the novel, Jane asks Elizabeth how much she loved him, she replies almost frivolously that it happened when she saw his beautiful grounds at Pemberley. Diniz claims that Jane Austen did not assume her desire to get wealth. In addition to material reasons, there were also aesthetic ones: that to be mistress of Pemberley might be something (Austen 259). For Elizabeth, the mansion represents everything that is lacking in her life and what she aspires to. It is an embodiment and a symbol of what their life with Darcy could be like.

Before coming to Pemberley, Elizabeth turned down two marriage proposals made on the assumption that being a woman and in a financially constrained state, she would unconditionally agree to marry. Elizabeth takes marriage very seriously. She is as shocked by Darcys accusations against Wickham as by Lydia and Wickhams illegal marriage. After Lydia and Wickham got married, she feels disgusted at their self-confidence.

Elizabeth regrets that Lydia and Wickham should get married and believes that how little of permanent happiness could belong to a couple who were only brought together because their passions were stronger than their virtue (Austen 318). She deeply worries that a woman should get married to preserve her honor. She cannot approve of being married to someone whose lack of dignity and true love is so apparent.

Lydias marriage is analogous to Charlottes but more carefree and dishonest. When Lydia says that sure they should be married some time or other, the reader hears Charlottes words, who, having accepted an offer from Mr. Collins for the sake of position in society, cared not how soon that establishment were gained (Austen, 289). Elizabeth firmly believes that marriage is unnecessary for a woman, as she believes that her responsibilities should not be taken so easily.

Conclusion

This essay shows the influence of two factors on the reinforcement of sexist stereotypes in Pride and Prejudice: the social inequality reflected in the work and the authors unique way of constructing femininity and masculinity. The analysis included development of this argument based on original work of Austen and evidence found in the critics endeavors. The results demonstrate that it is inappropriate to reduce the initial opposition to a single subject of artistic depiction since it is primarily inherent in the authors view of the world (Awan and Nasir).

Thus, referring to womens prose, critics consider gender a socio-cultural construct that allows the reader to observe the diversity of combinations of femininity and masculinity (Pelden et al.). It is this variety of combinations that forms the typology and poetics of female creativity.

Jane Austens work played a special role in forming the female prose of the Victorian era, thereby having a significant impact on the works of her followers. An analysis of Jane Austens prose convinces that the authors genders implicit signs can be quite reliably established in the literary text. In her novel, Jane Austen, proclaiming love, reflects on family relationships, establishes connections between love and the desire for power and wealth, reveals the ambiguous nature of passion and the need to suppress it.

Works Cited

Anderson, Kathleen. Jane Austens Women: An Introduction. SUNY Press, 2018.

Austen, Jane. Pride and prejudice. Broadview Press, 2001.

Awan, Abdul Ghafoor, and Ambreen Ali Nasir. Matrimonial issues and Marxist approach in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin. Global Journal of Management, Social Sciences and Humanities, vol.4, no.3, 2018, 651-676.

Pelden, Sonam, et al. Ladies, Gentlemen and Guys: The Gender Politics of Politeness. Social Sciences, vol. 8, no. 2, 2019. Web.

Introduction to Jane Austen and her Novels

In the beginning, when Jane Austen started writing her novels, she was not a well-known author in her time. Today, all her books, “Pride and Prejudice” and “Persuasion” have been known as classic novels. Jane was born in England during the Georgian era. She had seven siblings. In her household, education was very important to them. Her parents sent Cassandra, the oldest sibling, and Jane to a boarding school to receive a good education. Jane died from Addison’s disease, and during that time, she was writing her novels, and when she became weak, she stopped writing. Jane received recognition for her books that were published, and after her death, she became one of the greatest writers.

Pride and Prejudice: Interplay of Pride and Prejudice

The novel Pride and Prejudice begins with Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, who have five daughters. Jane, the oldest, is considered the most beautiful daughter, according to Mrs. Bennet. The daughter closest to Mr. Bennet is Elizabeth. The first couple of chapters talk about how men with good fortune look for a wife to marry. Mrs. Bennett hears a rumor from the town that two wealthy men came to visit their town. She really wants Jane, her most beautiful daughter, to be wed to Mr. Bingley. She suggested to her husband to introduce them at the ball. However, Mr. Bennet is hesitant about introducing them to Mr. Bingley. He later decides to meet with Mr. Bingley at a public ball. When Mr. Bingley arrives at the ball, he comes with his dear friend, Mr. Darcy. At the ball, Mr. Bennet decides to introduce his family to Mr. Bingley. Mr. Bennet’s daughters are overjoyed that they all made a new acquaintance.

Mr. Bingley dances with Jane most of the night, and in private, Bingley tells Darcy that Jane is the most beautiful creature he has ever seen. Bingley suggests to Darcy that he should dance with Elizabeth, but he rejects his proposal as he does not think she is pretty enough to tempt him. When they were both speaking, Lizzy overheard the comment Mr. Darcy made towards her, and she disliked him, as he was arrogant. Some days passed, and the Bennet family received a letter from Mr. Bingley requesting to have Jane join them at their house for dinner. However, Mrs. Bennet, being mischievous, as she knows that it will rain, decides to have Jane go on horseback. She knew Jane would get sick, but not to the point where she could die. When Jane arrived, she caught a cold. When she arrived, she was well taken care of by one of the best doctors.

Jane sent a letter to her family, letting them know that she was fine. Lizzy decided to go visit her sister, and she did so by walking. When she arrived, Bingley’s sisters were judgmental towards Lizzy, as the hem of her dress was covered in dirt. Later, the entire family decides to visit Lizzy to see how she is doing and notices she is better-taken care of at Mr. Bingley’s house than she would have been cared for at their house. The protagonist in the story is Elizabeth Bennet. She is a woman who is not so concerned about being wed. She prefers to read and be educated.

Social Class and Gender Roles in “Pride and Prejudice”

The theme of this book is about social class. When you think of what social class was considered in the Georgian era, you must think of how much land a person owned. In the novel, the men who had a fortune were the ones who owned several or big estates, like Mr. Darcy of Pemberley and Mr. Bingley. When a woman gets married to a wealthy man, it allows them to have a prosperous life. To not be married means they weren’t financially secure. Also, in this era, women did not have women’s rights. There were arranged marriages since birth, like Mr. Darcy had an arranged marriage with Lady Catherine’s daughter. The roles women had at this time were to get married, be housewives, and have children. Mr. Bennet and Mrs. Bennet had a total of five children, who were females. They were a burden to the family because they had older daughters who were not married. When Lizzy went to visit her sister Jane at Mr. Bingley’s estate, Lizzy had a conversation with Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley, and his sisters.

Mr. Darcy and Bingley’s sisters agreed on the fact that an accomplished woman must have knowledge of characteristics in order to deserve the world. Today, in society, social class is determined by the type of career or diploma received. That is not the only thing a person could do to be considered accomplished. There are many people today who become rich and famous by just making videos on YouTube. There are many celebrities today who receive a large income by just having drama in their life, and it’s broadcast for everyone to see. To have the latest technology, cars, and brand-name clothes labels you as being rich or upper class. Criticism today is not as harsh as it was back then when people judged you because you didn’t come from a wealthy family. Today, we do not have to get married to family relatives, but there are still some people who want to get married to their cousins.

Women do not have to get married to a rich man in order to have financial support, as women have become more independent. We have freedom of speech, where women today can be noticed. We have the freedom that many people in past eras wished they could have. Do you wonder why the book is called Pride and Prejudice? Well, to my understanding, throughout the story, we can see how Lizzy has a pride that gets in the way of her opening up to anyone. When she was at the ball and overheard Mr. Darcy say that Lizzy wasn’t very attractive, she held a grudge towards him.

In her eyes, she saw Mr. Darcy as being arrogant with great fortune and so little respect. She didn’t agree with many facts that Darcy stood for of what a woman should have in order to deserve the world. Mr. Darcy was prejudiced since he stepped foot in town. He didn’t think anyone there could live up to his expectations. Darcy was the type of man who was educated and upper class. He let his fortune sometimes take the best of him. Both Lizzy and Darcy let their pride get in the way of getting to know each other better.

Comparing Past and Present: Society’s Evolving Norms

Today, in our society, when we like someone, we are more straightforward towards them. We don’t wonder if he or she might like us and never speak to them. Instead, when you were in middle school, you sent them a letter asking them if they liked you and to circle yes or no. We also use technology to make the person notice us or to send them a message. There have been times when women have made the first move. They go towards the guy and let them know they like them and want to date.

In the past, the men were the only ones who made the first move. It was considered to be the respectful way to start a relationship. The writer feels that today, in society, a woman has it easier than in the past. There were no women’s rights in the past, which made it harder for a girl to succeed. As a matter of fact, females were not noticed. If a woman had some type of fortune and she married, the money she had would automatically be her husband’s money.

The man was the head of the household and would be in control of all finances and practically everything. A woman could not speak and embarrass her husband as it was considered disrespectful. She doesn’t agree with the fact that there were arranged marriages and that a woman couldn’t be independent in the past. She wished women in the past had a choice of who they would like to marry. There are still some arranged marriages, but it’s not as common as before. We live in a society today where everyone has freedom. It is beautiful to see how society in the past had more respect than there is today in the society we live in. Sometimes, we take things for granted and don’t realize how life is so much easier for us, specifically in the United States. We should appreciate even the small things in life because you never know how big it might turn out.

References:

Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice.

Entailment in “Pride and Prejudice”

Entail (en-tail) – A restriction, especially of lands, by limiting the inheritance to the owner’s lineal descendants or to a particular class thereof. In Pride and Prejudice, the entailment was owning a piece of land that is kept in one family and made them more wealthy and of higher class. The oldest, closest male in the family must be next in line to inherit the entailment, and in the case of the book, Mr. Collins was the next in line, and the land was the village of Longbourn.

Mrs. Bennet was the cousin of Mr. Collins through marriage, and she had five daughters whom she strived to get married to in order to be a part of the entailment. Issues arose in the midst of trying to gain this entailment. Jane Austen sought to address those issues. One of the biggest issues, in my belief, was the desperation of Mrs. Bennet to get one of her daughters married after learning about the death of her husband, Mr. Bennett. When the dominant male of a family dies, it causes a struggle for the women of the family, especially ones that were in their class, so it was either the struggle or marrying someone of wealth that would pull them out of it.

19th Century Women: Marriage and Independence

Traditional Role of Women

Jane Austen’s take on the 19th-century woman was much like the real 19th-century woman of that time. If you were married, you automatically must submit to your husband, and you were not independent. The only way that you were able to be wealthy and have class was through your wealthy husband. A woman’s goal and overall purpose in life was marriage. Pride and Prejudice’s entailment was an advantage that came with marriage. Mrs. Bennett’s obsession with getting her daughters married to inherit the entailment was one issue that arose. Mr. Benett’s death was the reason that they would not be able to live in Longbourn.

The whole point of the entail was for the family inhabiting the area to stay in it instead of another family gaining it. Mr. Collins would be fixing the problem by marrying one of the Bennet sisters. Leading up to that, Mrs. Bennet starts to grow a dislike for Mr. Collins, which causes her to miss the point by letting her greed for the wealth and class of her daughters overshine everything else. This was a weird thing because she was also forcing Elizabeth to marry Collins. Nothing says or nothing goes in the eyes of Mrs. Bennett until one of her daughters is married.

Unfairness of Entailment and Marital Pursuits

Although Mrs. Bennett was missing the point of entailment because of greed and dislike for Mr. Collins for a while, the entailment was indeed an unfair settlement. Having no sons next in line of entailment, Mrs. Bennett’s daughters would inherit little to none of the property and income. However, Mrs. Bennett would inherit the majority of it. Still, then, this drive for marriage for wealth was still there, although the sole purpose of marriage was love and not wealth.

References

1. Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice.
2. Smith, John. “Gender Roles and Marriage in 19th Century England.”
3. Johnson, Mary. “Wealth and Class in Austen’s Novels: A Socioeconomic Analysis.”

Introduction

Does the amount of pride one possesses relate to the amount of prejudice they have towards others? Everyone has heard of the classic Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. The entire book revolves around the characters’ gossip and reputations. The hasty, harsh judgments made by most of the characters reflect the importance of status and reputation in England in the 1800s. This status, as well as how someone views themself, has an effect on these judgments they make. The amount of hubris, or excessive pride, someone has in themselves creates prejudice and hasty judgments towards others.

Elizabeth’s Hubris and Prejudice

Elizabeth carries a lot of pride in herself, and this is shown through the way she speaks to others and how she carries herself in general. She uses her first judgment of someone, also known as bias or prejudice, as her definite opinion of who they are. She is completely confident in her ability to judge others correctly, as she says that “those who never change their opinion” need “to be secure of judging properly at first.”

Not only is she warning others of using the incorrect judgment of someone indefinitely, but she is backing up the fact that her opinions of others don’t change because she is completely confident that she judges others properly. Her hubris is clouding her initial prejudice against others and prevents her from seeing how her judgment is incorrect. When talking to Mr. Wickham, she says, “I have never desired your good opinion… my opinion of you was decided,” which shows her dependence on her prejudice regarding others as well as her hubris, as it took a lot of pride for women to speak to men like that in their time setting.

Darcy’s Hubris and Harsh Judgments

Darcy’s reputation and social class create his hubris, which clouds his judgments of others. He makes harsh, hasty, and incorrect judgments of others because he compares everyone to the overblown image he has of himself. When Elizabeth is first pointed out to Darcy, he regards her as “tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt” him. Such a harsh prejudice against someone he hasn’t ever spoken to can only come from hubris. Darcy’s hubris results in him holding himself above everyone else he meets, which creates hasty and incorrect judgments of others.

Darcy is also inflexible when it comes to changing his opinion. He states that once someone loses his “‘good opinion’,” that opinion is “lost forever.” Not only is he completely confident in his first judgment of others, but he is also stating that once someone has lost his respect (whether valid or not), that person is never worthy of his respect again. This shows his hubris as well since he believes his respect is something others are not worthy of. Because of this, he uses his initial opinion of someone to define who they are to him. This judgment is also usually incorrect, as it is based on his view of himself compared to others as opposed to seeing who they really are.

Jane’s Humility and True Judgment

Jane is a rare example of a character in Pride and Prejudice who tries to think the best of people when she first meets them. Since she is open to the positive aspects of people, she is more likely to have an accurate judgment of their character. Other characters speak of how she “never see(s) a fault in anybody” and that they have “never heard (her) speak ill of a human being in (her) life.” Jane is definitely not as outspoken and opinionated as her sister, Elizabeth, which shows how she has less pride in herself. It’s not that she doesn’t have pride in herself; she just doesn’t have pride to the point where it becomes hubris and clouds her judgment of others. She carries herself with composure, not arrogance. Jane does not partake in the gossip that happens throughout the book, which shows her polite respect towards others and that she is not blinded by her view of herself when speaking about others.

Lessons from Austen’s Narrative

The article “Jane Austen and Social Judgement” by Kathryn Sutherland touches on the importance of opinions in Pride and Prejudice, “Opinion substitutes for truth… novels can teach readers the essential skills of interpreting character and learning to live in a society” (Sutherland, 2014). Austen uses the hasty judgment and excessive pride of her characters to teach her audience the importance of observation and truth over instant opinion and bias. She also utilizes the character of Jane to showcase how one should handle one’s pride and the prejudice they create against others. Jane does not exude excessive amounts of pride; therefore, she does not make hasty or false judgments of others.

Conclusion

Characters in Pride and Prejudice display the connection between excessive pride and prejudice towards others. Austen uses this to criticize the importance of reputation and status when thinking of oneself and referring to others over humility and true judgment of character. Darcy and Elizabeth showcase what occurs when hubris clouds the perception of others, and Jane displays how humility allows one to have a clear perception of others. Even though Pride and Prejudice was set in England in the early 1800s, many lessons from the characters and the messages Austen exhibits throughout the book can still be applied in the present.

References:

1. Austen, Jane. “Pride and Prejudice.” Project Gutenberg, 28 Jan. 2021. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1342/1342-h/1342-h.htm
2. Sutherland, Kathryn. “Jane Austen and Social Judgement.” Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Literature, 2014. https://oxfordre.com/literature/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190201098.001.0001/acrefore-9780190201098-e-264