pride and prejudice

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
.
Jane Austen began her second novel, Pride and Prejudice, before she was
twenty-one. It was originally titled First Impression because the appearances of
the characters created the plot of the novel. However, because the novel is also
concerned with the effects of the character’s first impressions, that is their
prejudice, Austen found the title Pride and Prejudice more appropriate.

Pride and Prejudice, similar to other Austen novels, is written in gentle or
Horacian satire. The main object of Austen’s satire in the novel is the
mercenary and the ignorance of the people, a common criticism of the 18th
century. Characters in the novel which best carries these qualities are:

Mrs. Bennet, a foolish woman who talks too much and is obsessed with getting her
daughters married;
Lydia Bennet, the youngest of the Bennet daughter who is devoted to a life of
dancing, fashions, gossips and flirting; and
Mr. Williams Collins, the silly and conceited baboon who is completely stupify
by Lady Catherine in every aspect of his life that he has forgotten his own
morals and duty.

The tone of the novel is light, satirical, and vivid. Scenes such as Mr. Collins
proposal to Elizabeth, and Lady Catherine visits to Lizzy at Longbourn, provides
comic relief to the reader while at the same time revealing certain traits of
the characters. For example, Lydia’s lack of common sense and responsibility is
revealed when she takes pride in being the first Bennet girl to be married.
Lydia does not take into consideration the circumstance of her marriage, the
personality of her husband, or the prospects of their marriage for the future.
Elizabeth Bennet’s ability to laugh off her misfortune and to continue to be
optimistic, considering her situation, also contributes to the tone of the
novel.

The point of view in Pride and Prejudice is limited omniscient; the story is
told through Elizabeth, but not in first person. As a result, the mood of the
novel lacks dramatic emotions. The atmosphere is intellectual and cold; there
are little descriptions of the setting. The main actions of the novel are the
interactions between opinions, ideas, and attitudes, which weaves and advances
the plot of the novel. The emotions in the novel are to be perceived beneath the
surface of the story and are not to be expressed to the readers directly.

Austen’s powers of subtle discrimination and shrewd perceptiveness is revealed
in Pride and Prejudice; she is able to convey such a complex message using a
simple, yet witty, style.

The main subject in the novel is stated in the first sentence of the novel: "It
is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good
fortune, must be in want of a wife." In this statement, Austen has cleverly done
three things: she has declared that the main subject of the novel will be
courtship and marriage, she has established the humorous tone of the novel by
taking a simple subject to elaborate and to speak intelligently of, and she has
prepared the reader for a chase in the novel of either a husband in search of a
wife, or a women in pursuit of a husband.

The first line also defines Austen's book as a piece of literature that connects
itself to the 18th century period. Pride and Prejudice is 18th century because
of the emphasis on man in his social environment rather than in his individual
conditions. The use of satire and wit, a common form of 18th century literature,
also contributes to label the book as 18th century. However, because Austen had
allowed personal feelings of the characters to be expressed in her work, she can
also be classified as Romantic. In the figure of Elizabeth, Austen shows passion
attempting to find a valid mode of existence in society. Passion and reason also
comes together in the novel to show that they are complementary of marriage.

There are seven different marriages presented in the novel. Excluding the
Gardiner and the Lucas, the remaining five marriages contrasts each other to
reveal Austen’s opinions and thoughts on the subject of marriage.

The marriage between Darcy and Elizabeth reveals the characteristics that
constitute a successful marriage. One of these characteristics is that the
feeling cannot be brought on by appearances, and must gradually develop between
the two people as they get to know one another. In the beginning, Elizabeth and
Darcy were distant from each other because of their prejudice. The series of
events which they both experienced gave them the opportunity to understand one
another and the time to reconcile their feelings for each other. Thus, their
mutual understanding is the foundation of their relationship and will lead them
to a peaceful and lasting marriage. This relationship between Elizabeth and
Darcy reveals the importance of getting to know one’s partner before marrying.

The marriage between Jane Bennet and Bingley is also an example of successful
marriage. Austen, through Elizabeth, expresses her opinion of this in the novel:

"....really believed all his [Bingley] expectations of felicity, to be
rationally founded, because they had for basis the excellent understanding, and
super-excellent disposition of Jane, and a general similarity of feeling and
taste between her and himself." (Chapter 55)

However, unlike Darcy and Elizabeth, there is a flaw in their relationship. The
flaw is that both characters are too gullible and too good-hearted to ever act
strongly against external forces that may attempt to separate them:

"You [Jane and Bingley] are each of you so complying, that nothing will ever be
resolved on; so easy, that every servant will cheat you; and so generous, that
you will always exceed your income." (Chapter 55)

Obviously, Lydia and Wickham’s marriage is an example of a bad marriage. Their
marriage was based on appearances, good looks, and youthful vivacity. Once these
qualities can no longer be seen by each other, the once strong relationship will
slowly fade away. As in the novel, Lydia and Wickham’s marriage gradually
disintegrates; Lydia becomes a regular visitor at her two elder sister’s home
when "her husband was gone to enjoy himself in London or Bath." Through their
relationship, Austen shows that hasty marriage based on superficial qualities
quickly cools and leads to unhappiness.

Although little is told of how Mr. Bennet and Mrs. Bennet got together, it can
be inferred by their conversions that their relationship was similar to that of
Lydia and Wickham--Mr. Bennet had married a woman he found sexually attractive
without realizing she was an unintelligent woman. Mrs. Bennet’s favoritism
towards Lydia and her comments on how she was once as energetic as Lydia reveals
this similarity. Mr. Bennet’s comment on Wickham being his favorite son-in-law
reinforces this parallelism. The effect of the relationships was that Mr. Bennet
would isolate himself from his family; he found refuge in his library or in
mocking his wife. Mr. Bennet’s self-realization at the end of the novel in which
he discovers that his lack of attention towards his family had led his family to
develop the way they are, was too late to save his family. He is Austen’s
example of a weak father. In these two latter relationships, Austen shows that
it is necessary to use good judgement to select a spouse, otherwise the two
people will lose respect for each other.

The last example of a marriage is of a different nature than the ones mentioned
above. The marriage between Mr. Collins and Charlotte is based on economics
rather than on love or appearance. It was a common practice during Austen’s time
for women to marry a husband to save herself from spinsterhood or to gain
financial security. In Pride and Prejudice, Austen dramatizes gender inequality
and shows that women who submit themselves to this type of marriage will have to
suffer in tormenting silence as Charlotte does:

"When Mr. Collins said any thing of which his wife might reasonably be ashamed,
which certainly was not unseldom, she [Elizabeth] would involuntarily turned her
eye on Charlotte. Once or twice she could discern a faint blush; but in general
Charlotte wisely did not hear." (Chapter 28)

These five marriages contribute to the theme that a happy and strong marriage
takes time to build and must be based on mutual feeling, understanding, and
respect. Hasty marriages acting on impulse, and based on superficial qualities
will not survive and will lead to inevitable unhappiness.

In Pride and Prejudice, Austen has denounced the elements of marriage and
society that she found distasteful. These are the conclusions of her observation
of the people in her world. However in her writing, Jane has also reflected her
own enjoyment in life among these people with and without their faults.


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Recent Forum Posts on Pride and Prejudice
help me understand
I'm reading Pride & Prejudice with difficulty. Some sentences are confusing me.
Can somebody explain in plain English what these sentences mean? - Chapter 2:
Mrs. Long and her nieces must stand their chance; and therefore, as she will
think it an act of kindness, if you decline the office, I will take it on
myself. - Chapter 4: They were in fact very fine ladies; not deficient in good
humour when they are pleased, nor in the power or being agreeable where they
chose it; - Chapter 4: They were of a respectable family in the north of
England, a circumstance more deeply impressed on their memories than that their
brother's fortune and their own had been acquired by trade. - Chapter 4: Mr.
Bingley had not been of age two years, when he was tempted by an accidental
recommendation to look at Netherfield House. Thank you so much.
Mr. Collins
I find him incredibly amusing. I wonder how a person like that can manage to
live with themselves. It's sickening to a certain extent. What I don't
understand is what Austen is trying to do with him. I see that she is creating
almost a caricature of a person, rather than a person, but why? Indeed, there
are 'annoying' and 'shallow' people in the world, but that doesn't seem a good
enough reason. Austen must have intended something deeper through Collins. I am
probably not seeing it and all you are thinking it's quite obvious. Any
thoughts?
[Pride & Prejudice] any comparison and contrast on marriage issues?
i'm doing a research paper on P&P. and i badly need your help. any comparison
and contrst that i can talk about of the novel? does Jane Austen apply this kind
of tactic in P&P if so, how? especially on marriage issues and love affairs i
focus on the four marriage, two Goods, two Bads (or too good and too bad)
Elizabeth vs. Darcy Jane vs. Bingley Lydia vs. Wickham Charlotte vs. Collins how
does Austen make comparison and contrast? i really need your help thanks!!!!!!!


Help pride and prejudice
Hey everyone I need help with identifying the focalizer in the passage of Pride
and Prejudice volume 1, chapter 17, pg. 64-65, who's the focaizer? Also, is this
an irony--> They were soon gone again, rising from their seats with an activity
which took their brother by surprise, and hurrying off as if eager to escape
from Mrs. Bennet's civilities...pg. 65 Also, wondering if anyone's done an
english degree here? Please and thnks

Pride & Prejudice Assistance
ok i need a bit of assistance with completing my pride and prejudice novel
review packet, and i was wondering if you wouldn't mind helping me out. 1.What
are some of the symbols in the novel? 2.What is the significance of the opening
scene? Closing scene? {i wasnt sure about this one but i was thinking for the
beginning ms.bennet was wanting for one of her daughters to get married so their
house wouldn't be taken away from them. For the ending i was thinking how not
only did ms.bennet have one married daughter, but she had 4/5 of them married}
3. What is this novel's setting?? 4.What genre is this novel?



About Pride and Prejudice
I'm doing an essay on this book for year 11, and the question is 'how does
society influence the actions of the people'?? Am i supposed to discuss the
themes, because the way I've structured it is by writing a paragraph about each
character and giving an example of traits that can be attributed to the society
and era's norms. Would the teacher want me to discuss the themes presented in
the book??


Development in Pride and Prejudice?
Development..


Pride and prejudice. Help ? ^_^
Hello ! :] Okay, I'm a french student, and I'm learning english literature... I
need help for a question I don't understand... I've got an extract of the
beginning of the 1st chapter (line 1 to 45) of the book : Pride and Prejudice
And here's the question : Analyse the extract as the beginning of a domestic
novel. I just don't understand what's a "domestic novel" and how I could analyse
it ... :/ Can anyone help me please ? (I'm not sure it's the good forum o_o)



letter from mr. bennet
Ok hi I'm new I need help with this: Write a letter from Mr. Bennet to a friend
telling them about Mrs. Bennet what she is like how you like to wind her up etc.
thankyou
i

. desperate
Hi all, for those of you who don't know. The extended essay is a 4000 word essay
that is crucial to the IB Diploma. Failure to submit it would result in me not
receiving a diploma. Extended essays must have very focused research questions
which lend themselves to a great deal of analysis. My Extended Essay first draft
is due Monday, the 1st of September. That is in four days. I am having a really
hard time finding a topic. That is all I need. I am this far and without a topic
because my initial subject was history, over the summer I decided I would change
to English and that way I wasted four months. I also decided I will write my
essay on Austen's Pride and Prejudice. So that is final. I have a few ideas too,
but I can't seem to get anything concrete, I have been at this for a month now
and it is driving me insane. PLEASE, someone help me figure out my topic so I
can sit down in two days and write my essay in 48 hours non stop. I was thinking
of doing something on civility/propriety in the novel but there are so many
things to look at that I just end up losin myself. I do think that the topic of
civility/propriety is my first choice. I need this to be focused a lot more
though. And there seem to be so many aspects of civility that I cannot find one
to focus on. Or a couple that are similar. Or does excessive civility/too little
civility ever cause something major in the novel? I am panicking and therefore
losing all reasoning skills. Please, someone help me focus my
statement/question. This is me BEGGING. Whoever helps me, I promise to owe you
for eternity. Please, please. HELP.