Pride And Prejudice Essay Pride and Prejudice Essay Pride And Prejudice Essay Pride And Prejudice Essay

1. Pride And Prejudice Essay
Pride and Prejudice
The novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen was originally titled First Impressions. This is
significant because it reflects the values and attitudes of 19th century England, and portrays the main
themes of the novel. It is set in England during the 1800's and Austen focuses on a society whose
opinions are based on first impressions.
This is achieved through cultural context, characterisation, narratorial commentary, and methods
/techniques.
During the 19th Century, first impressions were very important. The reader is presented with
Meryton, a highly structured class society which judges people on superficial qualities, such as
physical appearance, social status, clothes, possessions, behaviour, dialogue. The...show more
content...
Although the Bennetts are 'upper/middle class', there are divisions between each class, so they
are looked upon as at the 'lower' end of the scale. It is Darcy's pride that forces him to believe he
is better than others, mainly because of the amount of money he has. Mr Darcy feels as if he can be
rude to anyone he likes, because the society of Meryton is 'socially and financially lower' then
himself.
After seeing Jane together with Mr Bingley at the dinner party, Darcy's first impressions (which
allow him to think that he has the right to interfere in their relationship) force him into believing
that Jane (coming from a family less wealthy then his own) is only after Mr Bingley for security,
and financial stability. Instead of realising the love they have towards each other, Darcy allows
his pride to blind him of the truth and foolishly assume that only a lady of equal status (as his) is
worthy of Bingley's love. Mr Wickham is another example of first impressions based on superficial
qualities. His first impressions are very favourable and he is 'socially accepted' into the Meryton
circle.
"But the attention of every young lady was soon caught by a young man, whom they had never seen
before, of most gentlemanlike appearance, walking with an officer, on the other side of the way."
(Page 62)
His charming personality, and impressive first impressions soon gathered the acceptance and
approval of everyone in the community.
Ironically, his
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2. Pride and Prejudice Essay
Pride and Prejudice
The novel Pride and Prejudice written by Jane Austen was originally to be called First
Impressions. Hence the ultimate aim of this essay is to identify how successful this novel is in
giving 'First Impressions' of the characters. The focus of this essay is on the opening chapters of
the novel as this is where we are first introduced to the characters. 'It is a truth universally
acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.' This
is one of Austen's famous quotes and sums up the main theme of the novel; that in the time this
novel was written all men with a good wage are eligible bachelors in finding a woman to marry. I
would consider this idea to be put under...show more content...
Due to
Lydia's wrong doings the Bennett's have descended in the hierarchy.
The only way the Bennett sisters can redeem their reputation, status in society and moreover be able
to get married to someone in their own class is if Lydia Bennett marries Mr. Wickham. Today such a
situation wouldn't be frowned upon; however in Austen's day there would be harsh consequences.
Ultimately, this indicates the difference in social historical background.
Jane Austen began writing the novel during the turn of the century in
1796, as she was writing the novel she wished to call it First
Impressions. However, after much re–drafting the novel was published under the title Pride and
Prejudice in 1813. Jane Austen was born in
Steventon, Hampshire on 10th December 1775. She was the daughter of a clergyman and one of
8 children. Many thought that Jane wrote her novels on the basis of her social knowledge as this
is all she knew about and believed she was unaware of major world events. Strictly speaking this
is incorrect. Her brothers, to whom she was very close, were involved in political and military
matters and she was informed by them any major events that had taken place in the world. It was
her own choice to write about social issues and possibly may have chosen to write in this style as
she could have personally experienced the events that she based the novel on, showing authenticity.
Why is this novel still popular today? Jane Austen's
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3. Pride And Prejudice Essay
In Pride and prejudice I have came to the conclusion that there are many characters and all play a
very good role. Here is a brief down low on what Ive collected. First starting with The Bennet's
consisting of Mr and Mrs Bennet and their five daughters Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty and Lydia.
Mr. And Mrs. Bennett, This husband and wife duo are a humorous couple due to Mrs Bennet's
simplicity coupled by Mr Bennet's dry humor and wit. Mrs Bennet is a simply easy woman who
dedicates her attention to guarantee that her daughters are married and busies herself in idle gossip.
She suffers from her "poor nerves" which are inflamed by almost any situation which isn 't to her
liking, much to the humor of Mr Bennet. Lydia is the...show more content...
Now, like I said before they have 5 daughters here let 's start with Jane the beauty of the family.
Jane is the eldest of the Bennet daughters and has a close relationship to Elizabeth. Through their
relationship we learn a lot about Jane's character, who is sensible, calm and good. She always
thinks the best of people and situations, sometimes much to her discredit like when she refused to
believe that Wickham could be anything but good, an opinion which is severely disappointed
through the course of the novel. However, her ability to not always believe what is said about
people also shows a good sense of judgment when she has faith in Darcy's character when under
attack by Wickham's accusations which he divulges to Elizabeth. Lizzy's comment to Jane when
talking to her about her first impressions of Mr Darcy describes Jane's character accurately – "You
never see fault in anybody. All the world are good and agreeable in your eyes. I never heard you
speak ill of a human being in my life." From early in the novel, Jane and Mr Bingley develop a
romantic connection that takes the course of the entire novel to result in marriage. Although she is a
likable character, through her reactions to their relationship makes the reader feel slightly distant
towards her when we see how she is so unable to express anger and negativity as this makes her
slightly unnatural and naive when she decides
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4. Pride And Prejudice Essay
Pride and Prejudice In Pride and Prejudice Austen offers up commentary on a variety of themes–
prejudice, family, marriage, class, and so on. Of all the themes, perhaps none is better developed
than that of Pride. Pride and Prejudice is regarded as a brilliant piece of social commentary,
offering a vivid peek into the British Regency life in 1813. The social milieu of Austen's Regency
England was particularly stratified, and class divisions were rooted in family connections and
wealth. In her work, Austen is often critical of the assumptions, pride, and prejudices of upper–class
England. Austen often satirizes England's prideful individuals; the England she depicts is one in
which social mobility is limited, and class–consciousness and...show more content...
He reflects later on why he was that way: "I was spoiled by my parents, who though good
themselves . . . allowed, encouraged, almost taught me to be selfish and overbearing . . . to think
meanly of all the rest of the world." In the end, Darcy and Elizabeth's later realization of a mutual
love infers that with the proper moral upbringing one may overcome pride to lead a life of
decency and kindness. The subsequent marriage of Darcy and Elizabeth shows that class
restrictions, while rigid, do not determine one's character and that love can overcome all obstacles,
including class and pride. After all, it is the anxieties about social connections, or the desire for
better, more priding social relationships, that seem to be interfering with the workings of love.
Furthermore, not only does Austen's novel display an ambiguity about emotion as a result of pride,
but also exhibits an appreciation for wealth and pride, which is characterized by Darcy. In its
awareness of the conditions of modernity and city life and the consequences for family structure and
individual characters, the novel prefigures much Victorian literature as does the authors' use of such
elements as many formal social gatherings and rather flawed, prideful characters. The theme of pride
is developed by the class consciousness of the characters throughout Pride and Prejudice. Darcy's
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