Grace Kassin
English
September 10th, 2016
Summer Homework- Pride and Prejudice
In her essay, “Historical Context for Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen,” Lucy Sheehan writes of the correlation between the time period Jane Austen lived in and one of her most celebrated works: Pride and Prejudice. Austen lived during a most transformative era for Great Britain and what was known as the Regency Period, a time in which the arts and science was promoted. Austen also lived during a time that Great Britain was at war with France; evidence of this can be seen in the way the Austen incorporates the militia into the plot line of her novel. At the time, the wealthy landowners, or the “landed gentry,” were considered the most powerful in society; this explains Mr. Darcy and the Bingley’s high ranking in the social hierarchy. Austen also touches on the strict inheritance laws that were in place at the time with the scenarios of both Mr. Bingley and Mr. Collins who will be the sole inheritors of land. Because they were sole inheritors, the way of courtships and marriages were altered. In order for families to gain wealth, they set up advantageous marriages that would allow them to change their position in society. However, Austen was also living in a time in which there was a revolution in the interpretation of women’s rights. Her protagonist Elizabeth represented the new idea of an independent, strong-minded woman even though she was still looking for that advantageous marriage. Although she wrote in a time in which print was on the rise, it was difficult for many to afford novels because of high taxes on print. Austen novels would not become common and affordable until the mid nineteenth century. However, despite their popularity, her novels were considered nan and thoughtless. Yet, Pride and Prejudice came to “dominate the literary scene in England throughout the rest of the nineteenth century” and beyond.
Chapter I-V
“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.” (Austen 4)
In this passage, Austen describes the nature of the social hierarchy set in the book. Although the Bennet’s are likely as sophisticated as the Bingley women, the Bingleys are considered a more respectable family. Because the Bingleys have a larger fortune, they are held higher in society. The social ranks are not classified by qualification, rather they are set by a family’s wealth. People with old money from inheritance were more respected than those who worker for money and gained money from land. Austen satirizes this nature and portrays the Bingley women as superficial. Elizabeth, however, is portrayed as well educated and more sophisticated, despite her place in society.
Chapter VI-X
“No, my dear, you had better go on horseback, because it seems likely to rain; and then you must stay all night” (Austen 7)
In a mere phrase, Austen gives readers a major insight into the character of Mrs. Bennet. She is a women who only has one concern in her life, getting her daughters married. Although she is portrayed as a superficial, and unintelligent, women, she is more tactful the she appears. Because of her determination for her daughter’s matrimony, she finds opportunities to secure a husband. She is a woman unafraid of taking every step to ensure her daughter is married off to someone high in society. Although her tactics usually backfire because she appears foolish, Bingley becomes infatuated with Jane. Even later in the novel, she cannot hide her joy when her daughters become engaged.
Chapter XI-XV
“She attracted him more than he liked” (Austen 12)
With this statement, Austen displays a sense of irony in Darcy’s feelings towards Elizabeth. Initially, Darcy found her less than desirable and would never think of being aquatinted with someone who he believed to be unaccomplished. However in this statement, Austen provides insight as to how Darcy’s previous notions of Elizabeth are beginning to be abandoned. As Elizabeth is at Netherfield, she is gaining more and more of his attention. This shift is seen by Caroline Bingley, who then tries to divert the attention back to her, unsuccessfully. Darcy claimed before that he would never consider anyone with lower standers. At this point in the novel, he is ignoring one woman who stands high in society for of a woman who sits lower. This statement also foreshadows to the true irony that Darcy ends up falling in love with Elizabeth.
Chapter XVI-XX
“If therefore she actually persists in rejecting my suit, perhaps it were better not to force her into accepting me, because if liable to such defects of temper, she could not contribute much to my felicity” (Austen 20)
In this passage spoken by Mr. Collins, Austin tells a lot about femininity during this time period. Mr. Collins is in pursuit of wife who will make him happy. Not only is he in pursuit, he seems quite concerned. However, like most men, he seems to not think of the woman’s feeling in this situation. Yes, he has the right to be concerned for his happiness, but he should show some concern for the happiness of his potential wife and not care about her welfare. Perhaps he said this unintentionally, but the does bring the ideas of what life was like for women. Their feelings were often disregarded in favor of the feelings of their male counterparts.
Chapter XXI-XXV
“No one who has ever seen you together can doubt his affection.” (Austen 21)
In her efforts persuade Jane that Bingley likes her, Elizabeth uses a curious word choice. Instead of saying that he is in love with her, she states no one can deny his affection towards her. The term affection is normally describes something milder, something less intense than love. Did Austen use this word specifically to show that perhaps love was unattainable at this point, or does the word affection mean something stronger? Perhaps in that time love was hard to come by and Elizabeth was trying to realistically persuade Jane. Jane is also a character who doesn’t show her feelings as much and perhaps would have been frightened from a declaration of love. In fact, throughout the novel, the word love is often avoided by most characters.
Chapter XXVI-XXX
“Lady Catherine will not think the worse of you for being simply dressed. She likes to have the distinction of rank preserved. (Austen 29)
Mr. Collins gives Elizabeth a glimpse into the character of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. She is a financially dependent woman who holds herself, and her fortune, to very high standards. She doesn’t outright discriminate against those lower in society, but does it subtly instead. She likes to be the one who looks and acts superior to everyone else in the room. Despite her status, she does take a liking to Elizabeth. However, despite her high place in society, she is as uncivil and shrewd as the common folk. Later in the novel she does make her rank crystal clear when she declares that Elizabeth would ruin Darcy’s name were she to marry him.
Chapter XXXI-XXXV
“He concluded with representing to her the strength of that attachment which, in spite of all his endeavors, he had found impossible to conquer; and with expressing his hope that it would now be rewarded by her acceptance of his hand”
Marriage plays a large role in this novel; in fact, it is a central theme. In Darcy’s first proposal to Elizabeth, Austen reveals a lot about the nature of marriage. In a marriage, both sides must have respect for each other. However, Darcy clearly has not yet learned to respect Elizabeth. At this point in the novel, Elizabeth is right to reject Mr. Darcy because there is a slim chance that the marriage will be a happy one. If Darcy cannot respect Elizabeth, how is he to attend to her feelings. A marriage involves giving on both ends and Darcy is by no means ready to give. They are not on an equal level in Darcy’s eyes, so there is a slight chance that if they were married he would equate himself with her to make her happy.
Chapter XXXVI-XL
“With a strong prejudice against everything he might say, she began his account of what had happened at Netherfield.” (Austen 36)
In this occurrence, Austen describes the nature of a main theme of the book: prejudice. Elizabeth was always prejudiced and looked at Darcy in a bad light. However, at this point in the novel, she has the opportunity to see him in a different light. Darcy was not always at fault, it was Elizabeth’s prejudice that blinded her from seeing any good he could have done. Elizabeth eventually does lose the prejudice towards Mr. Darcy. However, it is not something that fades away instantly; it was only after a substantial amount of time that prejudice faded. The same prejudice also blinded Elizabeth from seeing the faults in Mr. Wickham. Austen’s message is simple: prejudice blinds people from seeing the truth.
Chapter XLI-XLV
“…and you will not appear to less advantage for having a couple of—or I may say, three—very silly sisters.” (Austen 41)
These words spoken by Mr. Bennet display Austen’s wonderful sense of irony. Mr. Bennet is trying to convince Elizabeth that the family’s lack of propriety will do no harm to possible marriages. Unfortunately, Mr. Bennet does not know that it was this very fact that led to the breakup of Jane and Mr. Bingley. Elizabeth has every right to worry because in fact Lydia is “the most determined flirt that ever made herself or her family ridiculous” (Austen 41). It is also ironic that because of her sister’s ridiculous antics, that Darcy was given the opportunity to help Elizabeth’s family. With Darcy’s actions, Elizabeth gains more sympathy and ultimately ends up falling in love with him. Perhaps the ridiculousness really helped her marriage prospects.
Chapter XLVI-L
“Darcy made no answer. He seemed scarcely to hear her, and was walking up and down the room in earnest meditation, his brow contracted, his air gloomy… and never had she so honestly felt that she could have loved him, as now, when all love must be vain.”
With this passage, the readers can see Austen’s unique style of writing. In Pride and Prejudice, Austen often creates quick turns of scenarios. A paragraph may begin subtle, but it will intensify towards the end. What the reader may not see is explained by Austen. As an omniscient narrator, it is essential that Austen show us Elizabeth’s thoughts in this scene. The thoughts become all the more important because it came out of nowhere. Simple scenarios become climatic and key to the novel’s plot line.
Chapter LI-LV
“He had done all this for a girl whom he could neither regard nor esteem. Her heart did whisper that he had done it for her.” (Austen 52)
With his actions, the previous notions of Mr. Darcy’s character have faded away. Yes, in the beginning, he does appear condescending and haughty; but, at this point in the novel he appears the exact opposite. He abandoned his pride in order to create ties with Wickham, a man who he despises, in order to benefit Elizabeth. Elizabeth had already denied and humiliated Darcy when he asked for her hand, yet he still interfered for her sake. No man with a character like Darcy in the beginning of the novel would injure his pride for a girl who rejected him. Not only was he willing to lose his pride, he was also willing to give up financial compensation. His love for Elizabeth allowed him to give in to these situations in which he would normally not interfere with.
Chapter LVI-LXI
“I was given good principles, but left to follow them in pride and conceit.” (Austen 58)
From the beginning of the novel, Darcy has been a character filled with his own pride. However, now he is finally admitting some fault in his pride. He finally realizes now that not all of his pride could be justified. He also realizes that it was not only pride, but conceit as well hat caused many errs in judgement and unjustifiable actions. Despite the principles he was brought up with, he allowed his pride to overtake them. Austen seems to be relaying the message that pride can counteract the good nature of one’s upbringing.