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Elizabeth Bennet Satire

Decent Essays

Pride and Prejudice is a book that has great meaning, if the tone is understood. The story follows the main character, Elizabeth Bennet, as she deals with issues of upbringing, financial problems, morality, and marriage in the society of the landed gentry of the British Regency. Jane Austen points out the flaws in human society during this time period. In Pride and Prejudice, Austen uses the tone of satire; this includes oodles of sarcasm, denouncing, and irony, she uses these techniques of tone with not only the plot of the story but the characters as well. The biggest theme Austen focused on was the silliness of women being expected to marry. In the book, Mrs. Bennet’s hopes and dreams are set on all five of her daughters marrying, and if …show more content…

I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collins' character, connection, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on entering the marriage state"(Austen 115). Just as satire is represented within the theme, it is also represented through some of the characters. Mr. Collins is considered one, he’s a clergyman who receives financial support from the wealthy Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Austen uses him as a satirical figure by showing that Collins only cares about how he fits into and is perceived by society. Elizabeth describes him as “a conceited, pompous, narrow-minded, silly man”(Austen 123). Mr. Collins explains “while Mrs. Jenkinson was arranging Miss de Bourgh's foot-stool, that she said, ‘Mr. Collins, you must marry. A clergyman like you must marry’”(Austen 97). He says this while he is trying to propose to Elizabeth. In this part of the novel Elizabeth turns him down,and it is understood that she wants to marry for love and not necessarily for financial gain. This is ironic, in a way, because she doesn’t have the mindset of most women in this time …show more content…

My character has ever been celebrated for its sincerity and frankness, and in a cause of such moment as this, I shall certainly not depart from it. A report of a most alarming nature reached me two days ago. I was told that not only your sister was on the point of being most advantageously married, but that you, that
Miss Elizabeth Bennet, would, in all likelihood, be soon afterwards united to my nephew, my own nephew, Mr. Darcy” (Austen 319).
Although, this was totally inappropriate and humorous, it is ironic she is the only financially independent women in the whole novel. Pride and Prejudice shows the humanistic flaws and the reality of this era, and while doing so it is also humorous. Austen speaks to the audience through Elizabeth, as she explains society should accept marriage for love and not marriage being defined through social classes. She also shows the stereotype of women and power being mixed, which is represented through the character of Lady Catherine De Bourgh. Jane Austen shows the importance of many issues within this

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