Pride And Prejudice By Jane Austen

Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice was first published in 1813(Gary vii) a time when women had “few legal and economic rights or even receiving little respect, women can be seen as oppressed victims of a patriarchal society, subordinate first to their fathers and, then, to their husbands who had, of course, been selected by their fathers” (Swords, 76-82). At first glance one might think that Pride and Prejudice reinforces sexist stereotypes, however upon further examination of Jane Austen and her heroine Elizabeth it is clear that Pride and Prejudice in fact erodes the sexist stereotypes of women.

‘Pride and Prejudice’ and ‘Wuthering Heights’ are seen as being mainly concerned with social class and the wealth of those who are in the upper class but readers must consider other themes the novels are concerned with.

“Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen is a satire novel from 1813. The story is about a couple named the Bennets who try to get their five daughters to marry kind and rich gentlemen. The main characters however are the Bennets’ second and headstrong daughter Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy, her aristocratic suitor. Throughout the entire novel, the two lovers must overcome pride and prejudice before “love can bring the novel to its magnificent conclusion”. During the novel, there are two marriage proposals between Darcy and Collins, Mr. Bennets’ cousin, which are both for Elizabeth. Both proposals have similarities but also have many differences.

Mr. Darcy`s pridefulness and arrogance depressed his true feelings for Elizabeth Bennet, however, Mr. Darcy 's pride deflates when Elizabeth Bennet rejects Mr. Darcy 's proposal. Austen demonstrates Mr.Darcy`s pridefulness and arrogance when she writes “‘ In such case as this, it is, I believe, the established mode to express a sense of obligation for the sentiments avowed, however unequally they may be returned’” (186). Mr. Darcy insults Elizabeth Bennet while proposing marriage. This directly shows how pridefulness and arrogance of society interfer with love. Elizabeth Bennet can be considered inferior to Mr. Darcy because her family does not have the same socioeconomic status as Mr. Darcy. The rejection of Mr. Darcy`s proposal diminishes his pride. The letter Mr.Darcy writes to Elizabeth explains why he removed Mr. Bingley from

“The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.”

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is a classic novel that has remained relevant even years after its release. Its themes and symbols are understandable to even the most modern of reader. One of the many themes is sisterhood, something that is focused on constantly throughout the novel. Elizabeth Bennet, the protagonist of the novel, finds many of her decisions to be based upon the actions of her sisters. Making sisterhood a main driving force. Whether they are confiding in each other for marriage advice or competing for the affection of their parents, the Bennet sisters carry the plotline and heavily influencing the lives and choices of the other characters. Heavily influenced by her relationship with her own sister, Pride and Prejudice is a book created from her own life. This is why the relationship between sisters is a central theme in Pride and Prejudice, as Elizabeth and Jane’s sisters heavily influence the live and choices of their as well as other characters lives.

Elizabeth Bennet: Elizabeth Bennet is the protagonist of the novel. Her prejudice and tendency to pass quick judgment (hence the novel’s title) takes a large effect on her relationships, especially her relationship with Mr. Darcy. Unimpressed by wealth and status, she differs from her somewhat naïve sister Jane in that she allows herself to see that humans are flawed beings. Put simply—Elizabeth is “real.” Elizabeth is initially put off by what she sees as superficial attempts by Mr. Darcy to win her over with arrogance and flashes of status, however, Darcy is intrigued by Elizabeth’s wit and intelligence, a far cry from many women of her time. However, though Elizabeth is in fact prejudiced, she is self-aware. As she grows to realize Mr. Darcy’s true character, and, consequently, her love for her, she admits to both herself and to him that she loves him—an act of swallowing her pride.

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife” –Jane Austen

In my personal cherished novel, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, the worlds of two immensely divergent people display the marxist idea of the importance of social status and its affect on the people. The two main characters seem to be on opposite ends of the earth in terms of an affluent Mr. Darcy being so privileged while on the contrary, Miss Elizabeth Bennet is of a lower class. Throughout the novel, there is a fine distinction between their clashing opinions and actions that are highly influenced by both their social classes as well as the society that surrounds them. As one can assume by basing the theme of the novel upon its title, the differences in Miss Bennet and Mr. Darcy’s social rankings causes great discord leading both to a test of conquering their pride and bigotry against their opinions of each other and their families.

Since its publication in the early nineteenth century, Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen, has become a critically acclaimed novel that is most noted for including a variety of characters, each with differing personalities and roles throughout the story. One character in particular, Mrs. Bennet, plays an important role that is often overlooked. Her behavior and lack of propriety reflects negatively on her character and her overbearing nature can call into question the capability of her parenting skills. Mrs. Bennet lacks the qualities of an attentive and loving mother and therefore endangers the happiness of her two eldest daughters throughout the novel.

Throughout Pride and Prejudice (1813) the character of Elizabeth “Lizzie” comparatively differs from that of her mother, Mrs. Bennet and her younger sister, Lydia. Elizabeth Bennet, Jane Austen’s protagonist was depicted as an intelligent, rebellious and nonconforming woman of the early nineteenth century; a likely prototype of the women’s libber before it became fashionable one hundred years later when women started demanding the right to vote. Intelligent in her own right, Elizabeth had her own thoughts and values and felt she should express herself when the occasion arose, when in fact it was not a socially acceptable trait for women to have in the early nineteenth century. Women, like children were to be seen and not heard. Despite the independent attitude she bore which gave off a disconcertment for her own or her family’s financial wellbeing, “Lizzie”, ended up conforming to the role expected of her as a woman of her time by agreeing to marry the one man she swore she would never dance with, Mr. Darcy.

Jane Austen wrote about the world in which women had no rights and no importance outside of marriage. Pride and Prejudice was written in 1813. Romanticism begins around 1789. Their priorities consists of emotionalism, self consciousness, respect for dignity of childhood, an interest in folk culture, and primitive origins for rural life.Pride and Prejudice is a window into the lives of young eighteenth century British women.

In 1813, for young women, marrying wealthy men held great importance in their lives. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, a book set during this time period, revolves around the Bennet family as the daughters build relationships with their possible partners. The mother in the

In Pride and Prejudice, a novel written by Jane Austen, class differentiation, distinction, and hierarchy are prominent and well-developed themes. Austen majorly expresses that wealthier individuals may have prominence on the surface, but this prominence is ultimately a façade. True class is determined by the content of a person’s character. Austen uses multiple characters in the novel to express her thoughts on this matter. One of these examples is expressed through the comparison of Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Mrs. Bennet. They serve as the obliviously loathed and laughed at females in the novel. These characters complement one another in their foolishness, regardless of the fact they originate from opposing classes. As such, Austen

In the 19th century, marriage was the primary interest for women because it was believed to be their sole means of happiness and comfort. For women, opportunities of living a life without a husband were scorned by all of society and nearly impossible; women had little choice but to search for their suitors. Women searched for wealthy life partners in belief that an estate and a lavish lifestyle could provide them with a lifetime’s worth of enjoyment. However, love was not an element of such an accord. Their search for a wealthy partner provided them with the security of money, land and comfort in life. Prosperity meant that the woman and her children would never have to face financial problems or hardships. This significant predicament of marriage for young women is ever present in the novel, Pride and Prejudice. The Bennet girls are at the ripe age for marriage and struggle to find affluent suitors. Throughout the novel, Jane Austen reveals that the only marriages that contain pure happiness are the ones that are built on true love, adoration and affection. The other marriages in the novel are considered unhappy and miserable because they are out of either convenience, materialism or physical attraction. Elizabeth and Darcy, along with Jane and Bingley, are the only couples who receive genuine happiness from their marriage. Their marriages are not out of trivial reasons like money or class but out of true admiration and affection for their partners. As a result, contrary