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Pride and Prejudice Essay

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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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