PRIDE AND PREJUDICE | social-criticism

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE Jane Austen

Author Biography

Jane Austen, the epitome of the romantic writer. The seventh child of the family, she published anonymously due to sitigma surrounding females in established surroundings. As a product of a large household, Jane Austen depicts this in the Bennet family, which also suffers financial hardships. Her own father could not afford the dowry of his daughters who could only hope to marry well or be a governness to affluent children. Austen published Pride and Prejudice after her success with Sense and Sensibility. Despite not being a political writer, she enjoyed deciphering class differences and personalities through iconic characters like Mr. Darcy, and the despised Lady Chatherine de Bourgh. Austen satirized the upper class condescension and the uneducated attitudes of the poor, that she frequently witnessed as a woman of the relative poor. The class consciousness was further accetnuated by the feminine pressures she was persistently subject to. Jane Austen died after succumbing to Addison's disease, unmarried, and succesful.

Synopsis

Pride and Prejudice. The Bennet household is comprised of five daughters, a reserved father, and a rambunctious mother desperate to wed her offspring to the wealthy. Her desires seem fulfilled at the arrival of Charles Bingley who immediately seems to have a mutual attraction with the eldest Jane. In contrast to his companion, Mr. Darcy is a character who dismisses the main protagonist Elizabeth as "not handsome enough to tempt me."Misunderstandings ensue and personalities clash. Through the eventual triumph over Darcy's pride and Elizabeth's obstinate prejudice into a fruitful matrimony, Jane Austen illustrates a theme of the frivolous distinction of social classes. Darcy's initially failed marriage proposal is a demonstration of this. Fortunately, the successful union is Austen's rebellion against the ridiculous notion of superiority defined by class.

Characters

Elizabeth Bennet is the intelligent and vivacious young lady who rejects marriage of social advanement in favor of love. She is not fazed by wealth, and maintains a sharp wit. Elizabeth's intelligence allows her to verbally combat Mr. Darcy's prejudice, and allow her own prejudice to diminish.
Mr. Darcy is obnoxious and arrogant, traits fostered by his own wealth. Elizabeth's initial rejection teahces him humility and he learns to curb his pride to be a better man. Darcy's goodness is demonstrated in his gentlemanly, silent rescue of the Bennet's reputation from the reprobate, Wickham. He is shown to be a worthy companion to Elizabeth.
Jane Bennet is the beautiful, reserved Bennet sister. She falls in lvoe with Mr. Bingley and serves as an ear to her sister Elizabeth. Jane represents the perceived "ideal" lady of the time, and a foil to the lead protagonist.
Charles Bingley is a wealthy and easygoing man, providing a foil to the harsh veneer of Mr. Darcy. He falls in love with Jane and is shown to complement her good nature with his own.
Lady Catherine de Bourgh is a nosy, wealthy old woman, and a symbol of class snobbery. Her condescending attitude demonstratees the fallacy of putting importance in class distinctions.

Analysis of Elements: Social class, an obstacle to the love of a lifetime..

Jane Austen uses a variety of devices to effectively portray the abominable features of judgment based on social class. She conveys these...