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 negative attitudes by making a mockery of pretentious characters like Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Mr. Collins. These characters are never portrayed with a gravity that respects Darcy and Elizabeth. The awakening of Darcy to the uselessness to these prejudices spurs the birth of a treasured couple, valued by generations of readers.

Marriage is the union of two people, ideally based on love and respect. Right off the bat, Austen sheds light on the obscured reason for matrimony with the famous sentence that proclaims a "unviersal truth" that suggests coupling is pursued on the basis of wealth. Elizabeth's resistence to such a notion is what makes her an endearing character. Advancement is a vaued benefit to love, but Austen believes it should not be the sole reason for it. This theme is solidly embodied in the lead characters.

Furthermore, there is a question of what it means to be a woman. Miss Bingley at one point exalims that "A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing and the modern languagees, to deserve the word." The cunning portrayal of the quote's author shows Austen's disagreement, especially since she herself must have understood all the pressures of feminity by society. The vivacious wit of Elizabeth separates her from her peers, and in a way, Austen demonstrates that her character is superior to the soft tenderness of Jane.