Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice

 I. Basics:
   Author: Jane Austen
   Setting: Hertfordshire, England  end of the 1700’s

II.) Characters:
Elizabeth: Witty and charming, Elizabeth dances the line between accepting societal standards and rebelling against them. She seems to stand for feminism and the ideals of good marriages.
Jane/Mr. Bingley: Flat characters, their chief attributes seem to be that they’re too nice not bother anyone.
Mr. WicKham: The classic charming bad-boy, Wickham acts as a temptation for Elizabeth although she wisely refuses.
Mrs. Bennet: The eager matchmaker, Mrs. Bennet strains herself to find marriages for the girls. Although she is often ridiculed by both the narrator and Mr. Bennet, Mrs. Bennet shows an understanding for a very real reality in which her family could become threatened.
Lydia: Wild and flirtatious, Lydia drives much of the action in Pride and Prejudice allowing herself to be swept up by Mr. Wickham in an attempt to outshine her sisters. She is arrogant, and it is suggested that her marriage with Wickham fails.
Mr. Darcy: Rich and handsome, Darcy possesses a pride which he must overcome in order to win Elizabeth.

III.)Plot
Pride and Prejudice revolves around Mrs. Bennet’s quest to marry off her five daughters. The announcement of a new, rich bachelor to the neighborhood motivates the Bennet’s to meet Mr. Bingley and his party which includes Mr. Darcy, Mr. Hurst, Mrs. Hurst, and Ms. Bingley. Aside from Bingley, the party is haughty and aloof from the society they are immersed in. Here, Darcy snubs Elizabeth, and this first encounter sets up the action for the rest of the novel. The rest of the book follows as Elizabeth faces various trials and tribulations on her quest for true love. Eventually, both she and Darcy must conquer their own personal faults before they can love each other.
IV.)    Narrative Voice/Author’s Style

POV: Third person, biased narrator

Tone: Clever and sarcastic. From the opening line of her book to Elizabeth and Mr. Bennet’s witty lines, Austen slyly displays her wit.

Symbolism: Pemberley

V.)    Quotes:
“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possesion of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”

This opening line sets the tone for the work. Austen’s narrator paints a critical image of society of the time, poking fun but suggesting change at the same time. The entire plot of the book is here outlined and also the idea of women forced to desperation for a well-off husband is suggested.

“He spoke well, but there were feelings besides those of the heart to be detailed, and he was not more eloquent on the subject of tenderness than of pride. His sense of her inferiority—of its being a degradation—of the family obstacles which judgment had always opposed to inclination, were dwelt on with a warmth which seemed due to the consequence he was wounding, but was very unlikely to recommend his suit.”

This quote, stated by the narrator is in description of Darcy. Darcy has just proposed to Elizabeth however the proposal, and the quote above, suggests that Darcy cares more for his pride than Elizabeth. This sets up the remainder of the book to focus on both Darcy and Elizabeth’s attempt to change themselves before they can love one another.

VI.)    Themes:

First impressions aren’t always true.

This theme is prevalent throughout almost all of the relationships in the book. Darcy and Elizabeth, though they initially repelled each other end up being perfect matches for each other. Wickham and Lydia, instantly attracted to each other, have the most trouble trying to make their relationship succeed. Even Charlotte, married to a fool, is comfortable in the end because she went into her marriage with her eyes wide open.