StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

The Analysis of Pride and Prejudice - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
The paper "The Analysis of Pride and Prejudice" tells that Pride and Prejudice is a novel written by Jane Austen that contains one of the most cherished love stories in English literature – the courtship between the main characters in the story; Elizabeth and Darcy…
Download free paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER97% of users find it useful
The Analysis of Pride and Prejudice
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "The Analysis of Pride and Prejudice"

Symmetries on Pride and Prejudice In MLA Style 2 Pride and Prejudice is a novel written by Jane Austen that contains one of the most cherished love stories in the English literature – the courtship between the main characters in the story; Elizabeth and Darcy. Just like in any great love story, the lovers should undergo a number of hindrances and tensions before ending it on a happy note. Elizabeth’s pride overshadows her take on Darcy and misjudges him poorly on first impression while latter’s prejudice on the Elizabeth’s poor ranking on the social ladder shades the many good virtues Elizabeth has. This ordinary but cherished love story becomes a more interesting read due to the symmetries Austen puts in it. Characters move from incident to incident Elizabeth and Darcy’s love story establishes the main plot of the novel. The first impulse of the misinterpretation comes from Darcy’s rudeness. Darcy makes a big remark on Elizabeth at the Meryton assembly. “She is tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt me” and Elizabeth overhears this remark of Darcy and instantly becomes prejudiced of him and begins to hate him. When Elizabeth and Darcy re-encounter each other on the street where Wickham is in the scene, Elizabeth observes a mysterious exchange between Wickham and Darcy. “Mr. Darcy ... was beginning to determine not to fix his eyes on Elizabeth, when they were suddenly arrested by the sight of the stranger, and Elizabeth happening to see the countenance of both as they looked at each other, was all astonishment at the effect of the meeting. Both changed colour, one looked Last Name 3 white, the other red. Mr. Wickham, after a few moments, touched his hat--a salutation which Mr. Darcy just deigned to return.” (Austen & Gray, 26, 1966) The main focus on this scene is the observation of Elizabeth on the conversation between Darcy and Wickham. Elizabeth’s curiosity is so powerful that her observation seems unidirectional. Her keen eyes towards what’s happening around her may depict she is a gossiper but Austen is able to pull it off well. Austen puts an air of fascination evident in Darcy’s character towards Elizabeth due to the latter’s light and pleasing feature. This shadows his initial pride but Elizabeth’s prejudices constantly deepen. Elizabeth promptly rejects Darcy when he proposes, which is the underlying reason of the parting of the two. Elizabeth feels ashamed of having prejudiced of Darcy and the latter who always thinks that he is a fine gentleman realizes that the proposal to Elizabeth has been most ungentle. With the realization of the two, they have taken a few steps towards maturity. Wickham, on the other hand, is motivated by envy towards Darcy since the day he can remember. He is always alert whenever Darcy is around, which is the why he knows Darcy very well better than Bingley does and knows that Darcy has his eyes on Elizabeth, better than Elizabeth does. This encounter of Wickham, Elizabeth and Darcy is also one of the scenes where Austen puts an excellent depiction to her characters; Elizabeth, being too observant of her surroundings; Wickham, watching Darcy closely, and Darcy, a fine, wealthy and handsome man, being the subject of the two. Wickham, being the main antagonist in the love story of Elizabeth and Darcy, he easily acquaints with former, feeding her some with tales about the wrongdoings of Darcy to him. “What she c chiefly wished to hear she could not hope to be told, the history of his acquaintance with Mr. Last Name 4 Darcy. She dared not even mention that gentleman. Her curiosity however was unexpectedly relieved. Mr. Wickham began the subject himself. He ... asked in a hesitating manner how long Mr. Darcy had been staying there.”(Austen & Gray, 44, 1966) A natural gossiper like Elizabeth, Wickham provides her with information around them that would catch her attention and eventually will go fetch for some information from her in return. He does it so smoothly, enough for him to gossip around without being noticed. “A clear ten thousand per annum. You could not have met with a person more capable of giving you certain information on that head than myself--for I have been connected with his family in a particular manner from my infancy." (Austen & Gray, 50, 1966) Wickham’s quote at his conversation with Elizabeth, trying to lure her and get her trust.   Elizabeth’s visit to Pemberly brings her closer to Darcy. The two get closer together only to be parted again though temporarily caused by Lydia’s elopement with Wickham. Elizabeth and Darcy’s relationship grows closer and stronger in such a way that their marriage could be the only conclusion on their earlier misunderstandings. In addition to the main Elizabeth-Darcy plot, there are sub-plots in the novel Austen includes: Jane and Bingley, Charlotte and Collins and Lydia and Wickham. They are skilfully linked smoothly by Austen and significantly contribute to its progress. Darcy owes Bingley his presence at the Nether field and the relationship of Jane with Bingley also brings Elizabeth there, which places her in close proximity to Darcy. The Lydia-Wickham relationship is more relevant. Darcy slights Elizabeth while Wickham flatters her. Hence, it is obvious to the reader, although not to the characters that Wickham works on deepening Elizabeth’s prejudice towards Darcy. Although later on in the novel, Wickham e xposes himself due to his stupidity, Elizabeth gains a better perspective of Darcy, which brings Last Name 5 them closer to each other that Wickham gets upset about. As revenge, Wickham elopes with Lydia. Darcy accepts this elopement to act heroically and to show his admiration and love for Elizabeth. The Jane-Bingley relationship brings Elizabeth and Darcy closer at the Netherfield and the Charlotte-Collins relationship brings them together at the Rosings. Love and marriage are the main theme of the Pride and Prejudice, which is common to the main plot as well as the three sub-plots. Based on economics, the Charlotte-Collins relationship lacks love and devotion while the Lydia-Wickham relationship is just as like as of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, which is solely based on physical charms that vanishes in time. Jane and Bingley, on the other hand, sincerely love each other but due to the absence of strength from intellectual understanding and maturity, their relationship is depicted as fragile. Elizabeth and Darcy’s relationship is based on emotional compatibility and intellectual understanding. These four affairs sums the plot of thematic unity the shows the author’s moral vision. Works Cited Austen, Jane, and Donald J. Gray. Pride and Prejudice: An Authoritative Text, Backgrounds, Reviews, and Essays in Criticism. New York: Norton, 1966. Print. Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Pride & Prejudice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/literature/1435281-pride-prejudice
(Pride & Prejudice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 Words)
https://studentshare.org/literature/1435281-pride-prejudice.
“Pride & Prejudice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/literature/1435281-pride-prejudice.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF The Analysis of Pride and Prejudice

Social commentary/criticism in Pride & Prejudice

A brief look at the summary of pride and prejudice is essential in order to appreciate the criticism of the social life in Jane Austen's work.... Social Criticism in pride and prejudice Jane Austen is one of the greatest novelists in English literature.... Bingley, a friend of Darcy, and the pride and prejudice of these characters complicate all relationships.... The opening sentence in pride and prejudice explains Jane Austin's attitude to marriage: “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a large fortune must be in want of a wife” (Prejudice, Ch....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Pride and Prejudice

?Twentieth century interpretations of pride and prejudice: a collection of critical essays.... This essay "pride and prejudice by Jane Austen" discusses the theme of gender and class in Jane Austen.... The theme of class in pride and prejudice is related to the social status of the people that reflect the strictly controlled nature of the people in the middle and upper classes in 19th century England.... ride and Prejudice: Analysis on Themes This paper discusses the theme of gender and in Jane Austen's pride and prejudice....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

Analysis of Pride and Prejudice

pride and prejudice Your Name Student Number Course Number Due Date pride and prejudice pride and prejudice is considered to be amongst the most important works of the Regency period.... In pride and prejudice, it is the heroine of the novel, Elizabeth, who is the center of the novel and it is she who directs most of the action of the novel rather than the other characters in the novel who are sometimes reduced to the level of mere spectators....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Pride and Prejudice

Complete Critical Analysis of the “pride and prejudice” by Jane Austen Through the novel “pride and prejudice”, Jane Austen uses a third person viewpoint and exhibits the possibility of perceiving a woman in a character of intelligence which, despite the popular value of charms and social status, may be found in a natural behavior apart from the dictates of norms.... The intricate narrative structure of “pride and prejudice” concerning general manners, education, moral standards, and breeding is set in the fictitious Netherfield Park where the Bennet family resides, particularly in Longbourn....
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

Examination of Prejudice

Therefore it is vital to differentiate consciousness of group variances from bias and prejudice.... Conversely, people's understanding is frequently imperfect or incorrect, and they may perhaps as well incorrectly take a broad view of their knowledge, causing in bias and prejudice.... Intergroup relations, and prejudice in specific, must to be assumed using various levels of scrutiny (Abrams and Christian, 2007; Abrams and Hogg, 2004).... In the sense, if one group's achievement is the other's loss, one can be certain that resentment, negative typecasts and prejudice will be the result....
14 Pages (3500 words) Term Paper

Pride and Prejudice Character Analysis: Elizabeth Bennet

The paper "pride and prejudice Character Analysis: Elizabeth Bennet" states that Elizabeth Bennet has a subtle understanding of human emotions and the mind.... She is the protagonist in one of the most popular novels in English literature, Jane Asuten's pride and prejudice which was published in 1813.... The realization of romance between the couple denounced the 'pride and prejudice' which held them apart in the beginning and the real genteel nature of Mr....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

ne of the characteristic features of pride and prejudice is the development of the story through the various narrative categories which are easily identifiable in different parts of the narrative.... Therefore, one identifies the first sentence of pride and prejudice as the abstract of the novel.... Since structural irony reflects the underlying scheme of a work, consideration of the narrative of the narrative of pride and prejudice would suggest that the novel manifests a carefully balanced formal design....
14 Pages (3500 words) Essay

Analysis of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

 analysis of pride and prejudice by Jane Austen ... This essay discusses An investigation into the Novel pride and prejudice, based on discussion on the rigid class system, and to expose characters' personalities/ goals by comparing them with today's politicians.... pride and prejudice, the most popular novel by Jane Austen was published in 1813.... Besides, the work pride and prejudice portrays a rigid class system in English society, especially the middle and higher classes....
6 Pages (1500 words) Assignment
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us