ANALYSIS OF PRIDE AND PREJUDICE BY JANE AUSTEN

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 INTRODUCTION

Pride and Prejudice is a novel by Jane Austen. You can see from the date that it was written centuries ago having been first published in 1813, as her second novel. You will recall our discussion on characterization in the early novels where we said that a story could be centred around the major character. That is what we have here.The story follows the main character Elizabeth Bennet as she deals with issues of manners, upbringing, moral uprightness, education and marriage in her aristocratic society of early 19th century England. Elizabeth is the second eldest of five daughters of Mr. and Mrs.Bennet a country gentleman living in the fictional town of Meryton in Hertfordshire, not far from London.

3.1 Background Of The Author/Work

Jane Austen (1775 – 1817) was an English novelist. She was born in Stevenson, Hampshire, where her father was a rector. She was the second daughter and the seventh child in the close-knit family where she lived her entire life. She was educated primarily by her father and older brothers as well as through her own reading. The steadfast support of her family contributed immensely to her development as a professional writer. Her novels are set mainly among the landed gentry and herplots, though fundamentally comic, highlight the dependence of women on marriage to secure social standing and economic security. Her novels arehighly prized not only for their light irony, humor, and depiction of the English country life of her time, but also for their underlying serious qualities. Her realism and biting social commentary cements her historical importance among scholars and critics.

Her writing career stated at the age of 35 with the release Sense and Sensibility(1811). Her other novels are Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814) and Emma (1816). She wrote two additional novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, both published posthumously in 1818, and began a third, which was eventually titled Sanditon, but she died before completing it.

Her work brought her little personal fame and only a few positive reviews during her lifetime, but her nephew's publication of A Memoir of Jane Austenin1869 introduced her to a wider public, and by the 1940s she had become widely accepted in academia as a great English writer.

3.2 Theme/Subject Matter

Subject Matter

The subject matter of the novel is the marriages of the daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet which could have been prevented by their environment and family. With the exceptions of Elizabeth and Jane, the entire Bennet family is woefully lacking in the kind of self-respect which magnifies their various forms of excesses or laxities. In the words of Gail Cunningham in the Introduction to the novel “ Mrs. Bennet’s irredeemable vulgarity and garrulous silliness expose her daughter to repeated social ridicule; Mary’s pomposity leads her to inappropriate displays of learning or accomplishment; Kitty, and even Lydia, display a shameless self-advertisement which sends Lydia to the brink of social ruin”(ix) in the novel. Also, Darcy in his letter to Elizabeth sums this up as ‘total want of propriety’. They lack proper pride and self-esteem. Consequently, they humiliate themselves and others most of the time. Finally, pride and prejudice on the part of the protagonists, Elizabeth and Darcy would have contributed most in the near-abortive marriage of Jane and Elizabeth.

Themes

Many critics take the novel's title as a starting point when analysing the major themes of Pride and Prejudice; The antithesis and alliteration in the title is remarkable and could be seen as the major theme of the novel. However, some of the themes discernable in the novel are presented below:

. The importance of environment and upbringing on the development of young people's character and morality.This is the major theme in this novel and in most of her works.Social standing and wealth are not necessarily advantages in her world.

. Ineffectual parents. In Pride and Prejudice, the failure of Mr. and Mrs.Bennet (particularly the latter) as parents is blamed for Lydia's lack of moral judgment; Darcy, on the other hand, has been taught to be principled and scrupulously honourable, but is also proud and overbearing. Kitty, rescued from Lydia's bad influence and spending more time with her older sisters after they marry, is said to improve greatly in their superior society.

. Pride and Prejudice is another prominent theme in the novel. If you have read the novel, you will notice that the qualities of the title (pride and prejudice) are not exclusively assigned to one or the other of the protagonists; both Elizabeth and Darcy display elements of pride and prejudice. Pride and prejudice run through the novel. Pride can have connotations of proper self-respect but is usually used pejoratively to represent “inordinate and unreasonable self-esteem” (Miles 42). Elizabeth’s prejudice against Darcy begins from the moment of his snobbish refusal to dance with her at the ball and remains almost to the end of the novel.

Consequently this prepares her prejudice in favour of Wickham when he appears. In the case of Darcy, his instant prejudice against the society of Meryton is a consequence of his class and upbringing. Read the novel to get more of the conflicts and complications caused by pride and prejudice.

 Exercise

Read chapter 35 of the novel and:

. State the subject matter of that chapter

. List at least five speeches that highlight pride and prejudice

3.3 Point of View

The novel is presented in the third person point of view or the omniscient narrative technique. Jane Austen makes an extensive and effective use of dialogue. In addition, she employs the narrative technique of free indirect speech that has been defined as "the free representation of a character's speech, by which one means, not words actually spoken by a character, but the words that typify the character's thoughts, or the way the character would think or speak, if she thought or spoke" (Palmer 52). In this case, while reporting in the third person, she uses a peculiar narrative which adopts the tone and vocabulary of a particular character especially in the case of Elizabeth. In this way, Austen invites the reader to follow events from Elizabeth's viewpoint, sharing her prejudices and misapprehensions. In this way, the reader gets most of the information solely through Elizabeth's point of view

3.4 Plot

The novel revolves around the Bennet family. Mr. Bernnet has five marriageable daughters and mother who will be left without a home and income once Mr. Bennet dies. This is the terms on which Mr. Bennet inherited Longbourn. There was a statute then in England that prohibited women from inheriting property. Instead, one of Mr. Bennet's male relations will inherit the estate on his demise. This is still happening in many Nigerian cultures whereby when a man dies without a son, his daughters and wife are disinherited and his brothers will take over his property. Naturally, the women concerned will be worried. In this novel, Mrs. Bennet worries about this predicament, and is desperate in her bid to find husbands for her daughters as quickly as possible. This need for the marriage of young ladies and gentlemen in the society then is captured in the first sentence of the novel: “IT IS A TRUTH universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife” (3). The plot of the novel revolves around this first sentence and is justified by the end of the novel/work.

Mr. Bennet does not seem to be worried at all, and Elizabeth, the heroine, has decided to only to marry for love, though she has no concrete ideas on how she will survive financially. She feels that her sister’s beauty, kindness and good nature would fetch her a wealthy husband. The novel opens with the great news that Mr. Bingley, a wealthy young gentleman, has rented a country estate in Netherfied near the Bennets. He arrives in town accompanied by his fashionable sisters and his good friend, Mr. Darcy. While Bingley is well-received in the community, Darcy begins his acquaintance with smug condescension and proud distaste for all the 'country' people. Bingley and Jane, Elizabeth Bennet's older sister, get acquainted.Unfortunately the relationship was prevented from blossoming by Darcy who also slights Elizabeth at a ball. Elizabeth is stung by Darcy's haughty rejection of her at the local dance and decides to match his coldness with her own wit and carries it till certain revelations were made and she discovers his true nature. Ironically, unknown to her, Darcy finds himself gradually drawn to Elizabeth.Just as Bingley appears to be at the point of proposing marriage to Jane Bennet, he quits Netherfield, leaving Jane confused and upset. Elizabeth is convinced that Bingley's sister has conspired with Darcy to separate Jane and Bingley.

Before Bingley leaves, Mr. Collins, the male relative who is to inherit Longbourn, makes a sudden appearance and stays with the Bennets and proposes marriage first to Jane and later to Elizabeth. Both of them reject the offer, much to her mother's distress. Collins quickly recovers and proposes to Elizabeth's close friend, Charlotte Lucas, who immediately accepts him. Once the marriage is arranged, Charlotte asks Elizabeth to come for an extended visit.

In the spring, Elizabeth joins Charlotte and her cousin at his parish in Kent. The parish is adjacent to Rosings Park, the grand manor of Mr. Darcy's aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, where Elizabeth is frequently invited. While calling on Lady Catherine, Mr. Darcy encounters Elizabeth. She discovers from a cousin of Darcy that it was he who separated Bingley and Jane. Soon after, Darcy admits his love of Elizabeth and proposes to her. Insulted by his high-handed and insulting manner of proposing, Elizabeth refuses him. When he asks why she should refuse him, she confronts him with his sabotage of Bingley's relationship with Jane and Wickham's account of their dealings.

Deeply shaken by Elizabeth's vehemence and accusations, Darcy writes her a letter justifying his actions. The letter reveals that Wickham soon dissipated his legacy-settlement (from Darcy's father's estate), then came back to Darcy requesting permanent patronage; and that he became angry when rejected, accusing Darcy of cheating him. To exact revenge and to make off with part of the Darcy family fortune, he attempted to seduce Darcy's young sister Georgiana—to gain her hand and fortune, almost persuading her to elope with him—before he was found out and stopped. Towards Bingley and Jane, Darcy justifies his actions based on his observations that Jane did not show any reciprocal interest in his friend; thus his aim in separating them was mainly to protect Bingley from heartache.Darcy admits that he was concerned about the disadvantageous connection with Elizabeth's family, especially her embarrassing mother and wild younger sisters. The letter opens her eyes more to her family's behaviour and Wickham's credibility.

Some months later, during a tour of Derbyshire with her aunt and uncle, Elizabeth visits Permberley, Darcy's estate and unexpectedly, Darcy arrives at Pemberley and makes an effort to be gracious and welcoming to them, thus strengthening Elizabeth's newly favourable impression of him. Darcy then introduces Elizabeth to his sister Georgiana. He treats her uncle and aunt very well, and finds them to be of more sound character than her other relatives, whom he previously dismissed as socially inferior.

Elizabeth and Darcy's renewed acquaintance is cut short when news arrives that Elizabeth's younger sister Lydia has run away with Wickham. This exposes Wickham’s behaviour more to Elizabeth. It is discovered that he has no intention of marrying her. Darcy intervenes and forces the marriage. Soon after, Bingley and Darcy return to the area. Bingley proposes marriage to Jane, and this news starts rumors that Darcy will propose to Elizabeth. Lady Catherine travels to Longbourn with the sole aim of forcing Elizabeth to never accept such a proposal. Elizabeth is adamant in her refusal to concede to Lady Catherine's demands. Darcy hears of Elizabeth’s obstinacy and it convinces him that her opinion of him has changed. Consequently, he proposes again to Elizabeth who accepts, and the two become engaged.

In the resolution, Bingley and Jane get married and later settle in Derbyshire, closer to Pemberley where Darcy and Elizabeth settle after their marriage. Elizabeth and Jane manage to teach Kitty greater social grace, and Mary learns to accept the difference between herself and her sisters' beauty and mixes more with the outside world. Lydia and Wickham continue to move often, leaving their debts for Jane and Elizabeth to pay off. At Pemberley, Elizabeth and Georgiana grow close.

From the synopsis of the novel which I have deliberately presented above, you can see that the plot runs chronologically and causally from the beginning to the end.

 Exercise.

List five incidents that occur chronologically and causally in the novel.

3.4 Setting.

The story is set uniquely in the turn of the 19th century. However, it retains a fascination for modern readers as the events and action remain relevant in the contemporary society. The physical setting is England as some known landmarks like London, Kent and other known towns are mentioned in the novel.

3.5 Characterization

In this novel, we credit Jane Austen with a presentation of a deep insight into human affairs. Her treatment of all the characters in the novel especially the major ones shows that she is a master craftsman in the art of characterization. She assembles an array of characters, each playing his or her role in the unfolding of the plot. The round characters grow with the novel as they learn from interpersonal relationships. For instance, Elizabeth’s straightforward attitude gives her a leeway to deliver some home- truths to Darcy, Lady Catherine and the Collins. There is a steady line of development, perfectly consistent with the framework Jane Austen establishes at the beginning of the novel. The conversion of the major characters is carefully planned, proceeding through logical and clearly defined stages from the beginning to the end. The characters are settled appropriately at the end of the novel. Jane’s sweet nature is rewarded with Bingley’s four or five thousand a year; Darcy’s ten thousand a year and magnificent Pemberley estate becomes a befitting material match for Elizabeth’s superiority of wit and insight; and Lydia and Wickham are consigned deservedly to a life of nomadic penury as social outcasts; Mrs. Bennet is not allowed to visit Pemberley; and The haughty Miss Bingley is ‘deeply mortified’ by Darcy’s marriage to Elizabeth. Let us study a brief analysis of some of the characters presented below.

Elizabeth Bennet is the main character and protagonist. The reader sees the unfolding plot and the other characters mostly from her experiences and interpersonal relationship with the other characters. She is the second of the Bennet daughters at twenty years olds; she is intelligent, lively, attractive, and witty, but has a tendency to judge on first impressions and perhaps to be a little selective of the evidence upon which she bases her judgments. She exemplifies pride and prejudice in the novel.

Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy is the main male character. Twenty-eight years old and unmarried, Darcy is the wealthy owner of the famous family estate of Permberley in Derbyshire. He is handsome, intelligent, but haughty and seems to possess an excessive pride and concern for social status. He makes a poor impression on strangers with his aloof and arrogant attitude. However he is valued by those who know him well.

Charles Bingley is a young gentleman who made his wealth recently but without an estate and seeks a permanent home. He rents the Netherfield estate near Longbourn when the novel opens. By the end of the novel he moves to Derbyshire. He is Darcy’s friend but is more amiable with his good nature. He is handsome kind and charming. He is easily influenced by others.

Jane Bennet, the eldest Bennet sister is considered the most beautiful young lady in the neighbourhood. Her character is contrasted with Elizabeth's as sweeter, shyer, and equally sensible, but not as clever. Her most notable trait is a desire to see only the good in others.

Mr.Bennet has a wife and five daughters, and seems to have resigned himself to his fate of not having a male child. He does not approve of the indecorous behaviours of his wife and three younger daughters but seems incapacitated in correcting them. He only mocks and laughs at them. He is closer to his two elder daughters, Jane and Elizabeth. He relates very well with them and shows them undisguised love and respect.

Mrs.Bennet is the wife of Mr.Bennet and mother of Elizabeth and her sisters. She is frivolous, excitable, and narrow-minded. She is susceptible to attacks of tremors and palpitations; her public manners and social climbing are embarrassing to Jane and Elizabeth. Her favourite daughter is the youngest, Lydia.

George Wickham is an old acquaintance of Darcy from childhood, and an officer in the militia unit stationed near Meryton. He is superficially charming so make friends easily. He wants to marry Elizabeth and later runs off with Lydia. He spreads malicious tales about Darcy thereby distorting Darcy’s personality and image in the community. It is eventually revealed that these tales are distortions, and that Darcy was the wronged man in their acquaintance.

Lady Catherine de Bourgh is a wealthy, haughty, domineering and condescending woman who is very class conscious. She is related to Darcy and tries to foil the marriage between Elizabeth and Darcy. Elizabeth shows her that she is respectful but cannot be intimidated. Darcy, whilst respectful of their shared family connection, is offended by her lack of manners, especially towards Elizabeth.

William Collins is Mr.Bennet's clergyman cousin and, as Mr Bennet has no son, heir to his estate. He is not sensible, always eager to please his patroness, Lady Catherine de Bough and boasts of his acquaintance with and advantageous patronage from her.MrBennet, Jane, and Elizabeth consider him pompous and lacking in common sense. Elizabeth's rejection of Collins' marriage proposal is welcomed by her father, irrespective of the financial benefit of the proposed marriage to their family. Elizabeth is later somewhat distressed, when her closest friend Charlotte Lucas consents to marry Collins. However she appreciates her friend’s

need for a settled position and to avoid the low status and lack of autonomy of an old maid.

Other characters in the novel include:

Mary Bennet is the only plain Bennet sister.

Catherine "Kitty" Bennet is the fourth Bennet sister.

Lydia Bennet is the youngest Bennet sister

Caroline Bingley is the snobbish sister of Charles Bingley.

Mr Gardiner is Mrs Bennett's brother. He is a sensible gentleman and a businessman.

Georgiana Darcy is Mr Darcy's quiet and amiable younger sister.

3.6 Language

The language of the novel is simple, direct and interesting. The dialogues are true to life. Jane Austen uses language to advance her themes appropriately and for vivid descriptions of environment, events and characters. The prejudices of characters are rightly relayed with appropriate exchanges. Let us look at the language in this remark by Miss Bingley about Elizabeth:

How very ill Eliza Bennet looks this morning, Mr Darcy,’ she cried; ‘I never in my life saw anyone so much alerted as she is since the winter. She is grown so brown and coarse! Louisa and I were agreeing that we should not have known her again’ …

For my own part,’ she rejoined, ‘I must confess that I never could see any beauty in her. Her face is too thin; her complexion has no brilliancy; and her features are not at all handsome. Her nose wants character; there is nothing marked in its lines. Her teeth are tolerable, but not out of the common way; and as for her eyes, which have sometimes been called so fine, I never could perceive anything extraordinary in them. They have a sharp, shrewish look, which I do not like at all; and in her air altogether, there is a self-sufficiency without fashion, which is intolerable’ (181).

Another hallmark of language in this novel is the use of witty, comic and ironic voice. You can find either one of these or a combination of two or more in almost every other page of the novel. Let us recall Mr. Bennet’s reaction to Mr. Collins first letter to the family. He declares in an answer to Elizabeth’s question if Mr. Collins is a sensible man for writing the way he did: “No, my dear; I think not. I have great hopes of finding him quite the reverse. There is a mixture of self-importance in his letter, which promises well”(44). In another reaction to the same subject matter, he cuts through his wife’s hysterical demands that he should force Elizabeth to marry Collins within this comic and ironical tone:

An unhappy alternative before you, Elizabeth. From this day you must be a Stranger to one of your parents- Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you if you again if you do. (78)

4.0 CONCLUSION

Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is one of the early novels in English Literature and stands out as one of the most loved novels. I choose it deliberately because of the simplicity yet rich narrative techniques. The characterization in the novel is handled appropriately for the explication of the themes and the advancement of the plot. Darcy and Elizabeth fall from an initial pride to just humiliation and self-knowledge. The learning process is painful but ultimately successful. They are led through “crises which test their understanding, judgment and feelings against earlier pride and prejudice” (Le Faye 67).

5.0 SUMMARY

We have read Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and analysed it in terms of the theme and style. We are concluding that it is a masterpiece that though written in the 19th century is still relevant in the contemporary times because of the way the issues raised are treated and characters presented.

6.0  ASSIGNMENT

Present ananalysis of the six characters listed above- from Mary Bennet to Georgiana Darcy.

7.0 REFERENCES/FURTHER READING

Austen, J. (1992). Pride and Prejudice.Wordsworth edition. Hertfordshire: Wordsworth Classics.

Le Faye, D. (2002). Jane Austen: The World of Her Novels. New York: Harry N. Adams.

Miles, R. (2003). Jane Austen: Writers and their Work. New York:Northcote House

Palmer, E. (1986). Studies on the English Novel.Ibadan: African University Press.