thesis statement about pride and prejudice

Pride and Prejudice

Introduction pride and prejudice.

The universally acclaimed tour de force of Jane Austen , Pride and Prejudice, a novel of manners, is also called a model of the Romantic Movement in literature. It was written and published around 1813 during the classical Regency Period. The storyline revolves around the Bennet family whose mother’s only desire is to see her daughters married to well-off and handsome young men to secure their inheritance. However, the main character , Elizabeth Bennet, shows her evolution from a rash, hasty girl to an appreciably understanding lady, who accepts her mistakes and agrees to Darcy’s proposal by the end.

Summary Pride and Prejudice

A wealthy young man, Charles Bingley, rents a manor in the proximity of Longbourn, a village, where the Bennet family resides. Having five daughters ready to be married, Mrs. Bennet sees Mr. Bingley a likely match for any one of her five daughters. She, therefore, persuades Mr. Bennet to pay him a courtesy visit following which all join a ball at Mr. Bingley’s manor, Netherfield Park. Jane, the second Miss Bennet, succeeds in attracting Mr. Bingley, toward her during the dance, and they both spend much time together. However, it happens that Mr. Darcy, too, joins them, though he is not much pleased with this party where Elizabeth is also present. Both of them show their displeasure, as Mr. Darcy does not join her in dance, a sign of arrogance considered in those social circles.

In the later weeks, when Mr. Bingley is already enjoying his friendship with Jane while Mr. Darcy hopes to see Elizabeth. One day when Jane is caught in the rainstorm and falls ill on her way to Netherfield Park, Elizabeth visits the mansion to take care of her and gets her dress muddied on the way to the mansion. Miss Bingley does not like her appearance and insults her. Mr. Darcy defends her and it angers Miss Bingley and this incident also adds jealousy toward Elizabeth.

Both of the sisters return after Jane recovers. Mr. Collins, their cousin, visits them. Mr. Collins is likely to become the heir of Bennet’s property, as he is the only male member of the family. He instantly falls in love with the Bennet girls and their manners. Soon, he starts courting Elizabeth only to face rejection.

Meanwhile, soldiers stationed near Longbourn keep the Bennet girls busy, where Wickham, a dashing soldier, turns to Elizabeth and tries to win her attention. He berates Darcy alleging that he has tried to cheat him of inherited property. When winter starts, the Bingleys, along with Darcy, return to London which disappoints Jane. Around this time, Collins also gets engaged with Charlotte Lucas, the daughter of a knight. When they get married, Elizabeth promises to visit them. Winter passes without any stir in the emotions of the Bennet sisters due to the long absence of Darcy and Bingley.

When spring arrives, Elizabeth goes to see Charlotte, Mr. Collins’ wife, residing near Darcy’s aunt, Lady Catherine. Darcy also visits his aunt and meets Elizabeth. He starts visiting her at the Collins’ and proposes to her which invites immediate rejection from her with some words for his arrogant behavior. However, instead of retreating, he leaves a letter for her about Jane and Bingley, and his reasons for distancing from Jane. He also informs her that Wickham, the soldier, is a habitual liar and has been trying to elope with Georgiana, Elizabeth’s younger sister. However, Mr. Darcy from whom Wickham has sought assistance has refused to assist him. This letter reveals the good nature of Darcy to Elizabeth after which she shows cold-shouldering to Wickham. Also, Lydia still seeks permission to stay at Brighton. Elizabeth gets acquainted with the Gardiners, where she, unknowingly, stumbles upon the Pemberley, the estate of Mr. Darcy. She visits and finds him generous in every way. When Mr. Darcy arrives, he serves her well without mentioning her rejection.

During Elizabeth’s stay at the estate, she comes to know that Lydia eloped with Wickham. She hurries home, while Gardiner goes to find the couple. They convince Wickham to marry Lydia at which the Bennets readily agree. They realize that they owe Gardiner as might have paid Wickham to marry Lydia. However, the source of that money remains unknown at this time.

After their marriage, though, Lydia and Wickham come to Longbourn to meet the family, they are not happily welcomed home. Disappointed, the couple leaves. Bingley, afterward, reappears and starts flirting with Jane, while Darcy is there with him to visit the Bennets. Though, he does not mention his wish for Elizabeth. So, Bingley proposes and wins Jane’s hand. Darcy seeks assistance from his aunt, Lady Catherine, who broaches the topic of his marriage with the announcement, asking Katherine to refuse. Elizabeth finally agrees to go out on a date with Mr. Darcy. Three daughters are happily married by the end of the novel.

Major Themes in Pride and Prejudice

• Pride: The novel shows the thematic strand of pride through the characters of Darcy and Elizabeth. They both demonstrate pride toward each other and both think that the other one is snobbish and haughty. However, Mr. Darcy soon learns that Elizabeth is just cautious and responsible. While Elizabeth learns that Mr. Darcy is just an isolated man, but full of kindness and love for others. However, Lady Catherine, by the end, plays a strange game by asking Elizabeth not to accept the marriage proposal of Mr. Darcy to which she refuses to promise. She finally accepts his proposal on her claim that she has the right to be happy.
• Prejudice: This is the second thematic strand is also in the title of the novel. The prejudice lies in the character of Elizabeth that she does not consider Mr. Darcy good enough to dance with him. Both are prejudiced toward each other, as Mr. Darcy, too, shows scorn for those who is not in his personal social circle. However, when Elizabeth enters his social circle, he immediately proposes to her again and marries her.
• Family: Having a complete family is the third major theme as the Bennets are waiting for young men to marry their five young daughters. That is why when Mr. Bingley arrives in Longbourn, Mrs. Bennet immediately asks her husband to visit him. Similarly, Jane and Elizabeth find their matches in Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy in their desires to complete their families through marriages.
• Women: Although there are several towering male characters like Mr. Darcy and Charles Bingley, yet Pride and Prejudice is the novel of women. Women play a central role throughout the story . It also comprises so many marriages. Hence, it has been rightly termed as the novel of manners. Mrs. Bennet is a towering character with her daughter Elizabeth along with Lady Katherine, Darcy’s aunt. Although all men seem to play their role, except Mr. Darcy, all others seem to be going on the way the women choose for them. Mr. Bennet does what Mrs. Bennet asks him to do. Wickham becomes what Lydia wants him; her husband after Mr. Darcy purchases her marriage from him.
• Class: Although the novel supports a no-class system, it emphasizes that the marriages should be based on convenience and status that points to class consciousness. Darcy is clearly conscious of his class. So, when Elizabeth rejects his proposal after he does not dance with her, it becomes a point of the class system. However, when the same Elizabeth visits his estate and comes to know him, she immediately changes her opinion and softens her feelings towards Mr. Darcy. At the end of the story, it does raise her status. Also, Bennet’s sisters flirt with Collins, as he does not belong to their class.
• Marriage: The theme of marriage comes to the readers through the Bennet family, especially plotted by their mother, Mrs. Bennet. She is fully obsessed with the idea of marrying her daughters to any young man who comes their way to secure their inheritance. When Mr. Bingley arrives, she immediately springs up from her stupor to torture her husband, Mr. Bennet to visit her. She even tries to keep Collins for any one of them, but they do not pay heed to her suggestions. Therefore, the first line of the novel presents this major theme.
• Individual and Society: The novel also presents the theme of an individual and his place in society such as Mr. Darcy, who encourages Wickham to marry Lydia, instead of keeping her unmarried with him. Had it not happened, Wickham would have caused embarrassment to the Bennet family. Also, it shows that no individual could find respect and honor in society, for Wickham would have caused damage to himself, too.
• Virtue : The theme of virtue in, Pride and Prejudice, is clear from the character of Elizabeth, who keeps her vanity in front of her, instead of giving priority to her happiness. This becomes her virtue that wins the heart of Mr. Darcy, while Lydia’s act causes damage to her reputation, which becomes Lydia’s vice.

Major Characters in Pride and Prejudice

• Elizabeth: Elizabeth is the protagonist , the most loving character of the novel. She is her father’s pet as well as a center of admiration for Mr. Darcy. She is misunderstood at first. Elizabeth is also called Eliza or Lizzy in her familial circle. As the second daughter of the Bennet family, she wins Mr. Darcy by the end with her quick thinking, despite the initial hiccups in forming relations with the same person. She demonstrates a balanced personality and removes her prejudicial behavior.
• Darcy: Though, Fitzwilliam Darcy called, Mr. Darcy appears haughty and socially shunning he proves equal to Elizabeth in thoughts as well as likes. A person of demanding taste, he shows kindness, manners, and wins the respect of others on account of his rational approach to life despite his initial arrogance toward Elizabeth. However, later he proves that he is a man to be trusted when he helps The Bennets to settle Lydia’s elopement affair. He falls in love with Elizabeth and proposes at the end of the story.
• Jane Bennet: The eldest of Bennet girls, Jane, later, marries Mr. Bingley. However, despite her beauty and fairness, Mr. Darcy prefers Elizabeth to her in the beginning. While Bingley instantly falls for Jane. She is a conventional lady who has faith in her sister Elizabeth, whom she tells about Mr. Bingley. Jane has set an example of marrying in the traditional atmosphere .
• Bingley: The significance of Charles Bingley’s character in the course of the novel lies in that the very first sentence of the novel pays tribute to his wealth and requirement for a wife, which prompts Mrs. Bennet to send her husband for socialization with him. He, seeing beauty in Jane, instantly goes for her, instead of the other clever ones. He also loves Caroline and Louisa, his two sisters, and has a kind heart. Following his marriage, he moves near the Pemberley to stay close to Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth.
• Wickham: George Wickham is a charming soldier and close to Mr. Darcy. He is the most undesirable character in the story due to actions such as beguiling Lydia and lying about Darcy. Elizabeth might have been his intended victim, but her wit saves her from his cheating nature. He then lures Lydia, mired in gambling and bad habits. Wickham has been Darcy’s close relative, the reason that his father has bequeathed some property for him. When he elopes with Lydia, Mr. Darcy intervenes to save his skin and gets them married.
• Bennet: She is a very tiring but inquisitive character. Mrs. Bennet proves a bee in the bonnet for Mr. Bennet whenever she sees any prospect of a coming young man marrying any of her young daughters. It happens in the case of Mr. Bingley when she comes to know that he has not married despite having a good fortune. However, she is deficient in both; the mundane sagacity as well as human relations. She becomes fully satisfied at the end of the novel when she sees all her girls marrying and settling happily.
• Bennet: Mr. Bennet is the head of the Bennet family, and also a legal hand working in the court with a mind full of worldly wisdom. At home, his favorite daughter is Elizabeth to whom he calls Lizzy. Sadly, his relations with his wife are always sour. He is often found cutting jokes at Mrs. Bennet’s bad temper. He suffers and feels insulted at Lydia’s affair from which Mr. Darcy saves him.
• Lydia Bennet: Despite her beauty and closeness to Elizabeth, Lydia proves her stupidity by falling into the trap of Mr. Wickham. She elopes with Wickham without realizing the consequences. However, Mr. Darcy, sensing danger, reaches to assist her in marrying Wickham.
• Catherine Bennett: Kitty or Katherine is the second last Bennet sisters, who despite being young, do not marry and continues with her life like before, which shows her shrewdness for brightening her prospects after getting her sisters married.
• Mary Bennet: She is the most educated or seemingly educated but serious character of the novel. She mostly stays away from others immersed in her books. She also has a very keen interest in human relations and understands more than others.

Writing Style Pride and Prejudice ‎

Jane Austen has shown her amazing linguistic skills through this novel by using simple and straightforward language. This style is meant to hook her readers from any language background and take them on a tour of a family, 18th-century lifestyle, and human relations. However, the specialty of this simple language lies in its iron andy wit. The narrator , the third person omniscient , often says something that means entirely something else. For instance, Mr. Bennet’s comments against his wife, creating an amusing situation. Otherwise, the story goes straightforward without much of twists and turns. The style also stays uncomplicated throughout the novel except in some cases where educated characters talk seriously about issues such as Lydia’s behavior and Wickham’s actions.

Analysis of Literary Devices in Pride and Prejudice

• Action: The main action of the novel comprises the marriage and choices of the Bennet girls. The rising action occurs when Mr. Darcy refuses to dance with Elizabeth, and she rejects his proposal. However, the falling action occurs when Mr. Darcy comes to help the Bennets in the case of Lydia’s elopement, and finally, Elizabeth agrees to Mr. Darcy’s proposal by the end.
• Adage : It means the use of a statement that becomes a universal truth. The novel, Pride and Prejudice, shows this use of the statement in the very first sentence; “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” (Chapter-1)
• Allegory : Pride and Prejudice shows the use of allegory in the initial line which discloses that the characters are going to represent abstract ideas such as Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth both represent abstract feelings of pride and prejudice.
• Antagonist : Although it seems that Mr. Darcy is the main antagonist of Pride and Prejudice in the opening chapters, it is Mr. Wickham who becomes the antagonist later when he causes embarrassment to the Bennet family and Mr. Darcy redeems himself from this initial impression by helping the Bennet settle the elopement affair of Lydia and Wickham.
• Allusion : There are various examples of allusions given in the novel, Pride and Prejudice. The first allusion is a statement of Mr. Darcy that occurs in the 9 th chapter that “I have been used to consider poetry as the food of love”. Here the final part “food of love” alludes to Twelfth Night by Shakespeare. There are several other Biblical allusions such as of “St. James” (Chapter-5), referring to Sir William Lucas.  The second biblical allusion is of “an angel of light” (Chapter-6), which refers to Meryton.
• Conflict : The are two major conflicts in the novel, Pride and Prejudice. The first one is the external conflict that starts between Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham and another between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth. Mr. Darcy, however, possesses the capability to resolve both with the help of Elizabeth, who is also thankful to him. Another conflict is in the mind of both Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, which is resolved at the end of the novel.
• Characters: Pride and Prejudice presents both static as well as dynamic characters . The young man, Mr. Darcy, and his would-be wife are two dynamic characters. However, the rest of the characters do not show any significant change in their roles, the reason that Mr. Bennet and Mrs. Bennet, including the Bingleys and Lady Katherine, are all static characters .
• Climax : The climatic takes place when Mr. Darcy suggests Elizabeth to marry him, but she refuses. This climax slowly starts resolving and comes to an end when she finally accepts his proposal.
• Foreshadowing : The first example of foreshadowing in the novel occurs when Elizabeth knowingly reaches the Pemberley. It shows that she is going to pacify or impress Mr. Darcy, in the first chapter of the third volume of the novel. Even before this, the novel’s title of two abstract feelings shows that there will be something about their relationship and feelings, as shown by Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth. However, the question of Mrs. Bennet about Mr. Bingley’s married or single life is also a type for foreshadowing.
• Hyperbole : Hyperbole or exaggeration occurs when Jane Austen opens the book; “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.” (Chapter-1). Although it has become an adage , still it is an exaggeration, for several young men may not be in want of a wife. The second hyperbole occurs when Mr. Darcy states that “I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library” (Chapter-11). However, it is an exaggeration of the reading taste of Elizabeth.
• Imagery : Imagery means to use of the five senses such as in the below examples: i. At length the Parsonage was discernible. The garden sloping to the road, the house standing in it, the green pales, and the laurel hedge, everything declared they were arriving. (Chapter-28) ii. The park was very large, and contained great variety of ground. They entered it in one of its lowest points, and drove for some time through a beautiful wood stretching over a wide extent. (Chapter-43) iii. It was a large, handsome stone building, standing well on rising ground, and backed by a ridge of high woody hills; and in front, a stream of some natural importance was swelled into greater, but without any artificial appearance. Its banks were neither formal nor falsely adorned. (Chapter-43) The first example shows images of color, the second one of nature, and the third one shows the images of the building as the description shows the use of the senses of sight, smell, and touch in these three examples.
• Metaphor : Pride and Prejudice shows good use of various metaphors such as the extended metaphors of proud love compared to Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth’s match, dance as compared to the cognitive understanding of the body, and idiocy with acts such as of Lydia and Wickham. Some other metaphors are: i. You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. (Chapter-1) ii. “Oh, she is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld.” (Chapter-3) iii. Do not consider me now as an elegant female, intending to plague you, but as a rational creature, speaking the truth from her heart. (Chapter-19)
• Mood : The novel, Pride and Prejudice, shows a satirical mood . However, it also allows characters to be sarcastic and ironic at times to seem biting to some. It, however, becomes tense during the Lydia-Wickham affair but becomes again light-hearted and happy in tone when Mr. Darcy helps the Bennet to settle that affair. It, then, ends on a happy note.
• Motif : The most important motifs of the novel, Pride and Prejudice, are courtships, journeys, dances, and marriages.
• Narrator : The novel, Pride and Prejudice, has been narrated by a third-person narrator. It is also called an omniscient narrator who happens to be the author himself as he can see things from all perspectives . Here Jane Austen is the narrator.
• Personification : Personification means to attribute human acts and emotions to non-living objects such as: i. ‘His pride,’ said Miss Lucas, ‘does not offend ME so much as pride often does, because there is an excuse for it. (Chapter-5) ii. Her heart was divided between concern for her sister, and resentment against all others. (Chapter-24) Both of these examples show pride and heart personified.
• Protagonist : Elizabeth Bennet is the protagonist of the novel. She comes in the novel from the very start and captures the interest of the readers until the last page.
• Paradox : Pride and Prejudice shows the use of paradox in its title in that it is a regency paradox of feeling pride and then showing prejudice.
• Rhetorical Questions : The novel shows good use of rhetorical questions at several places such as: i. ‘I cannot believe it. Why should they try to influence him? Elizabeth to Jane (Chapter-24) ii. When is your turn to come? You will hardly bear to be long outdone by Jane. Mr. Bennet to Mrs. Bennet (Chapter-24) iii. ‘Good Heaven! what is to become of us? What are we to do?’ would they often exclaiming the bitterness of woe. ‘How can you be smiling so, Lizzy? (Mrs. Bennet to Elizabeth) (Chapter-41) This example shows the use of rhetorical questions posed by different characters such as first by Elizabeth to Jane, then Mr. Bennet to Mrs. Bennet, and third by Mrs. Bennet to Elizabeth.
• Theme : A theme is a central idea that the novelist or the writer wants to stress upon. The novel, Pride and Prejudice, not only shows the titular thematic strands of pride and prejudice, but also life in general and marriage in particular with communication, conventions, relationships, and status or class as other thematic strands.
• Setting : The setting of the novel, Pride and Prejudice, is the urban and rural areas of the United Kingdom of the 18 th century and places such as Longbourn, Rosings, Pemberley, and Netherfield Park.
• Simile : The novel shows good use of various similes such as: i. …’they are all silly and ignorant like other girls. (Chapter-1) ii. There is nothing like dancing after all, (Chapter-6) iii. Yes, ma’am, that he was indeed; and his son will be just like him—just as affable to the poor. (Chapter-43) The first simile compares the girls to other girls, the second, no-skill to dance, and the third the son to his father.
• Irony : The novel shows irony not only of the situation but also in the language such as: i. It is truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife. (Chapter-1) ii. ‘My dear, you flatter me. I certainly HAVE had my share of beauty, but I do not pretend to be anything extraordinary now. When a woman has five grown-up daughters, she ought to give over thinking of her own beauty.’ ‘In such cases, a woman has not often much beauty to think of. (Chapter-1) iii. ‘And we mean to treat you all,’ added Lydia, ‘but you must lend us the money, for we have just spent ours at the shop out there.’ Ten, showing her purchases—’Look here. (Chapter-19) The first example shows the irony of language as well as the situation, while the second shows Mr. Bennet using irony against his wife and third Lydia against others.

Related posts:

• Pride and Prejudice Characters
• Pride and Prejudice Quotes
• Jane Austen
• Literary Writing Style of Jane Austen

Post navigation

Themes and Analysis

Pride and prejudice, by jane austen.

A literary work, such as 'Pride and Prejudice', can be interpreted in multiple ways depending on the mood, prior knowledge, level of understanding, and perspective of the reader.

Article written by Mizpah Albert

M.A. in English Literature and a Ph.D. in English Language Teaching.

The analysis here is an example, covering major elements of theme, setting, style, tone, and figurative language. 

Pride and Prejudice Themes

Themes are commonly the central ideas of any piece of literature. They are developed in various ways and characters. Written from the perspective of Elizabeth, the novel explores a number of themes , such as love, marriage, pride, prejudice, class, reputation, and many others.

As the title of the novel suggests, both pride and prejudice play a vital role in the novel. Pride is pronounced through the character of Darcy and prejudice is highlighted through Elizabeth. Darcy acts snobbishly during his first meeting with Elizabeth that eventually makes her hate him. His pride blinds him to the good qualities of Elizabeth, and her prejudice blinds her to see through his outward nature. It takes time for them to realize and evolve out of their pride and prejudice. Besides, Elizabeth, Darcy too out of his pride is exposed to prejudice over the people below his social class and economical status.

Other characters who exhibit pride in the novel are Catherine De Bough and Miss Catherine Bingley.

Love and Marriage

In Pride and Prejudice , Love and Marriage go hand in hand. Especially, it specifies the love and marriage between Darcy and Elizabeth , who strongly believes in marrying for love than anything. As the opening line of the novel suggests, It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife marriage was the major concern of Austen time. That is what would have inspired her to focus on love and marriage in Pride and Prejudice and in her other novels too.

True love, the leads to the happy union of the characters despite all adversity is portrayed through the couples, Darcy and Elizabeth, and Jane and Charles Bingley.  At the same time, the novel also exposes the marriages that happened solely for the purpose of independence, reputation, and financial security, as in the case of Charlotte Lucas and Lydia Bennet. 

Class plays unmistakably a significant role in the novel. The novel draws a clear line between the rich and poor. The theme is employed to foster Austen’s distaste over the society in general.

She makes it clear that people like Lady Catherine, due to their pride in social class act rudely, even in their regular conversation, and forever guilty of mistreating other people. The characters like Mr. Collins and Caroline are defined completely by the dictations of the class system. In contrast to them, Jane Austen produces more positive examples in Bingley and the Gardiners. Through Darcy’s character, she has enumerated class as a force that drives people to have virtue and decency, comparing the situation to the careless behavior of Mrs. Bennet and her daughters.

Darcy is presented as an epitome of an ideal high-class gentleman. Though, he seems to be arrogant and selfish in the beginning, over a period of time, his prejudiced opinion on the lower class changes, when he is exposed to the ideal qualities of Elizabeth. Austen strongly conveys her ideology that class does not determine one’s character, at the same time through love one can overcome all obstacles, including class.

Some of the other themes, one finds in Pride and Prejudice include integrity, family, reputation, etc.

Analysis of Key Moments in Pride and Prejudice

• Bingley arrives at Netherfield along with his sisters and Darcy.
• Darcy insults Elizabeth at the Meryton Ball while Bingley is attracted to Jane
• For the first time in the party arranged by Sir William Lucas, Darcy makes a positive observation on Elizabeth’s fine eyes, after Elizabeth turns down his request for a dance.
• When Jane is sick, Elizabeth arrives at Netherfield to take care of her sister. Positively, Darcy gets to see more of her, which he finds as a danger.
• Collins arrives at Longbourn to choose a wife for him amongst the Bennet sisters. But, he ends up marrying Charlotte Lucas.
• Meanwhile, Elizabeth gets acquainted with Wickham, who tells her the story of him being treated arrogantly.
• Bingley leaves Netherfield uninformed. Desolated Jane goes with the Gardiners to London with the hope of meeting Bingley only to be disappointed.  
• Elizabeth comes to know of Darcy’s involvement in the separation between Jane and Bingley. She vents out her anger and accuses him of spoiling the life of Wickham and her dear sister’s happiness.
• Despondent, Darcy explains the reasons for his actions in a letter to Elizabeth, which softens her feelings towards Darcy but he leaves Rosings to know her reversal of feelings.
• During her visit to the Gardiners, Elizabeth meets Darcy in his Pemberley estate, but her happiness short-lived when she receives a message about Lydia’s elopement with Wickham.
• Elizabeth comes to know of Darcy’s painstaking effort in saving Lydia’s reputation in marriage with Wickham.
• Soon, Bingley proposes to Jane and engaged.
• Infuriated by Elizabeth, Lady Catherine warns Darcy, who regaining hopes proposes to Elizabeth again, who accepts happily.

Style, Tone, and Figurative Language

Pride and Prejudice, on the whole, employed with irony and wit. Austen through the speeches of various characters employed irony that draws a clear line between what is being said and what the readers interpret about the reality of the situation. For example, when Mr. Collins confidently tells Elizabeth that “I am therefore by no means discouraged by what you have just said and shall hope to lead you to the altar ere long,” the reader knows about Elizabeth’s feelings that are direct opposite what he expects.

The tone of Pride and Prejudice , despite it being romance is ironic towards various characters and events in the novel. The ironical is employed to demonstrate the foolishness of characters, the attitude of pretensions social class, and the criticism on gender roles.

Austen exaggerated situations and phrases, also used comparisons to satirize some of the ridiculous courting rituals of her time. Jane Austen’s use of irony, which is common in her novel is highlighted in the novel. She has employed all forms of irony namely: verbal, thematic, situational, and dramatic.

Use of Symbols

One of the prominent symbols in Pride and Prejudice is dancing. An Austen detail on a couple’s compatibility through dancing that symbolizes the level of their relationship. When Elizabeth and Darcy dance together the first time, their steps are stilted and formal, similar to the indifference and formality they had in their relationship at that point. Likewise, when Elizabeth and  Mr. Collins danced, he missteps, grovels, and embarrasses in front of her friends and family, similar to the awkward situation of him proposing to be rejected by Elizabeth. At the same time, Jane and Bingley 4times on a single night, reveals how happy and comfortable they were together.

‘Outdoors’ in the novel has come to symbolize openness and understanding. Many knots in the story are loosened in the outdoor settings in the story. Darcy proposes both the times when they were in the outdoor settings. In contrast, Indoor meetings have often caused to multiply their misunderstanding. Evidently, they were forced into awkward situations during their meeting at Netherfield, in Kent, and at Pemberley.

‘Pemberley’ stands to symbolize the nature of Darcy in the novel. In the beginning, when Pemberley’s pride is mentioned we see Darcy as a man of arrogance and Pride. Later, when Elizabeth visits Pemberley, she sees that as neither “formal, nor falsely adorned” . Following that description, we see the improved Darcy, who is more sociable and friendly. The lack of pretension, refined taste, and gracious welcome, Elizabeth and the Gardiners experienced at Pemberley, is a symbol of refinement in the man. One could see the positive change comes over Elizabeth that makes her fall in love with Darcy as she sees his true character revealed through his home.

Join Our Community for Free!

Exclusive to Members

Create Your Personal Profile

Engage in Forums

Join or Create Groups

Save your favorites, beta access.

About Mizpah Albert

Mizpah Albert is an experienced educator and literature analyst. Building on years of teaching experience in India, she has contributed to the literary world with published analysis articles and evocative poems.

About the Book

Discover literature and connect with others just like yourself!

Start the Conversation. Join the Chat.

There was a problem reporting this post.

Block Member?

Please confirm you want to block this member.

You will no longer be able to:

• See blocked member's posts
• Mention this member in posts
• Invite this member to groups

Please allow a few minutes for this process to complete.

Pride and Prejudice

Jane austen, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Pride is a constant presence in the characters' attitudes and treatment of each other, coloring their judgments and leading them to make rash mistakes. Pride blinds Elizabeth and Darcy to their true feelings about each other. Darcy's pride about his social rank makes him look down on anyone not in his immediate circle. Elizabeth, on the other hand, takes so much pride in her ability to judge others that she refuses to revise her opinion…

Prejudice in Pride and Prejudice refers to the tendency of the characters to judge one another based on preconceptions, rather than on who they really are and what they actually do. As the book's title implies, prejudice goes hand in hand with pride, often leading its heroine and hero into making wrong assumptions about motives and behavior. Austen's gentle way of mocking Elizabeth 's and Darcy 's biases gives the impression that such mistakes could…

The family is the predominant unit of social life in Pride and Prejudice and forms the emotional center of the novel. Not only does it provide (or fail to provide, as in the case of Lydia ) the Bennet daughters with their education and manners, but the social ranking of the family determines how successful they may reasonably expect to be in later life. Austen skillfully reveals how individual character is molded within the family…

Pride and Prejudice is a love story, but its author is also concerned with pointing out the inequality that governs the relationships between men and women and how it affects women's choices and options regarding marriage. Austen portrays a world in which choices for individuals are very limited, based almost exclusively on a family's social rank and connections. To be born a woman into such a world means having even less choice about whom to…

Class is the target of much of the novel's criticism of society in general. Austen makes it clear that people like Lady Catherine , who are overly invested in their social position, are guilty of mistreating other people. Other characters, like the suck-up Mr. Collins and the scheming Caroline , are depicted as thoroughly empty, their opinions and motivations completely defined by the dictates of the class system. To contrast them, Austen offers more positive…

• Bibliography
• More Referencing guides Blog Automated transliteration Relevant bibliographies by topics
• Automated transliteration
• Relevant bibliographies by topics
• Referencing guides

Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Pride and Prejudice'

Create a spot-on reference in apa, mla, chicago, harvard, and other styles.

Consult the top 50 dissertations / theses for your research on the topic 'Pride and Prejudice.'

Next to every source in the list of references, there is an 'Add to bibliography' button. Press on it, and we will generate automatically the bibliographic reference to the chosen work in the citation style you need: APA, MLA, Harvard, Chicago, Vancouver, etc.

You can also download the full text of the academic publication as pdf and read online its abstract whenever available in the metadata.

Browse dissertations / theses on a wide variety of disciplines and organise your bibliography correctly.

Lindsmyr, Christina. "Jane Austen - Pride and Prejudice." Thesis, Halmstad University, School of Humanities (HUM), 2006. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hh:diva-827.

Malmquist, Anna. "Pride and Prejudice : Lesbian Families in Contemporary Sweden." Doctoral thesis, Linköpings universitet, Psykologi, 2015. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-117933.

Williams, Julie. "Pride and prejudice : the socialisation of nurse educators." Thesis, Lancaster University, 2010. http://eprints.lancs.ac.uk/54647/.

Hook, Sue. "Pride and prejudice in the twenty-first century." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14601.

Sandy, Silav. "Thematic Oppositions in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice." Thesis, Karlstads universitet, Institutionen för språk, litteratur och interkultur, 2017. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kau:diva-55341.

SI, ENZHE. "PRIDE AND PREJUDICE : A NEW VERSION OF ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENTION." Thesis, KTH, Entreprenörskap och Innovation, 2012. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-148951.

Asker, Rebecca. "Money and Love in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice." Thesis, Karlstads universitet, Estetisk-filosofiska fakulteten, 2012. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kau:diva-13040.

Tanrivermis, Mihriban. "Female Voice In Jane Austen: Pride And Prejudice And Emma." Master's thesis, METU, 2005. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12606716/index.pdf.

Barcsay, Katherine Eva. "Profit and production : Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice on film." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/5152.

Hughes, Erica. "Lost in Austen: An Immersive Approach to Pride & Prejudice." VCU Scholars Compass, 2015. http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/3707.

Ybarra, Veronica Consuelo. "Mexican American adolescents' understanding of ethnic prejudice and ethnic pride /." Digital version accessible at:, 2000. http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/utexas/main.

Bélanger, Damien-Claude 1976. "Pride and prejudice : Canadian intellectuals confront the United States, 1891-1945." Thesis, McGill University, 2005. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=100320.

Nygren, Matilda. "The Importance of Gender Structures for Characters in Pride and Prejudice." Thesis, Umeå universitet, Institutionen för språkstudier, 2018. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-150996.

Van, Rensburg Lindsay Juanita. "The idea of the hero in Jane Austen’s Pride And Prejudice." University of the Western Cape, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/11394/4857.

Spurr, Tanja. "Fallible Fathers in Jane Austen's Mansfield Park and Pride and Prejudice." Thesis, Umeå universitet, Institutionen för språkstudier, 2019. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-160160.

Jasper, Grace M. "Appropriating Austen: Pride and Prejudice and the Feminist Possibilities of Adaptation." Scholarship @ Claremont, 2016. https://scholarship.claremont.edu/scripps_theses/869.

Carvalho, Patrick Aguiar. "Pride & Prejudice: contribuição de variáveis políticas na determinação dos ratings soberanos." reponame:Repositório Institucional do FGV, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10438/33.

Ivarsson, Emma. "Thorny reading : A didactic and literary approach to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice." Thesis, Växjö University, School of Humanities, 2006. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:vxu:diva-785.

This essay has a gender perspective on didactics and literature with the aim to highlight the circumstances surrounding reading and understanding the novel Pride and Prejudice in a classroom context.

Since Pride and Prejudice is written with a somewhat complicated language the pupils are likely to encounter some difficulties when reading the novel. This is something that I have chosen to focus my essay on. What is more, they are likely to also have difficulties to understand different episodes in the novel since they have little knowledge about the society depicted in Pride and Prejudice. This is referred to as a cultural and historical hindrance and they are present due to the fact that the story is set at the end of the 18th and beginning of 19th century England. However, there are various approaches which might diminish obstacles like those I have mentioned, for instance, by offering background information about the novel and recurring issues, such as marriage and financial heritance.

The areas of importance in the novel that I have chosen to highlight, because of the limited background knowledge that the students have, are marriage and financial independence for women. Marriage is depicted to be very important for a woman, especially

if they do not have a large fortune of their own. Due to lack of financial resources they needed to marry, since if they did not they could end up as old maids or even worse; having to support themselves by working as prostitutes. The chance of inheriting a lot of money was small, since the money from their father or mother was generally entitled to their closest male heir.

Silva, Ricelly JÃder Bezerra da. "A traduÃÃo da personagem Elizabeth Bennet, de Pride & Prejudice, para o cinema." Universidade Federal do CearÃ, 2014. http://www.teses.ufc.br/tde_busca/arquivo.php?codArquivo=12140.

Dias, Nara Luiza do Amaral. "A razão em Jane Austen: classe, gênero e casamento em Pride and Prejudice." Universidade de São Paulo, 2015. http://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/8/8147/tde-11042016-122754/.

Sabbatini, Isabela. "Modernizando a mulher independente: de Pride and Prejudice a The Lizzie Bennet Diaries." Universidade de São Paulo, 2017. http://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/8/8160/tde-30012018-184318/.

Gross, Ursula Marie. "What happens next Jane Austen's fans and their sequels to Pride and Prejudice /." Connect to Electronic Thesis (CONTENTdm), 2008. http://worldcat.org/oclc/441821270/viewonline.

Silva, Ricelly Jáder Bezerra da. "A tradução da personagem Elizabeth Bennet, de Pride & Prejudice, para o cinema." www.teses.ufc.br, 2014. http://www.repositorio.ufc.br/handle/riufc/8661.

Muji, Arbnore. "Gender issues reflected within nature in Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice ." Thesis, Linnéuniversitetet, Institutionen för språk och litteratur, SOL, 2010. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-8388.

Gustavsson, Karen. "Using fiction to support gender equality- the case for Neverwhere and Pride and Prejudice." Thesis, Högskolan i Halmstad, Sektionen för lärarutbildning (LUT), 2011. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hh:diva-17166.

Elisabeth, Franke Franziska. "Humor in Pride and Prejudice : The Role of Humor in Austen’s Novel of Development." Thesis, Högskolan Dalarna, Engelska, 2016. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:du-22530.

Hamilton, Sylvia N. "Constructing Mr. Darcy : tradition, gender, and silent spaces in Jane Austen's Pride and prejudice /." Read online, 2008. http://library.uco.edu/UCOthesis/HamiltonSN2008.pdf.

Horton, Melanie. "Propaganda, Pride and Prejudice : Revisiting the Empire Marketing Board Posters at Manchester City Galleries." Thesis, Manchester Metropolitan University, 2010. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.520788.

Goldstein, Lynsey. "Finding the Funny in Jane Austen: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies as Screwball Comedy." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/320114.

Chittick, Sharla. "Pride and prejudice, practices and perceptions : a comparative case study in North Atlantic environmental history." Thesis, University of Stirling, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/1893/3702.

Darwash, Ibrahim M. N. "Lexical, structural and information control in graded readers : a case study of 'Pride and prejudice'." Thesis, University of Essex, 2004. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.402715.

Abdulhaq, Hala M. "Representations of Women’s Oppressions in Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, and Emma." DigitalCommons@Robert W. Woodruff Library, Atlanta University Center, 2016. http://digitalcommons.auctr.edu/cauetds/55.

Cai, Yunhong. "Elizabeth’s Utterances in Pride and Prejudice : An Investigation of Gendered Differences from the Perspective of Face Theory." Thesis, Högskolan Kristianstad, Enheten för lärarutbildning, 2010. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hkr:diva-8029.

Blom, Elin. "Contrasting Attitudes Toward Marriage in Pride and Prejudice: Elizabeth Bennet's Disregard for the Contemporary Marital Conventions." Thesis, Högskolan Kristianstad, Sektionen för lärande och miljö, 2015. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hkr:diva-15275.

Scott, Linda Kane. "The Inheritance Novel: The Power of Strict Settlement Language in Clarissa, Evelina and Pride and Prejudice." Fogler Library, University of Maine, 2003. http://www.library.umaine.edu/theses/pdf/ScottLK.pdf.

Cant, Whitney. ""I am excessively diverted" : recent adaptations of Pride and Prejudice on television, film, and digital media." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/46382.

Rossato, Bianca Deon. "The portrayal of women in Pride and prejudice (1813) and the Lizzie Bennet diaries (2012/2013)." reponame:Biblioteca Digital de Teses e Dissertações da UFRGS, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10183/186009.

Mattos, Catharine Piai de [UNESP]. "Ideologia sobre a mulher em pride and prejudice: uma análise dialógica do filme e do livro." Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/11449/139471.

Mattos, Catharine Piai de. "Ideologia sobre a mulher em pride and prejudice : uma análise dialógica do filme e do livro /." Araraquara, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/11449/139471.

Campos, Priscila da Silva. "Concepções de leitura e de leitores em pride and prejudice e sense and sensibility de Jane Austen." Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, 2017. http://repositorio.ufsm.br/handle/1/12980.

Abdulhaq, Hala M. "Representations of women's oppress ions in Jane Austen 's sense and sensibility pride and prejudice, and Emma." DigitalCommons@Robert W. Woodruff Library, Atlanta University Center, 2016. http://digitalcommons.auctr.edu/dissertations/3328.

Jonsson, Ida. "Petticoats or Miniskirts: A Comparative Analysis of Feminine Narration in Pride and Prejudice and Bridget Jones's Diary." Thesis, Stockholms universitet, Engelska institutionen, 2018. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:su:diva-164773.

Veras, Adriane Ferreira. "Pride and proliferation : Jane Austen meets zombies in a mash-up." reponame:Biblioteca Digital de Teses e Dissertações da UFRGS, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10183/131633.

Mares, Renate. "Stereotypes of men and women, and inequality between the sexes in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice : A didactic essay attempting to show that a gender focused reading of Pride and Prejudice has much to offer both male and female students." Thesis, Växjö University, School of Humanities, 2006. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:vxu:diva-741.

This essay will discuss why one would use a literary text such as Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (1813) in a classroom. There is a certain focus on what Pride and Prejudice might have to offer both male and female students, since research has shown that boys tend to resist reading romantic novels and stories about girls. This essay attempts to show that a gender focused reading of Pride and Prejudice might make it interesting to male students as well, since the way that the unequal relationship between men and women is portrayed concerns them as well as the female students.

Regarding the reasons for using literature in the classroom, I will investigate what it is that literary texts can offer to its readers. This essay will argue that reading literature is an aesthetic experience, which is what separates literary texts from other non-literary texts. Aesthetic experiences have to do with the way student’s feel about and experience certain texts, and also with the artistic values of a text. To have an aesthetic experience is very important since the English classroom is a place where the students´ feelings and experiences normally are not given enough neither time nor space.

This essay attempts to show that by looking at stereotypical characters in Pride and Prejudice, as well as looking at what qualities in men and women were considered desirable, a very interesting discussion might arise in the classroom, concerning gender roles, and inequality between men and women. A discussion of this sort gives the students an opportunity to question the gender roles we have in today’s society, as well as the relationship between men and women.

Keywords: Literature, reading, aesthetic experience, gender, stereotypes.

Oliveira, Dudlei Floriano de. "Cinema, religion and literature : revisiting, recreating and reshaping Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice as a 21st century comedy." reponame:Biblioteca Digital de Teses e Dissertações da UFRGS, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10183/61715.

Abrahamsson, Joffrey Levi. "Elizabeth Bennet's Intelligence : A Reading of Class and Gender Conventions And Transgressions in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice." Thesis, Karlstads universitet, Institutionen för språk, litteratur och interkultur, 2015. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kau:diva-35416.

Kong, Pui-ming Ivy, and 江佩明. "Between romance and realism: patterns of fulfillment in Ann Radcliffe's 'A Sicilian Romance' and JaneAusten's 'Pride and Prejudice'." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 1999. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B31952057.

Sundkvist, Magdalena. "Love' s function in marital decisions : Materialist feminism in Jane Austen's Emma, Pride and Prejudice and Northanger Abbey." Thesis, Umeå universitet, Institutionen för språkstudier, 2016. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-121968.

Pedersen, Jessica. "Gender in Pride and Prejudice : A look at gender roles relating to the characters Elizabeth and Lydia Bennet." Thesis, Linnéuniversitetet, Institutionen för språk (SPR), 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-101421.

Lindgren, Johanna. "Women of Substance : The Aspect of Education, Career and Female Identity in Pride and Prejudice and Bridget Jones's Diary." Thesis, Högskolan Dalarna, Engelska, 2009. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:du-4646.