Pride and Prejudice
Jane Austen satirizes the entire premise of social statuses and how they affect the people around them in her book Pride and Prejudice. To make her characters look ridiculous she evinces the folly of them by using satirical tools: irony of situation, verbal irony, and dramatic irony. Jane Austen utilizes these distinct satirical tools throughout Pride and Prejudice tools to help point out the ridiculousness of the characters and to point out how the different social statuses affect how the characters act around the each other.
Irony of situation is one of the most prevalent tools of satire used in Pride and Prejudice. Mrs. Bennet is full of ridiculous statements that contradict what she should actually be saying or doing. One example is after Elizabeth had declined the marriage proposal of Mr. Collins, her mother went on to say, ?I told you in the library, I should never speak to you again, and you will find me as good as my word. I have no pleasure in talking to undutiful children? (99). The irony in the situation comes from the fact that Mrs. Bennet makes such an effort to tell her daughter she doesn?t want to talk to her daughter, yet she goes on and on talking about how she is the target of so many complaints from her daughters.
Verbal irony is also widely used throughout the book. After Charlotte marries Mr. Collins she is introduced to Miss Catherine de Burgh, who is regarded in the highest form by Mr. Collins, but unfortunately Charlotte merely tolerates her and her husbands? seemingly obsessive interest in her wealth and dignity. This tolerance is evidenced when Catherine has just heard her husband speak extravagantly about his benefactress she says to him, ?Lady Catherine is a very respec...
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...rs. Bennet?s ridiculousness comes from the scene where Jane has become ill and is at the Bingley residence, learning of this Mrs. Bennet says, ?As long as she stays there, it is all very well? (26). This shows that Mrs. Bennet is completely serious when she says that it isn?t a big deal if her daughter is sick as long as she is in the company of a rich man who could possibly marry her. The characters take a completely serious tone towards things that the reader knows to be irrational and ridiculous.
Jane Austen uses various satirical tools?irony of situation, verbal irony, dramatic irony?to point out the many issues that her characters have. Pride and Prejudice uses these tools to show how ridiculous the characters really do become in their pursuit of either a higher social status or to show the absurdity in the way the characters interact with each other.
For example, in the beginning of the story, the narrator starts by talking about Mrs. Freeman. “Besides the neutral expressions that she wore when she was alone, Mrs. Freeman had two others, forward and reverse, that she used for all her human dealings” (433). The irony in this first line is that she is a “Freeman,” yet only has three different expressions. Another example of an irony that is easily noticeable is when Mrs. Hopewell considered Manley Pointer as “good country people.” “He was just good country people, you know” (441). The irony in this line is that in the end, Manley Pointer, whom is supposedly is “good country people,” ends up being a thief who steals Hulga’s prosthetic leg and runs and not only steals, but admits that he is not a Christian, making the line, “good country people,” a dramatic irony. However, one of the most ironic characters in the story is Hulga herself as she understands little of herself, regardless of the high education she holds in philosophy. For example, Hulga imagines that Pointer is easily seduced. “During the night she had imagined that she seduced him” (442). Yet, when they kissed, she was the one who was seduced and having the “extra surge of adrenaline… that enables one to carry a packed trunk out of a burning house…”
Characters in Pride and Prejudice and The Rape of the Lock are necessary tools in establishing satire within the stories. Austen uses a range of different character types in order to highlight the absurdity of society. For example, Elizabeth Bennet differs greatly from her other sisters and young ladies of Hertfordshire because h...
John Locke once said, “I have always thought the actions of men the best interpreters of their thoughts,” and this statement couldn’t be truer. In her novels, Jane Austen uses a similar technique to bring her characters to life and make them more relatable to her readers; thus providing a window into the characters’ inner ideals. In one of her masterpieces, Pride and Prejudice, we especially see Austen’s brilliant characterizations into play that speak volumes of insight into society and human nature. More specifically, Austen ingeniously uses Elizabeth Bennet’s actions, her words, her outlook on others, and her comparison with other characters to display Austen’s own innate ideologies.
This universal principle, relevant throughout time, is portrayed through the characterization of Darcy in ‘Pride’. The difference in class, landed gentry compared to middle class, remained a vital factor in Darcy’s behaviour and way of living. The use of verbal irony when Wickham comments, “He (Darcy) was to be above all company, in having been unworthy to be compared” and Mrs. Lucas implying that “With family, fortune, everything he has the right to be proud”, demonstrates the separation created through the class barriers. Austen challenges these social class barriers through satirically implementing the unorthodox unions of Darcy and Elizabeth in her novel, in defiance of the ironic social dichotomy (CHANGE) “Your alliance will be a disgrace, YOU(R) name will never be mentioned by any of us”. The characterization of Darcy also emphasises the importance (Over the top/ruling) of stratification, being at utmost importance and over ruling other positive assets in life such as love, relationships, freedom and being ‘happy’ – “Could you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your connections… whose condition in life is so decidedly beneath my own?” showing the importance aspect of Regency England and its relevance to the modern world.
Mr.Collins also seems to think that whatever she says goes. For instance, “Lady Catherine herself says that in point of true beauty, Miss de Bourgh is far superior to the handsomest of her sex.” This is clear evidence that Lady Catherine is not what Mr. Collins says she is: “She is a most charming and young lady.”. This statements contradicts what Mr. Collins next says: “She is unfortunately of a sickly constitution, which has prevented her making that progress in many accomplishments, which she could not otherwise have failed of.” However, we can see that she is “of a sickly constitution” obviously not because she is young like Mr. Collins said before, but old. We know this because she has a daughter, and also because Lady Catherine is a widow.
There are so many examples of situational irony that is clear throughout these stories Mr. Mallard being dead, Mama finally realizes that Maggie deserves the quilts because she understands her heritage better than Dee, Mathilde finding out she worked her whole life for nothing, and when Mr. Graves tells Tessie that Eva draws with her husband's family, Tessie is angry. Dramatic irony is everywhere as well. Louise dies from the shock of seeing her husband who is supposed to be dead and when Dee never wanted anything to do with her heritage until somebody was impressed by it.
In the third chapter of Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen compresses her 18th century society's apprehension of what a gentleman is into small town satire during the important first ball. Throughout the novel, Elizabeth represents Austen and her ideology. In this
Use of Satire in Pride and Prejudice & nbsp; & nbsp; Satire is used in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen to show the deficiencies in morals and ethics of the characters that Austen disapproves of. Satire is used to "attack" characters and to bring about change. The different character types she satirizes are "suck-ups," hierarchical, and/or ignorant. & nbsp; Austen disapproves of Mr. Collins and that is why she attacks and satirizes him. Mr. Collins is a "suck-up." His living with Lady Catherine has caused him to demoralize himself.
Pride and Prejudice was first published in 1813 and it depicts key themes in society and the impact these themes had on life for the characters in the novel. One of these themes is social class, which was a chief contributor to the characters problems in the story. Social class is an underlying issue in the lives of the characters and greatly affects the decisions they make during the novel. Every character is aware of the importance of social standing and it becomes a key factor in the development of each individual in Pride and Prejudice. Mrs. Bennet is the mother of five daughters and she is desperate to have them married. Elizabeth wants to marry for love and not social gain. Charlotte is the example of what a woman was expected to be in society and does not agree with Elizabeth and she is content to secure a future. While Lydia runs the risk of disgracing her family by running a riot around town. This is a clear example of social class and the different perspective characters express on the topic.
Jane Austen’s great writing talent is shown throughout her story, Pride and Prejudice. The way she develops her characters, particularly the main male characters, draws in the reader. Mr. Wickham, who first is seemed to be the perfect man, sweet charming, and respectful, is actually later in the story revealed to be selfish, self-consumed, and greedy. Mr. Bingley who is sweet, shy, and friendly learns to become more independent and confident throughout the story. Last but not least, Mr. Darcy, who is prideful, snobby, and pompous, becomes the complete opposite. Towards the end of the story the reader sees his changes: he is humbled, sensitive, and is able to show his vulnerability. Jane Austen makes her characters come alive to the reader. The way in which she shows her characters growth throughout the story is pure genius.
The character of Lady Catherine de Bourgh is an integral element of the plot, contributing to, as well as influencing, the final outcome of Darcy's marriage and the various factors associated with it. Lady Catherine, a prominent and influential noblewomen in the English aristocracy, thrusts her domineering predilections onto her family, friends, and acquaintances, starting with the pompous clergyman she patronizes, Mr. Collins. Lady Catherine exerts her influence upon Mr. Collins by frankly telling him that he "must marry ...a gentle woman for [her] sake" (92). This effectively causes Collins to peruse Elizabeth, the daughter of the man whose estate he will inherit. After being rejected by Elizabeth, Collins marries Elizabeth's childhood friend Charlotte. On a trip to visit the newly married couple, Elizabeth finds herself and Lady Catherine's nephew, Fitzwilliam Darcy, at a dinner party hosted by Lady Catherine herself. At the dinner party, Lad...
Fraiman, Susan. "The Humiliation of Elizabeth Bennet." Unbecoming Women: British Women Writers and the Novel of Development (1993): Rpt. in Pride and Prejudice. By Jane Austen. Ed. Donald Gray 3rd ed. Norton Critical Edition. New York: Norton, 2001. 356-368
Austen used her sharp and sarcastic wit in all of her writing, including in one of her most famous works, Pride and Prejudice. She could create a powerful and dramatic scene and immediately lead it into a satirical, cathartic scene. We see these in various locations in Pride and Prejudice. She was able to use her experiences as well as her intense knowledge to create meaningful insights into her words, regardless of what topic she would be discussing. She often talks about marriage, or breaking the rules of what a person should be.
Jane Bennet is the eldest daughter in the Bennet family at 23 years old and is deemed the most beautiful of all the daughters and of all the ladies of Hertfordshire. She is amiable, and her “sweetness and disinterestedness are really angelic” (132). She never wishes to think shamefully of anyone as long as she can help it. Her modesty is strong enough that those who do not know her may believe her to be reserved. Elizabeth and Jane have opposing dispositions yet their relationship is vital as they balance each other out. Jane brings out the benevolent qualities of others for Elizabeth while Elizabeth keeps Jane weary of ill-intent.
Literary Analysis of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen The novel Pride and Prejudice, is a romantic comedy, by Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice is a story about an unlikely pair who go through many obstacles before finally coming together. Pride is the opinion of oneself, and prejudice is how one person feels others perceive them. The novel, Pride and Prejudice, uses plot, the characters of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy and Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and the status of women and social standing, to portray the theme of the novel - pride and prejudice.