Elizabeth Bennet: Literary Analysis Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is set in England during the 19th century. The story unveils the trials of marriage, love, and arrogance. In the end, the hardships the main families face will come around and resolve. One of the main characters that this novel is focused on is Elizabeth Bennet. She is the second oldest in the Bennet household. She has four other sisters, all who are unmarried much to the dismay of their parents. In this novel you will find use of figurative language, point-of-view, and characterization through the character Elizabeth Bennet. Figurative language is used abundantly in Jane Austen’s novel. Elizabeth uses figurative language mostly by similes and irony. For example, …show more content…
Elizabeth said to Mr. Darcy, “...I had not known you a month before I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry” (Austen 145). By Elizabeth saying this she is showing irony because in the end Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy do get married. Her love for him went from an immovable dislike to love and marriage. Miss Elizabeth didn't have any feelings for him at first because of how prideful Mr. Darcy was acting. She was told by Mr. Wickham all horrible things that Mr. Darcy has done. For example, Wickham was conversing with Elizabeth and told her after the old Mr. Darcy died, he was supposed to get his share of the money, but he didn't. He did get his share of the money, however, he used to buy prostitutes and unneeded items. He tricked Miss Bennet into thinking of how prideful and unjust he was. Another great example of irony in Pride and Prejudice would be, “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of at good fortune must be in want of a wife” (Austen 1). Jane Austen establishes this first in her novel. This quote has ironic tone to it because it can be the exact opposite. A woman must also be in want of a man with good fortune. You can tell this throughout the novel by reading that Elizabeth Bennet’s mother wants all her girls to be married off to good
In Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet’s journey to love and marriage is the focal point of the narrative. But, the lesser known source of richness in Austen’s writing comes from her complex themes the well-developed minor characters. A closer examination of Charlotte Lucas, Elizabeth’s dear friend in Pride and Prejudice, shows that while she did not take up a large amount of space in the narrative, her impact was great. Charlotte’s unfortunate circumstances in the marriage market make her a foil to Elizabeth, who has the power of choice and refusal when it comes to deciding who will be her husband. By focusing on Charlotte’s age and lack of beauty, Austen emphasizes how ridiculous and cruel marriage can be in this time.
In 1813, a woman’s main goal was marriage. Females wanted to find a man who could provide for them and take care of them; not all women wanted love. Many were fine with living on a wealthy estate and living in an upper-class manner. Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is a novel about the Bennet sisters, five girls whom, in the time of 1813, are all unmarried and are looking for husbands. The central conflict is based around two young women, the eldest of the five Bennet daughters, Jane and Elizabeth. The girls have their similarities and differences, and can be compared and contrasted in many ways; in terms of which is stronger at handling the pressure of relationships, context clues give a valid answer. What the reader must interpret for his
Much of the sarcasm shown is portrayed through Elizabeth Bennet, our main protagonist character that is intelligent and independent, but she also has a sharp tongue from time to time. "In marrying your nephew, I should not consider myself as quitting that sphere. He is a gentleman; I am a gentleman's daughter; so far we are equal." (Austen 345). Lady Catherine insults everything Elizabeth is. Elizabeth does not mind coming right back and telling her what she is. Elizabeth’s response to Lady Catherine definitely made the list of historical quotes for Pride and Prejudice. She is such an interesting character because she is so content with being herself and will refuse to settle for less than what she deserves. “What are men compared to rocks and mountains?” (Austen 95). This is a perfect example of the witty comments made by Elizabeth. She makes a majority of the laughable comments made throughout the book. The satirical parts throughout the book make it different in the way that it is not just a plain romantic novel. It sometimes seems unfitting at times from the typical love stories but it makes it such a memorable
Part 1 In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen begins her novel by emphasizing the significance of social status. The novel begins with the Bennet household. This family consists of Mrs. Bennet, Mr. Bennet, and their five daughters. The Bennet family introduces an important idea of the novel, which is the difference in social status.
As a retaliation Elizabeth stuns Darcy by refusing his proposal very harshly stating "I had not known you a month before I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry." This shows the extent of her prejudice against Darcy as she says that even from the beginning she disliked him. She condemns him for his arrogant manner in which he proposed his actions to separate Jane and Bingley and his actions of unfairness on Wickham. He accepts these accusations without apology, even with contempt. However, he flinches when she accuses him of not behaving like a gentleman and when Elizabeth finishes her denunciation of him, Darcy angrily departs.
One flawless example of verbal irony is used in the very first sentence of the novel, in which Austen effortlessly establishes the vital tone and theme of Pride and Prejudice. The author states, "It is a truth universally acknowledged that any single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife. " This sentence establishes the subject of marriage, which is essential to the novel's main plot, which also includes one of many tones of irony that the author will use either structurally or verbally in the novel. This opening sentence is the ideal example of sarcasm, or in this case verbal irony, and a great way to show off Austen's wit and humor. The actual significance meant in this sentence and displayed throughout the novel is
Darcy, the illusion that Mr. Wickham had built surrounding himself was now shattered: “How different did everything appear in which he was concerned.” Elizabeth now realizes her mistakes, which her prejudice was built and hopefully will never fall for such deceit again. Mr. Darcy is not the only one who is haughty, Elizabeth’s pride takes a massive blow after reading the letter, “she grew absolutely ashamed.” Realizing her mistakes will make Elizabeth grow as a person as she realizes how despicable she was, and has learned from her mistakes. Elizabeth had always thought she had the perfect judgement, but in fact she was horribly blind: “Till this moment I never knew myself.” Elizabeth now sees that she has flaws and it got in the way of her judgement rendering it blind. It is in maturity that people see their flaws; now Elizabeth has to make sure the same mistakes does not happen again. It was only after her prejudice of Mr. Darcy was finally gone that Elizabeth realized her true feelings towards him: “She explained what it’s [the letter] effect on her had been, and how gradually all her former prejudice has been removed.” After reading the letter, Elizabeth was able to realize her flaws as a character and grow into maturity and because of that she was able to see her true feelings about Mr.
Considering his actions as ill-intentioned caused Elizabeth to completely dismiss the growing love and emotion that he had for her, nearly derailing the prospects of a relationship as well as the security of her future. After all, Darcy would’ve been the perfect suitor for Elizabeth: he is wealthy and able to provide for her given that she has no stake in her own family’s wealth, and his similar wit and charm would ensure that she remains content with possibly sharing the rest of her life with him. Had Elizabeth not have been so blunt in her reason for rejecting Darcy, they would’ve parted ways forever and she would’ve been hitched to someone less intelligent and humorous than she is by her marriage-zealous mother, causing Elizabeth’s unhappiness. Truth needs not to be beholden to one’s idealisms and ideology because it is fundamentally objective; there is only one “truth” and trying to mold it to fit your narrative or worldview would simply result in deluding yourself and negatively impacting yourself. As the story of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy reveals, is is best to hold the objective truth to greater significance in one’s life rather than personal idealisms because the latter may prove to be inaccurate while the former never
England, under James 1st rule was a vastly altered period compared to our now modern society. So many of the values held during this time, have now been discarded and forgotten. Jane Austen grew up in the Romantic period and experienced a world which was divided, whether through education, class, status, fashion, abilities, gender and etiquette. Her novel, Pride and Prejudice is counted as one of the great classics of English Literature. Austen engrosses readers to live in her world for a time and experience a society filled with matchmaking, romance, marriage and gossip. Every one of her characters is so distinctive and has a clearly outlined caricature. Each of their diverse values conveys a different thinking of the time. Pride and Prejudice is preoccupied with the gentry and most of the social aspects which consumed these people’s lives. There were so many expectations of how you would behave in public, but of course not all of these were upheld. Elizabeth Bennet, Mr Darcy, Mrs Bennet and Charlotte Lucas are four characters which keep such strong beliefs about the social norms. These characters are expressed so descriptively and through their personalities readers can learn just how the numerous social standards were received.
Irony is a wonderful and underappreciated technique. Author Jane Austen includes a fair amount of irony in her novel, “Pride and Prejudice.” The irony within the story sets the audience up to view certain characters in certain ways. It can be said that the irony Austen uses is just an instrument for moral vision.
Pride and Prejudice, one of Jane Austen’s masterpieces makes use of satire to promote social change, because the English society of the 19th century only saw marriage as a ticket that would help you move upward on the social ladder. Throughout the book, the reader gets front row seats as Austen mocks both the conservative middle class and upper class, giving the dissentient characters a chance to be seen in society with a better image. Austen expresses her feelings on why social changes must occur to her audience by making use of satire to describe Mrs. Bennet, Mrs. Hurt, and Miss Bingley in comparison to the way she develops characters such as Elizabeth Bennet and the wealthy gentleman Fitzwilliam Darcy. Furthermore, while the reader gets to witness dramatic moments from Mrs. Bennet, Mrs. Hurst, and Miss. Bingley as they strive to comply by the traditions of the 19th century, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy play a significant role in trying to demonstrate to the reader on why love should be the chief reason for marriage.
The roles of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet in Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice are contrasted between a father who cares about what’s inside of people and a mother who only worries about vanity and appearance. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet’s parental guidance is unique to their personalities. Because of their two opposing personas, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet’s ideas of marriage are contradictory for their daughters; Mr. Bennet believes in a loving respectful marriage whereas Mrs. Bennet values a marriage which concerns wealth and social status. Their aspirations for Lydia, Jane, Mary, Kitty and Elizabeth mirror their conflicting ideologies. Mr. Bennet seems to have a quiet deep love for his daughters while, on the contrary, Mrs. Bennet’s love is over-acted and conditional. Both parents help to shape their daughters’ characteristics and beliefs: Lydia reflecting Mrs. Bennet’s flighty and excessive behavior while Elizabeth inherits Mr. Bennet’s pensive and reflective temperament. Looking past their dissimilar personality traits and contradicting convictions, both parents hold the family together and play an integral role in the household structure.
In one of Jane Austen’s most acclaimed novel, Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth is her sassy independent protagonist. However, is she the ideal woman? Feminism in the Regency Era was defined by women wanting education and an equal position in family and homes. In this era, the ideal lady had to be modest, dutiful, beautiful, and rich, especially to gain a wealthy husband. With this narrow, cookie cut definition, not many women fit this criteria. This is greatly highlighted in this satirical novel of the upper class. Elizabeth Bennet is a feminist wanting equal positioning in society, but does not fit the mold of the ideal woman according to the Regency Era.
A perfect example of the irony in Pride and Prejudice is seen in the relationship of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. While Mrs. Bennet is constantly theatrical and melodramatic, Mr. Bennet is very quiet and reserved. Mr. Bennet is always toying with his wife's tendencies to exaggeration. When Elizabeth Bennet refuses to marry the dim-witted and unattractive Mr. Collins, her mother is inconsolable. She bursts into a fit and tells Elizabeth that if she doesn't marry Mr. Collins, then she will disown her as a daughter. Mr. Bennet at this point steps in and provides the ironical relief:
The main protagonist of the story, Elizabeth Bennet (nicknamed both Lizzy and Eliza), is the second daughter in the Bennet family. Second only to her elder sister in beauty, Elizabeth’s figure is said to be “light and pleasing,” with “dark eyes,” and “intelligent…expression” (24). At 20 years old, she is still creating her place in society. Known for her wit and playful nature, “Elizabeth is the soul of Pride and Prejudice, [she] reveals in her own person the very title qualities that she spots so easily” (“Pride and Prejudice”) in others. Her insightfulness often leads her to jump to conclusions and think herself above social demand. These tendencies lead her to be prejudice towards others; this is an essential characteristic of her role