Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

In this essay I will be exploring the first chapter of the novel

"Pride and Prejudice" in terms of how successful it is as an opening

chapter and what it tells us about the rest of the story.

One of the most famous first lines in literature is the opening to the

book: "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in

possession of a large fortune must be in want of a wife." In this

sentence, Austen immediately accomplishes two things: she informs the

reader of the central theme of the book, and establishes a humorous,

ironic tone. Much of the story is based around the idea that everyone

must be married, and to someone as wealthy as possible. Mrs. Bennet,

who features prominently in the first chapter, personifies this idea,

as she spends most of her time trying to set her daughters up with one

or other of the male characters in the story. The sentence is ironic

because Austen, although making this statement, does not really agree

with the unofficial law that it contains. This is emphasised in the

second sentence in which Austen states that whenever a man enters a

neighbourhood, he is "considered the rightful property of some one or

other of their daughters." These opening sentences set the scene for

the rest of the book, giving us an idea as to both the focus of the

story and as to the ideas of the period.

The first character we meet is Mrs. Bennet, and from her first two

lines we can immediately tell that she is a gossip, as she tells her

husband that "Mrs. Long has just been here, and she told me all about

it" ("it" being the arrival of Mr. Bingley in the neighbourhood). This

opin...

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...wards his wife. This will

amuse the reader, and makes them warm to Mr. Bennet. Mrs. Bennet is

funny because she is so dramatic and silly. Her shallowness is also a

source of amusement. Although we may not like her, the way she behaves

and talks is so ridiculous that we cannot help but find her funny. The

use of humourmakes the reader want to read on, as it increases

enjoyment of the book.

The opening chapter of "Pride and Prejudice" gives the reader an idea

of the main themes that are covered in the book, as well as

introducing some of the main characters. The mention of Mr. Bingley

and of Mrs. Bennet's plan to wed him to one of her daughters provides

sufficient intrigue to make the reader want to continue with the

story. I therefore think that the first chapter is extremely

successful as an opening to the novel.