Pride and Prejudice

1. Summary

Pride and Prejudice is a masterpiece of Jane Austen (16 December 1775 – 18 July 1817) who is an outstanding English novelist. Her works of romantic fiction set among the gentry have earned her a place as one of the most widely read and most beloved writers in English literature. In the novel Pride and Prejudice, Austen mainly describes four marriages: Mr. Collins and Mrs. Charlotte; Wickham and Lydia; Bingley and Jane; Darcy and Elizabeth. She uses her ironic and witty words to criticize the pursuit of money and status in marriage and emphasis the importance of true love in marriage.

The main focus of the novel are Darcy and Elizabeth. Because of the first bad impression of Darcy that he is arrogant, conceit and snobbish, Elizabeth is easily fooled by Wickham who is charming and well-spoken. She is deeply convinced that Darcy has done those bad things to Wickham. Through her conjecture, Elizabeth believes that Darcy has interfered in the affairs of separating Jane and Bingley. Because of her misunderstanding and misjudgment of Darcy, Elizabeth rejects Darcy's proposal without any hesitation and even says"...I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry." But after reading Darcy's confession letter, Elizabeth totally realizes how big the mistake she has made. She gradually finds out the good merits of Darcy especially his changing in manner and her affection towards Darcy begins to raise. After Elizabeth knows the truth of Darcy's assistance in saving her sister Lydia's reputation, they both realizes each other's love and get married eventually.

2.Jane Austen's Ironic Art

Part one: The Irony of Foolishness and Hypocrisy

Jane Austen's irony is devastating in its exposure of foolishness and hypocrisy. The most impressive examples are the characters Austen had portrayed: Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Collins.

Just as the very beginning of the story says "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." Mrs. Bennet makes her best effort to marry off her daughters to wealthy young men. Silly, noisy, capricious, Mrs. Bennet’s behavior does more to harm her daughters’ chances at finding husbands than it does to help. In her eyes, social status or possessions are much more important than her daughters' happiness. At the very beginning, She criticizes Mr. Collins's visit because of his inheritance of Bennet family's property. But when she knows that Mr. Collins wants to marry one of her daughters, she is extremely excited and speaks highly of Mr. Collins. Therefore, Elizabeth's rejection to Mr. Collins's proposal is such a daylight thunder to Mrs. Bennet that she cannot absolutely believe and totally accept it. The conflict between Mrs. Bennet and Darcy is obvious, Darcy may be the worst young man in her eyes, but when she hears Darcy's proposal to Elizabeth, her attitude towards Darcy totally changes that she

accepts Darcy without hesitation and considers their marriage to be the best one. All in all, it is possession that matters to Mrs. Bennet.

Mr. Collins is another vivid ironic character. Judging from his selection of wife: from Jane to Elizabeth and then to Charlotte, it is so hasty for him to make decisions that he is just in need of a wife. Austen describes him as "not a sensible man, and the deficiency of nature had been but little assisted by education or society." In his mind, as a clergyman in easy circumstances and having connection with the upper class (Lady Catherine), his proposal to Elizabeth is bound to be a success. He makes his proposal so flowery and obsequious. When Elizabeth refuses his proposal, he concludes ―you are not serious in your rejection of me, I shall choose to attribute it to your wish of increasing my love by suspense, according to the usual practice of elegant females‖. What an interesting and ironic scene it is! What's more interesting and attractive is that when Mr. Collins has got married and Elizabeth calls at his parsonage, his self-satisfactory thoughts―...she was prepared to see him in his glory; and she could not help fancying that in displaying the good proportion of the room, its aspect and its furniture, he addressed himself particularly to her, as if wishing to make her feel what she had lost in refusing him ‖.Thus, Mr. Collins ’hypocrisy, self-deception and foolishness are portrayed most vividly.

Through the subtle satire and irony upon Mrs. Bennet, Mr. Collins, etc., Jane Austen shows her contemptuous feelings towards snobbery, stupidity, worldliness and vulgarity.

Part two: The Theme ---Pride & Prejudice

Pride and prejudice always correspond with each other that are displayed in the two major characters: Darcy and Elizabeth.

As the son of a wealthy, well-established family and the master of the great estate of Pemberley, Darcy is proud and haughty. As Wickham notes in his sly assessment, ―His pride never deserts him; but with the rich, he is liberal-minded, just, sincere, rational, honorable, and perhaps agreeable—allowing for fortune and figure.‖ Because of his belief in natural superiority of wealthy(pride),he is tend to look down upon lower class(prejudice).So an obstacle between them is set up at the very beginning. Darcy is also proud of confidence in judgment. After his careful observation of Jane, he believes (pride) that Jane doesn't love Bingley and makes some efforts to separate them (prejudice). Fortunately, after Elizabeth pointing out his mistakes, he totally realizes his prejudice and humbly changes his attitude.

Elizabeth is good at observing others to judge the wise and fool, just as she says ―I hope I never ridicule what is wise or good. Follies and nonsense, whims and inconsistencies do divert me, I own, and I laugh at them whenever I can.‖ Because of her intelligence and pride, by judging Mr. Collins's characteristics, Elizabeth refuses Mr. Collins's proposal without any hesitation and she believes that the true love is the foundation of marriage. So it is unacceptable for her to agree with Charlotte's marriage with Mr. Collins such a stupid man. In pursuit of true love, Elizabeth is always proud and never compromise. So when she encounters with Lady Catherine's inquiry, she has made such harsh and witty remarks that her relationship with Darcy has nothing to do with Lady Catherine. However, her pride also causes her prejudice.

After seeing Darcy's arrogance ("...he is ate up with pride."), especially hearing Darcy's comment on her ("...she is tolerable, but not handsome."), her prejudice towards Darcy is deep-rooted. Because of her blind first impression, she almost loses her observation in judging Darcy. Sometimes, she notices Darcy's attention towards her, but she never consider it as affection but arrogance. So it is almost unbelievable for her to hear Darcy's proposal.

Through the contrast irony of hero and heroine’s character development from beginning to end, Jane Austen seems to say our first impressions are usually wrong. To form good relationships, we must first have good judgment.

3.Conclusion

After reading the novel, I'm deeply impressed by the characters Jane Austen has portrayed. I still remembered: Elizabeth's wittiness and the scene she walks three miles to see Jane; Darcy's conceit and his changes; noisy Mrs. Bennet and her nerves; lazy Mr. Bennet and his library; Jane's perfect manner and her beauty; Mr. Collins's stupidity and his admiration towards Lady Cotherine; silly Lydia and her pursuit of balls and officers; well-spoken Wickham and the two sides of him... Jane Authen is so good at portray them and they are so vivid that they will stick in my mind deeply.