Essay on Jane Austens Pride And Prejudice - 1580 Words

An overly proud person looks down on people and as long as he looks down, he cannot see that which is above him. On the other hand, an individual with too little pride has an attitude of mediocrity and this hinders self-realization. Disproportionate pride blinds moral judgment, creates intolerance and deters relationships. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin is a novel that portrays individual characters who demonstrate a lack of balance in the way they perceive themselves and as a result they create ruin. Pride and Prejudice tells the most cherished love stories that take place in the small English village of Longbourne, England, and it is primarily the story of relationships with interactions of characters that suffer and†¦show more content†¦Elizabeth’s pride causes her to be reserved and drives her to prove that she is different from her boisterous younger sisters who take any opportunity to dance with a male (Austen, 26). Elizabeth’s aloofness further hin ders her from developing a relationship with Darcy. Darcy continues to be enamored by Elizabeth’s charm and he does not stop pursuing her even though excessive pride causes Elizabeth to discourage him from her. In response to Elizabeth’s conceit Darcy who is generally polite does however become rude and haughty to Elizabeth as a defense mechanism. As a result of Elizabeth’s haughtiness, Darcy’s positive character is stymied and can only reveal itself in the middle of the novel (Nardin, 6). Elizabeth’s snobbish pride hinders her from understanding her friend Charlotte Lucas’s best interests in regard to her desire to marry Mr. Collins. Elizabeth â€Å"prides herself on being a perceptive â€Å"studier of character,† as Mr. Bingley calls her, but how well does she really know her very good friend Charlotte†¦Ã¢â‚¬  when she â€Å"responds with amazement and horror† upon hearing that Charlotte wants to marry a man who is â⠂¬Å"dull†, â€Å"pompous† and â€Å"physically unattractive†. Elizabeth’s excessive pride blinds her from recognizing that Charlotte is â€Å"not much interested in men and very much interested in marriage† (Moler, 26). Elizabeth could have ruined the prospects of Charlotte’s marriage because of her self-importance in the way sheShow MoreRelatedJane Austens Pride and Prejudice1061 Words   |  5 Pagessociety’s standards. Many writers criticizes the influence that society has over its members. The romantic novelist Jane Austen satirizes her society and those who follow it. One of her most famous works, Pride and Prejudice, is a great example of this satire. Throughout the novel she explores the effects of society through her characters. In Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice, she divulges the central theme of society and social class through the characters Elizabeth Bennet, Mr. Darcy, andRead MoreJane Austens Pride and Prej udice2020 Words   |  9 PagesJane Austens Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775 to the Reverend George Austen and his wife in Hampshire, England. The sixth child out of the seven, Jane was educated mostly at her home although she and her sister, Cassandra, were sent away to school for several years when they were young. Austen wrote several novels when she was in her teens, but her major works were written later on in her life. Pride and Prejudice, was first publishedRead MorePride and Vanity in Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice814 Words   |  4 PagesPride and Vanity in Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice      Ã‚   Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us. In her novel, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen makes the point that an excess of pride or vanity is indeed a failing. Pride, observed Mary, . . . is a very common failing, I believe. By all that I have ever readRead MoreDichotomy In Jane Austens Pride And Prejudice878 Words   |  4 Pagesgreatest dichotomies in Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice is made evident in the title. Namely, the book and the title reflect the division between individual as a spontaneous self and individual as socially constructed part of a greater whole, and the interaction that takes place as a result of the interaction between these selves. â€Å"Pride,† while it can be informed by the presence of others, is a character trait that can exist individual qua individual. For example, compares â€Å"pride† to â€Å"vanity,† a wordRead MoreEssay on Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice993 Words   |  4 PagesJane Austens 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 accomplishesRead More Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice Essay2080 Words   |  9 PagesJane Austens Pride and Prejudice It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife Jane Austen used this quote to open her second book, Pride and Prejudice, which was first published in 1813. This is a story of the attitudes towards love and marriage in the nineteenth century, through the eyes of a number of people in different family situations and levels of society. It explores what was socially acceptable and Read MoreJane Austens Pride and Prejudice Essay1276 Words   |  6 PagesPride and Prejudice Essay: Own Prompt #8-The Obscurities of the Victorian Society In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen satirizes the superficially built society in Victorian Era by pointing out the flaws with the recurring themes of marriage versus love and gender roles through dramatic irony and character relations. All relationships and the idea of true love tend to be obscured by this materialistic society that is based on wealth, power, title, and connections. Jane Austen constantly paintsRead More Views on Pride, Prejudice and Marriage in Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice5150 Words   |  21 PagesViews on Pride, Prejudice and Marriage in Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice Pride pride n., v., 1. high (or too high) opinion of ones own dignity, importance, worth, etc. 2. the condition or feeling of being proud. 3. a noble sense of what is due to oneself or ones position or character; self respect; self esteem. prejudice n., v., 1. an opinion In the novel by Jane Austen, displays a severe contrast between Elizabeth and Darcy in the story. Jane Austen does thisRead MoreJane Austen’s Novel Pride and Prejudice Essay874 Words   |  4 Pagesadvantageous marriage for the English novelist, Jane Austen. Her realism, biting irony and social commentary have gained her historical importance among scholars and critics (Southam). Austen’s major novels, including Pride and Prejudice, were composed between the years 1795-1815. During those twenty years England was at the height of its power facing many historical landmarks (Thomson). It is no coincidence that Jane Austen’s novel, Pride and Prejudice, coincides directly with the historical eventsRead More An Analysis of Characters in Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice1662 Words   |  7 PagesAnalysis of Characters in Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice An author will often give his or her work a title that reflects the overall theme or meaning of the piece-this is certainly the case in Jane Austens novel Pride and Prejudice. A title may set the mood or describe a situation which otherwise might require several paragraphs to develop. Pride and Prejudice is a combination of humor, irony, and twists of events. Austen entitles her work Pride and Prejudice to emphasize subtly the fact