Eng2602 - Assignment 1

NAME: JERUSHA NAIDOO
STUDENT NUMBER: 51458144

MODULE: ENG2602
ASSIGNMENT: 1
DUE DATE: 20 AUGUST 2015
Jane Austen combines the theme of irony with satire and drama in Pride and
Prejudice to emphasize the overall basic plot of the story. Essentially, the
positions and stances the characters hold on the issues on family, marriage, and
love, change throughout the book, differing from the previous expectations seen
at the beginning of the novel for each individual character. A great example of
this is the position that Mr. Bennet holds on the idea of a happy marriage at the
beginning of the novel, and then at the end, after many relationships developed,
how everything ironically turns out. Austen wittily uses the opening line of the
novel: It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of
a good fortune must be in want of a wife (Austen 3), to foreshadow the desires
of proud and prejudiced characters in the first volume, and how they evolve to
be less conceited and more appreciative in the second.
Throughout the first half of the book, most of the characters are only beginning
to be explored and the Pride and Prejudice part of the novel is revealed
Proud that in a cause of compassion and honor he had been able to get the
better of himself. She read over her aunts commendation of him again and
again (235).
Using different types of irony in her story, Jane Austen was able to bring pieces
of the story together to form a powerful ending which showed the significant
change in the Pride and Prejudice characters and their influences on each other,
which concluded with a happy ending.
The theme of class is related to reputation, in that both reflect the strictly
regimented nature of life for the middle and upper classes in Regency England.
The lines of class are strictly drawn. While the Bennets, who are middle class,
may socialize with the upper-class Bingleys and Darcys, they are clearly their
social inferiors and are treated as such. Austen satirizes this kind of classconsciousness, particularly in the character of Mr. Collins, who spends most of
his time toadying to his upper-class patron, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Though
Mr. Collins offers an extreme example, he is not the only one to hold such views.
His conception of the importance of class is shared, among others, by Mr. Darcy,
who believes in the dignity of his lineage; Miss Bingley, who dislikes anyone not
as socially accepted as she is; and Wickham, who will do anything he can to get
enough money to raise himself into a higher station. Mr. Collinss views are
merely the most extreme and obvious.
The satire directed at Mr. Collins is therefore also more subtly directed at the
entire social hierarchy and the conception of all those within it at its correctness,
in complete disregard of other, more worthy virtues.
Through the Darcy-Elizabeth and Bingley-Jane marriages, Austen shows the

power of love and happiness to overcome class boundaries and prejudices,
thereby implying that such prejudices are hollow, unfeeling, and unproductive.
Of course, this whole discussion of class must be made with the understanding
that Austen herself is often criticized as being a classist: she doesnt really
represent anyone from the lower classes; those servants she does portray are
generally happy with their lot. Austen does criticize class structure but only a
limited slice of that structure.
Darcy expresses a very central point towards the beginning of the book. He
argues that "pride--where there is a real superiority of mind, pride will be always
under good regulation" (Ch. 11). His point is that people who genuinely do have
a greater, more intelligent understanding than others and who act upon
principles and morals while others fail to do so really should feel genuine pride.
And he is shown to be right. All throughout the novel Austen shows us that there
really are people who have limited sense and understanding, such as Mrs.
Bennet, and who act in immoral, imprudent ways, such as the rest of the entire
Bennet household, especially Lydia, and Wickham.
Darcy, on the other hand, always acts upon morals and principles and even
rescues Lydia and the whole Bennet household from disgrace. Hence, Darcy
really is shown to be superior in both sense and morals to other characters in
the book, which is why Elizabeth says towards the end of the novel, "Indeed he
has no improper pride" (Ch. 59). However, Darcy is also proven to have felt
himself to be above his company and to have looked down on others simply
because of their connection with the merchant class. Darcy makes this
realization by the end of the novel and repents having acted upon his principles
with "pride and conceit" (Ch. 58). Hence we see that Darcy had genuine reason
to appreciate, or take pride in, his sense and morals, but was also guilty of
acting in a way that judged and criticized others.
The main theme which is mentioned in Pride and Prejudice is love. In this book it
contains a love story between Darcy and Elizabeth. In this classic, there two
main problems between them. First of all Elizabeth's pride causes her to
misjudge Darcy and is given a wrong first-impression. While this problem also is
created another one is created due to Darcy's prejudice against Elizabeth's low
social class, which causes him to be blinded from Elizabeth's many virtues, for a
time.
The Third Person Omniscient Author Technique: In this method of narration the
author Jane Austen is in complete control of the narration of the story. Whatever
she says we have to accept unquestioningly and wherever she leads us we have
to follow. The opening remark of the novel is a good example of this narrative
method:
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a
good fortune must be in want of a wife."
This method of narration sometimes entails the novelist to directly address the
readers. This is known as Authorial Intrusion. In Ch.61 Jane Austen directly
'intrudes' into the action remarking "I wish I could say."
The Dramatic Method of Narration: In this method of story telling the novelist
Jane Austen completely withdraws from the action and with very minimal
narration and description the entire scene is played out right in front of our eyes.
The dialogue very effectively portrays the personality of each character and
simultaneously develops the plot of the novel. The very first chapter of the novel
is a dramatic scene which not only introduces us to the family of the Bennets but
also kick starts the action by mentioning the arrival of Bingley in
the neighborhood.
NAME
JERUSHA NAIDOO
STUDENT NUMBER:
51458144
MODULE CODE:
ENG2602
ASSIGNMENT TOPIC:
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE - ESSAY
I declare that this assignment is my own original work. Where secondary material has
been used (either from a printed source or from the internet), this has been carefully
acknowledged and referenced in accordance with departmental requirements. I
understand what plagiarism is and am aware of the departments policy in this regard. I
have not allowed anyone else to borrow or copy my work
SIGNED
DATE: 14/08/15

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NAME: JERUSHA NAIDOO

STUDENT NUMBER: 51458144

Through the Darcy-Elizabeth and Bingley-Jane marriages, Austen shows the

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE - ESSAY

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