This document provides biographical information about Jane Austen and analyzes several aspects of her novel Pride and Prejudice. It notes that Austen was a prominent 18th/19th century female novelist who wrote Pride and Prejudice in 1796 under the title "First Impressions." The document examines various marriages in the novel, particularly focusing on whether they are based on love, mutual understanding, compatibility or monetary interests. It concludes that the marriage of Elizabeth and Darcy is the most satisfactory as it is founded on genuine love and respect.
2. Most prominent female novelist
Of late 18th and early 19th century
Born on 16 December 1775
Her education was completed at home under supervision
of his father.
She described herself as “the most unlearned and
uninformed female who ever dared to be an authoress.”
There is no hidden meanings and philosophy in her novels.
3. She is also not an idealist like Chaucer and Shakespeare she
accepts the “law of nature.”
She mocks at extravagant maternal affection such as what
Mrs. Bennet professes for Lydia in Pride and Prejudice.
Though love is necessary for marriage, one should not ignore
the importance of Money.
At Steven ton, she wrote the first draft of her novels, Pride
and Prejudice , earlier entitled “First Impression” and written
in 1796.
She doesn’t make higher issues of life-theological, political, or
social- a subject for discussion in her novels.
5. Mrs. Bennet “the business of [whose] life was to get her
daughters married.”, looks for man with monetary means.
Her mind was less difficult to develop.
She was a woman of mean understanding, little information,
and uncertain temper.
Mr. Bennet , a man of intelligence, turn reserved, capricious
and sarcastic.
He neglects domestic responsibilities and confines himself to
his study with the result that his younger daughters grow
wayward.
His youngest daughter Lydia turns a determined flirt and bring
ignominy to the family by eloping with Wickham.
7. First of the new marriages in the novel between Charlotte and
Collins.
Lucas a good natured and sensible woman whereas Collins, a
foolish man of servile nature and self importance
This marriage is not based on love and mutual understanding.
A girl of small fortune and no beauty, for her respectable
option to marry someone to ensure economic security
Charlotte explains to Elizabeth her the purpose of her marriage
with Collin ,“I am not romantic, you know; I never was. I
ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr.
Collins’s character, connection, and situation in life, I am
convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair
as most people can boast on entering the marriage state.”
(p193)
8. Worse marriage than that of Charlotte and Collins
They elope before they get married.
Compatibility and understanding are once again
absent.
Lydia is captivated by the external glamour of
Wickham’s personality.
She thinks, she is in love with him but she is only
infatuated.
It is based on Wickham’s considerations for material
gains.
9. Jane and Bingley are sincerely in love with each
other.
Between them exists a great emotional compatibility.
By nature, both are sweet and gentle, free from
malice, ill will, affectation and duplicity, calm,
unsuspecting, simple and willing to forgive readily.
There is every likelihood that they will lead a happy
married life.
10. Still, their marriage is timidly weak. Bingley is too
weak-willed that in spite of loving Jane deeply, he
does not take any initiative.
Their temperamental harmony lacks the
strengthening support of intellectual understanding
and maturity.
“Still they will be happy because Bingley is too good
to offend consciously and Jane is too good not to
forgive even any offense.”
11. They entered into marriage bond after knowing each other for
a long time
Austen described their marriage the most satisfactory marriage
of all.
Based as they are on genuine love, they bring real happiness to
both couples.
The title of the novel was drawn from the epilogue of Miss
Burney’s novel, Cecilia.
It is more appropriate because it sums up the main qualities of
hero and the heroine of the novel.
Darcy being Pride and Elizabeth being Prejudice.
12. It’s modeled on Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing.”
In this comedy, Benedick and Beatrice, who hate each other in
the beginning, are ultimately married at the end.
Elizabeth and Darcy begin with prejudices and gradually move
towards understanding.
Elizabeth helps Darcy to shed his pride and be really the
gentleman.
Darcy in turn acts nobly and generously to win her love.
Mutual affection and regards developed between them that
form the basis of a sound marriage.
“It was a union that must have been to the advantage of
both”
13. Elizabeth has to assure that she loves and respects
Darcy. Love and respect count most in a marital
union, and having secured both, Elizabeth does not
make any false or exaggerated statement when she
says half-mockingly: “It is settled between us
already that we are to be the happiest couple in the
world.”