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In Pride and Prejudice,
anther considerable theme is the concept of class. Considerations of class
are omnipresent in the novel. The novel does not put forth an
egalitarian
ideology or call for the leveling of all social classes, yet it does
criticize an over-emphasis on class. Darcy’s inordinate pride is based on
his extreme class-consciousness. Yet eventually he sees that factors other
than wealth determine who truly belongs to the aristocracy. While those born
into the aristocracy, such as Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst, are idle,
mean-spirited and annoying, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner are not members of the
aristocracy in terms of wealth or birth but are natural aristocrats by
virtue of their intelligence, good breeding and virtue. The comic formality
of Mr. Collins and his obsequious relationship with Lady Catherine serve as
a satire of class-consciousness and social formalities. In the end, the
verdict on class differences is moderate. As critic Samuel Kliger notes, “It
the conclusion of the novel makes it clear that Elizabeth accepts class
relationships as valid, it becomes equally clear that Darcy, through
Elizabeth’s genius for treating all people with respect for their natural
dignity, is reminded that institutions are not an end in themselves but are
intended to serve the end of human happiness.”
In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen portrayed a range of lively characters
with their own features. Elizabeth Bennet, as the second daughter of the
Bennets’ and the most intelligent and quick-witted, is the protagonist of
Pride and Prejudice and one of the most well-known female characters in
English literature. Her admirable qualities are numerous—she is lovely,
clever, and brilliant in the converse. Her honesty, virtue, and lively wit
enable her to rise above the nonsense and bad behavior that pervade her
class-bound and often spiteful society. Nevertheless, her sharp tongue and
tendency to make hasty judgments often lead her astray. As she gradually
comes to recognize the nobility of Darcy’s character, she realizes the error
of her initial prejudice against him. Fitzwilliam Darcy, as the son of a
wealthy, well-established family and the master of the great estate of Pemberley, is Elizabeth’s male counterpart. The narrator stands on
Elizabeth’s point of view of events more often than Darcy’s, which leads
Elizabeth often seems as a more sympathetic figure. The reader eventually
realizes, however, that Darcy is her ideal match. Intelligent and
forthright, he too has a tendency to judge too hastily and harshly, and his
high birth and wealth make him overly proud and conscious of his social
status. Indeed, his haughtiness makes him initially bungle his courtship.
Darcy demonstrates his continued devotion to Elizabeth, in spite of his
distaste for her low connections. Darcy proves himself worthy of Elizabeth,
and she ends up repenting her earlier over-harsh judgment of him.
Besides, Austen also portrayed some other characters such as Jane Bennet,
the eldest and most beautiful daughter, who is gentler and more reserved
than Elizabeth. Charles Bingley, Darcy’s considerably wealthy best friend,
is a genial, well-intentioned gentleman, whose easygoing nature contrasts
with Darcy’s initially discourteous demeanor. Mr. Bennet, the patriarch of
the Bennet family, a gentleman of modest income with five unmarried
daughters, has a sarcastic, cynical sense of humor that he uses to
purposefully irritate his wife. Mrs. Bennet, Mr. Bennet’s wife, is a
foolish, noisy woman whose only goal in life is to see her daughters
married. George Wickham, is a handsome, fortune-hunting militia officer and
whose good looks and charm attract Elizabeth initially, but Darcy’s
revelation about his disreputable past clues her in to his true nature and
simultaneously draws her closer to Darcy; Lydia Bennet, the youngest Bennet
sister, is gossipy, immature, and self-involved.
The most comically portrayed character in Pride and Prejudice is Mr.
Collins, a clergyman and an extremely comical character because of his mix
of obsequiousness and pride. Mr. Collins is fond of making long, silly
speeches and stating formalities which have absolutely no meaning in
themselves. For Mr. Collins, speech is not a means to communicate truth but
a means to say what he thinks the people around him want to hear or what
will make the people around him think well of him. He is in line to inherit Longbourn once Mr. Bennet dies, and wants to marry one of the Miss Bennets
to lessen the burden of the entailment. While in choosing her love, he
appears quite changeable. In describing this snobbish and silly man Jane
Austen used very vivid language to make this character to be lively shown
forth in her writing.
“His plan did not vary on seeing them. -- Miss Bennet’s lovely face
confirmed his views, and established all his strictest notions of what was
due to seniority; and for the first evening she was his settled choice. The
next morning, however, made an alteration; for in a quarter of an hour’s
tête-à-tête with Mrs. Bennet before breakfast, a conversation beginning with
his parsonage-house, and leading naturally to the avowal of his hopes that a
mistress for it might be found at Longbourn, produced from her, amid very
complaisant smiles and general encouragement, a caution against the very
Jane he had fixed on. – “As to her younger daughters she could not take upon
her to say -- she could not positively answer -- but she did not know of any
prepossession; -- her eldest daughter, she must just mention -- she felt it
incumbent on her to hint, was likely to be very soon engaged.”
Mr. Collins had only to change from Jane to Elizabeth -- and it was soon
done -- done while Mrs. Bennet was stirring the fire. Elizabeth, equally
next to Jane in birth and beauty, succeeded her of course.”
When Elizabeth refuses him, he considers his duty discharged and transfers
his affections to Charlotte Lucas.
Other characters are: Miss Bingley, Bingley’s snobbish sister, who bears
inordinate disdain for Elizabeth’s middle-class background and whose vain
attempts to garner Darcy’s attention cause Darcy to admire Elizabeth’s
self-possessed character even more; Lady Catherine de Bourgh, a rich, bossy
noblewoman, Mr. Collins’s patron and Darcy’s aunt, who epitomizes class
snobbery, especially in her attempts to order the middle-class Elizabeth
away from her well-bred nephew; Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, Mrs. Bennet’s brother
and his wife, who are caring, nurturing, and full of common sense, often
prove to be better parents to the Bennet daughters than Mr. Bennet and his
wife; Charlotte Lucas, Elizabeth’s dear friend, pragmatic where Elizabeth is
romantic, who does not view love as the most vital component of a marriage;
Georgiana Darcy, Darcy’s sister, who is an immensely pretty, shy girl; Mary
Bennet, the middle Bennet sister, bookish and pedantic; Catherine Bennet,
the fourth Bennet sister, Lydia, who is girlishly enthralled with the
soldiers.
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