Ryan Thomas

World Lit. Honors

1/30/07

Pride and Prejudice Chapter Analysis

Chapters 23 & 24

If nothing else, Pride and Prejudice makes one laugh. Austen keeps her novel

constantly witty and humorous, and no chapters better exemplify this humor than 23 and

24. Humor, mainly through irony and satire, presents itself frequently in these chapters.

In addition, Austen includes a discussion between Jane and Elizabeth that shows their

allegorical natures: Jane, a Romanticist, and Elizabeth, an Enlightenment thinker.

Finally, some foreshadowing takes place in these chapters. The elements of humor,

allegory, and foreshadowing come together to make Chapters 23 and 24 two of the most

enjoyable chapters in the book, despite their brevity.

Indeed, Chapters 23 and 24 cover little of the plot, though they do set a refreshing

tone that energizes this part of the story. Chapter 23 comprises Mr. Collins’ return to

Longbourn, and 24 covers the reception of Caroline Bingley’s letter to Jane. Still, Austen

packs these short chapters with plenty of entertainment, particularly in the form of humor.

The first instance of humor occurs when Sir William announces Charlotte’s

engagement. Mrs. Bennet and Lydia’s brash comments, combined with Sir William’s

“most forbearing courtesy” in listening to them, provide some dramatic irony. The two

have no idea that their words come across as extremely rude, and their ignorance proves

hilarious to the reader. Mrs. Bennet’s comments also reinforce her characterization, as

they show that no matter what happens, she cares much more about the impact on her life

than those on the parties directly involved. Humor also presents itself in Mr. Collins’s

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return to Hertfordshire, as he spends all his time at Charlotte’s, but insists that he came to

see the Bennets. Further, situational irony appears in Elizabeth’s trust of Wickham; since

she usually judges people accurately, the reader believes Wickham trustworthy and

wronged, when really he betrayed Darcy. In addition, the fact that “Wickham’s society

was of material service in dispelling the gloom,” provides irony in that Wickham, by

eloping with Lydia, only gives the Bennets gloom and worry in the future. Once again,

Austen satirizes Mrs. Bennet by using her diction. For example, on lines 16-21 of page

100, Austen takes on the Mrs. Bennet’s voice in listing her woes: “It was very strange that

he should come to Longbourn instead of to Lucas Lodge; it was also very inconvenient

and exceedingly troublesome. She hated having visitors in the house while her health

was so indifferent, and lovers were of all people the most disagreeable.” This shows Mrs.

Bennet’s personality; concerned with her own desires and determinations to the last.

Ironically, Mrs. Bennet would fawn over Mr. Collins if he had married Elizabeth; but

because he married Charlotte, she perceives him as an inconvenience. Finally, Mr.

Bennet lends the reader his wit yet again, when he informs Elizabeth that she should, to

avoid letting Jane outdo her, allow Wickham to “jilt her credibly,” and disappoint her in

love. This verbal irony (Mr. Bennet means the complete opposite of what he says), in

addition to adding humor to the story, shows that Mr. Bennet (rightly) does not trust

Wickham. He ends this small caution with the customary poke at Mrs. Bennet, saying

that, “it is a comfort to think that, whatever of that kind may befall you, you have an

affectionate mother who will always make the most of it.” These numerous instances of

humor make chapters 23 and 24 thoroughly enjoyable.

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 In addition, the chapters include an excellent example of allegory that presents

itself throughout the novel. As Elizabeth and Jane talk, after Miss Bingley’s letter has

arrived, their view and attitudes perfectly reflect the eras they represent. Jane, who

serves as an allegory for Romanticists, speaks sentimentally and emotionally about her

disappointment at Bingley’s absence over the winter. Though Austen’s bias against

Romanticists shows in Jane’s exaggeration of her situation, this discussion reveals Jane’s

allegorical nature. Elizabeth, who reflects Enlightenment thinkers, logically and (almost)

emotionlessly analyzes everyone’s behaviors, realizing the Bingley sisters’ obvious

involvement in Bingley’s absence, while Jane idealistically defends everyone involved,

saying that the sisters would never do something so cruel. “If they believed him attached

to me, they would not try to part us,” she says. This naïve belief in the sisters’ inherent

saintliness reflects the attitudes of Romanticism, though skewed by Austen’s contempt for

Romanticism. This allegory makes the chapters much more significant, and thereby,

more entertaining.

Foreshadowing, along with its fulfillment, also enhances chapters 23 and 24. In

chapter 23, the Bennets hear of Charlotte’s engagement to Collins, who seems conceited,

stupid, and well off. In chapter 5, she said that “happiness in marriage is entirely a matter

of chance…it is better to know as little as possible the defects of the person with whom

you are to pass your life.” Her marriage to Collins follows this exact philosophy. In

chapter 24, Jane tries to persuade everyone to reserve judgment on Wickham and Darcy

until they hear both sides of the story, though no one heeds her at the time. Later, when

Elizabeth learns of Wickham’s abuse of Darcy and Georgiana, she realizes that she

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should have heeded her sister. These instances of foreshadowing add depth to the

chapters, making them more interesting.

The literary elements of humor, allegory, and foreshadowing, make chapters 23

and 24 much more enjoyable. They add depth to the characters, which gets the reader

more interested in these chapters. These three elements allow two of the shorter chapters

to establish themselves as two of the most enjoyable chapters in the entire book.