K.J.

Somaiya College of Arts and Commerce

Department of English
TYBA SEM V (2021-22)

ASSIGNMENT: PAPER XIII SEM 5 (2021-22)

T Y B A: English, Paper XIII, Literary Era-III (ROMANTIC REVIVAL)

NAME: RUKAIYA ALIASGAR SUTERWALA

ROLL NO: 32

CLASS: TYBA

DIV: A

PROFESSOR: SACHIN SIR

TOPIC: Critical examination of the novel “PRIDE AND PREJUDICE”

Critical examination of the novel “PRIDE AND PREJUDICE”

PRIDE AND PREJIDICE (BY JANE AUSTEN)

Pride and Prejudice, romantic novel by Jane Austen, published anonymously in three
volumes in 1813. A classic of English literature, written with incisive wit and superb
character delineation, it centres on the burgeoning relationship between Elizabeth Bennet, the
daughter of a country gentleman, and Fitzwilliam Darcy, a rich aristocratic landowner. This
novel on publication was received by critics and readers. The first edition sold out within the
first year, and it never went out of print.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jane Austen was an English novelist known primarily for her six major novels, which
interpret, critique and comment upon the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century.
Austen’s plot often explore the dependence of women in marriage in the pursuit of favourable
social standing and economic security.

SOME IMPORTANT WORKS OF JANE AUSTEN:

NOVELS: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

SENSE AND SENSIBILITY

MANSFIELD PARK

EMMA

FICTION: LADY SUSAN

OTHER WORKS: PLAN OF A NOVEL

POEMS

PRAYERS

LETTERS

JANE AUSTEN’S INFLUENCE ON FUTURE LITERATURE:

Jane Austen, with her unique abilities, left a profound impact on global literature, and even
after 200 hundred years of her demise, she continues to win love for her biting approach on
diverse tangles of this passion. Her witty ideas, along with distinct literary qualities, won
applause from the audience, critics, and other fellow writers. Her impact resonates strongly
inside as well as outside England. Her masterpieces provided the principles for the writers of
succeeding generations. She successfully documented her ideas about marriage, power, and
love in her writings that even today, writers try to imitate her unique style, considering her a
beacon for writing prose.

SETTINGS OF THE NOVEL: Jane Austin does not tend to spend much time describing the
setting in Pride and Prejudice. Typically, her writing focuses more on conversation than
description. The settings act as more of a backdrop to the witty conversations, developing
romances, and social conventions on display in the novel. The exception to this is Mr.
Darcy’s home, Pemberley. Austen spends more time describing the grounds, rooms, and
decorations at Pemberley than any other location.

The main settings in Pride and Prejudice are a series of homes and estates, including:
Longbourn, Neitherfield Park, Rosings, and Pemberley. Longbourn is the Bennet’s home,
Neitherfield Park is the residence of Me. Bingley, Rosings is Lady Catherine’s estate, and
Pemberley is Mr. Darcy’s estate.

CHARACTER ANALYSIS:

1. ELIZABETH BENNET: The heroine and protagonist of pride and prejudice,

Elizabeth is the most lovable character among the five sisters. Lizzy or Eliza as she is
lovingly called is considered the most loveable of Austen’s all female protagonists.
She is the second daughter of Mr and Mrs. Bennet who owns the Longbourn Estate.
Although she is to be married to Mr. William Collins, her quick thinking and
conscious mind warns her against it. Even she is not in favor of Mr, Darcy in the
beginning as the story progresses, she chides herself for not recognizing his balanced
personality. She creates prejudice against him and later becomes his beloved who also
likes her playfulness and loving nature. At the end of the novel, she accepts Darcy’s
proposal and marries him.

2. FITZWILLIAM DARCY: An aristocrat and seemingly very arrogant, Mr. Darcy is

the second best character in Pride and Prejudice. He is not only class-conscious but
also somewhat demanding and meticulous in his manners. He possesses a strong
sense of respect and honor of his family lineage and holds a very high self-esteem.
At first, he does not give any attention to Elizabeth, which she considers his
arrogance. However, later when offers help to find Lydia, his displays a different
side of his personality. Thus, wins Elizabeth’s heart. She then accepts his proposal
when she understands his role in the affair of Lydia. It is Darcy who pursues
Wickham and forces him to marry Lydia. This makes Elizabeth accept him as her
solumate.
3. JANE BENNET: She is the eldest of Bennet sisters. Later, she becomes Mrs. Bingley
when marries Charles Bingley. She is also a prominent character after Elizabeth.
Although acknowledge as the most beautiful, she does not attract Darcy. Instead, she is
pulled toward Mr Bingley who falls in love with her too. She is quite close to Elizabeth
and keeps her honor very dear to her. That is why she confides in her about Mr Bingley
and develops a traditional romance to marry him later. Although she has the upper hand
over Elizabeth, her old-fashioned marrying does not impact readers as much as
Elizabeth’s first rejection and then later attraction toward Mr. Darcy.

4. MR BINGLEY: Mr. Charles Bingley is another important character whose role wins
great admiration from the readers. He marries the most beautiful Bennet sisters, Jane
Bannet. Brother of Louisa and Caroline, he is the most lovable male character after
Darcy. While Darcy is from the elite class, while Mr. Bingley can mix up with any class.
He occasionally visits the Bennets and found Jane very attractive and pliable. He is a
modest person but not as clever and wise as Darcy, which makes him seem his second
foil. Mr Darcy has easily persuaded him at times. He is not a strong-minded person and
snob but a very likeable and easy going. Hence, Jane was attracted to his down to earth
personality. After marrying Jane, he purchases an estate near Pemberly to live closer to
Darcy and Elizabeth.

5. MR WICKHAM: A young, charming man who is a military officer. He lives in

Pemberley. He receives good attention from Elizabeth in the beginning. However, they
eventually fall out of love, as Mr. Darcy’s arrival saves Elizabeth from this mismatch.
Darcy’s father has raised Wickham as his own and has left some inheritance for him.
However, his gambling addiction has left him at the mercy of Darcy. True to this
reputation, he tries his hands at Mr Darcy’s sister. However, he meets failure and woos
Lydia instead. Darcy intervenes and helps him get married to Lydia. Thus, saving
Wickham’s relationship and life.

6. MRS BENNET: A highly tiring character, Mrs. Bennet is the wife of Mr. Bennet and
mother of five grown up daughters. She sees her satisfaction in marrying off her
 daughters in good families. She is sort of temper and has strange habits. She also has a
little information about the Worldly wisdom and almost no understanding of human
relations. Due to limited means of her husband, she has become sad and short tempered.
By the end of the novel, she seems happy that all of her daughters have married and rest
will marry at the right time.

7. MR BENNET: Working as an attorney, Mr. Bennet is full of wordly wisdom. He is the

father of five Bennet sisters and works tirelessly for their good upbringing. He is at a
good terms with Elizabeth, who is also his favourite daughter. However, his relationship
with is his wife, Mrs. Bennet is not very mutual. He is found of making fun of her and
Elizabeth joins him too. He seems to be a good father but feels depressed and dishonored
because of Lydia. By the end of the story, he is thankful to Mr. Darcy for saving him and
his family from disgrace.

8. LYDIA BENNET: A young girl with an immature mind, Lydia displays her nature as any
other teenager. She is not only stupid but also very flirtatious. She is after her desires and
gratifications and elopes with Mr. Wickham after developing a ver short affair. She does
not anticipate any consequences of her actions. It is very strange that Mrs. Bennet likes
her very much, while Mr. Bennet is unhappy about her. In the end, Mr. Darcy gets Lydia
married to Wickham to save the family’s honor.

9. CATHERINE (KITTY) BENNET: The second youngest of the Bennet sisters. A bit of a
whiner, she tends to follow Lydia.

10. MARY BENNET: The middle child of the five Bennet sisters. Mary is plain looking and
a recluse who enjoys lecturing others about morality, which she learns from books.

11. MR. COLLINS: Mr Bennet’s cousin and heir to the Bennet estate. His patroness is Lady
Catherine. He is a ridiculous pompous clergyman concerned only with impressing others.
12. CHARLOTTE LUCAS: A close friend of Elizabeth’s. She weds Mr. Collins for security,
not love, but nevertheless finds happiness in her situation.

13. SIR WILLIAM LUCAS: Charlotte’s father, foolishly obsessed with rank.

14. LADY LUCAS: Charlotte’s mother.

15. MRS GARDINER: Mrs. Bennet’s sister-in-law. Intelligent and caring, she is the mother
that Elizabeth and Jane cannot find in Mrs. Bennet.

16. MR. GARDINER: Mrs. Bennet’s brother and a successful, warm-hearted, cultivated
merchant.

17. CAROLINE BINGLEY: Charles Bingley’s sister. She cares only about social status and
tries to undermine Elizabeth because she wants Darcy for herself.

18. MRS. HURST: Bingley’s other sister. Though married, her views and temperament
mirror her sister Caroline’s.

19. GEORGIANA DARCY: Darcy’s younger sister. Georgiana is a shy, good-spirited person
whom Elizabeth wrongly dislikes until they meet and become friends. Georgiana has her
own scandalous history with Wickham.
20. LADY CATHERINE DE BOURGH: Dominating and rich, Lady Catherine interferes in
everyone’s affairs and cannot tolerate any breach of class rank.

21. MISS DE BOURGH: Lady Catherine’s sickly daughter. Her mother intends for Darcy to
marry her.

22. COLONEL FITZWILLIAM: Darcy’s cousin and Georgiana’s guardian. He’s a model
gentleman , though he lacks any inheritance and so must seek out money through
marriage

23. MRS PHILIPS: Mrs. Bennet’s shallow silly sister. The gossip queen of Meryton.

24. COLONEL FORSTER: The leader of Wickham’s regiment.

25. MRS. FORSTER: Colonel Forster’s wife. She irresponsibly aids Lydia in her elopement
with Wickham.

SUMMARY OF THE NOVEL: The novel opens with one of the most famous lines in
English literature: “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a
good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” The statement is seemingly what Mrs. Bennet
thinks as she sets her sights on newly arrived Bingley, who she is sure willmake a suitable
husband for one of her daughters. At a ball, Bingley takes an immediate interest in the
beautiful and shy Jane. The encounter between his friend Darcy and Elizabeth is less cordial.
Although Austen shows them intrigued by each other, she reserves the conventions of first
impressions: the pride of rank and fortune and prejudice against the social inferiority of
Elizabeth’s family hold Darcy aloof, while the pride of self-respect and prejudice against
Darcy’s snobbery hold Elizabeth equally aloof.
The pompous Collins soon arrives, hoping to marry one of the Bennet’s sisters. He steers him
towards Elizabeth, but the later refuses his offer of marriage. He instead becomes engaged to
her friend Charlotte. During this time, Elizabeth encounters the charming Wickham. There is
a mutual attraction between the two, and he informs her that Darcy denied him his
inheritance.

After Bingley abruptly departs for London, Elizabeth’s dislike of Darcy mounts as she
becomes convinced that he is discouraging Bingley’s relationship with Jane. Darcy, however,
has grown increasingly fond of Elizabeth, admiring her intelligence and vitality. Now visiting
the now married Charlotte, Elizabeth sees Darcy, who confesses his love for her and
proposes. A surprised Elizabeth refuses his offer, and, when Darcy demands an explanation,
she accuses him of breaking up Jane and Bingley and of denying Wickham his inheritance.
Darcy subsequently writes a letter in which explains that he separated the couple largely
because he did not believe Jane returned Bingley’s affection. He also discloses that
Wickham, after squandering his inheritance, tried to marry Darcy’s then 15-year-old sister in
an attempt to gain possession of her fortune. With these revelations, Elizabeth begins to see
Darcy in a new light.

Shortly thereafter the youngest Bennet sister, Lydia, elopes with Wickham. The news is met
with the great alarm by Elizabeth, since the scandalous affair- which is unlikely to end in
marriage- could ruin the reputation of the other Bennet sisters. When she tells Darcy, he
persuades Wickham to marry Lydia, offering him money. Despite Darcy’s attempt to keep
his intervention a secret, Elizabeth learns of his actions. At the encouragement od Darcy,
Bingley subsequently returns, and he and Jane become engaged. Finally, Darcy proposes
again to Elizabeth, who this time accepts.

PLOT OF THE NOVEL: The main plot is of Elizabeth’s path to marriage intersects closely
with subplots focused on the love life of other female characters. The plot structure is also
shaped by its division into volumes. Pride and Prejudice was initially published in three
volumes. In the first volume, the initial events of the plot focusses on Jane’s attraction to
Bingley, with Elizabeth’s interactions with Darcy and his gradual attraction to her
functioning as secondary incidents. The major conflicts in this first session of the novel
centers on whether Jane and Bingley will be able to marry, since Darcy and Bingley’s sisters
seem determined to keep them apart. Another conflicts arises when Mr. Collins begins
pursuing Elizabeth, and she is forced to reject him. These two initial conflicts are given some
resolution at the end of the first volume, when Mr. Collins finally accepts defeat and marries
charlotte Lucas, and the Bingley family leaves Neitherfield to return to London. This moment
in the plot marks a low point, as it appears as though neither Bennet sister has much chance
of getting married and that most people marry for money and status.

The plot rises again with the new focus on the possibility of a match between Elizabeth and
Darcy. Elizabeth’s visit to charlotte and Mr. Collins creates a new opportunity for her to
interact with Mr. Darcy, leading him to propose to her. The proposal occurs approximately in
the middle of the story and represents the climax of the attraction Darcy has been trying to
resist ever since he first met Elizabeth. Her rejection of his proposal parallels her previous
rejection of Mr. Collins. At this point, Elizabeth believes that Darcy is a bad person, and she
will not accept marriage to a man she doesn’t love, no matter what he might offer her.
However, the plotline of Darcy and Elizabeth’s relationship increases in intensity after she
rejects him. The rejected proposal leads him to reveal new information that makes her
question her perception of him. The unfolding plot of growing affection between Darcy and
Elizabeth is interrupted by a new conflict: Lydia’s elopement. This conflict dominates the
novel’s plot until its resolution.

Once Lydia’s plotline is resolved with her respectable marriage, the focus shifts to a return to
Janes’s storyline. Reunited with Bingley, she quickly becomes engaged, resolving the conflict
that has been ongoing since the novel’s start. All that remains is a final conflict to be
overcome in the form of Lady de Bourgh’s attempt to prevent Elizabeth from marrying
Darcy. The earlier plot events where Elizabeth stood her ground have prepared her for this
moment, and she refuses to back down. With the characters, having finally overcome all the
obstacles in their way, the novel’s climax takes place when Darcy proposes a second time and
Elizabeth’s accepts him. The climax is followed by some brief falling action, including the
preparations for the marriage and the projected futures for all three couples.
Pride and Prejudice was influential in demonstrating that everyday events and domestic
struggles presented in a realistic way can be as interesting as more sensational stories.
Readers experience the events of the plot in the same way the characters do, without any
special narrative techniques. This choice of plot structure helps to make the events of the
novel relatable. The novel closes with a classic comedic ending in which three of the Bennet
sisters are married and the virtuous characters are rewarded with prosperity and happiness,
while the foolish or wicked characters face a more turbulent existence.

THEMES OF THE NOVEL:

PRIDE: One of the themes of the book is pride. This is shown primarily through the character
of Darcy. He has immense pride. This is most prominently displayed during his proposal to
Elizabeth. His pride caused him to struggle against his feelings for Elizabeth. He felt ashamed
of her family’s lower connections and how they would hurt his pride, which is why he was so
rude. The theme of pride shows the downfalls of thinking too highly of yourself and
regarding others as inferior.

PREJUDICE: Prejudice is another main theme in the novel. This theme is displayed mostly
through the character of Elizabeth. She is quick to judge others upon meeting them. Her
judgements turn into prejudice, even though they are often incorrect. This is specially shown
through Wickham and Darcy. Her initials judgements of each are wrong. She sees Wickham
as charming and handsome. She finds out over time that he is despicable and he is not what
he seems. He defaces others, something Elizabeth fails to see. Elizabeth sees Darcy as rude
and superior. Although he is prideful, he is more caring than he seems. He usually has the
best intentions in his actions. Darcy is not trying to be rude when she first meets him. He is
simply a shy men who does not see the value in interactions with strangers. Elizabeth’s
misjudgements of each other will cause her a lot of pain after receiving Darcy’s letter. The
author uses Elizabeth’s prejudice to warn against making judgements. The theme of prejudice
shows how you can get hurt by judging others too quickly.
LOVE AND MARRIAGE: The ideas of love and marriage are presented in different ways by
Jane Austen throughout the novel. Elizabeth’s goal is marriage for love, not wealth. Austen
shows the value of falling in love instead of for money throughout the book. We see this in
Elizabeth’s rejection of Mr. Collins and instead marrying Mr. Darcy. Austen contracts this
with the character of Charlotte Lucas who decides to marry Mr Collins for financial security
rather than love.

POWER: The theme power is shown through wealth in this novel. The characters Bingley,
Lady Catherine, and Darcy all show different sides of this. Bingley is one who does not use
his power of wealth. Instead he is genuine towards others and unassuming in his manner.
Lady Catherine abuses her power. She takes it as an opportunity to criticize others and get her
way. Darcy abuses his power at first, until he understands it is not everything. The author
tries to encourage using powers as a last resort and praises the merits of letting others use
your power, instead of flaunting it.

SOCIAL CLASS AND SOCIAL STATUS: Throughout the novel there was much backlash
against some of the upper-class characters rubbing elbows with lower-class characters. This
serves to uphold the theme of overcoming obstacles for love but also creates a theme of its
own. At this point in time for England, the lines between social and economic classes were
very boldly drawn, and it was frowned upon for the upper-class to step too far down the
economic ladder in terms of any type of relationship. This is part of why Mrs. Bennet was so
obsessed with seeing her daughters marry wealthy gentlemen as this would raise their social
status considerably. Throughout the novel, even though the Bennet family socializes with
upper-class characters, they are clearly not in the same league and are treated as such. The
author uses the use of satire. For example, the snobbish and unlikable character of Mr.
Collins satirizes the wealthy as does the deplorable Lady de Bourgh.

SYMBOLS IN PRIDE AND PREJUDICE:

DANCING: This is a symbol that comes into the story early on. In the beginning of the
novel, while Jane is at her most prejudiced and Mr. Darcy dance together in a stylistically
formal and precise manner that mirrors their relationship at that point.

Neither character likes the other very much but there does seem to be some level of attraction
between them. Their encounters are awkward and overly formal at this point.

Later in the story, Elizabeth dances with Mr. Collins and finds the dance to be embarrassing
and clumsy which reflects how she sees Mr. Collins as a person.

OUTDOOR SETTINGS: The interactions that Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy have with each other
tend to change depending on whether they are indoors or outdoors.

Most of their most strained interactions take place while they were confined in a building.
They generally tend to behave much more rigidly, keeping a careful distance from each other.
However, when they interact outdoors, their rigid behavior relaxes as they find themselves
less beholden by expectations. They loosen up and are able to have more emotionally free
conversations alone in the outdoors.

PEMBERLEY: This is Mr. Darcy’s estate, which Elizabeth visits at a point in the novel
during which she is starting to soften, thanks to travelling and being away from the pressures
of her mother and her hometown’s social expectations. The reader starts to get the sense at
the point in the novel-about halfway- that Elizabeth feels freer and more relaxed while she is
travelling. Pemberley serves as a symbol for the person Mr. Darcy really is, underneath his
pride and social status. Elizabeth is enchanted by the beauty of the property and subsequently
starts to see Mr. Darcy in a new light and allows herself to feel charmed by him as well. To
enhance this symbol, Austen has Elizabeth cross a small bridge as she approaches his home.
This suggests that the divine that has so far existed between Dr. Darcy and Elizabeth will be
bridged as well as the two become closer to each other. As Elizabeth, starts to see Mr. Darcy
for who he really is, he starts to see Elizabeth for who she is when she is free of social
pressures and expectations.

PURPOSE OF THE NOVEL: As its core, Pride and Prejudice tells the love story of Elizabeth
Bennet and MR. Darcy, both of whom have to overcome their biases in order to end up
together. Throughout the novel, both characters learn to unlearn their pride and prejudice so
that they can come to accept the other’s goodness of character.

CONCLUSION:

WHAT DOES PRIDE AND PREJUDICE TEACHES US?

The primary moral lesson of pride and prejudice is to not be too judgmental toward others.
Elizabeth and Darcy are inclined to see the bad in one another initially.

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