Elizabeth Bennet is the main character in Jane Austen’s famous novel “Pride and Prejudice” and is

characterised as a courageous and independent woman who is quite witty and doesn’t care about
the opinions of those around her, being the ‘prejudice’, with the novel depicting her to be quite
different from her peers. Jane Austen utilises direct speech to highlight Elizabeth Bennet’s bold and
intuitive nature, with her stating, “My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me,”
showcasing that she is quite a stubborn character and is headstrong, not being overshadowed or
down casted by other people’s attempts to bring her down. This makes her quite a likeable character
to the audience as she possesses qualities that are valued in the modern society, contradicting the
societal norms in this context, which also aids in her standing out. Jane Austen also utilises direct
speech to showcase her unbreaking character in always sticking to her values, with her stating, “You
are mistaken, Mr. Darcy, if you suppose that the mode of your declaration affected me in any other
way,” with her unwavering attitudes towards the rich Mr Darcy’s proposal making her personality
more likeable and standing out as it contrasts her from the women in that era. This also reinforces
the concept of ‘not caring about the opinions of those around her’, adding depth to her character
and making her seem more intriguing, causing the audience to relate with her ideals, supporting her
as well as finding interest in her.

Another important character in Jane Austen’s controversial novel is Fitz William Darcy, who is the
primary love interest of Elizabeth Bennet, and is the ‘pride’, being a self-centred, arrogant and
socially awkward man who values society and class. He is the contrast of a typical nobleman in this
context, opposing societal values as men who were gentle and modest were favoured by high
society. Jane Austen incorporates personification, as well as direct speech in the scene where
Wickham explains Mr Darcy’s negative trains to Elizabeth in hopes of altering her perspective, with
him saying, “His pride never deserts him,” highlighting Mr Darcy as a man who is quite egotistical,
considering himself before others and treating them with a sense of superiority. This paints Mr Darcy
in an unlikeable manner to the audience, which is helpful in establishing interest as the audience
relates to Elizabeth’s dislike for him, aiding in them connecting with her and therefore enjoying the
novel. Mr Darcy is also characterised as a disliked character through the utilisation of contrast,
“Bingley was sure of being liked wherever he appeared; Darcy was continually giving offense,”
comparing Mr Darcy to a more gentle, well-liked Mr Bingley in order to highlight his substandard
mannerisms. This further causes the audience to feel negatively about Mr Darcy, with this emotion
causing interest among the audience as they would be curious as to how Elizabeth would interact
with Mr Darcy. Not only that, but it cleverly sets up the message at the end of the story, with Mr
Darcy’s character development being one of the most intriguing factors in ‘Pride and Prejudice’.

Jane Austen utilises emotive language to aid the audience in understanding the emotions of the
characters in her famous novel “Pride and Prejudice”, illustrating their views towards different
situations as well as other characters through the utilisation of this figurative language technique.
Elizabeth Bennet’s emotions toward her primary love interest, Mr Darcy is given through the use of
emotive language in the scene where Elizabeth stays in Netherfield, the estate of Mr Bingley in order
to take care of her bed-ridden elder sister, with her saying, “And your defect is a propensity to hate
everybody,” showcasing the critical judgement she holds towards Mr Darcy, amplifying the effect
her emotion can bring upon the audience by implementing strong words such as ‘hate’. The intensity
of the word, as well as its connotations with ‘negativity’ paints a despicable image of Mr Darcy to the
audience, representing Elizabeth’s ‘prejudice’ in an evocative manner. Austen also utilises emotive
language in showcasing Mr Darcy’s romantic feelings and admiration toward Elizabeth in the scene
where he first proposes to her, with him saying, “You must allow me to tell you how ardently I
admire and love you” his bluntness in the manner, as well as his polite tone of speaking showcasing
the respect he has towards Elizabeth despite his arrogance earlier in the novel highlighting his
character development to the audience, making the proposal more romantic. Not only that, but the
use of the word “ardently” which connotates with a strong sense of devotion, along with his asking
for her permission painting Mr Darcy as a man worthy of Elizabeth, causing the tension and interest
in the novel to rise from this point. Emotive language is also incorporated in the scene afterwards
where Elizabeth is preparing herself to give an answer to Mr Darcy’s confession to showcase the
feelings she holds towards him in a more efficient manner, “In spite of her deeply-rooted dislike…
insensible to the compliment of such a man's affection…intentions did not vary for an instant…sorry
for the pain he was to receive…resentment by his subsequent language…lost all compassion in
anger,” with the negative emotions she was feeling in that moment highlighting her severe dislike to
the audience aswell as helping them understand the reasons as to why she was feeling those
emotions, foreshadowing her rejection of Mr Darcy’s proposal. Jane Austen’s novel ‘Pride and
Prejudice’ contains emotive language throughout the story in order to help express the character’s
emotions, helping the audience in understanding and relating to them.