Discuss the Importance of Letters in 'Pride and Prejudice'.

Lydia Bennet is another one of the Bennet sisters but in ‘Pride and Prejudice’ we see her character show more and more as the novel moves on. Her brief letter of congratulations on her sister’s marriage shows Lydia’s character very well, “I am sure Wickham would like a place at court anyplace would do, of about three or four hundred a year.” From their letter we can see Lydia’ and Wickham are totally heedless of the future and are stupid towards their decisions in life. It also gives us an in sight into the future of Lydia and Wickham as a couple by the way they are so insufficient in their supports and Wickham’s lack of feelings for Lydia tell us that something is bound to go wrong with their relationship. Lydia’s attitude also shows in other letters ‘Lydia promised to write very often and very minutely…but her letters were always long expected and very short.’

In her novel Jane Austen creates obstacles for certain characters to overcome. This can also reveal a Character’s personality. The letter from Caroline to Jane, informing her that they have gone to stay in London, splits up Jane and the Bingleys. It also moves the story to a different location, therefore it furthers the plot. Miss Caroline Bingley is shown to be extremely insincere in the way she writes her letter.

“It is unlucky, that you should not be able to see your friends before they leave the country.” Through this letter Caroline is shown to be extremely proud and shows a sarcastic and selfish attitude in the way she writes. She thinks so highly of herself and her letters to Jane were all written with a negative note.

        Jane Bennet’s letters also help to further the plot. They also help to reveal her character and personality. She writes to Elizabeth telling her of Lydia’s elopement with Wickham. This letter shows the strong relationship between the two sisters by the way Jane tries not to alarm Lizzy. “But I’m afraid of alarming you…be assured we are all well, what I have to say relates to poor Lydia.” It also however shows Jane’s forgiving manner towards situations such as these and how she is able to overcome them.

“But I am willing to hope the best, and that his character has been misunderstood.”

        Lizzy on the other hand, is quite the opposite. Where as Jane would hope for the best, Lizzy would be ready to expect the worse, “She is lost forever.”

        Jane Austen’s letters also show themes of pride and prejudice in her novel. Austen can express her own themes of pride and prejudice through these letters. Darcy’s letters to Elizabeth show a good example of this.

“But I demand it of your justice” After Darcy wrote this letter his pride in the novel did start to break down, but also in his letter it tells us he is not totally rid of all his pride. By the way he demands to let himself be heard to Lizzy. This displays his power over Lizzy giving us the feel he still has pride in him.

        The letters featured in ‘Pride and Prejudice’ give us an insight into the social etiquette and historical background at that time. This is shown in the novel by the way Darcy has to personally hand his letter of apology to Lizzy and Lizzy is unable to reply. In those days only engaged couples were able to write to each other. If people who weren’t married sent letters back and forth to each other it could mean that the people involved could be accuses of having a relationship with each other.

        Letters in ‘Pride and Prejudice’ help us a great deal to come to grip with the novel as a whole. They were used to reveal certain characters and also used as a dramatic device to further the plot. By using letters in ‘Pride and Prejudice’ Jane Austen was able to easily put across her views and the theme of ‘Pride and Prejudice’. We are able to glean the social and historical importance of letters while still at the same time enjoy one of Jane Austen’s most achieved novels of all time.