Explain in detail how Jane Austen introduces and sustains the interaction of the four couples united in the novel ‘Pride and Prejudice’

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Explain in detail how Jane Austen introduces and sustains the interaction of the

four couples united in the novel 'Pride and Prejudice'

'Pride and Prejudice' is a novel by Jane Austen, published in 1813. It is set mainly in a town in Hertfordshire called Meryton, and the two or three estates around it, Longbourn and Netherfield. The four couples in the story are Jane Bennet and Charles Bingley, Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy, William Collins and Charlotte Lucas, and Lydia Bennet and Mr Wickham. The first sentence in the book is a very famous quote,

"It is universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune,

must be in want of a wife."

This quote sets the scene for the whole book, marriage, money and social status.

The first couples we meet in the story are Jane Bennet and Charles Bingley, and Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy. They meet in the assembly rooms in Meryton, where there was a dance-taking place. Mr Bingley had recently moved to Netherfield with a party of his friends, including Mr Darcy. As they were the new tenants of Netherfield they were the talk of the town. For most of the town's people this was the first time many of them would have seen the new tenants and first impressions counted for an awful lot in that period. When the townspeople first met Bingley he set a good impression on them and was respected almost instantly. Darcy on the other hand was quite the opposite he came across as a very proud man and the people took instant dislike towards him.

Jane and Bingley were introduced at the dance, when Bingley asked Jane to dance. Through out the evening, Bingley danced with many of the women, but he danced with Jane twice. After the dance Jane and Lizzy (Elizabeth) were discussing Bingley, saying how he was the perfect gentleman, Lizzy said that she could see clearly how besotted Bingley was with her but she was being very modest saying she didn't agree.

At the dance we are also introduced to Darcy. As I have mentioned before he came across to the people as a very proud man. Throughout the evening he danced with no one and just stood observing the merriments taking place around him. At one point during the evening Bingley went over to him and told him he was being boring, and that he should ask someone to dance with him. Bingley pointed out Lizzy, Darcy saw her and told Bingley that,

"She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me."

Lizzy overheard this conversation between Darcy and Bingley and heard Darcy's remark. When she heard this she instantly decided to take a dislike towards him, she became prejudiced against him, hence the title of the book, 'Pride and Prejudice', Darcy being proud, Lizzy being prejudiced.

The next couple introduced into the story is Charlotte Lucas and William Collins. Charlotte is introduced into the story after the dance at the assembly rooms. She is Lizzy's close friend and it is customary that after any social events they meet up and discuss what happened the evening before. Charlotte is twenty-seven years old, and still not married so is fast approaching spinster hood. Any offer of marriage she was given she would accept.

Before we get introduced to Mr Collins Jane gets a letter from Netherfield inviting her to tea. Mrs Bennet insisted that she went on horseback, although it was about to rain. Mrs Bennet's plan worked in that Jane became ill and was invited to stay at Netherfield until she was better. The following day Lizzy walked to Netherfield, to see how her sister was, Bingley's sisters were disgusted that she had walked but Darcy was saying how healthy she looked even though her dress was muddy and how beautiful her eyes were. Lizzy also stayed at Netherfield until Jane was better, and during that time you could tell that Darcy's fondness of Lizzy progressed this was most evident one evening while they were all in the drawing room and they were complimenting and condemning each other and flirting with each other much to Caroline Bingley's disgust.

Mr Collins was introduced to the story through a letter; he was entailed to the Bennet's estate. Mr Bennet and Mr Collins' fathers didn't get on, Mr Collins' father had passed away and Mr Collins wanted to meet the Bennets and rectify any differences between them. The letter is a very clever way in which Austen introduced Mr Collins as we get an idea of his character before he is introduced into the story; we also get an idea of what the Bennets anticipate him to be like and can see how their feelings change towards him during the story, or if they do at all. From the letter the overall feelings towards his character are that he was an insensible man who thought highly of himself because he was associated with Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
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When Mr Collins arrives we find out that they anticipated correctly. He would walk around the estate and condemn things by saying how 'nice' everything was but how Lady Catherine's things were better or more elegant than anyone else's possessions. During his stay at Longbourn, we get introduced to Mr Wickham. He is a member of the militia in the town of Meryton; we first meet him when all the Bennet sisters are in Meryton visiting their Aunt Phillips who lived in the town. While he was introducing himself to the girls Mr Darcy rides by on his ...

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