Letters play an important role as a plot device in the novel. The arrival of a letter often brought bad news, a crisis, or a twist in the plot. For example, whilst visiting Pemberly, Darcy’s home, believing him to be away Elizabeth hears from Darcy’s housekeeper that he is a very nice man, and when he unexpectedly arrives he treats Elizabeth and her family with respect and kindness, leading Elizabeth to believe that she could grow to love Darcy after all. But then, just when things appear to be going well for the family, and that a happy ending may be in the future, Elizabeth receives a letter from Jane telling her of a crisis at home. The letter brings with it a twist in the plot and an interesting crisis. Because Elizabeth and Jane were so far apart, the main form of communication at the time would have been a letter so this is also accurate.
The novel is narrated in the style of an omniscient narrator, and so although the narrator is detached from the story the narration tells of characters private thoughts and feelings. Because of this style of narration events are often foreshadowed by descriptions of the characters feelings and thoughts. For example, during Darcy’s first proposal the narrator describes Elizabeth’s feelings, “in spite of her deeply-rooted dislike, she could not be insensible to the compliment of such a man’s affection, and though her intentions did not vary for an instant, she was sorry for the pain that he was about to receive,” This description of Elizabeth’s feelings shows the reader that Elizabeth is going to reject Darcy’s proposal. In addition to this the narrator tells the reader, “he had no doubt of a favourable answer.” This not only tells the reader what answer Darcy was expecting but it further confirms Darcy’s pride in his social position. Darcy is aware that his offer of marriage to a person of lower social status would be very beneficial for Elizabeth as she would gain wealth, social status and a more comfortable lifestyle, because of this Darcy believed that Elizabeth would accept him immediately. This shows that Darcy believes his social connections and wealth will guarantee him Elizabeth’s hand in marriage.
Elizabeth is shocked by Darcy’s sudden proposal, “Elizabeth’s astonishment was beyond expression,” as she believed Darcy’s unwelcoming attitude towards her because he disliked her and was prejudiced against her family. However, it is now revealed that Darcy’s cold attitude towards Elizabeth was because he was trying to suppress his feelings towards her. During his proposal Darcy suggests that he should not have such feelings for her as he has “sense of her inferiority.” Elizabeth already dislikes Darcy and his comments about her family connections fuels her belief that he is too proud and vain and so takes offence to his comments about her family. Elizabeth rejects Darcy and from the narration it is clear that she has wounded his pride and he cannot understand why she would not wish to marry him. Darcy then asks for further explanation and Elizabeth, unable to hide her dislike for him anymore begins an argument with him. Although the pair are arguing they still follow social expectations of the nineteenth century by using polite language even though they are angry and resentful towards each other. Darcy further insults Elizabeth by asking, “could you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your connections? To congratulate myself on the hope of relations, whose condition in life is so decidedly beneath my own?” by saying this Darcy has insulted her social status and her family.
As the argument continues the characters begin to tell each other there real feelings towards each other as the argument gets more tense and more heated. Because the characters are now revealing their feelings and thoughts openly through dialogue there is little further need for narrative so during the argument dialogue takes over with only occasional narrative to explain their actions. This is a very tense moment in the novel as both Darcy and Elizabeth openly voice their prejudices and dislike towards each other, and as each looses their patience and begins to get angry the dialogue over-rules the narrative and as they argue with each other the narrative is replaced by their speech, in a style of a play.
Events in the novel allow Austen to further explore the themes of pride and prejudice.
In Chapter 34 Darcy makes his first proposal but Elizabeth rejects him. However, during the argument she reveals to Darcy the reasons why she doesn’t like him, including what she has been told about his mistreatment of Wickham. Darcy knows that this information is incorrect and later he sends a letter to Elizabeth explaining what really happened between him and Wickham. Darcy’s explanation of the events makes Elizabeth realise that her first impressions and opinions of Darcy and Wickham have been very wrong and her feelings about both change. When Darcy proposes for a second time, in chapter 58, Elizabeth accepts because her opinion about Darcy has changed.
Original readers may have reacted differently to themes of the novel, depending on their social class. For example, people of a lower social class would be understand and sympathize with the Bennet family and may have been able to relate to the prejudice that they would have experienced. Although they are of a very different social class, wealthy people would have been able to relate to the characters of a high social class, such as Darcy and Bingley and may have experienced attraction to a person of a different class like Darcy experienced with Elizabeth so they may be able to sympathise with the characters. Also, the people of a higher social status would have got an insight of how lower class people feel about them.
In addition to this, many readers would have realised through the actions of the characters in the novel that they form opinions quickly, often based on rumours that may have not been true. In addition to this, people may have realised that people of different social class don’t always conform to stereotypes as they may have thought. For example, not all rich people are rude and unwelcoming to less wealthy people, such as Bingley and not all young ladies are obsessed with marrying a rich man, for example, Mary Bennet. Austen’s over-exaggerated characters, such as Mrs Bennet, obsessed with marrying her daughters to rich bachelors, and Mr Collins, who wasted no opportunity to boast about his connections with the very wealthy Lady Catherine DeBourg, would have been comical to original readers who may have experienced people like these characters, obsessed with obtaining wealth and their social connections. Austen subtly mocks people who act like this, and some original readers, with mothers like Mrs Bennet or uncles like Mr Collins would have been able to relate to Elizabeth’s feelings of embarrassment about her mothers behaviour in public, or her uncles vain pride in his social connections.
Original readers may also have been able to relate to the strict codes of social conduct in early nineteenth century Britain. When engaging socially there were strict rules to follow, such as you must be polite to everyone even if you dislike them and the formal relationships between the sexes. Some of the readers would have understood this as they to may have disliked someone intensely but realised that they had to maintain polite and formal towards the person they disliked. Therefore, original readers may have been able to understand Elizabeth’s frustrations at the way she was expected to act, and also her embarrassment when her family frequently broke the social conduct rules.
Just like with modern readers, the theme of the novel was designed to make the original readers think about their prejudices and opinions of others and realise that they were not always correct.
The theme of pride and prejudice is still relevant to modern readers. Often without realising it, we will form opinions about people within minutes of meeting them and often, before really getting to know them. In addition to this, people still hold prejudices. Although there are not longer social classes in the same sense as there was when the novel was written, people still judge people who are poorer or richer on them, and have prejudice against people who have more or less wealth than them. For example, people often will avoid talking to somebody whose clothes show that they obviously don’t have much money. However, people will also form opinions about people who wear expensive designer clothes, thinking that they are too proud of their money, which is why they wear designer clothes. Modern readers, would probably not have considered there prejudices like this and the novel shows them that ideas have changed very little since Austen wrote the book in the early 1800’s. As well as prejudice, people also form opinions about people based upon their appearance and often gossip, without considering whether or not it is true. As the romantic heroine, Elizabeth, found out, people who appear to be trustworthy, genuine and friendly are sometimes not, and modern readers can still associate with this.
Although modern readers still form judgements about people, they still exhibit pride in the wealth and at a personal level. For example, people who are wealthy will buy designer clothes, as a symbol of their wealth for everybody to see. Designer clothes are often of the same quality as cheaper clothes, but with a designer name or label on them they are automatically seen as better because they are more expensive. This shows that modern day readers still take pride in the wealth. Misplaced pride can lead people to believe that they are better than others because they are more wealthy, prettier or more intelligent. As the novel shows, people who exhibit this vain pride are often disliked by others and thought of as bad people. However, people should still be allowed to be proud of themselves or their achievements, but people sometimes need to consider whether beauty, wealth, intelligence, or popularity make you superior to others.
Although the novel has many themes and morals, essentially it is still a traditional rags to riches love story. These type of stories have continued to be popular over many hundreds of years, from Shakespearian plays such as Romeo and Juliet, to more modern films such as Titanic and even current films or books. I think that rags to riches love story is popular because it makes people happy to believe that love can overcome social status, class and wealth, whether or not that really is the case.
I believe that through her novel, Austen wanted to explore the themes of pride, prejudice and first impressions, as well as making social comments about her time. Through events and characters in the novel Austen shows the importance of making informed judgements and not listening to gossip. I think that Austen also wanted to show how little attention should be paid to first impressions and other people’s unfair prejudices. I believe that Austen aimed to show people how pride and prejudice was exhibited across social boundaries and that if people could overcome their prejudices they would be much happier. I think that Austen was trying to imply that people should try and try and overcome their prejudices against social classes and wealth because the social boundaries between different classes were changing during the time she wrote the novel.
I believe that Austen was suggesting that before we judge other people we should consider ourselves. For example, when Elizabeth thought that Darcy was prejudiced against her, she formed her own prejudice against him. Although she was angry that he was judging her and her family without knowing them, she was in fact doing exactly the same, forming a negative opinion of him because of his appearance, social class and gossip. For example, before getting angry that people are judging you, stop to consider whether or not you are also judging people. People often don’t realise they have prejudices and make these first impressions and opinions based on rumours or appearances. I think that Austen was suggesting that if everyone could overcome their prejudice and their vain pride like Elizabeth and Darcy, then new relationships could develop and everybody would be much happier.
