position and economic security. However, their relationship is delineated to be
lacking in depth of feeling and intelligence, and is a union of less intelligent
minds, less self-awareness and Bingley?s weak irresolution.
By comparison with all other marriages in the novel, Elizabeth and Darcy?s is
the ideal by Austen?s standards - meeting the highest criteria of love,
character and fortune. Theirs is a relationship of mutual respect and love,
based on moral integrity and an understanding of each other as well as
themselves, while possessing economic wealth and status.
The marriages in Pride and Prejudice thus portray and advocate patriarchy within
the economic system, social standing and society as a whole. Jane Austen
therefore portrays marriage as a patriarchal institution where economic, social
and intellectual compatibility as well as love must be present for the
relationship to succeed.
Pride and Prejudice- First Impressions
The novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen was originally titled First
Impressions. This is significant because it reflects the values and attitudes of
19th century England, and portrays the main themes of the novel. It is set in
England during the 1800's and Austen focuses on a society whose opinions are
based on first impressions.
This is achieved through cultural context, characterisation, narratorial
commentary, and methods/techniques.
During the 19th Century, first impressions were very important. The reader is
presented with Meryton, a highly structured class society which judges people on
superficial qualities, such as physical appearance, social status, clothes,
possessions, behaviour, dialogue. The message Austen positions the reader to
understand, is that a society which makes its judgements based on first
impressions is immoral and unjust. (-She uses 'humour' to help convey this in a
less-serious tone.)
For example, Mrs Bennett's first impressions of Mr Bingley were based upon his
behaviour and physical appearance.
'Oh! My dear, I am quite delighted with him. He is so excessively handsome!?
(Page 16)
Mrs Bennett has a driving force in her behaviour to marry her daughters to
wealthy men, who were financially stable and socially accepted, so her liking to
Mr Bingley is reinforced by his interest in her eldest daughter Jane.
'Mr Bingley thought her quite beautiful, and danced with her twice. Think of
that my dear; he actually danced with her twice; and she was the only creature
in the room that he asked a second time!' (Page 15)
In contrast, Mrs Bennett's first impression of Mr Darcy was that he is cold,
abrupt, and proud. This is established because of his manner and behaviour. The
narrator describes Darcy's behaviour in chapter 1;
'Mr Darcy danced only once with Mrs Hurst and once with Miss Bingley, declined
being introduced to any other lady and spent the rest of the evening walking
about the room speaking occasionally to one of his own party. He was the
proudest, most disagreeable man in the world, and everybody hoped that he would
never come there again. Amongst the most violent against him was Mrs Bennett,
whose dislike of his general behaviour, was sharpened into particular
resentment, by his having slighted one of her daughters.' (Page 12)
Mr Darcy judges Elizabeth and the Bennett family on social status, and
takes an immediate dislike to them, because of their financial situation and
rank on the socio economic status. Although the Bennetts are "upper/middle
class", there are divisions between each class, so they are looked upon as at
the "lower" end of the scale. It is Darcy's pride that forces him to believe he
is better than others, mainly because of the amount of money he has. Mr Darcy
feels as if he can be rude to anyone he likes, because the society of Meryton is
"socially and financially lower" then himself.
After seeing Jane together with Mr Bingley at the dinner party, Darcy's first
impressions (which allow him to think that he has the right to interfere in
their relationship) force him into believing that Jane (coming from a family
less wealthy then his own) is only after Mr Bingley for security, and financial
stability. Instead of realising the love they have towards each other, Darcy
allows his pride to blind him of the truth and foolishly assume that only a lady
of equal status (as his) is worthy of Bingley's love.
Mr Wickham is another example of first impressions based on superficial
qualities. His first impressions are very favourable and he is 'socially
accepted' into the Meryton circle.
'But the attention of every young lady was soon caught by a young man, whom they
had never seen before, of most gentlemanlike appearance, walking with an
officer, on the other side of the way.' (Page 62)
His charming personality, and impressive first impressions soon gathered the
acceptance and approval of everyone in the community.
Ironically, his handsome features are deceptive and the entire society is proved
to have misjudged Wickham, based on their misconceptions and first impressions.
He is exposed to the Bennett family shortly after his elopement with Lydia
Bennett, a 16 year old girl who he did not intend to marry, but only to take
advantage of. He ends up marrying her under false pretences, in a loveless,
false marriage, which reflects the Mr and Mrs Bennett relationship.
In the 19th century, the female gender was disempowered.
Women were expected to conform to high standards of behaviour and courtesy. The
characteristics of a stereotypical woman in this time period were, sewing,
singing, dancing, reading, playing a musical instrument (e.g. the piano) and
being domesticated. The girls of the Bennett family support this notion, and
this is shown throughout the text.
Eg. 'It is amazing to me how young ladies can have patience to be so very
accomplished, as they all are. They paint tables, cover screens and net purses.
I scarcely know any one who cannot do all this, and I am sure I never heard a
young lady spoken of for the first time, without being informed that she was
very accomplished.' (Page 35) Here Mr Bingley is praising the five Bennett
girls on their qualities and range of abilities.
The technique of characterisation has a major effect throughout the novel. It
helped represent 19th century values and attitudes, as well as portray the
notion of first impressions, and demonstrate how they dominated people's
thoughts and minds during that particular time period. There were many incorrect
judgements made throughout the novel, which was a result of wrong first
impressions.
An example of this is Mr Darcy's perception of Elizabeth Bennett. Darcy's pride
originates from his wealth, social class and superior connections, which all
lead him to be prejudiced towards people who are socially and financially lower
then himself. (Eg the Bennett family) His prejudice is therefore reflected in
the way he judges people.
For example, whilst Mr Darcy is proposing to Elizabeth (during her stay at
Rosing's Park) he brings up the issues of her family connections, her social
status, and family wealth.
'He spoke well, but there were feelings besides those of the heart to be
detailed, and he was not more eloquent on the subject of tenderness than of
pride. His sense of her inferiority- of its being a degradation- of the family
obstacles which judgement had always opposed to inclination, were dwelt on with
a warmth which seemed due to the consequence he was wounding, but was very
unlikely to recommend his suit.' (Page 157)
Elizabeth's character represents values and attitudes of the 19th century.
Throughout the novel her character develops, as she changes from disliking Mr
Darcy to falling in love with him.
-This raised again the danger of first impressions, and the possibility of their
reversal.
She categorizes Darcy as arrogant and self-centred, and her opinion of him is
taken to a new low when Wickham is introduced. It is not until the near end of
the novel where Elizabeth realises she was foolish for judging both Darcy and
Wickham on first impressions and her impressions on Darcy begin to turn around.
'How despicable I have acted. I who have prided myself on discernment! -I who
have valued myself on my abilities.'
(Page)
Pride and Prejudice is written in 3rd person omniscient, which allows the reader
to delve into the minds of more than one character. The narrator can be
persuasive and influential, (this is most common during passages of large
summary) although at other times a 'silent observer' goes without commentary,
(During character dialogue) however the 'point of view' becomes more focused
through the character of Elizabeth. The narrator has control of selection of
detail, and chooses what the reader is entitled to see. (Eg selects the
incidents we see, and finds the words to describe them.)
The title 'First Impressions' is very significant, because the novel revolves
around issues which are based on judgemental people, who make and break first
impressions.
Characterisation and cultural context are used to portray this, and the reader
is positioned to understand that relationships based on first impressions have
no substance.
Both characters develop throughout the novel, and their first impressions of
each other gradually change. Darcy's pride diminishes, as does Elizabeth's
prejudice.
The passage which best relates the theme of Pride and Prejudice,
by Jane Austin, is on page 125, in the middle of the page. This is
where Mr. Darcy is proposing to Elizabeth, and is informing her of the
inferiority of her family and connections. This passage is significant
because it is one of the few times where the characters openly
acknowledge that the sole purpose of a person's life is to achieve a
high salary and a high social position.
It is evident from every point of the story that all people care
about is marrying into a higher social rank. And even for those who
are comfortable with their current status, it is imperative that they
only marry someone of at least equivalent rank. This idea possesses
every character in the story and seems to motivate every action that
is taken.
The superficiality of this idea goes so far as to break the
bonds of love. Darcy is willing to insult a girl as he is proposing to
her, just to inform her of the what he has to go through in order to
stoop to someone of her level. Regardless of what Darcy thought
his chances were at acceptance, he was still addressing a girl that
barely knows him, and actually dislikes him. That is not a situation
where insults are likely to bring results.
This point is compounded because Elizabeth only gets slightly
insulted by this comment. Her initial refusal of Darcy was based
almost totally on his actions towards Jane and Bingley's relationship,
and his treatment of Mr. Wickham. However, she is barely perturbed by
this comment of Darcy regarding her family. This is so strange because
one would expect Elizabeth to at least be equally mad for personal
insults as well as for what was done to others.
Pride and Prejudice ends with Elizabeth and Darcy each
overcoming their anger against each other, and falling in love.
However, this touching scene is ruined because of the appearance of
Lady Catherine. She demands Elizabeth to marry Darcy, and tells Darcy
that it would look very negatively on his family if he were to marry
someone as "low class" as Elizabeth. So even one's family is willing
to break up "true love" in order to maintain rank.
This theme runs throughout the entire story and really destroys
the entire thing. Other stories, such as Romeo and Juliet, have the
same sort of "forbidden" marriages, and since those arrive out of real
situations, they add more interest to the story. Here, it is simply
prejudice by rich people against poorer people, which only detracts
from the writing. So while this theme may have existed in reality
during Jane Austen's lifetime, it should not have been included in the
story.
