What are the Variations of humour portrayed in Pride and Prejudice?

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Hajira Bajwa

S10

18.05.04

What are the Variations of humour portrayed in Pride and Prejudice?

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a good wife”.

This opening line is one of the most crucial quotes in “Pride and Prejudice”. It displays almost every significant theme in the book; marriage, love, wealth. Also, there is a hint of irony that may not be detected on first impressions. This is the first of many amusing quotations in the book, although there are three different types of humour.

The first is humour in the form of being comic or amusing, expressing or taking a joke. The second type is irony, a humorous expression of meaning, an ill-timed event, or the use of language with one meaning for the audience and another for the person spoken of or to. Lastly, there is satire, the use of humour to show stupid behaviour or something that makes fun of something else.

From the first few pages of Pride and Prejudice, it is obvious Elizabeth Bennet is set apart from those around her. She possesses great intellect and has the immense ability to express herself through ironic statements throughout the book. Elizabeth overhears Mr Darcy at Sir William Lucas’s ball when he describes her to Mr Bingley as-

“Tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me.”

 Despite this insult, she does not appear to be distressed and later she-

“Told the story with great spirit among her friends, for she had a lively, playful disposition, which delighted in anything ridiculous”.

This shows she has a comic and playful nature. When Jane Bennet is taken ill at Netherfield, Elizabeth stays to keep her company. There, she must be forced to socialise with Bingley’s sisters and Mr Darcy. Elizabeth’s wit is shown best when she is with Mr Darcy, as she detests his pride and his determined to make him see the error of his ways. One quote from Elizabeth to Darcy states-

“I am no longer surprised at your knowing six such accomplished women. I rather wonder know at your knowing any.

This is what Elizabeth excels at, the heavy use of irony. Mr Darcy finds Elizabeth to be a force to be reckoned with, for her tongue is razor sharp and always ready to bite back at any criticism about her or her family through sarcasm. When Jane’s engagement to Mr Bingley comes about, and Jane is upset that her Elizabeth does not have such a match, Elizabeth replies-

“Perhaps, if I have very good luck, I may meet with another Mr Collins in time.” This is referring to her father’s cousin, who asked for her hand in marriage but was politely let down!

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Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Darcy’s aunt and her cousin Mr Collins’s patroness, is a grand lady, to whom the rule “Do not speak until you are spoken to” is applied. This works well until Elizabeth pays a visit to Rosings. Lady Catherine is shocked when she asks Elizabeth-

“Pray, what is your age?”

and does not to receive a direct answer, only-

“With three younger sisters grown up, your ladyship can hardly expect me to own it.”

Clearly, Elizabeth enjoys trifling with the morals of society and good manners. This is satire, finding the lady’s high-and-mighty ways humorous, ...

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