Coursework
How does Jane Austen portray pride in the novel
'Pride and Prejudice'
PLAN:
Good Pride: Lizzy, Jane and Georgina
Comic Pride: Mr Collins and Mrs Bennet
Negative Pride: Bingley sisters, Darcy and Lady Catherine
Changing Pride: Darcy and Lizzy
INTRODUCTION
For my English coursework I have decided to consider the
question:
How has Jane Austen portray pride in the novel Pride and Prejudice?
This question asks about mostly characters and their self-respect, dignity and pride there are many different meanings of pride here are a few:
. Inordinate self-esteem, unreasonable conceit of one's own superiority.
2. Insolence, arrogance.
3. Sense of dignity, self-respect and proper self-esteem.
4. Generous elation or satisfaction arising out of some accomplishment,
possession or relationship.
5. A source of such elation.
6. The acme, the highest point, the best condition.
I will approach this question by going through, firstly the characters with types of positive and negative pride and then the characters with comic and changing pride.
Pride can be classed as a positive concept. A positive form of pride in Jane Austen's novel would, I think be Lizzy. Lizzy is very proud of her family despite how sometimes they might embarrass her. For example, the way Lydia and Catherine act when there out at dinner.
"Catherine and Lydia had been fortunate enough to
never be without partners, which was all they had
yet learned to care for at a ball".
This would suggest how flirtatious Lydia and Catherine are. Another quotation to suggest this would be:
"I am astonished that you should be so ready
to think your own children are silly".
This is written in Caroline Bingley's letter to Mr Bennet. A second example of this is the way Mrs Bennet talks to Mr Darcy, because of holding a grudge against him when he first arrived at Longbourn (Darcy would dance with no-one but the Bingley sisters, either because the weren't pretty enough or of a lower class).
"You know how I detested it, unless I am
particularly acquainted with my partner"
My last example would be when Lydia ran off with Wickham. This is the stage in the story where the Bennets have realised what Wickham's really like and about his sinister character. Lizzy also never looks down on anyone and I think she may believe in equality. Being headstrong and sometimes quite arrogant may let Lizzy down a little, but Lizzy speaks her mind and the way she feels when confronted or confronting showing her pride in her family and friends. For example when Collins proposed to Lizzy, she would none of it and turned him down three times. When telling her that no one else would take pleasure in engaging with her she stood strong and said she had never been treated in such an abominable, rude and UN-gentlemen-like manor. An example of Lizzy speaking her mind, When she turned Collins proposal down the first time, as it was fashionable to turn the first proposal down, but the second or third should've been accepted. This displayed how much Lizzy detests Collins. I think Lizzy was quite prejudice though. At the beginning of the novel she judges Darcy on his pride because Wickham tells her of how sinister Darcy is to try and win Lizzy's love.
How does Jane Austen portray pride in the novel
'Pride and Prejudice'
PLAN:
Good Pride: Lizzy, Jane and Georgina
Comic Pride: Mr Collins and Mrs Bennet
Negative Pride: Bingley sisters, Darcy and Lady Catherine
Changing Pride: Darcy and Lizzy
INTRODUCTION
For my English coursework I have decided to consider the
question:
How has Jane Austen portray pride in the novel Pride and Prejudice?
This question asks about mostly characters and their self-respect, dignity and pride there are many different meanings of pride here are a few:
. Inordinate self-esteem, unreasonable conceit of one's own superiority.
2. Insolence, arrogance.
3. Sense of dignity, self-respect and proper self-esteem.
4. Generous elation or satisfaction arising out of some accomplishment,
possession or relationship.
5. A source of such elation.
6. The acme, the highest point, the best condition.
I will approach this question by going through, firstly the characters with types of positive and negative pride and then the characters with comic and changing pride.
Pride can be classed as a positive concept. A positive form of pride in Jane Austen's novel would, I think be Lizzy. Lizzy is very proud of her family despite how sometimes they might embarrass her. For example, the way Lydia and Catherine act when there out at dinner.
"Catherine and Lydia had been fortunate enough to
never be without partners, which was all they had
yet learned to care for at a ball".
This would suggest how flirtatious Lydia and Catherine are. Another quotation to suggest this would be:
"I am astonished that you should be so ready
to think your own children are silly".
This is written in Caroline Bingley's letter to Mr Bennet. A second example of this is the way Mrs Bennet talks to Mr Darcy, because of holding a grudge against him when he first arrived at Longbourn (Darcy would dance with no-one but the Bingley sisters, either because the weren't pretty enough or of a lower class).
"You know how I detested it, unless I am
particularly acquainted with my partner"
My last example would be when Lydia ran off with Wickham. This is the stage in the story where the Bennets have realised what Wickham's really like and about his sinister character. Lizzy also never looks down on anyone and I think she may believe in equality. Being headstrong and sometimes quite arrogant may let Lizzy down a little, but Lizzy speaks her mind and the way she feels when confronted or confronting showing her pride in her family and friends. For example when Collins proposed to Lizzy, she would none of it and turned him down three times. When telling her that no one else would take pleasure in engaging with her she stood strong and said she had never been treated in such an abominable, rude and UN-gentlemen-like manor. An example of Lizzy speaking her mind, When she turned Collins proposal down the first time, as it was fashionable to turn the first proposal down, but the second or third should've been accepted. This displayed how much Lizzy detests Collins. I think Lizzy was quite prejudice though. At the beginning of the novel she judges Darcy on his pride because Wickham tells her of how sinister Darcy is to try and win Lizzy's love.
