pride and prejudice long essay

The manner in which Austen’s characters use dialogue is able to powerfully satirise ludicrous aspects of human behaviour such as marriage occurring for connections and wealth. The tedious and long winded speeches of Mr. Collins during his proposal to Miss. Elizabeth, allow Austen to shape his character and therefore satirise these ridiculous aspects of human behaviour. For example, Mr. Collins makes idiotic and almost ridiculous statements such as, “As soon as I entered the house I singled you out as the companion of my future life.”(Austen pg.103) This portrays his character as pompous and foolish and further satirises the obsequious behaviours of human beings – We find it humorous that Mr. Collins’ idea of marriage is about, “…Situation[s] in life [and]… connections,”(Austen pg. 104) In addition, Austen is able to mock the superficial idea of marriage through the hysterical and exaggerated dialogue of Mrs. Bennet - “Oh Mr. Bennet…If I can but see one of my daughters happily settled at Netherfield, I shall have nothing more to wish for.” (Austen pg.11) Hence she is portrayed as shallow and idiotic, enabling Austen to satirise the ideals of marriage in this period. Austen constructs the characters of Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Collins through their ludicrous dialogue and is therefore able to satirise the fact that marriage occurs for wealth and relations, not love.

By creating the contrast between Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Elizabeth Bennet, and by presenting the narrative from the point of view of the latter, Jane Austen is able to satirise the fact that people from this era were extremely class conscious and proud. Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s autocratic and pretentious nature is contrasted with the wit of Elizabeth Bennet when they have an argument concerning Mr. Darcy. For example, Lady Catherine de Bourgh says that, “[she has] not been used to submit to any persons whims, [and has] not been in the habit of brooking disappointment,” (Austen pg.336) to which Elizabeth replies, “That will make your ladyship’s situation at present more pitiable but it will have no effect on me.”(Austen pg. 336) This character contrast highlights Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s class consciousness and dictatorial nature as ludicrous and is therefore able to satirise her belief that, “a woman of inferior birth, of no importance to the world and wholly unallied to the family,” (Austen pg.336) is an inadequate option her nephew. Such mocking of Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s ridiculous beliefs is further emphasised by the majority of narrative being told from Elizabeth’s point of view. We see the events unfold from Elizabeth’s perspective and therefore support her criticism of the idea that the lower-classes should not be associated with those of the upper class. By constructing the text from Elizabeth Bennet’s point of view and then contrasting her with Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Austen is able to effectively mock the proud and class conscious society of the eighteenth century.

As evident, Jane Austen has not simply described the world around her but has used techniques such as irony and character construction to powerfully ridicule aspects of human nature and behaviour in the eighteenth century. Through the contrast of conflicting characters and their specific dialogue, Austen is able to satirise the proud and class conscious nature of human beings and their idea that the function of marriage is to improve social status. In addition, Austen uses both an ironic narrative voice and irony in the development of characters to satirise the ridiculous and superficial behaviours of human beings. Through the use of irony and the construction of characters, Jane Austen is able to effectively satirise the ludicrous aspects of human nature and behaviour in the eighteenth century such as, the distinct social structure, pride and prejudice.