An analytical commentary on Pride and Prejudice (emphasis: Chapter VI, pp. 21-23)

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An analytical commentary on Pride and Prejudice (emphasis: Chapter VI, pp. 21-23)

‘It is a truth universally acknowledged,’ that an invaluable resource to the study of anthropology is the analysis of literature current to a period of interest.  Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” is a novel that casts as vivid a portrait of English society at the turn of the eighteenth-century as Charles Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities” does of a revolutionary France; such authors serve to enrich an understanding of the human condition by presenting eloquently expressed personal insights into history.  As such, in reading Pride and Prejudice it is important to recognize an underlying social commentary, which Austen guides not only through the manifest behaviour of her characters, but with subtle yet explicit narrative often of a sarcastic, satirical nature.

The narrative body of this passage is essentially constituted by its opening and closing paragraphs; the former concerning itself largely with the introduction of new circumstances – proceeded by an ensuing dialogue between Charlotte and Elizabeth – and the latter primarily concerning itself with pointing out the irony of the preceding dialogue.

The first paragraph of this passage is a clear illustration of Austen’s critical perception of polite society.  With a sardonic wit she describes the formalities of acquaintance in Victorian society, and the social obligations and intrusions presented throughout the novel.  References to ‘due form’ and ‘pleasing manners’ only serve to highlight the contrived structure of the social interaction, but it is in the Bingley’s assessment of the Bennet family and their worth, that is most telling.  

It is made quite clear that ‘the younger sisters [were] not worth speaking to’, that Mrs. Bennet was ‘intolerable’, and Austen goes on to cite a supercilious condescension that Jane perceives in the Bingley family.  Importantly, emphasis is also put on the fact that despite the apparent abhorrence felt toward the younger sisters and ‘the mother’, the Bingley’s still express a desire to acquaint themselves with ‘them’.  Here is an example of Austen pointing out the absurd realities of polite society – if the Bingley’s wished to associate with Jane or Elizabeth, they would be reluctantly obliged to extend that association to the younger sisters and the mother, for whom they felt only distaste.  This is, of course, not to say that the nature of such an extended association would be genuinely amicable, indeed quite the opposite. As the text progresses, examples of scenes consumed by cold civility are commonplace, culminating in a series of highly articulate confrontations – many involving Elizabeth, often resulting in animated conversational repartee, usually to her advantage.  Regardless, the Bingley’s are socially obligated to become superficially acquainted with them due to the importance of maintaining civil relations to preserve their respectability and sense of snobbish superiority.  The question remains; why do the Bingley’s find Jane and (to a lesser extent) Elizabeth “acceptable” acquaintances, and the sisters and mother not?  An important aspect of aristocratic society is socio-economic status; the Bennet’s are of a relatively low class order in this respect, and along with that carry the burden of certain social stigmas.  Utilitarian notions of reciprocity often drove even intra-class relationships of Austen’s time, so in inter-class relationships where a large disparity of status was existent, the reciprocation would often be heavily biased.  The practical ramification of this is that for a Bennet – of low socio-economic standing – to associate with a Bingley – of high socio-economic standing – some degree of symbiosis would be required.  The “Bennet” would have to have something to offer the “Bingley”, and in this respect a clear and logical distinction can be made between the relationships of the Bingley’s with Jane, Elizabeth, and the younger sisters and mother.  

Although general disregard is shown to Mrs. Bennet and the younger sisters, Jane and Elizabeth are considered by the Bingley’s to be of great enough worth to tolerate – and in Jane’s case to enjoy.  Jane’s ‘pleasing manners’, ‘steady sense and sweetness of temper’ grow on ‘the good will of Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley’4, and the kind attention extended by them toward Jane is ‘received with the greatest pleasure’5, seeming almost genuine.  Despite Mr. Bennet’s flippant assessment of Jane as one his ‘silly and ignorant’ daughters, Jane demonstrates throughout the novel that she – as Elizabeth – is endowed with ‘something more of a quickness’ just as Elizabeth.  Yet she is prepared to accept the ‘superciliousness in their treatment of everybody … hardly accepting even her’ almost without question – indeed, she may not even notice to a large extent.  She herself is rather preoccupied with Mr. Bingley, and is thus largely oblivious to their disdainful arrogance, not only due to her desire to be approved by Bingley’s close associates, but because ‘the influence of their brother’s admiration’ had caused them to be especially amiable with Jane.  So Jane’s acceptance into the higher social clique was the result firstly of her willingness to comply with social norms, and secondly (doubtless, more importantly) of the influence of her association with Bingley. Additionally, and perhaps more abstractly, it could be interpreted that the ease with which Jane is accepted due to Bingley’s influence is an implication that the sisters are of such weak character that they can easily establish superficial acquaintances, or more likely that they are so vacuously open to suggestion that the influence of Bingley inspired a genuine affection.  There is also an “ornamental” aspect involved; Jane is evidently3 an attractive young woman – a well respected quality – and since non of the Bingley’s have any interest in their own brother (hopefully), her presence could not be perceived as a threat on that score.  

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On the other hand Elizabeth, who is arguably in a position to be more objective, remains skeptical and – unlike her sister – ‘could not like them’ due to her perception of their arrogance and condescension, despite their kindness to Jane (the motives for which were patently transparent to Elizabeth).  Despite her general dislike for the Bingley’s (with the exception of Charles, of course) and unlike her mother, she maintains herself acceptably within the boundaries of social conduct, and for the most part is relatively agreeable when unprovoked.  For these reasons, and (largely) due to her association with her ...

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