The Theme of Marriage and the use of Irony in Pride and Prejudice.
The Theme of Marriage and the use of Irony in Pride and Prejudice The apparent theme of this novel is husband hunting. Mrs. Bennet is anxious to secure suitable matches for their five daughters. The young girls are also separately eager to settle down. The Lucas family is worried about their plain and rapidly aging daughter Charlotte. Miss Bingley is hunting for Darcy's hand, while Miss De Bourgh is also running after Darcy. Miss Darcy also apparently wants to rope in Bingley. IN fact Austen's novel deals with the universal theme of love and marriage. It describes five marriages, four new ones and a fifth old one. The partners marry for different reasons, with the result that most of them prove a failure. MR. Bennet had married for the physical charm of Mrs. Bennet and was disillusioned soon. Charlotte Lucas married for economic security, while MR. Collins married for getting a wife, no matter if it was Jane, or Elizabeth or Charlotte. Lydia ran away with Wickham because she was infatuated with him. Wickham married her for material gain. Since they married for the wrong reasons, their marriages proved utter failures. Even Jane's marriage with Bingley was not a roaring success. Only Elizabeth's marriage had a sound basis. The novel thus shows the adverse effects of ill matched marriages. Pride and Prejudice is a rich comedy. The comic version of Jane Austen is shown through
Give a character sketch of Mr. Bennet.
Give a character sketch of Mr. Bennet Mr. Bennet was the head of the family living at Longbourn in Hertford shire. His property yielded just 2000 pounds a year. It was to be inherited by his cousin Mr. Collins, because Mr. Bennet had no male heir. He married Mrs. Bennet for her youth and beauty, without taking into account her poor understanding. His married life was unhappy so he sought relief in books. He detached himself from responsibilities of the family and his five daughters. He remarked that his three daughters were foolish and ignorant, but held a slightly softer spot for Elizabeth. He was a bit cynical also in his behavior as a husband and as a father. HE made fun of his wife in the presence of his children. When Jane was crossed in love, he took it in a very casual and cynical manner. He said to Lizzy that he congratulated her sister for being crossed in love. Apart from being married, every girl liked to be crossed in love now and then, because it gives her a source of distinction among her companions. Wickham he said would flirt with her (Eliza) next. He was not shaken when Lizzie informed him of Lydia's flirtations. He did not take the trouble of preventing Lydia from going to Brighton to live with Mrs. Forster. He said that they would have no peace at Longbourn, if Lydia did not go to Brighton. In other words, he did not mind buying personal peace at the cost
Conflicts Between Darcy and Wickham
CONFLICTS BETWEEN DARCY AND WICKHAM We know form chapter 15 that Darcy and Wickham know each other. 'Darcy and Wickham seem to recognise one another, but both look discomforted by the meeting'. The first conflict that arises between the two men is when Wickham informs Elizabeth about Darcy's behaviour towards him. o Wickham was a favourite of Darcy's late father, who promised him a good living in the church. Darcy has deprived Wickham of his career as a clergy man. This is Wickhams story. * This adds to the drama of the novel as Elizabeth is greatly affected by Darcy's affair and also this story adds to Elizabeth's prejudice. Elizabeth was blinded by her prejudice and takes Wickhams word for what had happened. She is determined to hate Darcy. Later on, in Darcy's letter to Elizabeth in chapter 35 we find out the truth about Wickham. o Darcy's father had paid for Wickham to go to Cambridge University and hoped to provide him with a career in the church. o Darcy had to give Wickham a living and a legacy of £1000 o Wickham wrote to Darcy and informed him that he had no intention of following a career in the church. o Darcy gave him a further £1000 o Then Darcy gives Wickham a further £3000 and he spends it on unworthy things. o They don't see each other for 3 years and Wickham returns wanting his career in the church. Darcy refuses. o Money is a big issue as
The representation and function of letters in Jane Austen(TM)s Pride and Prejudice.
Eighteenth- and nineteenth-century novels often contain written documents, such as bills, lists, or letters. Discuss the representation and function of letters in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Letters in the eighteenth- and nineteenth century were just as important in real life as they were in novels. In Pride and Prejudice, they are used for several aims. They can reveal the characters' personalities and thoughts, and allow them to express their feelings in an intimate way that is less intimidating than a face-to-face conversation. At the time the novel was written, letters were the most effective way of communication, and therefore very important. They are also very useful to provide the reader with a lot of information in a limited amount of time. Letters are a great way of giving the reader an insight in the thoughts and feelings of the characters, and to provide background information. Apart from that, the letters in Pride and Prejudice tell a lot about the personality of the writers. The letter Mr. Collins writes to Mr. Bennet is very formal, and as Elizabeth states, he comes across as a very pompous man. Another example of a letter that reflects the writer's personality, is the letter Jane writes to Elizabeth to acquaint her with the news that Lydia has gone off to Scotland with Mr. Wickham. She tries to stay optimistic and has an enormous amount of trust in
Pride and Prejudice is the story of how Elizabeth and Darcy overcome obstacles including their own personal failings, to find romantic happiness.
Pride and Prejudice review. Georgina Rex Pride and Prejudice is the story of how Elizabeth and Darcy overcome obstacles including their own personal failings, to find romantic happiness. Elizabeth must endure a impossible mother, a distant father, two badly behaved younger siblings, and several snobbish, antagonizing females, she must also overcome her own mistaken impressions of Darcy, which initially lead her to reject his proposals of marriage. Her charms are sufficient to keep him interested, fortunately, while she navigates familial and social turmoil. As she gradually comes to recognize the nobility of Darcy's character, she realizes the error of her initial prejudice against him. Elizabeth and Darcy are the two predominant characters which the plot is based around. Eliazabeth is the second eldest, most intelligent and sensible daughter of the five Bennet girls. Elizabeth is well read and witty, with a sharp tongue. These chatacter traits allow Elizabeth to rise above the nonsence and bad behaviour that pervade her social society. Fitzwilliam Darcy is the son of a wealthy established family and is the master of the Pemberly estate. Darcy after meeting Elizabeth is dazzled by
Pride and Prejudice: an analysis of Mr. Wickham's character
Analysis of Mr. Wickham’s Character To begin with, Wickham appears to have a good social etiquette which impresses the reader and Elizabeth, “Mr. Wickham was the happy man towards whom almost every female eye was turned”. Wickham makes a firm first impression and he appears to be amiable with a friendly disposition. “His appearance was greatly in favour...fine countenance…very pleasing address”, Wickham instantly takes Elizabeth’s favour and he seems a deferent character. Wickham is clever enough to encourage Elizabeth into thinking ill of Darcy by initially forming a trust with her and as Lizzy already dislikes him, it is easy for her to believe Wickham, “I have known him (Darcy) too long and too well to be a fair judge. It is impossible for me to be impartial”…”ill-tempered man”. The reader is intrigued into Wickham’s opinion of him initially due to his social intelligence, his amiability and his first impressions to the town. Wickham continues to make Elizabeth think ill of Mr. Darcy by making himself seem the victim of the series of events between the two men. Wickham: “I cannot accuse myself of having really done anything to deserve to lose it…he hates me.” Due to the trust the reader and Lizzy have in Wickham, his story is accepted and we succumb to the claims he makes. Lizzy shows her naivety by immediately believing the story and
After you my dear Alphonse' written by Shirley Jackson
After you my dear Alphonse The story that I have chosen to annotate is 'After you my dear Alphonse' written by Shirley Jackson. Shirley Jackson was born in the year of 1919 and later died in 1965. She is best known for her stories and novels of horror and the occult, rendered more terrifying because they are set against realistic, common place backgrounds. After graduating from Syracuse University, Jackson married literary critic Stanley Edgar Hyman. "Life among the savages" (1953) and "Raising Demons" (1957) are witty and humorous fictionalized memoirs about their life with their four children. Her most famous works include the short story collection "The Lottery" (1949), in which 'After you my dear Alphonse' was featured and the novel "The haunting hill house" (1959). From this we can conclude that Shirley Jackson's writings were between the 1940s to the 1950s. 'After you my dear Alphonse' is a story about a boy named Johnny who brings his African American friend Boyd home for lunch. The story shows the assumptions that Mrs. Wilson, Johnny's mother gets about Boyd and about African American people in general. 'After you my dear Alphonse' has three themes but the main theme projected in the story is the theme of racial prejudice. The other two themes are the theme of narrow mindedness and stereotypes. The writer contrasts the children's acceptance of each other in
Conflict between generations is inevitable - People of different age groups view matters of all topics with different opinions.
Conflict between generations is inevitable. People of different age groups view matters of all topics with different opinions. Youths see matters from their exposure to the world, which at the time may be limited. Adults, however, have seen the world through many "harsh winters" and have become wiser. Therefore, the opinions of generations will often vary. I have had disagreements with my parents. The quarrels may be as small as buying a new outfit or as big as what I m able to handle with the time I have. Though some of the conflicts lead to hurtful words and bitter tears, these disagreements have taught me things; things that contribute to productive change, changes such as having a broader view, as well as thinking ahead. Sometimes these conflicts will appear negative, but there is something to be learned from them. In the novel "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austin, Lady Catherine and Elizabeth Bennet do not get along. Lady Catherine is the aunt of Darcy, who is betrothed to his cousin, Miss de Bourgh, Lady Catherine's daughter. When Darcy begins to show a great interest in Elizabeth, Lady Catherine pays a visit to Elizabeth. The betrothal of Miss de Bourgh and Darcy's would fail if Elizabeth were to say 'yes' to a proposal from Darcy. On top of that, Darcy had a higher status than Elizabeth and it would be indecent. Therefore on Lady Catherine's visit, she demands that
Pride and Prejudice and Great Expectations - Is it a truth universally acknowledged?
English Literature Prose Assignment 'It is a truth universally acknowledged.' What a way for a novel to start, especially a masterpiece by Jane Austen! I notice two major flaws in this statement. One is the use of the word 'universally'. What is universal? In its purest sense it means throughout time and space. But the views of every single character in both the novels that I intend to examine (Pride & Prejudice and Great Expectations) change at least once during the story. The second defect is the word 'truth'. Anyone who says "I never lie" is lying. And usually we have no way to tell if an acquaintance is being honest. Most of us are therefore either distrustful or naïve. Lydia Wickham (Pride & Prejudice) and Miss Havisham (Great Expectations) have both been naïve at some point in their lives. Lydia is still young, foolish and trusting while Miss Havisham has hardened and come to regret her hastiness. As they did not work, a man with plenty of money was a much-needed fantasy for most upper class Victorian girls, and most could not afford to pick and choose. However in the case of Miss Havisham this philosophy was reversed. She was the rich one due to her father's fortune and she could have whomever she wanted. Desirable as the situation may seem, it had its drawbacks. When she returned one of her suitors' affections (she perfectly idolized him') he 'professed to be
Sense and Sensibility Chapter 4 Summary
Chapter 4 Summary: Marianne questions Edward's taste in drawing; Elinor is perfectly content that he is not as obviously passionate about art as Marianne should hope, though she knows that this is one of Edward's failings with Marianne. Elinor says she is perfectly happy with his tastes and education, and even Marianne cannot find fault with his good nature and kind heart. Marianne says she would like Edward even more if he were to get married to Elinor; Elinor knows that her sister and mother believe that there is an attachment between herself and Edward, but does not wish to confirm it because she is not sure of feelings being exactly mutual. Elinor also admits that there is something in Edward which suggests he does not love her as much as she loves him. She believes that it might have something to do with the expectations and overbearing nature of Edward's mother, though of course Elinor cannot be sure. Fanny is especially displeased by this attraction, and comments to Mrs. Dashwood about how there are high hopes for Edward, and he must marry a woman of high birth and much wealth. Fortunately, Mrs. Dashwood then receives a letter from a relative of hers, offering her a cottage on his property very cheaply. The letter is very friendly and urges Mrs. Dashwood to come to Barton Park, his estate in Devonshire, to have a look at the nearby cottage and see if it is suitable.