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Critical overview in Pride and Prejudice Study Guide |
Examples of Irony in Pride and Prejudice
Verbal Irony
1. “It is a truth universally acknowledged….wife” (Austen 3) - from Chapter 1.
2. Elizabeth makes the following comment about Mr. Darcy to Mr. Wickham in Chapter 41: “In essentials, I believe, he is very much what he ever was” (Austen 192).
3. In Chapter 4, Mrs. Hurst and Caroline Bingley are portrayed in the following manner: “They were rather handsome, had been educated in one of the…entitled to think well of themselves, and meanly to others” (Austen 12, 13). The irony resides in the fact that the readers soon realize that the sisters are proud, snobbish and are unrefined since they do not always resort to social propriety and show an immense degree of malice toward the Bennets.
Situational Irony
1. After seeing Elizabeth for the first time at the ball in Chapter 3, Mr. Darcy dismisses her and states: “She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me” (Austen 10). However, as the novel progresses, he falls in love with her and ends up marrying her.
2. During his conversation with Elizabeth Bennet in Chapter 11, Mr. Darcy exclaims, “I cannot forget the follies and vices of others…My temper would perhaps be called resentful. My good opinion once lost, is lost forever” (Austen 49). However, following his initial rejection by Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy harbors no ill will against her. On the contrary, he assumes a friendlier manner towards Elizabeth and this change becomes evident to her in Chapter 43 when Mr. Darcy introduces his sister to Elizabeth. Elizabeth is moved by this gesture and the following thoughts arise in her mind, “it was gratifying to know that his resentment had not made him think really ill of her” (Austen 208)
3. Caroline Bingley repeatedly insults Elizabeth in Mr. Darcy’s presence in order to make Elizabeth appear less attractive to Mr. Darcy while simultaneously attempting to increase her own desirability. However, Caroline’s actions have the opposite effect and merely serve to increase Mr. Darcy’s attraction to Elizabeth.
4. Lady Catherine de Bourgh in Chapter 55 visits Elizabeth in order to dissuade her from marrying Mr. Darcy. However, her opposition only serves to reinforce Elizabeth’s decisiveness with respect to her happiness and tends to unite the two young lovers. Furthermore, after Lady Catherine narrates the details of her conversation to Mr. Darcy, it rekindles a semblance of hope in his heart pertaining to Elizabeth’s affection for him. He starts entertaining the notion that she might have changed her opinion about him and consequently, he makes a marriage proposal to her again.
Examples of Realism in Pride and Prejudice
1. Pride and Prejudice reflect everyday life, observations, practical concerns, feelings, responses, and desires. Austen’s fictional world and her characters are believable and true to life.
2. Similar to realist fiction, Austen highlights the issues of her contemporary society such as the socio-economic dynamics surrounding marriage and the unjust entailment law prevalent in Regency England.
3. Similar to realist novels, the tone of Pride and Prejudice is detached and objective. There is no overt sentimentalism or any sort of melodrama in Austen’s portrayal of characters and situations in Pride and Prejudice.
4. Restrained criticism of social mores is a hallmark of realist novels. This attribute is evident in Pride and Prejudice. The subtext or underlying theme of this novel is that every individual is a social animal. One cannot exist alone or in a vacuum. Therefore, for all the characters portrayed in the novel, happiness resides in forming an amicable compromise with societal expectations rather than completely defying societal conventions.
5., Unlike romantic novels, Darcy and Elizabeth’s love for each other is not incredibly passionate and all-consuming. Their love does not blind them to their respective social responsibilities. Both individuals seek social sanctity and approval from their respective social spheres and loved ones. For instance, Darcy is eager for Bingley’s and Georgiana’s consent whereas Elizabeth seeks her parents’ blessings. This concern for social repercussions exhibited by Elizabeth and Darcy is a prominent attribute of realist fiction.
6. Darcy and Elizabeth are portrayed in a realistic manner and they experience relatable human emotions. The change in Elizabeth’s feelings after the first proposal is “justified in terms of the 'gratitude' she…feels toward Darcy” (Urquhart 85).
7. The contradiction between the ideal of marriage based purely on intellectual harmony and a marital union dictated by pure material necessity is resolved at the end by an amicable union of both ideals manifested in Elizabeth’s marriage with Darcy. The novel places emphasis on the fact that both love and financial security are essential for a compatible marriage. This reinforcement of the pragmatic realities of life is another defining characteristic of realist fiction.
8. Ian Watt in The Rise of the Novel makes an interesting observation regarding Jane Austen and states that Austen maintains a “harmonious unity” in her work and “her sense of social order…is not achieved at the expense of the individuality and autonomy of the characters” (338).
9. One of the ways in which this harmonious unity is ensured is through the profound self-knowledge gained by Darcy and Elizabeth and their eventual marriage (Bush 99, 101).
10. Although Pride and Prejudice has a fairy-tale ending and the lovers unite, the elements of realism are more prevalent in the novel. Hence, it can primarily be classified as a realist novel.
Quotes that reflect Elizabeth’s self-discovery and evolution:
According to Anne K. Mellor, “Indeed all of Austen’s novels are novels of female education, novels in which an intelligent but ignorant girl learns to perceive the world more correctly and to understand more fully the workings of human nature and society…Elizabeth Bennet must overcome both her proud confidence in her own ability to distinguish simple and intricate human characters and her prejudiced and inaccurate reading of Mr. Darcy through a process of painful mortification, self-analysis and learning before she can recognize that Mr. Darcy is the man best suited to be her husband” (81).
Quotes Regarding Elizabeth’s embarrassment and transformation:
• “She grew absolutely ashamed of herself. Of neither Darcy nor Wickham could she think without feeling she had been blind, partial, prejudiced, absurd” (Austen 171) – from Chapter 36.
• “How despicably I have acted…But vanity, not love, has been my folly…” (Austen 171) – from Chapter 36.
• “Till this moment I never knew myself” (Austen 171) – from Chapter 36. She feels as if she has been a stranger to herself all her life. The veil of unwilling self-deception is cast-off following Elizabeth’s reading of Mr. Darcy’s letter.
• “She certainly did not hate him. No; hatred had vanished long ago…that could be so-called” (Austen 215) – Chapter 44
• “It was gratitude; gratitude not merely for having once loved her…rejection” (Austen 216) – Chapter 44
• “She was humbled, she was grieved…they should meet” (Austen 254) – Chapter 50
• “She now began to comprehend that he was exactly the man… greater importance” (Austen 254) – Chapter 50.
Critical viewpoints and quotes regarding the simultaneous (occurring at the same time) evolution and transformation of Darcy and Elizabeth
• Darcy becomes “morally acceptable to Elizabeth because he overcomes his pride and snobbish prejudice by 'associating himself with Wickham and the less admirable member of her despised family' (i.e. Lydia)” (Urquhart 90).
• Elizabeth and Darcy tend to complement each other by the end of the book. “Each is supposed, to a large degree, to have overcome his or her pride, snobbishness, and prejudice and come to appreciate the other's true virtues: Darcy's amiability (in Elizabeth's case) and Elizabeth's superior intelligence (in Darcy's case)” (Urquhart 81).
• Elizabeth’s real evolution can “be seen in her determination to act with a civility embodying due humility” (Urquhart 82).
• Urquhart asserts that Elizabeth's and Darcy's transformation and education involves “learning to overcome tendencies toward the false pride of vanity and snobbishness, and learning to recognize the true worth and dignity of the other” (83).
• Elizabeth becomes more mindful, civil, and courteous toward Darcy as she undergoes self-evolution.
• As a result of his affectionate feelings for Elizabeth, Darcy is able to overlook his extreme dislike of Wickham and makes repeated efforts to persuade Wickham to marry Lydia in order to ensure Elizabeth’s happiness.
• Darcy’s amiable and friendly attitude toward Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner also reflects Darcy’s newfound realization – namely, that Elizabeth’s relatives and loved ones are worthy of respect and esteem and hence, must be considered equal.
• Darcy highlights the difference between pride and vanity by stating: 'Yes vanity is a weakness indeed. But pride - where there is a real superiority of mind, pride will always be under good regulation' (Austen 48). (Chapter 11). Hence, both Elizabeth and Darcy exhibit proper pride toward the end.
Incidents and Quotes from the Text that Highlight Elizabeth’s Feminism
1. Elizabeth chooses her happiness over self-preservation when she refuses to marry Mr. Collins. She does not let the grim financial prospects of her family compelled her to opt for a mismatched marital union that would only magnify her sadness and regret. The feminist streak in Elizabeth’s personality is evident from the fact that she abhors the idea of being a martyr and believes that her first obligation is to herself.
2. Elizabeth rejects Mr. Darcy’s first proposal and does not re-evaluate her decision until Mr. Darcy is willing to perceive her as a social equal. This particular decision highlights Elizabeth’s decision to accept a marriage on her own terms. Moreover, Elizabeth’s strong stance implies that she is an autonomous individual capable of making her own decisions. She is an active rather than a passive agent who believes in determining her own destiny. In the words of Lady Catherine, Elizabeth is a “headstrong girl” (Austen 292) – Chapter 56
3. Elizabeth’s feminist steak is most vividly revealed in Chapter 56 during her conversation with Lady Catherine. The thought-provoking exchange between the two ladies highlights the following essential attributes of Elizabeth’s character.
a) Elizabeth does not believe herself to be inferior to any man based on her gender. Therefore, she refuses to accept a position of subservience or to make an unwilling compromise in terms of marriage. She states to Lady Catherine, Mr. Darcy “is a gentleman; I am a gentleman’s daughter. So far we are equal” (Austen 292).
b) Elizabeth refuses to be forced into making a decision against her will. On Lady Catherine’s insistence on not accepting Mr. Darcy’s probable proposal, Elizabeth replies, “I am not to be intimidated into anything…” (Austen 293).
c) Above all, the most admirable feminist trait in Elizabeth’s character becomes evident when she regards her own happiness as being supreme over every otherworldly consideration and boldly says to Lady Catherine, “I am only resolved to act in that manner, which will, in my own opinion, constitute my happiness, without reference to you, or to any person…” (Austen 294). This statement reflects Elizabeth’s strong desire and will to opt for an equal marriage that safeguards her happiness.
d) Elizabeth’s independent outlook and perspective is another example of her feminist inclination. Regarding Elizabeth’s disposition, Mr. Bennet rightly observes that “I know your disposition, Lizzy. I know that you could be neither happy nor respectable unless you truly esteemed your husband; unless you looked up to him…” (Austen 310) – Chapter 59.
e) The aforementioned examples emphasize that Elizabeth’s actions as well as her dialogues indicate that she refuses to be coerced into making half-hearted compromises or forceful decisions imposed by a patriarchal society governed by male-oriented interests. On the contrary, Elizabeth forges her own path to marital bliss and individual fulfillment.
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