Views on Pride, Prejudice and Marriage in Jane Austens Pride and Preju

Views on Pride, Prejudice and Marriage in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice Pride pride n., v., 1. high (or too high) opinion of one's own dignity, importance, worth, etc. 2. the condition or feeling of being proud. 3. a noble sense of what is due to oneself or one's position or character; self respect; self esteem. prejudice n., v., 1. an opinion In the novel by Jane Austen, displays a severe contrast between Elizabeth and Darcy in the story. Jane Austen does this by discussing the theme of pride throughout the novel. The concept of pride in this book is defined as an excessively high opinion of one's own dignity, importance and worth. Throughout the novel, Jane Austen satirizes the manners of all classes, exposing people who have excessive pride as rude and often foolish, regardless of wealth or station. While the term of pride pertains particularly to Mr. Darcy there are other characters that portray this trait as well. Jane Austen has depicted pride in her minor characters as a means of demonstrating its importance as a theme of this novel. Among the minor characters that Jane Austen uses to portray unattractive pride is Mr Collins. Jane Austen used Mr. Collins as an extreme example of how excessive pride can affect one's manner and be a very unattractive quality. In Mr. Collin's case, he prides himself on his sense of respectability, his profession, and his association with Lady Catherine. Jane Austen shows through the voice of the narrator that she disapproves of Mr. Collins, which is why she satirises him. ' MR. Collins was not a sensible manà ¢? ¦. A fortunate chance had recommended him to lady Catherine d... ...mily, finding refuge in his library or through mocking his oblivious wife. This becomes his only happiness. Jane Austen has positioned her audience so that we are influenced to agree with her attitudes on the importance of marrying for love. Austen has used her characters to express the issue of love. Such characters as Mr Collins and Charlotte Lucas and Wickham and Lydia represent marriage for superficial purposes, which can never result in happiness. The juxtapositioned relationship between the characters of Darcy and Elizabeth show the audience that happiness in marriage can only be achieved if the couple both throw away immediate physical attractions and financial desires and marry for nothing else but true love. Works Cited: Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. Ed. R.W. Chapman. New York: Oxford UP, 1988.