By: Madison Ross-Levy
Irony

 “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single
man in possession of a good fortune must be in want
of a wife” (Austen 1).
 In the novel, Pride and Prejudice, Austen shows how
women want to be married to wealthy men. Many
times in the novel it is not the man seeking a wife,
but the other way around. The entire novel is
centered around marriage and the theme of love
between two social classes that do not go together.
Characterization

 “She was a woman of mean understanding, little
information, and uncertain temper. When she was
discontented, she fancied herself nervous. The business of
her life was to get her daughters married…” (Austen 7).
 “Mr. Bingley was good-looking and gentlemanlike; he
had a pleasant countenance, and easy, unaffected
manners” (Austen 11)
 Austen’s use of characterization gives the reader a clear
perception of their different characteristics. It also allows
the reader to get to know the characters and ways they
might react to situations soon to come.
Imagery

 “Their eyes instantly met, and the cheeks of each
were overspread with the deepest blush” (Austen
235).
 Jane Austen uses imagery to show characters
emotions or reactions to events. To give the reader a
sense of how the characters are feeling she describes
the color and look on their faces giving a clear
perception of what is going on in the current
situation. Imagery is one of her most common
literary techniques.
Motifs

 “To walk three miles, or four miles, or five miles, or
whenever it is, above her ankles in dirt, and alone, quite
alone… I am afraid, Mr. Darcy, that this adventure has
rather affected her fine eyes” (Austen 36).
 In Pride and Prejudice, journeys are reoccurring elements
that most commonly represent a change in the novel.
Most scenes take place indoors, but when characters are
outdoors it is most likely for a change to occur. In the
scene above, after Elizabeth’s long journey Darcy’s
emotions have begun to change and he is beginning to
like her.
Themes

 “The situation of your mother’s family, though
objectionable, was nothing in comparison of that total
want of propriety so frequently, so almost uniformly
betrayed by herself, by your three younger sisters, and
occasionally by your father:-pardon me,-it pains me to
offend you” (Austen 187).
 One of the most present themes in the novel is love. The
entire story is tied to the love between characters and
their separation between social classes. This separation
makes the love between some of the characters such as
Elizabeth and Darcy, and Jane and Mr. Bingley, socially
unacceptable but their love is too powerful for them to
care about the opinions of society.
Simile

 “Your profusion makes me saving; and if you lament
over him much longer, my heart will be as light as a
feather”(Austen 211).
 In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen uses few similes
throughout the novel. The similes she does use show
exaggeration within them and most commonly are
associated with emotions and feelings towards other
characters. The similes help give a better
understanding of how the characters are feeling in
the exact moments.
Alliteration

 “Oh, my dear Eliza! Pray make haste and come into
the dining-room, for there is such a sight to be seen!”
(Austen 152).
 Jane Austen uses alliteration to put emphasis on
certain sentences in the novel. These sentences stand
out more that others because of the way they sound.
Alliteration helps make the reader remember certain
quotes such as the one above.
Satire

 “You must give me leave to flatter myself, my dear cousin, your refusal of my
addresses are merely words of course. My reasons for believing it are merely
these:-It does not appear to me that my hand is unworthy your acceptance, or
that the establishment that I can offer would be any other than highly desirable.
My situation in life, my connections with the family of De Bourgh, and my
relationship to your own, are circumstances highly in my favor; and you should
take that it into further consideration that, in spite of your manifold attractions,
it is by no means certain that another offer of marriage may ever be made you”
(Austen 104).
 When Elizabeth declines Mr. Collins offer of proposal she is satirizing the social
belief that women will accept any offer to marriage. Elizabeth rejects Mr. Collins
offer because she doesn't love him and disproves the statement at the beginning
of the novel saying that women are in want of a man with good fortune. It's
satirical when Elizabeth denies Mr. Collins offer and makes him look ridiculous
because she is denying an offer that would make her whole family happy,
except for Mr. Bennet. The marriage would guarantee her money and a good
home.




Archetypes

Hero: Mr. Darcy- He resolves the issues in the novel. He helps Mr. Wickham with his debt so that Lydia
doesn't disgrace her whole family by running away with him. “This is an evening of wonders, indeed! And
so, Darcy did every thing; made up the match, gave the money, paid the fellow’s debts, and got him his
commission!” (Austen 350).
Villain: Mr. Wickham- He has history of being a evil man. He ran away with a young girl and planned to
marry her just so he could have her money. He then tried to do the same with Lydia but Mr. Darcy pays off
his debt for him, just for Elizabeth. “Mr. Wickham’s chief object was unquestionably my sister’s fortune,
which is thirty thousand pounds; but I cannot help supposing that the hope of revenging himself on me
was a strong inducement” (Austen 191).
Father Figure: Mr. Bennet- He tries to do what is right for his family and keep them from getting into
trouble. Austen makes it known he is very close to Elizabeth and she must ask him to marry Mr. Darcy.
Because Mr. Bennet realizes Elizabeth truly loves Mr. Darcy he feels it is a good choice and she will be
treated well and safe. He often gives advice. “But let me advise you to think better of it. I know your
disposition, Lizzy. I know that you could be neither happy nor respectable, unless you are truly esteemed
your husband; unless you looked up to him as a superior. Your lively talents would place you in the
greatest danger in an unequal marriage” (Austen 349).
The innocent: Mr. Bingley- He is naive and believes what he is told. When Mr. Darcy tricks him into leaving
Jane he believes it is because she doesn't like him but it is actually because Mr. Darcy feels she is not right
for him. Much because of their separate social classes. “But Bingley has great natural modesty, with a
stronger dependence on my judgment than on his own. To convince him, therefore, that he had deceived
himself was no very difficult point” (Austen 188).
Point of View

 “Elizabeth could hardly help laughing at so convenient a
proposal; yet was really vexed that her mother should be
always giving him such an epithet” (Austen 348).
 Third Person Omniscient- The narration mainly resolves
around Elizabeth but occasionally throughout the book the
reader receives information about other characters that
Elizabeth does not know about. Most of the novel is read in
dialogue, opinions, and ideas but for Elizabeth, Austen gives
more emotional insight then for the other characters. This is
because the story is mainly about Elizabeth's feelings towards
love and other people rather than hearing everyone else's
opinions. The novel is about Elizabeth and is therefore written
in third person omniscient so the reader is most often reading
about Elizabeth's life.