Pride &
Prejudice
Chapters: 39-50
Pg. 32: Personal Response
Review the word web you completed in the Focus Activity on page 25. What
definitions of pride could be applied to Elizabeth and Darcy based on their
actions in this section of the novel?
Throughout these chapters in the book, both characters gather information
about the other. Darcy is humbled by Elizabeth's refusal to marry him; he
begins to share information with her that makes her see that he is not so awful.
Thus her "pride" has to change as she gathers information. Darcy becomes
more attractive to her as he begins to open up about different subjects; he also
is described more attractively by those who have known him from a young age.
Her prejudice against him begins to weaken as she sees that he is not at all the
cad she thought him to be originally. I am not sure exactly what definition you
need; for sure, whatever they thought of each other earlier in the novel
changes as they gather more information. In Elizabeht’s and Darcy’s case pride
can be best described as “a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived
from one's own achievements”.
Pg. 32: Recall & interpret
1. What two secrets concerning Darcy does Elizabeth reveal to
Jane? What concern does Elizabeth express to her father?
She tells her about Darcy’s proposal. Secondly, She reveals his relations with Mr.
Wickham (how Mr. Wickham tried to marry Darcy's sister Gorgianna for her money).
Elizabeth is extremely concerned about her younger sisters' conduct and shares this
concern with her father.
2. What does Elizabeth learn about Darcy from the housekeeper at
Pemberley? When Darcy appears, what surprises her about his behavior?
Elizabeth learns that Mr. Darcy isn't as cold-hearted and prejudiced as she, and most
everyone else, believed he was. She was surprised to see Mr. Darcy spending time with
her family and trying to please them.
Pg. 32: Recall & interpret
3. What crisis occurs involving Lydia? How is the crisis
resolved?
Lydia runs off with Wickham to get married, but marriage is not Wickham's goal.
Elizabeth and her family catch wind of the problem and the only way that Wickham
will marry Lydia and make her an honest woman is for a large sum of money to be
paid to him (In order to pay off his large debts). Lydia's family is not very rich, and
instead Darcy pays off Wickham. He does this to make Lizzy happy (He wants to show
her how kind he can be) and because he feels like Wickham's actions are his fault.
DARCY VS. BINGLEY
DARCY
WITH FINE, TALL PERSON,
HANDSOME FEATURES, NOBLE MAN
•PROUD, HAVING A MOST
FORBIDDING, DISAGREEABLE
COUNTENANCE
•TEN THOUSAND A YEAR
•JUDGMENTAL
-- JANE AS “THE ONLY HANDSOME
ONE”; LAUGHS TOO MUCH
-- “YOUR SISTERS ARE ENGAGED,
AND THERE IS NOT ANOTHER
WOMAN IN THE ROOM WHOM IT
WOULD NOT BE A PUNISHMENT TO
ME TO STAND UP WITH.”
BINGLEY
• LIVELY AND UNRESERVED,
• DANCED EVERY DANCE,
WAS ANGRY THAT THE
BALL CLOSED SO EARLY,
• TALKED OF GIVING ONE
HIMSELF AT NETHERFIELD.
• AMIABLE
“I NEVER MET WITH SO
MANY PLEASANT GIRLS
IN MY LIFE, AS I HAVE
THIS EVENING”
JANE AND ELIZABETH
JANE 9-10
• MODEST, SURPRISED
BY COMPLIMENT
• “HONESTLY BLIND TO
FOLLIES.”
ELIZABETH
• CONFIDENT
• HASTY IN HER
JUDGMENT
COMPARE WICKHAM AND BINGLEY
• THEY ARE ALIKE IN SOME WAYS AND THEY ARE DIFFERENT
IN SOME WAYS.
THEY ARE BOTH PLEASING MEN WITH GOOD LOOKS AND
ELEGANT MANNERS. AS TO WEALTH, WICKHAM IS POOR
AND BINGLEY RICH. AS TO ETHICS, WICKHAM IS A CAD AND
BINGLEY APPEARS TO BE A GENTLEMAN. PERHAPS IT IS JUST
THAT BINGLEY HAS NEVER BEEN TESTED.
MR. AND MRS. BENNET
MR. BENNET
• WITTY –E.G. HIS WIFE’S
NERVES AS HIS FRIEND
• NOT COMMUNICATIVE TO
HIS WIFE
• LOVES LIZZY MORE THAN
THE OTHERS
• STILL CARES ABOUT THEIR
MARRIAGE.
• ``THEY ARE ALL SILLY AND
IGNORANT LIKE OTHER
GIRLS; BUT LIZZY HAS
SOMETHING MORE OF
QUICKNESS THAN HER
SISTERS.''
• MRS. BENNET
• TALKATIVE, NARRAWMINDED
• ``DON'T KEEP COUGHING
SO, KITTY, FOR HEAVEN'S
SAKE! HAVE A
• LITTLE COMPASSION ON
MY NERVES. YOU TEAR
THEM TO PIECES.''”
THE CHARACTERS
• JUDGMENTAL & PLAYFUL:
ELIZABETH  MR. BENNET
 MARY LOCKED UP IN
HER WORLD OF MUSIC
AND BOOKS
• WAYWARD: LYDIA AND
KITTY  MRS. BENNET
• IN BETWEEN: JANE LACK
OF JUDGMENT BUT KIND
• JUDGMENTAL AND
SERIOUS: DARCY
• SNOBBISH -- MS. BINGLEY
 LADY CATHERINE
• CHARLES BINGLY
Analysis on the way the author uses suspense in Pride and
Prejudice.
Suspense
Lydia runs off with Wickham, potentially ruining the Bennet family name
forever.
If Lydia goes off with Wickham to "live in sin," it will destroy any chance at
happiness for Elizabeth and Jane. No respectable man will marry a woman who
has a fallen sister. This situation adds on suspense in the novel regarding
Elizabeth’s and Mr. Darcy’s relationship.
Pg. 33,
4. In chapter 49, we notice the behavior of
Mrs. Bennet is such a comic relief. The way she
forgets about all the shame and starts
planning for Lydia’s wedding, as a reader it
gives us a comic relief from the mounting
suspense of Lydia and Elizabeth’s situation.
Pg. 33
5. Chapter 42 of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice gives us a very interesting look into
the inside of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet.
It basically explains that Mr. Bennet, as young man, is a lover of beauty and refreshing
things. A young, future, Mrs. Bennet is apparently beautiful enough to catch his
attention. However, as her personality unravels throughout the marriage, he loses
interest in her and, alas, even loses much respect and admiration as well!
Mrs. Bennet’ s weak understanding and illiberal mind had, very early in their marriage,
put an end to all real affection for her. Respect, esteem, and confidence had vanished
forever, from their relationship.
This is not entirely his fault; after all, we as readers witness the impossible behavior of
Mrs. Bennet, her penchant for speaking her mind out of place, and her imprudence in
meddling in her daughter's lives. It is no wonder that Mr. Bennet becomes quite
disappointed at who he picks for a wife. After all, like the novel itself suggests, men are
not given much time to pick, nor many choices to pick from.This is not the sort of
happiness which a man would in general wish to owe to his wife.
Q.1 Elizabeth says to Lady Catherine, "He is a gentleman, I am a
gentleman's daughter; so far we, are equal." How Elizabeth and
Darcy are equal?
Here are a couple of equalities between Elizabeth and Darcy.
1. They seem to be equal in intelligence and wit. Elizabeth is an "accomplished" young
lady, yet she does not brag about any of her talents. Darcy has a formal education, but
he knows that Elizabeth can hold her own in a conversation with him or others of high
intelligence.
2. They are equal in maturity. Darcy, from a young age, has had to care for his younger
sister and a vast estate; so his maturity in comparison to Bingley's is much more
advanced. Elizabeth, though she is not the oldest in her family, is certainly the most
mature (many would argue that she is more mature than both her parents) and feels the
weight of having to worry about her younger sisters' welfare and places in society.
Q. 2 Considering the story’s conclusion, how would you describe
Elizabeth? Would you call her a feminist? Explain.
In Pride and Prejudice, we see some elements of feminism, especially in the
lead character Elizabeth. Society at the time was focused on marriage for
women. A woman's only means of support was to marry. The women in the
story are certainly focused on marriage, although they have different ideas
about why a marriage should take place. Consider that Elizabeth rejects Mr.
Collins even though he is correct in suggesting "another offer of marriage may
not be made to you." Mrs. Bennet tries to force Elizabeth into the marriage
because it will ensure Mr. Bennet's living stays within the family. Elizabeth still
refuses because she knows they will never get along. It was very uncommon
for a young woman to refuse an offer of marriage with so slight as reason as
not likely her intended. In this and many other ways, Elizabeth shows the
beginning of feminism by suggesting that a woman is more than a wife and has
a right to expect more of a husband.
Q. 3 How does Jane Austen use irony and wit in Pride and Prejudice?
A great deal of Austen's wit is actually seen through the use of irony. In Pride and
Prejudice, we see all three types of irony displayed: verbal, situational, and
dramatic.
The use of verbal irony particularly expresses Austen's use of wit. Verbal irony is
usually recognized as sarcasm. It is the moment someone, such as a character or
narrator, says one thing, but means the complete opposite. One perfect example of
verbal irony can be seen in the very opening line of the book, "It is a truth universally
acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a
wife" (Ch. 1). The irony in this line is that, while the women of an English village in
Austen's time might "acknowledge" the truth above, the wealthy men the line is
referring to actually might not; therefore, the above is not really a "truth universally
acknowledged." Instead, this opening line is a perfect example of sarcasm, or verbal
irony, and a perfect example of Austen's wit.
Situational irony
It describes a moment when something occurs and the exact opposite was expected to
occur. Either the audience or the characters can have the opposite expectations. One
instance of situational irony can be seen early on in the novel at a party that takes place
at Lucas Lodge.
After Elizabeth is asked to play and sing, the party begins to dance. At the same
moment that Sir Lucas is trying to convince Mr. Darcy to join in the dancing, Elizabeth
begins walking towards them. Mr. Darcy so adamantly protests dancing to Sir Lucas,
even insulting the activity, saying, "Every savage can dance," that when Sir Lucas sees
Elizabeth and encourages Darcy to dance with her the reader as well as Elizabeth are
very surprised when Darcy "requested to be allowed the honour of her hand" (Vol. 1, Ch.
6). Darcy's behavior in this instant is a true reversal of his earlier behavior, especially at
the Meryton assembly. Hence, this is a perfect example of situational irony. In addition,
the moment is also amusing due to the sudden change of behavior, also making it
another example of Austen's wit.
Dramatic irony occurs when the reader is aware of something that the characters have
no idea of. This scene is also a fine example of dramatic irony. The reader has already
begun to get the impression that Darcy feels an attraction for Elizabeth, which the reader
began to see when she was tending to her sister at Netherfield. Therefore, the reader
knows that Darcy's sudden interest in dancing with Elizabeth is actually genuine while
Elizabeth still believes that he dislikes her and is merely asking in an attempt to be well
mannered. Again the situation is amusing due to both Elizabeth's and Darcy's reactions
to the situation. Hence, again, this use of dramatic irony also demonstrates Austen's wit.
Pride and Prejudice Plot Analysis
Most good stories start with a fundamental list of ingredients: the initial situation, conflict,
complication, climax, suspense, denouement, and conclusion. Great writers sometimes shake up the
recipe and add some spice.
Initial Situation
We meet the Bennet family: five single daughters with no money. And then a young, rich, single
man moves into the neighborhood.
This is clearly an initial situation because there’s way too much instability in this system. Pushy
mother? Poor, single daughters? One rich, single man? Anyone else predict that the pushy mother is
going to be pushing her daughters on the single man?
Conflict
Bingley starts falling for Jane, but his sisters and friend don’t approve. An obstacle in the path of
true love and familial happiness! Yes, this is conflict. To make matters worse, Darcy has developed
a crush on Jane’s sister Elizabeth, and all the objections he has to Bingley marrying Jane (lower
class family with crazy family members) also apply to the prospect of him marrying Elizabeth.
Complication
Bingley’s sisters and Darcy succeed in dissuading Bingley from marrying Jane; Darcy sinks lower
and lower in Elizabeth’s estimation. Tough. Our lovers seem as far away from each other as
possible: Bingley’s sisters effectively quarantine him from seeing Jane, and Wickham drips
(figuratively) poison into Elizabeth’s ear about Darcy’s character. While before Elizabeth simply
disliked him, she now feels full-on disgust.
Climax
Mr. Darcy shows his heart; Elizabeth learns her errors in judgment.
All the festering feelings come to a head here. Darcy finally tells Elizabeth how he feels, saying he can repress
his emotions no longer, and Elizabeth counters with a, "if you were the last man alive, I still wouldn’t marry you."
OK, those weren’t her exact words, but they were pretty close. She finally vents all her anger over what Mr.
Darcy has done to Jane and to Mr. Wickham.
But! That’s not the end of the climax! Darcy gives Elizabeth a letter that exonerates him from all the charges
she leveled against him. Both characters question their identities. As for Elizabeth, who prides herself on being
a great judge of character, she learns that people’s exterior masks can fool her. This is the climax of the novel
because the greatest attitude shifts come here, towards the end of Part Two. It’s all smoother sailing from here
on out for our two main characters.
Suspense
Lydia runs off with Wickham, potentially ruining the Bennet family name forever.
If Lydia goes off with Wickham to "live in sin," it will destroy any chance at happiness for Elizabeth and Jane.
No respectable man will marry a woman who has a fallen sister. Don’t know about you, but we’re biting our
nails.
Denouement
Mr. Bingley proposes to Jane; Mr. Darcy proposes to Elizabeth
Mr. Darcy uses money to force Wickham to marry Lydia. The Bennet family is saved. Whew. Here’s the ending
we’ve been waiting for – couples reunited, misunderstandings cleared up, in-laws chucked out the window…
Conclusion
The happily ever after – the last chapter serves as a bit of an
epilogue.
Our two favorite married couples are doing well, but Lydia and
Wickham’s marriage unravels and they become broke. Charles and
Jane Bingley move out of Netherfield after a year because they can’t
stand Mrs. Bennet, Mary becomes less sanctimonious, and Kitty blossoms
under the guidance of her two oldest sisters. Oh, right. Jane moves to
an estate practically next door to Pemberley. That all sounds quite
peachy.
Themes
Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work.
Love
Pride and Prejudice contains one of the most cherished love stories in English literature: the courtship between
Darcy and Elizabeth. As in any good love story, the lovers must elude and overcome numerous stumbling
blocks, beginning with the tensions caused by the lovers’ own personal qualities. Elizabeth’s pride makes her
misjudge Darcy on the basis of a poor first impression, while Darcy’s prejudice against Elizabeth’s poor social
standing blinds him, for a time, to her many virtues. (Of course, one could also say that Elizabeth is guilty of
prejudice and Darcy of pride—the title cuts both ways.) Austen, meanwhile, poses countless smaller obstacles
to the realization of the love between Elizabeth and Darcy, including Lady Catherine’s attempt to control her
nephew, Miss Bingley’s snobbery, Mrs. Bennet’s idiocy, and Wickham’s deceit. In each case, anxieties about
social connections, or the desire for better social connections, interfere with the workings of love. Darcy and
Elizabeth’s realization of a mutual and tender love seems to imply that Austen views love as something
independent of these social forces, as something that can be captured if only an individual is able to escape
the warping effects of hierarchical society. Austen does sound some more realist (or, one could say, cynical)
notes about love, using the character of Charlotte Lucas, who marries the buffoon Mr. Collins for his money, to
demonstrate that the heart does not always dictate marriage. Yet with her central characters, Austen suggests
that true love is a force separate from society and one that can conquer even the most difficult of
circumstances.
Themes
Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work.
Reputation
Pride and Prejudice depicts a society in which a woman’s reputation is of the utmost importance. A woman is
expected to behave in certain ways. Stepping outside the social norms makes her vulnerable to ostracism.
This theme appears in the novel, when Elizabeth walks to Netherfield and arrives with muddy skirts, to the
shock of the reputation-conscious Miss Bingley and her friends. At other points, the ill-mannered, ridiculous
behavior of Mrs. Bennet gives her a bad reputation with the more refined (and snobbish) Darcys and
Bingleys. Austen pokes gentle fun at the snobs in these examples, but later in the novel, when Lydia elopes
with Wickham and lives with him out of wedlock, the author treats reputation as a very serious matter. By
becoming Wickham’s lover without benefit of marriage, Lydia clearly places herself outside the social pale,
and her disgrace threatens the entire Bennet family. The fact that Lydia’s judgment, however terrible, would
likely have condemned the other Bennet sisters to marriageless lives seems grossly unfair. Why should
Elizabeth’s reputation suffer along with Lydia’s? Darcy’s intervention on the Bennets’ behalf thus becomes all
the more generous, but some readers might resent that such an intervention was necessary at all. If Darcy’s
money had failed to convince Wickham to marry Lydia, would Darcy have still married Elizabeth? Does his
transcendence of prejudice extend that far? The happy ending of Pride and Prejudice is certainly
emotionally satisfying, but in many ways it leaves the theme of reputation, and the importance placed on
reputation, unexplored. One can ask of Pride and Prejudice, to what extent does it critique social structures,
and to what extent does it simply accept their inevitability?
Themes
Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work.
Class
The theme of class is related to reputation, in that both reflect the strictly regimented nature of life for the
middle and upper classes in Regency England. The lines of class are strictly drawn. While the Bennets, who
are middle class, may socialize with the upper-class Bingleys and Darcys, they are clearly their social
inferiors and are treated as such. Austen satirizes this kind of class-consciousness, particularly in the
character of Mr. Collins, who spends most of his time toadying to his upper-class patron, Lady Catherine de
Bourgh. Though Mr. Collins offers an extreme example, he is not the only one to hold such views. His
conception of the importance of class is shared, among others, by Mr. Darcy, who believes in the dignity of
his lineage; Miss Bingley, who dislikes anyone not as socially accepted as she is; and Wickham, who will do
anything he can to get enough money to raise himself into a higher station. Mr. Collins’s views are merely the
most extreme and obvious. The satire directed at Mr. Collins is therefore also more subtly directed at the
entire social hierarchy and the conception of all those within it at its correctness, in complete disregard of
other, more worthy virtues. Through the Darcy-Elizabeth and Bingley-Jane marriages, Austen shows the power
of love and happiness to overcome class boundaries and prejudices, thereby implying that such prejudices
are hollow, unfeeling, and unproductive. Of course, this whole discussion of class must be made with the
understanding that Austen herself is often criticized as being a classist: she doesn’t really represent anyone
from the lower classes; those servants she does portray are generally happy with their lot. Austen does
criticize class structure but only a limited slice of that structure.