Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

✨ "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." ✨

Set in the 19th Century, Austen’s most beloved novel Pride and Prejudice follows the romance of Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet. Dealing with themes such as family, love, marriage, social and class structures, the novel is one of the finest works of literature.

Elizabeth is an independent, knowledgeable and witty woman who denounces the economical aspect of marriage. She is one of the five daughters of Mr And Mrs Bennet- they wish their daughters are married to well-off people. Mr Bennet, although a gentleman, is a passive father and loves to rile up his wife. And "the business of [Mrs Bennet’s] life was to get her daughters married."

The title is credited to the characteristics Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet display towards each other. And only when they acknowledge that they have been proud and prejudiced against the other, they truly value each other and love each other.

Austen illustrates various kinds of marriage through the characters. She portrays how respect is important for a blissful marital life through Mr And Mrs Bennet; How much love plays a role through Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet; The economical aspect of marriage is highlighted through Mr Collins (The snooty cousin of the Bennet sisters and the default heir to the Bennet estate) and Charlotte Lucas (Elizabeth’s best friend), and the importance of communication is presented through Mr Bingley and Jane Bennet’s coupling- who due to their shyness cannot confess their feelings for each other.

One of the most important themes of any Austen novel is the commentary on social structures and class structures. She makes it clear through people like Lady Catherine, Mr Darcy’s aunt who places utmost importance to social position and mistreats people through those lenses. Other characters that believe and have values that dictate class system are Mr Collins and Ms Bingley (Mr Bingley’s younger sister). Contrastingly, the author offers a few positive examples in Mr Bingley and Mrs Bennet’s brother Mr Gardiner and his wife.

Bingley carries his upper-class position in light and polite manner. And the Gardiners serve as an example of how people can be wealthy without the pretentiousness attached to it.

Austen, herself, hails from an upper class- the gentry. Therefore, she does respect the class system when it acts as a force for decency, mannerisms and virtue, and not as a dividing aspect in society. And this is illustrated through her male protagonist- Darcy initially seems arrogant and self-indulgent snob, but as the novel progresses, it is clear that he has changed. He takes upon Elizabeth’s criticism and adds it to his upper-class values of integrity and generosity. He helps Lydia, the fourth Bennet daughter, out of her crisis.

The marriage of Elizabeth and Darcy showcases that love can overcome all issues, including the rigid class structures.

The writing is conventional Victorian style. The plot is engaging- the readers are constantly torn between the will-they-won’t-they phenomenon and it is a fully immersive read. All of the characters are well-crafted and they all play a vital role in furthering the plot. Although there seem to be quite a few antagonists, they can not be simply written off as the villains- it is to be understood that they were a product of a rigid structured and domineering society where the rules had to be followed in order to be respected.

🧡Considered as canonical literary work, Austen’s Pride and Prejudice still remains relevant because it simply a tale of human weaknesses- it focuses on friendships and feelings. Two centuries later, 'Pride and Prejudice' remain well-read and adored by many.

It is great for anyone who wants to start reading classics.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading it for my paper. It was the first book I read for my course and it was pivotal for me as it introduced me to a kind of literature I considered off-putting. I credit Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice' for cultivating in me a love for classics.🧡