Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen Essay

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Austen

Jane Austen allows her characters to reveal themselves naturalistically, through their words and actions. Rather than interfering with an overly strong narrative voice, the author prefers to enable the reader's engagement with characters like Darcy as if they were real life acquaintances. Interestingly, though, Austen makes a small exception for Darcy, who when he first appears in Chapter three, is described by the narrator. Austen's choice of introduction makes perfect sense, though, as the reader comes to know Darcy. Darcy's arrogance and perceived shallowness make it highly appropriate that readers would first encounter him through his well bred looks. Moreover, Darcy turns heads when he enters the room. Austen's narrator is sure to point this out, so that the reader's head can also symbolically turn to gaze upon the handsome yet cocky gentleman. The reader is also encouraged to identify with Elizabeth so fully in Pride and Prejudice, that it is primarily through Elizabeth's eyes that the reader comes to know Darcy. Her transformation therefore mirrors his.

Darcy's introduction in Chapter 3 leads the reader inside Elizabeth's head, complete with her prejudices against him as well as her inevitable attraction to him. Darcy "drew the attention of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien, and the report, which was in general circulation within five minutes after his entrance, of his having ten thousand a year," (Chapter 3, para. 5). The narrator briefly notes that the men admire Mr. Darcy for his social status and appearance, and that the ladies find him to be physically dashing.

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Yet Darcy's personality leaves a lot to be desired. "He was looked at with great admiration for about half the evening, till his manners gave a disgust which turned the tide of his popularity; for he was discovered to be proud, to be above his company," (Chapter 3, para. 5). The theme of pride in Pride and Prejudice is embodied by Darcy's perceived arrogance. By showing the reader how others perceive him, Austen elucidates his character. When Darcy expresses affection for Elizabeth, it is presumed that she will feel flattered. When she rebuffs him, Darcy remains interested. This shows his loyalty and persistence, and undermines his reputation for arrogance in a major way. It is Elizabeth who becomes prideful and full of prejudice, and both her and the reader must overcome both feelings.

Throughout much of the novel, the Bennetts, and especially Elizabeth, look mainly unfavorably upon Darcy. Ironically, they seem more prejudiced against him than he is of them. Darcy does look down on families perceived to have less social status than his, but this is simply a matter of his upbringing and culture. Elizabeth and the Bennetts make character judgments against a man who actually talks a lot less than they do. When Darcy does speak, however, he sometimes draws attention to how rude he can….....

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