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Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice offers a snapshot of the middle and upper class society in the neo-classical period. Although both Darcy and Elizabeth seem like individualistic, independent thinkers, much of their behavior is influenced by social pattern which lie underneath the surface of their awareness. ... It is only after they realize that they have been acting on social convention, instead of their true feelings and reasoning, that a lasting union is possible. Jane Austen uses particular writing devices to decipher the truth from the rumors, the appearance from the reality. ... It is this sort of attitude that at first blinds him to Elizabeth’s charms, when at the Meryton ball he announces that he will not dance with anyone who is not rich or well bred. ... This same trait of Elizabeth’s is exemplified in her relationship with Wickham. Elizabeth initially fails to see through his lies and inconsistencies because Wickham caters to her pride and chooses her company over that of the other girls present. She is incapable of judging either character objectively as Darcy injured her pride while Wickham flattered it.
It is hypocritical to judge Darcy as extremely class-consious because the rest of the characters pay equal or greater attention to one’s social standing. While Darcy’s fault is his flaunting class superiority, Elizabeth suffers from a class inferiority complex. She dismisses Darcy’s advances at Netherfield, and assumes that there is sarcasm in all his invitations. Surely, a man of Darcy’s class would not be interested in her. ... She is often ashamed of her family’s lack of proper conduct when in the company of the upper classes. ... Thoughtless words are often hurled back and forth between the characters, however these words also provide insight into aspects of both Elizabeth’s and Darcy’s true characters. The perfect example of this would be Darcy’s first proposal of marriage and Elizabeth’s refusal of it.
Approximate Word count = 1574
Approximate Pages = 6.3
(250 words per page double spaced)
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