To Say or Not to Say Letters and Letter Writing As Seen in Pride and Prejudice

A detailed Summary of To Say or Not to Say Letters and Letter Writing As Seen in Pride and Prejudice

To Say or Not to Say: Letters and Letter Writing

Quite frequently in her novels, Jane Austen uses letter writing between characters to explain past events and the exact nature of people's roles in them. It is these letters that always offer great insight into a character's true nature; which, often times, is not what it appears to be. It is this tactic that is consistently prevalent in her 1813 novel, Pride and Prejudice.

Throughout the course of the novel, Mr. Darcy, Mrs. Gardiner, and even Mr. Collins all write letters, and each reveal their personalities and sincere thoughts through them. It is in fact the letter writing that initially contributes, and ultimately results, in the union of hero and heroine at the end of the story. For each enlightens the reader to the truth about confused circumstances as well as hidden feelings toward other characters that would otherwise be left unsaid.

The first significant example of letter writing that allows for some conclusions to be made about a specific character's persona occurs when Mr. Bennet receives a foolish letter from the Reverend Mr. Collins, who will inherit Longbourn after Mr. Bennet's death because he is the nearest male relative.

Austen's strategy of presenting the qualities of a person by way of indirection is clearly seen here. The odious letter from Mr. Collins prepares the reader to dislike him even before he arrives. Without even meeting this man, his personality is learned by the excessive verbiage, pompous flattery, and self-pride evident in his letter. It is Elizabeth who is extremely perceptive about Mr. Collins' letter because (after hearing it ) she immediately wonders if he can be a sensible man. And as the story unfolds, it is Mr. Collins' every action that will prove her belief to be true.

Elizabeth also realizes from Mrs. Gardiner's letter that Lydia is enjoying the whole melodrama. She realizes again how shallow her younger sister really is, and how lacking she is in morality or social consciousness. Elizabeth's realization emphasizes the importance of Mrs. Gardiner's letter because it proves that the letter not only reveals her aunt's own endearing qualities, all the while enlightening Elizabeth to the truth, but also because it offers insight into the flighty personalities of some of the other members of the family.

"Will you be very angry with me, my dear Lizzy, if I take this opportunity of saying (what I was never bold enough to say before) how much I like him. His behaviour to us has...been pleasing as when we were in Derbyshire...I thought him very sly."

She also explains that the entire resolution to the problem concerning Lydia was brought about by him. This is critical because the revelation of Elizabeth concerning Mr. Darcy's role causes her to reconsider the influence she has on him. She is ashamed to think of how much he has done for her family, but she is deeply grateful. Thus, Elizabeth again has some hope for the future, and when Mr. Darcy next appears, she will receive him not as an independent woman but as a person deeply indebted to him.

Although it is the reaction by its reader that makes Mr. Darcy's letter so important, it is also the contents of the letter itself that allow for questions about his true nature to be answered. Writing more from injured pride than to renew his marriage proposal, Darc

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Approximate Word count = 1449
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English