Pride And Prejuidice

A detailed Summary of Pride And Prejuidice


The novel Pride and Prejudice, written by Jane Austen, contains a great deal of satire used to express Austen's attitude toward marriage in the 19th century. Austen uses satire to describe various types of marriages and the reasons behind them. She makes it clear that marriages are based upon many different factors. Austen satirically desribes how marriages can stem from economic reasons, sensual pleasures, and true love.

Marriage out of economic compulsion is evidenced by Charlotte's marriage to Collins. Charlotte's reasons for marriage have nothing to do with love or happiness at all. "Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance...it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life." - Pg. 21. The reader can assume that happiness is not a priority for marriage to Charlotte, but later on, Charlotte's true motives for marriage are revealed after accepting Collins's marriage proposal: "I am not romantic, you know. I never was. I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collins's character, connections, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of hap


but as the story progresses he finds more interest in Elizabeth, "He began to find it was rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of her dark eyes...He was forced to acknowledge her figure to be light and pleasing, and in spite of his asserting that her manners were not those of the fashionable world, he was caught by their easy playfulness." -Pg. 22. Like Darcy, Elizabeth is not at first attracted to Darcy, and after having heard that Darcy had ruined her sister's marriage, she refuses Darcy's marriage proposal, "Had not my own feelings decided against you, had they been indifferent, or had they even been favorable, do you think that any consideration would tempt me to accept the man who has been the means of ruining, perhaps forever, the happiness of most beloved sister?" -Pg. 162. But as Elizabeth learns later of Darcy's humanity and the softer side of his character, her feelings for Darcy dramatically change. "What a triumph for him, as she (Elizabeth) of!

Austen also acknowledges that the true reason for marriage is not yet lost; that marriages can be made from true love between well-matched people. Austen

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 768
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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